STARKVILLE — “You become what you repeatedly do.”
That was Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer’s thought for the day Thursday as he and his players tried to get back into the swing of things following final exams.
As much as Schaefer likes what he sees from the Bulldogs on defense, the fourth-year MSU head coach knows his team has to get better on offense. That’s why he and the Bulldogs have been working hard this week to tweak their sets and spacing so the points can come a little more easily.
No. 9 MSU (6-1) hopes to see the rewards from that work at 3 p.m. today when it takes on Louisiana Tech (4-4) in Ruston, Louisiana. MSU is coming off an 82-54 victory against Tennessee State on Sunday. Louisiana Tech lost to Arizona 77-67 on Thursday in Tucson, Arizona. Louisiana Tech’s other losses are to Wisconsin, UCLA, and Prairie View A&M.
“We have seven games of statistics and we have some shooting percentages we need to get better,” Schaefer said. “It is hard to get the kids in the gym and doing extra when they’re so focused on doing the student part of the student-athlete, as well as all of the other extras in the world. That is our focus right now in trying to fix some of these issues.”
In reviewing film of the first seven games, Schaefer and his coaches have identified players out of position in half-court sets and improper spacing. He said both factors have impacted the team’s efficiency on offense even though it is averaging 85.3, which was first in the Southeastern Conference in games played through Thursday.
Part of the problem for the Bulldogs, though, is a lack of production from their starting five. The players who have started the most games — Victoria Vivians, Dominique Dillingham, Chinwe Okorie, Morgan William, and Ketara Chapel — have combined for 42.9 points per game. That percentage of the team’s total output (50.3) is the lowest of any team in the SEC. Florida (52.3 percent of its points from starters) is the next closest.
MSU also is one of two teams (Arkansas) in the league that have only one double-digit scorer in their starting five. Freshman center Teaira McCowan (10.7 points per game) is averaging double figures, but she has started only one game. Okorie has started six games at center and is averaging 8.1 ppg.
Chapel, who has started six games, is one of three players in the SEC who have started a majority of their teams’ games who is averaging less than three ppg. through games played Thursday. Breanna Richardson (5.9 ppg.) and LaKaris Salter (5.1) have earned most of their minutes off the bench to supplement the production from the four, or power forward, position.
William, the team’s sophomore point guard, has started all seven games, but she is shooting only 29.7 percent from the field and averaging 20 minutes per game. Part of her adjustment can be attributed to a mask that she had to wear early in the season to protect her after she suffered a broken nose.
Whether it’s at power forward, point guard, or small forward, where Dillingham is second on the team in scoring at 8.7 ppg., Schaefer knows someone has to step up to help take the load off Vivians, who is averaging 17.9 ppg.
Schaefer hopes he begins to see separation at power forward. Early in the season, he said repeatedly that Chapel, Richardson, and Salter all did different things a little bit better and that he would have to find a way to mix and match skills to game situations. But as the schedule counts down to Jan. 3, 2016, and the SEC opener at Florida, Schaefer knows someone will have to emerge.
“I am waiting still,” Schaefer said. “I have been shuffling that group around, and I am going to shuffle them around again today. I need someone to separate themself.”
When asked if the issue at the position was mental in regard to the fact none of the power forwards have set themselves apart, Schaefer said, “You might be onto something there.
“All of those kids are competitive,” Schaefer said. “I won’t say they’re not competitive, but they also are really good friends. Instead of me having to sub in and out during practice, I will look up and one will have the other one come in for them. They’re great kids and they’re good friends. That is their mind-set.
“I think if we took everybody in the room and we went out and we were competing for something, we all would want to be out there for as long as we possibly can, and really wanting to be the person in that role.
“It’s a challenge with that group in particular. But they are great kids, and I am sure they’re all going to elevate their game and get better.”
Schaefer also said after the game against Tennessee State he would address a lack of hustle that caught his attention late in the fourth quarter when MSU didn’t get on the floor for a loose ball. He said Thursday he feels the issue has been recognized and is in the process of being corrected.
“They realize that is not us,” Schaefer said. “The three who were up here with me after the game (Vivians, Richardson, and Okorie) realize that is not us. I don’t think it is something that is an epidemic. I think it was a one-time deal. I think they realize the importance of it, and they know how I feel about those type of things.”
NOTE: Schaefer hopes William will be closer to her old self today after missing practice Tuesday and Wednesday. He said Thursday that William had three days off to help her deal with shin issues that limited her to nine minutes against Tennessee State. Schaefer said the issues with William’s shins don’t make it uncomfortable for her to walk, but he said she is dealing with discomfort.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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