STARKVILLE — Jazzmun Holmes’ greeting is another sign things are different this season for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.
The senior point guard didn’t always used to enter the media room at Humphrey Coliseum with a bubbly disposition and ask everyone how they were doing. Earlier in her MSU career, Holmes was more reserved and reluctant to speak up, even though she played a key role as backup point guard to Morgan William.
But Holmes’ welcome Tuesday to those on hand for the MSU women’s basketball media availability is another sign that things will remain consistent even if they are a little different. That’s because Holmes offered a similar greeting the last time she was a part of a media session at the Hump, so it shouldn’t have been surprising she opened and closed the latest meeting with pleasantries.
On the court, Holmes has been just as consistent. A year after having an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 3-to-1, Holmes has handed out 20 assists and committed only five turnovers to help lead No. 6 MSU to a 4-0 start.
“Jazz is playing at a really high level,” MSU coach Vic Schaefer said. “I thought she was really good the other night (in a 110-38 victory against Coppin State on Sunday). I thought she was not only locked in offensively running our team but also defensively. I noticed her right away. That is a big key for us. If Jazz or Jordan (Danberry) is guarding the ball and they’re really active and interested, I think everybody behind them is active and interested.”
Holmes and MSU will try to build on that start at 2 p.m. Wednesday when they play host to Furman at Humphrey Coliseum.
Holmes is averaging 7.5 points per game in 25.3 minutes per game, which is second on the team. Her 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio is something she takes pride in because it has been stressed to her since she arrived in Starkville.
Last season, MSU’s ability to share the ball and protect it was instrumental in its second-straight run to the national title game. The Bulldogs were 53rd in the nation in assists (15.3) and third in turnovers (10.8) last season. Through four games, they are 12th in the nation in assists (20.8) and 113th in turnovers (16.1).
Holmes said everybody on the 2018-19 team can do something different, so she has to continue to build relationships with her teammates to find out where their “shooting pockets” are so she can get them the ball in the right spots. She said those spots are the same ones she saw last season when she delivered the ball to Victoria Vivians, Roshunda Johnson, Blair Schaefer and, to a lesser extent, William.
Schaefer said at SEC Media Days he wasn’t sure if the Bulldogs had individuals who could step in to replace the shooting the team lost with the graduation of the four seniors. Sophomore Chloe Bibby has done her part by hitting 52.4 percent from 3-point range. Andra Espinoza-Hunter is 8-for-20 (40 percent) from behind the arc in three games.
Holmes said this season’s team can have an offense that can be different from last season because “a lot of our shooters want to go off the bounce.” She feels that is a good thing because the Bulldogs are attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line, which is another thing Schaefer wants.
Last season, MSU was second in the nation in free throws made (570). Through four games, MSU has made 69 free throws, which is 14th in the country. Despite the small sample size, the Bulldogs have displayed the potential to remain consistent despite losing four starters. Holmes deserves a lot of credit for that because she learned her lessons well. She hopes to continue to expand her game and to push tempo and defenses so she can get in the paint and find her shots.
“Jazz is shooting 50 percent from the floor,” Schaefer said. “She has a high-rising jump shot. I think her range is getting better and better every day. We’re comfortable with her 16, 17 feet and in. She continues to work on stretching that.
“She is hard to get to. She has some size to her. She is certainly quick and athletic, but she can really jump up over some people and score the ball, which is why I played her at two (shooting guard) some. I think that gives us a real unique lineup when I can play her at two and do some other things at point guard with Myah (Taylor), even roll Jordan in there if I wanted to keep Andi (Espinoza-Hunter) on the floor.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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