STARKVILLE — The differences really aren’t that big.
A year ago, the Mississippi State women’s basketball team was ranked No. 8 as it prepared to play South Florida in its final non-conference game before the start of Southeastern Conference action. Sophomore Victoria Vivians was leading the Bulldogs in scoring at 17.8 points per game and shooting 41.6 percent from the field. MSU was flying high at 12-1 thanks to an offense that was averaging 82.8 ppg. and a defense that was holding opponents to 50.8 pg.
A year later, MSU is flying a little bit higher at a program-best No. 5 in The Associated Press and USA Today polls. The Bulldogs (13-0) are the only undefeated team remaining in the SEC, and one of eight unbeatens left in all of Division I. But you would be hard pressed to find any reason to show why MSU is flying even higher as it prepares to take on Northwestern State at 7 tonight at Humphrey Coliseum in its final non-conference game of the season.
“I think our chemistry is better,” MSU coach Vic Schaefer said. “I think we have a greater understanding of the game. Our intelligence is pretty good when it comes to knowing the game, understanding the game, understanding what people are trying to do to us, and how we want to attack that. That comes with a veteran team.”
The Bulldogs are scoring less (80.1 ppg.) and giving up more points (54.8) than they did at the same point last season. MSU’s field goal percentage defense (40.8 percent), which is 231st in the nation, also is the worst in the Schaefer’s five seasons at MSU.
MSU has countered those numbers with a balanced attack that has it shooting 47.3 percent from the field. That mark is 4.4 percent higher than the 42.9-percent mark the Bulldogs were shooting through non-conference play in 2013-14.
Individually, Vivians’ scoring is down to 15.8 ppg., which reflects the improved play of several players and the addition of Roshunda Johnson.
Junior guard Morgan William has made the biggest statistical jump from last season. William, who was averaging 8.5 ppg. and was shooting 34.5 percent from the field at this time last season, is second on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg.) and is shooting a career-best 53.1 percent from the field. She shot 35.4 percent as a freshman and 32.1 percent last season.
Senior forward Breanna Richardson also has been a more consistent contributor. She is averaging 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds and is shooting a career-best 57.8 percent from the field. A year ago, she was averaging 5.8 ppg. and 3.9 rebounds per game and shooting 31.8 percent from the field.
Johnson, a junior transfer from Oklahoma State, who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, is averaging 8.5 ppg. and is shooting 46.3 percent from the field, including a robust 45.1 percent from 3-point range. Johnson’s contributions have helped the Bulldogs offset the absence of senior guard Dominique Dillingham, who has played in only seven games due to a knee injury.
Schaefer said Tuesday that Dillingham practiced Monday and Tuesday in her first action since having knee surgery. She could return to the court tonight.
Schaefer said opponents are shooter a higher percentage from the field in part because MSU has played a tougher non-conference schedule than in previous seasons. The Bulldogs’ No. 5 Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) proves that point. The NCAA tournament selection committee highlighted MSU’s non-conference strength of schedule the last two seasons in determining its seeds for the 64-team field. In each of the last two seasons, MSU failed to earn a top-four seed and a chance to play host to the first and second rounds of the tournament. It earned a chance to play at home last season as a No. 5 seed because No. 4 seed Michigan State couldn’t play on its home court due to a scheduling conflict.
Schaefer said Dillingham’s absence has contributed to opponents shooting a higher percentage from the field.
Senior center Chinwe Okorie is another player who has helped the cause with increased productivity. The perception is she and Teaira McCowan are converting a higher percentage of their shots in the paint. But Okorie is shooting a lower percentage (58.2) than she shot at this time last season (60.2), even though she is scoring a little more than she did in 2015-16 (9.7 ppg. compared to 8.5).
“The difference (from last season) is we have an inside game and we have guards who are making shots,” MSU senior forward Ketara Chapel said. “We have people we can pass it to inside who can finish and guards who have been in the gym shooting and coming into the game making shots.”
Chapel said having more scoring threats makes it easier on everyone, including Vivians, whose shooting percentage from the field (41.2) is nearly the same as it was last season (41.6). She said there is a greater sense of “peace” on the team because the players trust the guards. She also feels the Bulldogs have remained “humble” in their climb to a program-best national ranking. She acknowledges the Bulldogs are “the hunted” given their No. 5 ranking, but she said the team will take the mind-set that still is “the underdog” because all of the players are focused on “living it,” as Schaefer has encouraged the players do to this season.
When you add it all up, Schaefer said he likes where his team is as the clock ticks down to the start of SEC play at 2 p.m. Sunday against LSU at Humphrey Coliseum. SEC Network will broadcast the game live.
Schaefer hopes the Bulldogs’ shooting percentage and their field goal percentage defense improve once SEC play starts. Typically, MSU’s field goal percentage has slipped in league play in part because the teams are more familiar with each other. Schaefer hopes Dillingham’s return helps the Bulldogs lower their field goal percentage defense. He is confident his team’s depth of shooters and size inside will enable it to continue to execute at a high level on offense. The tricky part is working Dillingham back into the mix and not disrupting the chemistry.
“(Dominique) is an unselfish kid, so from a chemistry standpoint she has played with this group long enough that I think the chemistry piece will happen faster,” Schaefer said. “The piece that needs to get fixed immediately is the rust. She has things she needs to work on defensively and techniques that need to be refined and brushed up on, and then she has to get back in the gym and shoot.”
NOTE: Tonight is Dollar Night. Tickets for adults cost $1, while students high school age and under get in free. There will also be $1 hot dogs available for purchase while supplies last. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy Bully’s Kidz Kourt in Mize Pavilion and take pictures with the Golden Egg and St. Petersburg Bowl trophy. The game also will broadcast live on SEC Network+ and WKBB-FM 100.9.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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