STARKVILLE — “I think we have come a long way in a short amount of time.”
With those words Friday, Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer laid the foundation for the 2015-16 season.
Coming off a season in which MSU set records for wins in a season (27) and in the Southeastern Conference (11), Schaefer hadn’t fully embraced the notion that his team was done for the year. He said at least once that the Bulldogs were good enough to be playing this weekend as one of the last 16 teams standing. He also said he wished his team would have gotten a chance to play Duke at Humphrey Coliseum in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Unfortunately for MSU, Duke, the No. 4 seed, made the most of its opportunity to play at home in Cameron Indoor Stadium and defeated No. 5 seed MSU 64-56 on Sunday. The loss ended MSU’s season at 27-7.
“I hated to see it end the other day,” Schaefer said. “If we would have played them here, I think it would have been a different outcome. But we gave it everything we had. They are awfully talented and well coached. It was a heck of a basketball game.”
The fact that Schaefer talked about playing at home in the NCAA tournament was a sign of how far MSU progressed in the third year of his tenure. A year ago, MSU was No. 7 in the nation with an increase in average attendance of 1,004. This season, MSU likely will finish in the top 10 again, as it saw an increase of 1,434 for a program-best average of 3,755 (18 dates) and an all-time best total of 67,598. MSU averaged 4,896 fans for its SEC games, and finished fifth in the league in overall and league attendance.
MSU topped it off with a record crowd of 7,326 for its 5-47 victory against Ole Miss on March 1.
All of those statistics factor into what should be another optimistic offseason in Starkville. Even though the Bulldogs will say goodbye to seniors Martha Alwal, Savannah Carter, Kendra Grant, and Jerica James, MSU figures to return at least four starters who played significant minutes in the program’s run to its first NCAA tournament since 2009-10.
But as much growth as the Bulldogs experienced in a record-breaking season and as much anticipation as there is surrounding next season, Schaefer acknowledged MSU has plenty of room to improve. He agreed that it was imperative for the Bulldogs to address several areas if they were going to build on a season in which they were ranked in The Associated Press poll for 17 straight weeks and to attempt to break into the top 10.
“I don’t want them to forget the taste in their mouths after losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament in a ballgame that we were in and led at halftime,” Schaefer said. “You don’t want them to forget how that felt. We are two free throws from being 13-3 in the SEC. You want to continue impart the importance of making free throws and layups and focusing on little things.”
Here is a breakdown of the areas Schaefer wants to address or to build on in the offseason to help his team take the next step:
Areas of improvement: MSU shot 39.8 percent from the field and averaged 73.1 points per game this season. A year ago, MSU averaged 70.9 ppg. and shot 39.7 percent from the field.
When asked what was the one area Schaefer wanted to see improve the most next season, Schaefer didn’t hesitate to say “shooting. Just making shots.”
While Grant improved from a 39-percent shooter as a junior to a 42.9-percent shooter as a senior, freshman Victoria Vivians, the team’s leading scorer (14.9 ppg.) shot 36.8 percent from the field. Her 465 shots were more than double everyone on the roster other than sophomore forward Breanna Richardson, who attempted 247 shots. Richardson shot 40.5 percent from the field as a sophomore and 42.4 percent as a freshman.
MSU’s shooting percentage figures to take a hit due to the graduation of Alwal, who shot 54.3 percent from the field, the best among regulars on the team.
Sophomore guard Dominique Dillingham (35.4 percent from the field) and freshman point guard Morgan William (35.1) are two other players who figure to return to a bigger offensive role next season.
“Kids spending more time in the gym and less time in the ice cream shop, or wherever. We have to make shots. You play against a team as big as Duke, they’re not going to let you take it to the rim. They’re not going to let you run your dribble-drive. If you do, you’re going to be running into the Statue of Liberty. When that one falls down, there is another statue right behind her.
“We need to get in the gym and get better shooting the basketball, and we have some good shooters.”
The four — or power forward — position: Schaefer’s MSU team have relied on the power forward to do a lot of things on offense. Richardson and sophomore forward Ketara Chapel have had varying degrees of success playing the role of passer, shooter, and rebounder. Richardson scored in double figures 15 times and had three double-doubles, including MSU’s victory against Tulane in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The flip side was Richardson also had 13 games in which she scored five points or less, including the loss to Duke (three points, three rebounds in 33 minutes).
Chapel, who started the first 19 games of the season, scored in double figures five times, but all of those were in the first nine games. She didn’t score more than seven points in a game after that.
As a pair, Richardson and Chapel scored in double figures only once in the same game (vs. then-No. 16 West Virginia, when they combined to score 29 points. That victory in the preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament arguably was the team’s best non-conference victory.
Schaefer said the power forward position has been an area of great “contemplation” because Richardson and Chapel impact the program in so many “great and positive ways,” yet he said there have been times their production hasn’t been what the Bulldogs have needed. He said it isn’t because those two aren’t trying, but he feels — and he believes Richardson and Chapel would agree — they need to get better.
“That is one of the positions I am talking about that has to make shots,” Schaefer said. “Bre always has been a tremendous rebounds. Ketara needs to become a better rebounder, especially defensively. She always has been a nose-to-the ball offensive rebounder, but defensive rebounding always has been No. 2 of the two. Both of those kids this time last year I sat here and said the same thing and told them the same thing and it didn’t get done. Let’s be honest, so I think they have to look in the mirror and I have to look in the mirror and realize, hey, we didn’t get it done last year, let’s get it done because that position impacts our program, and it impacts our team every night. They have got to make shots and they can’t turn it over. It is important, no doubt about it. For us to get to that next game, our four spot has to get better. No doubt about it, our four spot has to improve dramatically.”
Replacing Alwal: Alwal missed the first five games of the season recovering from offseason back surgery. Coming off a season in which she was a first-team All-SEC performer as a junior, Alwal didn’t round into form until early in the SEC season. By the end of the season, Alwal was nearly back to her junior levels (9.5 ppg., 6.6 rebounds per game, 71 blocked shots) and provided an inside presence for the Bulldogs.
While some might be worried how the Bulldogs will fare next season without Alwal, Schaefer feels comfortable having junior Sherise Williams and sophomore Chinwe Okorie at that position in 2015-16.
Okorie averaged 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, while Williams averaged 3.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 8.4 minutes per game (24 games).
“I been asked about that position more than any, and for whatever reason and I could be dead wrong, I am not worried about that position,” Schaefer said. “I think Sherise and Chinwe will provide exactly what we need there. Those two were sensational early when Martha was hurt. We won some big ballgames against some really good teams with those two, and I really believe those two are going to have breakout years next year.”
How good can Vivians be?: The state of Mississippi’s all-time leading prep basketball scorer made her impact felt in her first season in a number of ways. It also was undeniable Vivians’ game matured as the season progressed. Unfortunately, a broken nail on her right thumb hindered her performance in a loss to Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament. She also was hampered by foul trouble in the season-ending loss to Duke and finished 5 of 17 from the field (team-high 15 points).
But Schaefer said there is no reason to doubt Vivians will be able to take on a bigger role next season.
“I don’t think there is any doubt her top end is out of sight,” Schaefer said. “I don’t think we’ve scratched the surface of how good the kid can be. Rightfully so (because) she was just a freshman. One thing she always is going to be is competitive. She is a winner. She wants to win, and she is not afraid to take the big shot. She likes the big atmosphere and the big moment. I think you’re going to find next year all of the freshmen will have improved and will be better players.”
Who will be MSU’s leader next season?: If chemistry was the Bulldogs’ strength this season, it was because the team embraced the notion of blending the skills of 14 players and getting the most out of everyone.
For MSU to take the next step, all of the returning players will have to get better. They also will have to set the tone for newcomers Jazmine Spears, Jazzmun Holmes, and Zion Campbell.
Schaefer complimented his team’s chemistry and said that was an integral part in the squad’s ability to overcome injuries and to grow as much as it did this season. To that point, he related a phone call he recently received from a friend he hadn’t heard from in a long time. He said the friend called to tell him that it was easy to see how much the Bulldogs cared for each other because they played hard for each other.
Schaefer said it will be important for the 2015-16 team to have good leadership because everything will fall into place if the team has it.
Schaefer said Dillingham “should” be a team leader next season in part because she plays with an energy and a defensive focus that epitomizes what Schaefer wants from his players.
“Whether she can handle that role and be that person, I think that is yet to be seen,” Schaefer said. “I think Victoria needs to be that person. It always helps when your quote unquote best players is also your leader.”
What to expect from the newcomers?: If this season was any indication, the freshmen should be ready to seize the opportunity to earn playing time. That chance could be easier for Spears, a former standout at New Albany High School who went on to be an All-American at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College, and Holmes, a standout at Harrison Central High and a member of The Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen.
Spears figures to compete for playing time at forward, while Holmes should be in the mix to earn time at point guard with William and Blair Schaefer.
“They don’t have to come in and be spectacular, but I do think there is a chance a couple of them could be and make a huge impact right away,” Schaefer said.
Schaefer mentioned Spears, who signed with MSU out of high school but didn’t qualify, as someone he feels can “impact” the team next season. He feels Spears might have an advantage based on her two years of junior college experience. He also acknowledges Spears has “some work to do at some areas I want her to get better at in a hurry.”
“The kid scored more than 3,500 points in her high school career. From a shooting standpoint, she probably shoots it better,” Schaefer said. “Will she do the other part? The defense and the toughness and all of that? She is probably going to have to learn that here. From just a pure stroke standpoint, she probably has a better stroke.”
Schaefer cautioned everyone not to leave out freshman LaKaris Salter, who he said probably has the best stroke of all of the players. He said the challenge for he and Salter is to get the “rest of it together.” He said the most players are going to improve is between the freshman and sophomore season, so he is encouraged that Salter can bring excitement to the floor for longer periods than she did this season. He said she will have to address issues like blocking out and defending up and down the court.
“Those are things that I think are easily addressed and fixed, but there also might be a lot more involved,” Schaefer said. “I think there is a healthy competition there, so I am anxious to see which one rises to the top, so to speak.”
Scheduling: Schaefer would have loved to have played Duke before a sold-out crowd at Humphrey Coliseum, but the NCAA tournament selection committee didn’t value MSU’s non-conference schedule enough to give Starkville its first chance at playing host to its initial NCAA tournament.
Schaefer acknowledged the need to upgrade the non-conference schedule in an effort to improve the team’s Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and Strength of Schedule), but he said it isn’t that easy to pick up the phone and upgrade the schedule.
“We pick up the phone and call 50 schools and 45 of them aren’t interested,” Schaefer said. “The other five are interested, but they want me to come to them first. I can’t open with eight non-conference games on the road. … It is a little bit of a Catch-22. Certainly you don’t want to play a bunch of them, but, again, I will have three freshmen and I need them to get in the game and have some success and play.
“I think there are things we can control and we need to do a better job. I need to do a better job with that, and right now we are taking our time putting together our schedule and making sure we try to do the best thing for our program. What you don’t want to do is go 8-8 in the SEC but you also went 5-6 in your non-conference. Now you’re under .500 and you’re not going to get to go to the NCAA tournament. You don’t want to do that. I’d rather be the fifth seed and go than not go, so, again, it is a lot easier said than done.
“It’s funny. Two years ago, everybody wanted to play us. Right now, I don’t have too many people picking up the phone and wanting to play Mississippi State. That’s fine. That is part of it.”
Embracing even higher expectations for 2015-16: Schaefer, his staff, and his players didn’t back down from any challenge en route to what in many ways was the program’s best season.
That mentality will key next season when MSU figures to be picked higher than eighth in the preseason SEC poll. Schaefer said several times during the season that it was difficult to establish a program in the top 16-20 of the national rankings. He said it is even tougher to push that program past that into the top 10, and to keep the team at that level.
To realize that goal, Schaefer said recruiting will be key. He said the Bulldogs also have to understand everyone has to improve all aspects of their game for the program to continue to grow into a national power.
“I think the team that we have now will want to continue to win and be successful,” Schaefer said. “They are winners, and they understand there is a price to pay and they want to be active participants in our success.
“I have not let Kayla Nevitt forget she is the next Kendra Grant on our team. She has that big, high-rising, big-time jump shot, so Kayla Nevitt knows I am counting on her to work hard in the offseason, to get better, and be Kendra Grant next year. Does that mean be Kendra Grant that comes off the bench or be Kendra Grant who started as a freshman and half of her sophomore year, or does it mean be Kayla Nevitt and go try to get a starting spot, which is what I want her to do.
“I think our kids will be motivated just because that is their makeup, that is their DNA, that is who they are. But, again, we as coaches have to continue to push, prod, and poke to get them going.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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