Minichino Column: UConn sets the standard in women’s basketball

If you’re not already tired of hearing about Geno Auriemma and the Connecticut women’s basketball team, get ready because they likely will be talked about plenty of times in the next two weeks.

MSU women open NCAA regional with victory

STARKVILLE — Next player up.

Mississippi State outlasts Chattanooga in first round of NCAA tournament

STARKVILLE — Style points haven’t been important to the 2015-16 Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

All season, MSU coach Vic Schaefer has preached about the importance of defense and how the Bulldogs work through their challenges on offense by playing a “grind-it-out” brand of ball.

The Bulldogs’ plan didn’t change on a history-making Friday afternoon. In fact, the first NCAA tournament women’s basketball game at Humphrey Coliseum played out a lot like the Bulldogs’ first 33 games of the season.

Victoria Vivians scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Chinwe Okorie had 12 points and nine rebounds to help No. 5 seed MSU beat No. 12 seed Chattanooga 60-50 before a crowd of 5,115 in the first round of the NCAA tournament ‘s Bridgeport Regional at Humphrey Coliseum.

Stricklin not surprised by size of crowd for MSU’s NCAA opener

STARKVILLE — Scott Stricklin has been on hand to see a lot of women’s basketball history the last two seasons.

Stricklin was one of the 5,115 fans in attendance Friday to watch MSU beat Chattanooga 60-50 in its first game as a host team in the NCAA tournament.

After seeing MSU break an attendance record with 80,705 fans, including a state of Mississippi record crowd of 10,626 for a game against South Carolina, Stricklin wasn’t surprised by what he saw Friday, even if the game did start in the middle of the afternoon.

MSU women ready for first NCAA tournament game at home

STARKVILLE — The “People’s Team” hopes its choir turns out in force today for another chapter in its history-making journey.

At 1:30 p.m., No. 5 seed Mississippi State (26-7) will play host to No. 12 seed Chattanooga (24-7) in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Humphrey Coliseum. The game marks the first time in program history that MSU is serving as a host for the NCAA tournament. No. 4 seed Michigan State (24-8) and No. 13 seed Belmont (24-8) will kick off the day’s festivities at 11 a.m.

Both games will be televised on ESPN2. WKBB-FM (100.9), WXWX-FM (96.3), WKCU-FM (92.9), and WKCU-AM (1350) will broadcast the game on the radio.

Home-court advantage remains issue for NCAA in women’s game

STARKVILLE — Suzy Merchant doesn’t know how many fans will be in Starkville this weekend to support her Michigan State women’s basketball team.

When you’re more than 13 hours from home, it isn’t likely you’re going to get a throng of Spartans fans wearing green to attend your game, even if it is the first round of the NCAA tournament.

In a perfect world, Merchant wouldn’t have to worry about fan support. Ideally, Merchant and her players would have slept in their own beds Thursday night and been able to follow a more normal pre-game routine for their game against Belmont at 11 a.m. today at Humphrey Coliseum.

‘It was just a feeling’: Holly Schaefer sensed the possibilities a move to Starkville could bring

Holly Schaefer believed.

When you have coached and been around athletics as long as Schaefer, sometimes you just get a feeling. So don’t expect Vic Schaefer’s wife to point to one specific thing that sold her on Mississippi State University, its women’s basketball program, and the city of Starkville four years ago.

Belmont looks to continue surprising run

Teams that suffer six-game losing streaks that run from December into January often don’t go dancing in March.

Veteran coach Foster leads Chattanooga to NCAA event in Starkville

Jim Foster doesn’t care for labels.

Powers help carry Michigan State to the nation’s elite

When you have a player as talented as Aerial Powers, it is natural to wonder what makes her so good.

Columbus High’s Clopton earns all-star invite

JACKSON — Demetrice Clopton still couldn’t believe it.

Proffitt, Baudoin help lead Central Arkansas to NCAA tournament

Maggie Proffitt never imagined the difference a month could make.

In her first two seasons as a member of the Central Arkansas women’s basketball team, Proffitt and her teammates regrouped in July to begin preparations for the upcoming. The final months of summer were filled with conditioning and skill work for basketball, classes, and time to bond with teammates to build chemistry.

Expectations rise for MSU’s next step in NCAAs

The awards continue to roll in for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

On Tuesday, sophomore Victoria Vivians and junior Dominique Dillingham were named to The Associated Press’ All-Southeastern Conference team. Vivians, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer at 17.2 points per game, earned first-team honors, while Dillingham, who leads the team with 49 charges taken, received honorable mention accolades.

The honors were the latest to come in another history-making season that will continue at 1:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN2) when No. 5 seed MSU (26-7) plays host to No. 12 seed Chattanooga (24-7) in the first round of the NCAA tournament’s Bridgeport Regional at Humphrey Coliseum.

Practice habits pay off for Columbus High’s McDavid

JACKSON — Javontae McDavid has a home in any gym.

Maybe that’s why the Columbus High School senior guard has earned the nickname “gym rat.”

During the course of the 2015-16 season, it was common to see McDavid shooting jump shots or practicing free throws prior to practice or after practice to make sure his touch was ready. McDavid never knew when he was going to get his opportunity, especially after losing his starting position to classmate TJ Gray early in the season.

MSU women look to take next step in NCAAs

STARKVILLE — The next step has arrived for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

Nearly four years ago, Vic Schaefer took the sideline for the first time as MSU women’s basketball coach and surveyed the scene inside Humphrey Coliseum. Instead of seeing a crowd of 1,234 for his team’s victory against Houston to open the 2012-13 season, Schaefer saw the potential. He imagined the days when the Bulldogs would pack the Hump and add year after year after year to the NCAA tournament banners that hung from the rafters of the venue.

NCAA bringing dance to Starkville

“Made in March” will get a chance to show what it is made of in Starkville.

Columbus sticks to game plan for historic victory

JACKSON — Stick to the game plan.

Columbus boys win first basketball state championship

JACKSON — History.

Minichino Column: MSU women waiting on selection

It appears to be a number’s game at this point for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

New Hope High’s Jones signs with Mississippi Delta

Tyler Jones didn’t know he was being followed.

Four months ago, Jones learned the baseball coaches at Mississippi Delta Community College had been monitoring his progress for the past two years. Jones made the discovery at a tryout in Moorhead that was designed to help him enhance his recruiting profile.