STARKVILLE — “Live it” has become a new mantra for Vic Schaefer’s Mississippi State women’s basketball team.
The veteran coach has used the words to challenge his players to deal with the heightened expectations and bigger bull’s eyes on their backs following a program-record 28-win season and a trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last season.
On Monday, MSU learned it will live with those expectations and challenges with program-record ranking of No. 6 in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. The ranking eclipses the No. 7 ranking MSU earned last week.
“I don’t think there is any question we have obviously made some significant strides and progress here, but I would like to be No. 6 in March and still playing,” Schaefer said Monday following his team’s return from a three-game stay at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu. “I am flattered we are No. 6 right now. I am really happy for our players because they have earned the respect of people throughout the country.”
MSU achieved a new program-best ranking thanks to victories against Oregon (75-63), San Jose State (88-51), and Hawaii (66-41) at the Rainbow Wahine Classic. The trip to Hawaii is part of a non-conference slate that will see MSU travel 17,190 miles prior to the start of Southeastern Conference play on Jan. 1, 2017.
The wins in Hawaii helped MSU improve to 7-0. Only one of the victories — a 79-68 win against then-No. 8 Texas — has come at home at Humphrey Coliseum.
MSU opened the season with victories against Villanova (108-62) and Maine (87-43) in Bangor, Maine, before it returned to the state of Mississippi to beat Tulane (66-49) in Biloxi.
MSU has been in the national rankings for 40-straight weeks, which is the ninth-longest streak in the nation, and third longest in the SEC behind South Carolina and Kentucky.
MSU’s ranking is even more impressive when you consider Texas A&M was ranked No. 12 at a similar point in its fifth season under the leadership of Gary Blair and Schaefer, who was Blair’s associate head coach. The Aggies were coming off a Big 12 Conference championship and a trip to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2006-07. Texas A&M finished 29-8 in 2007-08 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
It wasn’t until Nov. 25, 2008, that Texas A&M climbed to No. 8 in The AP poll. The Aggies climbed as high as No. 3 in the poll, and went on to win 27 games in 2008-09 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Two seasons later, Schaefer was a part of Blair’s coaching staff that led the team to a 33-5 finish and a national title. The national championship season, which was Schaefer’s eighth season with Blair at Texas A&M, marked the first season the Aggies were ranked in the top 10 for the entire season.
MSU hopes it can reach similar goals this season.
“I do like our approach most days in shootaround and in ballgames,” Schaefer said. “What carries you are the kids who are focused. Morgan William is playing at such a high level. Chinwe (Okorie) made the all-tournament in Hawaii and Victoria Vivians was the MVP, but life would not be very much fun if something was to happen to Morgan William.”
Schaefer also praised the play of sophomore point guard Jazzmun Holmes off the bench. He also said he likes the fact that the Bulldogs are playing “pretty hard” and that they have a better understanding of how to deal with the expectations that come with going from 22 to 27 to 28 wins the last three seasons.
Schaefer acknowledges the Bulldogs are making mistakes, but he feels his team is improving in rebounding and blocking out, especially after being outrebounded by 10 against Texas. The Longhorns also had 17 offensive rebounds. But MSU outrebounded all three of its opponents in Hawaii, and has won that statistical category six times this season.
Schaefer knows MSU will have to continue to get better in those areas and others, which is why he is excited to get back to practice Wednesday. Prior to that, Schaefer and his coaches will begin to break down Iowa State to prepare a game plan for their matchup at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge in Ames, Iowa.
Schaefer believes Iowa State (5-0), which has played all of its games at home, will pack Hilton Coliseum and challenge his team with “an unbelievable atmosphere.” But he remains confident MSU can continue to do the things that have helped it climb to new heights. Through seven games last season, MSU was shooting 42.7 percent from the field. This season, MSU is shooting 47.6 percent against a much tougher schedule.
MSU’s offense also is deeper with seven players averaging 7.1 points per game or more. Last season, MSU had only four players averaging that much.
Schaefer attributes the growth in those areas to improved skill sets, veteran players, half-court and full-court defense, and better play in the post.
Add it all up and it equals another milestone for a program that continues to make history.
“It is flattering and an honor,” Schaefer said. “We are trying to live it. I told the players today, ‘Hey, congratulations. You have moved up to No. 6. Go live it. Enjoy your day off tomorrow and come back Wednesday and it will be time to go back to work.’ ”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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