STARKVILLE — Vic Schaefer has talked about the difficulties of not falling prey to the Kool-Aid.
In many of those instances, the Mississippi State women’s basketball coach has expressed confidence his players won’t buy into the hype or allow the sweetness of the drink to affect their performance. So far, the Bulldogs have rewarded Schaefer’s confidence by playing like the nation’s No. 4 team in so many ways.
MSU (23-1, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) enters its game against Vanderbilt (11-12, 1-9) at 8 tonight at Humphrey Coliseum ranked first or second in 12 of the 21 statistical categories the SEC lists in its weekly release. The Bulldogs are first in scoring defense (54 points per game), scoring margin (23.3), 3-point field goal defense (25.6 percent), rebounding defense (30.2), turnover margin (8.4), and offensive rebound percentage (42.7).
But Schaefer, whose nickname is the “Secretary of Defense,” has said numerous times this season this year’s team has a lot of work to do defensively. If that gives you any indication, it’s easy to see why the Bulldogs haven’t allowed their success to affect their focus.
“We have so many areas we can improve in on both ends of the floor,” Schaefer said. “I think our kids because everybody is telling them how wonderful and great they are, they’ll see that on the film and it will get them grounded in a hurry.”
Vanderbilt will put MSU’s ability to defend the 3-point arc to the test. The Commodores enter the game leading the SEC and ranked third nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (40.3). MSU is second in that category (37.5 percent). In a 70-53 win against Missouri on Sunday, the Bulldogs limited the Tigers to 4-of-19 shooting (21.1 percent) from 3-point range. The victory helped MSU climb one spot Monday to No. 4 in The Associated Press Top 25. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs moved up one spot to a program-best No. 3 ranking in the USA Today poll.
MSU’s balance has aided its climb into the upper echelon of the sport. The Bulldogs are second in the SEC in scoring (77.8 ppg.), field goal percentage (45.9 percent), assists (15.4), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2 — 370 assists vs. 316 turnovers), and offensive rebounds (15.3). MSU’s 366 offensive rebounds are the most in the league.
MSU also continues to have 10 players average double-digit minutes. Junior Victoria Vivians leads the way in scoring (16.8 ppg.), while junior Morgan William (10.3 ppg.) is second. Five other players are averaging at least 7.0 ppg.
Schaefer said a leader like senior Dominique Dillingham will help keep the Bulldogs focused on the “bigger picture.” That image won’t come into focus until the team completes a three-game stretch of games at Texas A&M, at Kentucky, and at home against Tennessee to end the regular season. From there, MSU will go to the SEC tournament on March 1-5 in Greenville, South Carolina. The top four seeds earn a double bye to the quarterfinals on Friday, March 3. MSU is one-half game behind league leader South Carolina (20-2, 10-1). Texas A&M (17-6, 7-3) is two games behind MSU in third place. Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee are tied with four losses.
Schaefer also hopes seniors Ketara Chapel, Chinwe Okorie, and Breanna Richardson do their part as leaders to help the team focus on his mantra of one minute and one play better every day.
If they do that, Schaefer is confident his team will be able to handle the expectations that accompany being one of the nation’s best.
“We’re learning to live it,” Schaefer said. “Remember we have talked about that all year. Let’s live it, let’s understand the responsibility that comes with it. You better know you’re going to get everybody’s best punch, but you know what, it is still not better than what we have got if we are on our game. That is how we have handled it all year long.”
n NOTES: The game will be broadcast live on the SEC Network. It also can be heard locally on WKBB-FM 100.9. A live audio stream will be available on www.hailstate.com/plus and the TuneIn app. … Schaefer said Tuesday he expects junior guard Roshunda Johnson to be available to play against Vanderbilt. He said Johnson returned to Starkville after spending time in Arkansas to be with her ailing mother. Johnson missed the game against Missouri. … Vivians was named to the Naismith Top 30 by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Wednesday. She is fifth in the league in scoring in conference play (17.7 ppg.). She notched her 1,500th career point at Auburn. On Sunday, she moved into seventh place on MSU’s career scoring list with 1,525 points. That total is one back of sixth and eight away from matching LaCharlotte Smith for fifth. Vivians also is on the watch lists for the Wade, Ann Meyers Drysdale, and Wooden player of the year awards. … Tickets for tonight’s game are $5 for adults. There is free admission for youth age 18 and under. MSU students also get in free with a valid student ID. Fans can purchase tickets at www.hailstate.com/tickets. … The first 1,000 MSU students at today’s baseball Cowbell Yell at Dudy Noble Field will receive a voucher to pick up this year’s Dudes shirt at the Hump prior to the game. … Families can arrive early and enjoy games and inflatables in Bully’s Kidz Kourt in Mize Pavilion. Bully’s Kidz Kourt will be open from 6:30-7:45 p.m. The MSU softball team will be in attendance to sign autographs. … The MSU Student Lounge will also be open from 5:30-7:45 p.m. and again at halftime.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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