STARKVILLE — In what seems like an annual exercise, Mississippi State women’s basketball, under fourth-year coach Sam Purcell, is starting over. After a retooling period in recruiting and the transfer portal that saw seven players leave the roster and four join, the team now enters its second week of offseason workouts.

“I don’t think you ever replace anybody, you just seize the opportunity,” Purcell said during a 15-minute media session on Tuesday.

Purcell identified who he sees as the team’s new difference-makers and provided updates on the process of preparing for the new season.  

“The personalities of this group are special, so now let’s just put them on the court,” he said. “We sold them on a vision, let’s see if we can’t get them to be the best individuals in the summer, and when you get them as the best individuals, that’s how you build a team come September when practice officially starts.”

Much like last season, and the seasons before, Purcell’s team already looks quite different from the squad that ended the season at USC in the NCAA Tournament three months ago. 

The biggest departure is the graduation of JerKaila Jordan, the leading scorer for the Bulldogs last season and a constant on the team since before Purcell’s arrival on campus. Jordan’s departure leaves more than just a scoring gap, but a leadership one, too. 

In that regard, Purcell has high hopes for several players, but particularly the team’s two key holdovers from last season, Destiney McPhaul and Chandler Prater. 

“We’ve got to fail fast and learn quick,” Purcell said. “We’ve got to come together, play together, and if we can have that mindset for hard work every single day, then a collective effort will replace what someone like JerKaila brought to this team. And let’s see what kind of team we can put on the floor.”

McPhaul began to stand out for the Bulldogs off the bench, averaging 8 points from 22 minutes per game. She posted season-highs in points and assists in SEC play after earning a bigger role in the rotation, and had a memorable 19-point performance against Missouri to help the team come from behind in the opening round of the SEC Tournament. 

“That game against Missouri, I think we all remember, where she just flat out got hot and stepped up at a huge part of the year,” Purcell said. “She’s put in great work, she’s had a great summer, she’s a dynamic scorer, she was one who complemented Eniya and Jerk, and that’s someone I can see filling in with more shot opportunities and obviously a larger role if she keeps it up.”

Prater similarly grew into the season, finding her feet again after suffering a season-ending torn ACL at Oklahoma State the year before. By the middle of the SEC schedule, Prater was a starter, and Purcell expects her role to continue expanding in the locker room and on the floor by the time she takes the court in October.  

“You saw her growth throughout the year,” he said of Prater. “If you go back, our goals for her last year were just to get to Christmas, get healthy, get to a spot where you get your body back, and let’s see what happens. She worked her way into the starting lineup, played one through four. This year I’ve got a lot more height, so I’m going to simplify and just keep her in the two and three spot to keep her at a little bit more production standpoint, where she’s less thinking and just playing, because the young lady is just an absolute motor, and relentless. I see a big, big year for her offensively, defensively, and then most importantly, her leadership.”

The Bulldogs also struggled with consistent post play last year, and that problem was only exacerbated by the departure of Madina Okot for SEC rivals South Carolina. 

Purcell recognized the need and went on the attack to find the right solutions. He hinted there may be another announcement in a couple of weeks for a recruiting update, but pointed to transfer Kharysa Richardson, incoming freshman Madison Francis, and returner Rocio Jimenez, whom he labeled his “enforcer,” as potential difference makers in the fall. 

“These young ladies are going to allow us to play out more in space, and space the floor, which will allow our guards to eat. I’m really excited about what you’re going to be able to watch this year.”

Aggression was a theme in Purcell’s answers, both about taking on the new season and the new era in college sports with revenue sharing and recruiting changes. Though it’s still too early to make any firm statements about either matter, he made it clear that he feels well-equipped and supported by the athletic department and AD Zac Selmon to keep the program moving forward, particularly in terms of improvements to athletic facilities across campus, including the recently renovated Humphrey Coliseum. 

“My word is attack, you’ve got to attack it,” he said of the new changes to college sports. “I watch a lot of stuff and read comments where people have a negative tone towards what’s going on, but I don’t think negative gets you anywhere in today’s college business. You’ve got to adapt, you got to be on the front edge, and that’s why I’m excited to work at Mississippi State, especially with someone like Zac, where you see the cool things that we’re doing with the renovations.”