Vic Schaefer returns to Starkville for the 1st time since leaving Mississippi State for Texas in 2020. His top-ranked Longhorns (27-2, 13-1) need to be on their toes against the Bulldogs (19-9, 6-8), a team that snuck up and bit a couple of SEC teams with wins over #13 OU (sux) and Vanderbilt (receiving votes at the time).
MS HC Sam Purcell has somewhat steadied a Bulldog program that was on the verge of cratering after Vic's departure. The coach hired to replace Vic, Nikki McCray-Penson, had to step down after 1 season when the cancer she had beaten in 2013 returned. After 1 season under an interim HC, Mississippi hired Purcell, a longtime Jeff Walz assistant HC, to take over. He is 45-23 (66.2%) since taking over which gives him the 2nd highest winning % in the history of the program (Vic won 78.1%).
The Bulldogs have 3 players averaging 10+ ppg:
The player that probably could be attributed with turbocharging Vic's turnaround of the Miss State program, G Victoria Vivians (2014-2018), is now an assistant in Starkville. During her time under Vic, Mississippi State won 126 games including back-to-back appearances in the National Championship game.
The Longhorns have played and overcome some very unimpressive offense during the 1st halves in their past 2 games but really need to right the ship early rather than have to grind out a road win.
Random Notes:
@mln59 @thar0902 @icdb17 @wb3032 @BrownHorn
MS HC Sam Purcell has somewhat steadied a Bulldog program that was on the verge of cratering after Vic's departure. The coach hired to replace Vic, Nikki McCray-Penson, had to step down after 1 season when the cancer she had beaten in 2013 returned. After 1 season under an interim HC, Mississippi hired Purcell, a longtime Jeff Walz assistant HC, to take over. He is 45-23 (66.2%) since taking over which gives him the 2nd highest winning % in the history of the program (Vic won 78.1%).
The Bulldogs have 3 players averaging 10+ ppg:
- 5' 10" G Jerkaila Jordan - 16.1 ppg, 5.9 rebounds
- 6' G/F Eniya Russell - 11.8 ppg, 4.8 rebounds, 36/116 from 3 (31%)
- 6' 6" C Madina Okot - 11.4 ppg, 9.6 rebounds
The player that probably could be attributed with turbocharging Vic's turnaround of the Miss State program, G Victoria Vivians (2014-2018), is now an assistant in Starkville. During her time under Vic, Mississippi State won 126 games including back-to-back appearances in the National Championship game.
The Longhorns have played and overcome some very unimpressive offense during the 1st halves in their past 2 games but really need to right the ship early rather than have to grind out a road win.
Random Notes:
- Rori recently became the 1st player in program history to record 1,200 points and 600 assists. She was also recently named to the Naismith Defensive POTY and Nancy Liebermann Award (Top PG) watch lists.
- The Longhorns tied an SEC record when they held Georgia to a total of 26 points Monday.
@mln59 @thar0902 @icdb17 @wb3032 @BrownHorn
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