The Mississippi State women’s basketball team was projected to finish ninth in the Southeastern Conference by SEC coaches, the league announced Tuesday.
The Bulldogs were slated into the same spot by SEC media last week.
Forward Rickea Jackson was named to the coaches’ all-SEC first team Tuesday. The Detroit native averaged 14.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game as a sophomore.
Mississippi State went 10-9 (5-7 SEC) last season under Nikki McCray-Penson, who resigned Oct. 12 citing health concerns. Interim coach Doug Novak, who joined the program in September, takes over.
The Bulldogs will start the 2020-21 season Monday with an exhibition against Mississippi College at 6 p.m. at Humphrey Coliseum. The regular-season opener is at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 against Alabama State in Starkville.
Projected order of finish
1. South Carolina
2. Texas A&M
3. Tennessee
4. Georgia
5. Kentucky
6. Ole Miss
7. Arkansas
8. LSU
9. Mississippi State
10. Missouri
11. Florida
12. Alabama
13. Auburn
14. Vanderbilt
Player of the Year
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
First team all-SEC
Lavender Briggs, Florida
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Khayla Pointer, LSU
Shakira Austin, Ole Miss
Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Zia Cooke, South Carolina
Rae Burrell, Tennessee
Second team all-SEC
Amber Ramirez, Arkansas
Kiara Smith, Florida
Que Morrison, Georgia
Jenna Staiti, Georgia
Aijha Blackwell, Missouri
Destanni Henderson, South Carolina
Tamari Key, Tennessee
Jordan Nixon, Texas A&M
Kayla Wells, Texas A&M
Molinar, Brooks named to men’s all-SEC teams
On the men’s side, Mississippi State had two players named to the coaches’ preseason all-SEC teams Tuesday.
Point guard Iverson Molinar was a first-team selection, while forward Garrison Brooks was a second-team pick.
No predicted order of finish was made by SEC coaches.
Molinar enters his junior year in Starkville, while Brooks transferred to MSU after playing four seasons at North Carolina.
The Bulldogs start their 2021-22 season Nov. 10 against North Alabama at Humphrey Coliseum.
First team all-SEC
Jaden Shackelford, Alabama
Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama
JD Notae, Arkansas
Allen Flanigan, Auburn
Colin Castleton, Florida
Sahvir Wheeler, Kentucky
Darius Days, LSU
Iverson Molinar, Mississippi State
John Fulkerson, Tennessee
Scotty Pippen Jr., Vanderbilt
Second team all-SEC
Davonte Davis, Arkansas
Jabari Smith, Auburn
Keion Brooks Jr., Kentucky
Kellan Grady, Kentucky
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Xavier Pinson, LSU
Garrison Brooks, Mississippi State
Keyshawn Bryant, South Carolina
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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