STARKVILLE — Teaira McCowan continues to add to her accomplishments.
On Tuesday, Mississippi State’s senior center was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and second-straight week.
“Congratulations to T,” MSU coach Vic Schaefer said. “She has been (ESPNW and Naismith National Player of the Week), and SEC Player of the Week this week for her accomplishments last week, and it very well deserving. I know she would tell you it is the result of having great teammates.”
The honor was McCowan’s ninth of her career, including a freshman of the week selection in 2015-16. She is tied with Missouri’s Sophie Cunningham for the most weekly honors by an active SEC player.
In an 89-74 victory against South Carolina on Thursday, McCowan had 26 points and 24 rebounds, which was one off her career high, for her 54th career double-double. Her 24 rebounds tied South Carolina’s rebounding effort. She dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds.
It was the fifth time McCowan has recorded 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds in the same game. She has scored in double figures in all but one game this year.
McCowan doesn’t think she will attract any more attention due to the season-ending injury of sophomore forward Chloe Bibby, who was the Bulldogs’ primary shooter from 3-point range. It remains to be seen how the Bulldogs will replace Bibby, but McCowan is prepared to do more.
“I just come out what they’re going to do,” McCowan said. “I know that I am probably going to be their focus (on defense), but as far as triple(-teaming me) and putting four people on me, I don’t think that will change. I think they will use two on me at the most.”
MSU remains No. 7/6 in polls
On Tuesday, MSU remained at No. 6 in the USA Today Coaches’ poll. The ranking comes day after MSU remained at No. 7 in The Associated Press Top 25.
MSU is the highest-ranked team in the SEC. It has been ranked in the AP poll for 86 straight weeks. MSU also has been a top-10 team in the poll for 50 consecutive weeks, the fourth-longest streak in the nation.
Bibby’s status
Schaefer said Bibby will have surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee next week. He said he is confident Bibby will attack her rehabilitation and that he will be challenged to make sure she takes her time as the start of the 2019-20 season approaches.
“She is taking it like a champ,” Schaefer said. “I guarantee she will be chomping at the bit at six months this summer.”
Parity in the SEC
Five games into the marathon that is the SEC regular season, MSU is the only undefeated team in league play.
Upsets like Florida’s victory against Missouri, Arkansas’ win against Tennessee, and Ole Miss’ victory against Kentucky have become common occurrences. The surprise results are part of the reason the SEC has nine teams in the top 50 of the NCAA’s Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). At No. 9, MSU leads the way, followed by South Carolina (No. 18) and Kentucky (No. 25).
“We have some teams that are vastly underrated,” Schaefer said. “You watch those teams play last night (– Missouri at South Carolina and Arkansas at Tennessee –) and it is really unlike any other time I can recall. There are so many great teams.”
Kentucky (No. 15), South Carolina (No. 18), Texas A&M (No. 24), and Missouri (No. 25) are ranked in The AP poll this week.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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