STARKVILLE — Like many coaches, Vic Schaefer always wants more.
In his first five seasons as Mississippi State women’s basketball coach, Schaefer talked about the fear of being unprepared and how that motivates him to study and to push his players so they are ready for every situation imaginable.
This season, Schaefer and the Bulldogs have a new source of motivation: being the hunted. A trip to the national title game has a way of making the bull’s eye on your back a little bigger, especially when your squad returns four senior guards. But the maturation of Victoria Vivians and junior center Teaira McCowan has helped MSU deal with its new-found identity as a national title contender quite well.
At 8 tonight (SEC Network), No. 5 MSU will try to stretch its season-opening winning streak to 16 when it plays host to Arkansas in its Southeastern Conference home opener at Humphrey Coliseum.
“You always want them to understand how special and what the opportunity is, but kids are kids,” Schaefer said. “You don’t know what they’re thinking sometimes. That has to do with your maturity and your leadership. Those were the two keys I told you about back in September and October. … That continues to be a work in progress.”
When asked if it was “so far, so good” after a 15-0 start, Schaefer said, “it continues to be a work in progress. I continue to try to teach and coach other things besides Xs and Os, but that is part of what we do.”
Last season at this time, MSU was 15-0 and averaging 81.4 points per game. It was shooting 48.3 percent from the field and had an average margin of victory of 28.7 ppg. MSU had attempted 220 3-pointers and 354 free throws. The Bulldogs also had 239 assists and 208 turnovers. They were holding opponents to 52.7 ppg., 38.7 percent shooting from the field, and 24.4 percent from 3-point range.
This season, MSU is averaging 86.4 ppg. and is shooting 47.9 percent from the field. Its margin of victory is 31.4 ppg. The Bulldogs have attempted 306 3-pointers and 322 free throws. They have 260 assists and 181 turnovers. MSU is holding opponents to 55 ppg., 37.8 percent shooting from the field, and 29.5 percent from 3-point range.
The differences between the 2016-17 and 2017-18 squads are slight, but they point to continued growth in areas Schaefer has stressed as he has built the program from a 13-win season in 2012-13 into one that has climbed to the top of the SEC and into the national conversation.
McCowan, who is averaging a team-high 20.3 ppg. and 12.5 rebounds, and Vivians, who is averaging 19.8 ppg. and shooting a career-best 54 percent from the field, are fueling MSU to a different method of winning.
“I am not sure I have seen a bigger transformation, development of a young lady at her position in my career,” Schaefer said of McCowan. “She has got tons of a way to go. She still can get so much better. I couldn’t be more proud of her. I know the time she has put in. I know the time coach (Johnnie) Harris has put in with her.”
The play of senior guards Morgan William, Blair Schaefer, and Roshunda Johnson and junior guard Jazzmun Holmes has given MSU arguably the deepest backcourt in the nation.
Johnson, who is third on the team in scoring at 11.9 ppg., said MSU continues to improve on defense, which could be an important factor as it moves deeper into the physical play of the SEC.
“I think we are getting closer,” Johnson said. “It is just a matter of how much you put in and how dedicated you are to the defense because that is what we hang our hats on. We are getting better day by day.”
Johnson said the Bulldogs are improving on helping the helper. She feels the team is better than where it started, as well as taking charges.
William added the Bulldogs are getting better at blocking out. She said her number of missed blockouts has dropped from more than 20 last season to less than 10 so far this season. William said the Bulldogs have to do the number of blockouts they miss in a game in blockout drills in practice with the men’s practice team
“I think we’re doing better in practice in help-side getting the charges, and I think it is carrying on to the game,” William said. “I still think (Schaefer) wants more. He is always going to want more. I am glad we are back taking charges. If somebody gets beat, you try to rotate and take the charge. That is the beauty of our defense. We are trying to get back there like we were and just build from there.”
Schaefer said freshmen Bre’Amber Scott and Nyah Tate are improving, Holmes has been “spectacular,” and freshman Chloe Bibby and junior Jordan Danberry are providing valuable contributions off a developing bench. He said offense continues to be a “focal point” for him, but he admits “defense travels,” especially in a league where teams are a little quicker and a little bigger.
MSU adjusted to that style of play Sunday in the first quarter against Georgia when it shot 7-for-20 from the field. McCowan bailed her teammates out by rebounding misses to keep the offense going. MSU regrouped to shoot better than 53.3 percent from the field in each of the last three quarters to win going away, 86-62. The 86 points were the most allowed by Georgia since 2006. It also was MSU’s first victory in Athens, Georgia, since 2002.
“When you have kids who can do what we do, it can get away from you in a hurry,” Schaefer said.
Still, Schaefer said there are areas that need to be addressed. He said this year’s team isn’t necessarily more unselfish than previous squads. He said the difference is this year’s Bulldogs are a little better skilled offensively. However, Schaefer said he misses players like Dominique Dillingham and Ketara Chapel, who were key defenders, charge takers, and tough rebounders on last season’s team that won a program-record 34 games.
“From a standpoint of pure offense adding the extra shooter at the wing, with Victoria at the four, it is a different dynamic. It just makes us different,” Schaefer said. “It’s yet to be decided if we’re better. We’re just scoring more points. I don’t know if we’re better or not.”
NOTE: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. … It will be Blair Schaefer Senior Night. Fans will be able to pick up free Blair Schaefer posters. Fans also will be able to take pictures with the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl trophy before the game. … The Bulldogs have won the last six games in the series. … MSU is seeking to win its SEC home opener for the fourth-straight season. … The 15-0 start is the third-best in program history. … MSU is one of four undefeated teams in the nation.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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