STARKVILLE — Timid isn’t a word that is usually associated with Victoria Vivians.
Aggressive. Fearless. Cold-blooded. Those are just some of the ways Vivians’ offensive exploits have been described. When you score 5,745 points in your high school career, it’s easy to learn how to forget a missed shot and to think about taking and making the next one.
But Vivians, a rising senior on the Mississippi State women’s basketball team, revealed Thursday she didn’t play with that confidence or swagger in 2015 when she was invited to participate in the USA Basketball Pan American Games and World University Games Team Trials at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“I can do everything better,” Vivians said. “I can be more prepared and just go out there and play ball. I went up there and didn’t do what I usually do, so I just feel if I go up there and be myself everything should turn out well.
“I just have to go out there and know I can dominate. I feel I was a little timid the first time. Now I know what to expect the second time.”
Earlier this month, Vivians and rising junior Teaira McCowan were invited to the United States U23 National Team Training Camp on July 31-Aug. 4 at the United States Olympic Training Center. The 12-player team selected from the camp will represent the U.S. at the inaugural U23 Four Nations Tournament in Tokyo, Japan.
Vivians averaged a team-high 16.2 points per game last season. She earned third-team All-America honors from The Associated Press. She also was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference performer and a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Region finalist.
Vivians said she has worked hard in the offseason to improve her ballhandling. She said the idea of making the U.S. team has served as motivation.
“I have been thinking about making the team,” Vivians said. “That is the only reason I feel I am going up there, so I can make the team.
“Me and Teaira have been in the gym all summer, ever since June 1. We have been putting in the extra work to try to make the team.”
McCowan was third on the team in scoring (8.7 ppg.) and first in rebounding (7.1 per game) and blocked shots (1.5). She earned MSU’s first SEC Sixth Woman of the Year award.
McCowan was even better in the NCAA tournament, averaging 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks in victories against Washington and Baylor. She started all six of the Bulldogs’ NCAA tournament games, and was named to the Oklahoma City All-Region Team.
In 2014, McCowan was named to the USA Women’s U18 National Team that competed in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Colorado Springs. The U.S. women went 5-0 to win the event. McCowan, who was still in high school, averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game on a squad that included A’ja Wilson (South Carolina), Napheesa Collier (Connecticut), and Brianna Turner (Notre Dame).
McCowan said the experience will help her feel more comfortable when she plays against some of the best players in the nation.
“When you go over there, you just have to play, go for it, and give it your all,” McCowan said. “At the end of the day, they see who really wants it.”
McCowan, who is 6-foot-7, said she has been working on “finishing high,” or keeping the basketball above her shoulders, to prevent defenders, especially shorter ones, from being able to keep her from scoring.
Vivians said McCowan has made significant progress.
“She has finishing through contact and is running the floor,” Vivians said. “She ran the floor pretty well last year, but it is a lot better now. She is finishing with both hands.”
Vivians hopes she will be able to do the same. She intends to be in attack mode to make it happen.
McCowan said she has seen Vivians play that way in offseason workouts and pick-up games.
“She is shooting it well, she’s driving it well, and she is under control,” McCowan said. “She is looking for the open person whenever she is not open, whenever she is being guarded. She also is rebounding.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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