STARKVILLE — The mention of a top-10 matchup catches your attention.
Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer would love for his players’ ears to perk up for every opponent. The reality, though, is players, just like fans, notice some teams a little more than others.
No. 6 MSU is one of those teams. With back-to-back appearances in the national title game, the Bulldogs have solidified their status as one of the nation’s premier programs. No. 10 Texas is another one of those squads. At 1 p.m. Sunday (FS1), No. 6 MSU and No. 10 Texas will face off in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
The game will be MSU’s first against a ranked opponent. It will give MSU (7-0) a chance to bolster a ledger that features two road victories and to help prepare it for a stretch of upcoming games against No. 22 Marquette (Thursday), at No. 3 Oregon (Dec. 18), and at Washington (Dec. 20).
Schaefer feels his team will be “interested” for its nationally televised matchup. Graduate student Anriel Howard, a transfer from Texas A&M, agrees.
“I think the focus level is the main thing we have to work on and then playing hard and the other little stuff that goes with it,” Howard said.
The game will bring Howard and Danni Williams, another transfer from Texas A&M, back together. Both players opted to leave Texas A&M after last season. Howard said she is good friends with Williams, but she said there will be “no mercy” on the court.
Howard has been all business as a Bulldog. She is averaging 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and is shooting 52.2 percent from the field. She matched her career high at Texas A&M with six assists Wednesday in a 98-63 victory against Little Rock.
“I think this will show whatever we need to work on and show if we’re ready for it,” Howard said of the magnitude of the top-10 matchup.
Schaefer, who usually has a binder full of statistics to refer for media availabilities, looked surprised when Howard was asked about her six assists. He looked through his papers to check the box score to discover Howard did have six assists. The number could be an important one for the Bulldogs because Howard will play an important role in the offense and Schaefer said she is being asked to do things — passing is one of them — she isn’t used to doing.
With five players averaging 11 or more ppg., the Bulldogs appear to be growing more comfortable with each practice. Schaefer said the next step is building a trust level between the players and the coaches.
“I thought last year’s team really a trust level with me where I didn’t have too much trepidation going into ballgames,” Schaefer said. “I had certain players I knew were going to show up and play. I am still developing that trust level with this team. Being able to go (to Texas) and play, I know these two (McCowan and Howard) will be ready.”
MSU has won 43 straight regular-season non-conference contests. It has won 10-straight non-conference road games. The last loss was a 53-47 setback Dec. 2, 2015, at Texas.
Return home for McCowan
The game will be a return home of sorts for senior center Teaira McCowan, who is from Brenham, Texas, which is about 30 miles from Austin.
MSU had five players score in double figures against Little Rock and just missed scoring 100 or more points for the fifth-straight game. MSU is averaging 97.6 ppg. (second in nation through Friday) and is shooting 53.3 percent from the field (fourth).
The game also will be MSU’s biggest test to date. Texas (7-0) has remained undefeated despite losing two of its best players to injury. In October, junior forward Joyner Holmes, the 2016 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year, had ankle surgery. It is unclear if she will be able to return this season.
Senior guard Lashann Higgs suffered a season-ending knee injury in a 56-55 victory against Quinnipiac on Nov. 23. Higgs, who was leading the team in scoring at 13.8 ppg., and Holmes were named to the watch list for the Naismith Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top player.
Despite the losses, Texas still has a talented cast and a few familiar faces for MSU. Williams, a 5-foot-10 guard, had 22 points in a 98-54 victory against UTSA on Wednesday. She is averaging 9.4 ppg. and is shooting 31.9 percent from the field. Jatarie White, a 6-4 forward/center, is a transfer from South Carolina. She is averaging 12.7 ppg.
McCowan named candidate for Senior CLASS Award
McCowan added another national watch list to her resume Friday when she was named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award.
McCowan leads the nation in blocks and is 12 rebounds shy of breaking the MSU’s career rebounds record of 1,108 set by LaToya Thomas (2000-03).
McCowan leads MSU in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19.4 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. The Southeastern Conference Preseason Player of the Year has also been named to the Lisa Leslie Watch List for the nation’s top center, as well as the watch lists for the Wooden, Naismith, and Wade trophies.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
McCowan is one of 30 candidates across the nation. A committee will select 10 finalists for the award in February who will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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