STARKVILLE — Thursday night will have a familiar face in a different place on the sidelines at Humphrey Coliseum.
For the first time since the 2019-20 season, former Mississippi State women’s basketball assistant coach Johnnie Harris will be back at the Hump.
A fan favorite during her time with the Bulldogs, Harris was instrumental in helping MSU reach back-to-back national championship game appearances, coaching alongside Vic Schaefer.
This time, however, Harris will be on the other side of the scorer’s table, coaching Auburn, who comes into Starkville winless in SEC play.
Currently in her second season at the helm for the Tigers, she, along with assistant coach Ketara Chapel and director of player development Savannah Carter, will be making a long-awaited return back home.
“It’s going to be huge for them to come back home,” Mississippi State head coach Sam Purcell said. “The thing that I want and I want our staff and our fanbase to do is we’re going to treat them with respect. They’re one of us.
“The moments they had here, the time they spent in this community, I want to make them feel welcome.”
The pregame pageantry will give way to an important game for the Bulldogs, who sit at 2-3 through their first five conference games of the season.
A win on Sunday against Texas A&M was much needed for MSU (13-5), snapping a three-game losing streak in which all three games were decided by 11 points or fewer.
Thursday’s game, even though the Tigers (10-7, 0-5 SEC) come in without a conference win, is far from a gimme. The contest tips off at 7 p.m. from Humphrey Coliseum.
“Every game is big,” Purcell said. “The bottom is nowhere near the bottom in the SEC … Our mindset has to be to understand that we’re playing at home and we need to protect our house. It’s going to be four quarters. Let’s not get caught up in the opponent, and let’s make sure we play Mississippi State basketball.”
Simply put, the Bulldogs have had Auburn’s number in recent years, winning 10 straight against the Tigers dating back to the 2013-14 season and 13 of the last 16 matchups between the two schools.
That includes five straight home wins, and with MSU having lost its last two home games to Ole Miss and No. 1 South Carolina, defending home court is imperative.
Playing a fast-paced, up-tempo offense will go a long way to securing that as the Bulldogs face up with a team that’s ninth in the SEC and tied for 205th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up 64.9 points per game this season.
A balanced scoring output is also crucial, and with players like Ahlana Smith stepping up against Texas A&M, the Bulldogs are continuing to answer the call.
“For her to have her moment and play so well, I think her teammates were her as she’s always happy for everyone else,” Purcell said. “That’s what I’m excited about with my team. I have different kids night in and night out who can step up, and that’s what makes us a great team.”
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