BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Vic Schaefer would have preferred to have been in Starkville practicing with his team.
You usually can find Schaefer at 4:30 p.m. in Mize Pavilion or at Humphrey Coliseum at this time of the year. On Thursday, though, the Mississippi State women’s basketball coach had one of the prime rush-hour drive-time slots at the annual Southeastern Conference Media Day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel.
Schaefer’s positioning in the afternoon with senior center Teaira McCowan and senior guard Jazzmun Holmes wasn’t surprising considering Tuesday the media picked MSU first in the SEC preseason poll.
“I am proud of my team and proud of our program,” Schaefer said. “Now you’ve got to go wear it.”
MSU earned the preseason plaudit coming off a program-best 37-win season that saw it advance to its second-straight national title game. Unfortunately, MSU lost to Notre Dame 61-58 on a last-second 3-pointer by Arike Ogunbowale.
The Bulldogs will have to replace seniors Victoria Vivians, Roshunda Johnson, Blair Schaefer, and Morgan William from a team that averaged 81.1 points per game. He already has said multiple times that this year’s team will be “different” and will rely more on defense. That will start with McCowan, a first-team All-SEC performer last season, who was named the inaugural Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Holmes, who will take over as the starting point guard, will join senior Jordan Danberry and redshirt sophomore Myah Taylor in a backcourt that figures to use its quickness and athleticism to deliver the kind of pressure on the ball Schaefer loves.
MSU also should receive a boost from graduate transfer Anriel Howard. Last season, Howard averaged a double-double and became the all-time leading rebounder at Texas A&M. In completing her degree earlier this year, Howard was able to transfer to MSU and be eligible to play immediately.
Texas A&M coach Gary Blair quibbled with the notion MSU loses four starters from last season because he said the Bulldogs actually added one with the addition of Howard, a 5-foot-11 forward, who joined McCowan on the preseason All-SEC team. McCowan was named the preseason SEC Player of the Year.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, whose team was picked second in the media poll, said the conversation starts with McCowan.
“When you bring back somebody as imposing as Teaira McCowan, they’re going to give them the nod,” Staley said. “It is much like we brought back A’ja last year. … Usually it is the same people year in and year out, but obviously it took some thought into who would be the preseason media pick. I just think we’re going to fly under that radar a little bit and figure out an identity and, hopefully, we can be at the top at the end of the season.”
Other coaches praised the Bulldogs’ depth and said the addition of Howard is another reason MSU was picked at the top of the pack.
“I am going to pick them first when our coaches’ poll comes out,” Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said. “You look at who they had in those backup roles and you add Anriel Howard … and I also factor in you have to knock them off. They have been winning the championship and been going to the national championship game, so I agree with whoever picked them.
“I think when you look at who they have coming back and they have an inside presence like Teaira McCowan, who if they asked me I also would pick her as the player of the year in the preseason. Coach Schaefer was the national coach of the year, so I think it makes sense to pick them first until somebody proves they can beat them.”
Said Tennessee coach Holly Warlick, “I think they have taken advantage of the transfer rule and brought in kids (Connecticut transfer Andra Espinoza-Hunter and Ole Miss transfer Promise Taylor) that are going to help them immediately. Good for Vic. You also see there are young kids who were there that played a lot that get their shot. They have a great transfer in Howard. She is an immediate help for your basketball team. That’s probably why they’re ranked No. 1.”
Schaefer said he didn’t have an update on the progress of MSU’s appeals to the NCAA for Espinoza-Hunter and Taylor to be eligible to play this season. Despite the additions, Schaefer was surprised to see his team picked first in the preseason poll after losing so many key pieces of a squad that went 16-0 in the SEC regular season in 2018 to capture the program’s first league title.
“What team in the history of the Southeastern Conference has lost four starters and gets picked to win the league?” Schaefer said. “That’s crazy. I have never heard anything like that. I also think that gives your other kids credibility. People know the importance Jazz, Jordan, and Chloe (Bibby) have played on our teams in the past, and that they have been tremendous impact players for us in their roles. Then you throw in an Anriel. I think that’s the reason, but, still, you have to give credit to Teaira and the other three who were part of last year’s great run.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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