STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s basketball program’s journey into uncharted territory continues.
Fittingly, in a season that has seen the Bulldogs travel more than 17,000 miles to complete the non-conference portion of their schedule, the next step will be on the road.
It also will be appropriate that the matchup between No. 4 MSU (20-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) and No. 5 South Carolina (16-1, 6-0) at 6 p.m. Monday (ESPN2) at Colonial Life Arena will be a battle of top-five titans. In years past, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Kentucky might be the teams expected to hold the highest ranking entering a top SEC matchup in the middle of January.
Instead, MSU, which joins No. 1 Connecticut as the only undefeated teams in NCAA Division I women’s basketball, will try to extend its program-best start to the season and shoot for a victory against a top-five opponent for the first time since a 62-61 victory against No. 2 Georgia in the semifinals of the SEC tournament on March 4, 2000.
“I think now because of what we have done and the experience that we’ve had, I think we’re getting more comfortable with where we’re at, with the position we’re in,” said MSU coach Vic Schaefer, who is in his fifth season in Starkville.
MSU reached another program first Thursday with a 67-54 victory against Alabama. The win helped MSU reach 20 wins for a record fourth-straight season. It also extended the best start in league history. The Bulldogs’ climb to the top of the league standings also has seen the program reach its highest rankings in The Associated Press and USA Today polls.
For perspective, consider Monday’s game will be the fifth time in program history MSU has been ranked in the top 10 and played an opponent ranked in the top 10. Four of those matchups have come in the last two seasons. Last year, MSU was ranked No. 9 when it lost to No. 6 Texas (53-47) and it was ranked No. 10 when it lost to No. 2 South Carolina (57-51). This season, MSU was ranked No. 10 when it defeated No. 8 Texas 79-68 on Nov. 20, 2016, in Starkville.
Schaefer wouldn’t say he feels his team is “comfortable” in its position at the top of the SEC. He did say Friday, though, that the Bulldogs can’t afford to be “tight” against the Gamecocks in front of what likely will be a crowd well over 12,000. South Carolina leads the nation in average attendance (12,076). It also led the country last season (14,364). MSU is seventh (6,694). It has played the fewest home games (six) of the top seven teams (South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisville, Iowa State, Notre Dame, and UConn) in average attendance.
“We’re going to have to go in there and turn it loose and relax and play and enjoy the opportunity,” Schaefer said. “I know I am as a coach.”
Schaefer said Friday he wants his players to do their jobs and to know that doing that will be enough if everyone works together. The statistics prove Schaefer is correct. MSU is second in the league in scoring (78.8 points per game), second in field goal percentage (46.2 percent), first in offensive rebounds per game (13.9), and fourth in steals (10.4). The Bulldogs likely will have to excel in those categories because the Gamecocks are first in scoring (79.8), field goal percentage (46.6), and blocked shots (5.9) and second in assists (15.9).
Led by junior All-American A’ja Wilson (16.1 ppg., 7.3 rebounds per game) and senior center Alaina Coates (14.7 ppg., 10.9 rpg, 68.3 percent field goal), South Carolina, which is riding a 10-game winning streak, is one of the few teams in the nation that can match the height of MSU’s Chinwe Okorie and Teaira McCowan. The Gamecocks also have plenty of firepower with Georgia Tech transfer Kaela Davis (13.1 ppg) and North Carolina transfer Allisha Gray (13.2 ppg., team-best 48 assists).
Last season, South Carolina won its third-straight SEC regular-season title and its second-straight SEC tournament title. A loss to Syracuse in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament ended South Carolina’s season at 33-2.
This season, South Carolina’s only loss was a 74-63 to Duke on Dec. 4, 2016, in Durham, North Carolina.
Schaefer said MSU can enter the game with confidence coming off two losses — 57-51 and 66-52 in the SEC tournament title game — to South Carolina last season. He feels his team has matured from the program’s second trip to the Sweet 16 in 2016 and can use the experience it gained playing so many non-conference games on the road earlier this season to have the right mind-set against South Carolina.
South Carolina is one of two league teams (with Kentucky) Schaefer hasn’t beaten in his time as coach at MSU. He is 0-6 against the Gamecocks and 0-5 against the Wildcats. South Carolina has won the last eight meetings and leads the all-time series 17-16. It also has lost only once (to UConn) in its last 59 home games.
“We now have been in the hunted role for a while, so I think we’re getting a little bit more accustomed to that,” Schaefer said. “I don’t know (if MSU will be the hunted Monday). I think we’re probably both right there. We’re pretty similar (in the rankings). They’re the home team. In my mind, the home team always has the advantage. They’re certainly going to have a tremendous advantage being at home. I think for us we will go in there with a hunting mentality. We will be going in there with a little bit of the (mind-set) that is back to kind of where we were in the first couple of years where we’re doing the hunting and we’re trying to have that type of mind-set.”
NOTES: Fans have two opportunities to join No. 4 MSU women’s basketball team Tuesday. At 11:30 a.m., the team will hold its fourth Hail State Hoops Luncheon. Doors will open at 11:15 a.m. for the event at Mize Pavilion. The cost is $12. Fans can RSVP for the luncheon by calling 662-325-0198 or e-mailing [email protected]. From 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, fans will be able to hear Schaefer and members of his team at “Dawg Talk” at The Veranda in Starkville. Schaefer and his players will join veteran broadcaster Jim Ellis for the weekly talk show. Fans can attend the show at The Veranda or participate by calling 866-998-4893.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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