Mike Siroky’s SEC Report: Mississippi State Steps Up to The Ruling Elite

By Mike Siroky

 

The Southeastern Conference of women’s basketball staged its own nationally-recognized Game of the Season at StarkVegas when mighty South Carolina roared into town last Monday. The Gamecocks left three games back.

We all wonder when exactly a legendary program starts being just that.

We who have followed this game since before the NCAA took in the women, know there were other, pre-Internet dynasties like Old Dominion and Louisiana Tech, as in powerhouses from otherwise small cities, Norfolk and Ruston, La. 

UConn rides now, from another small area, Storrs. Tennessee may be from mid-sized Knoxville, but it shares another similarity to Mississippi State.

Starkville has shown it will be an impact city in women’s basketball for a few more years yet.

If they are a city of champions is still in play. They may make another Final this season. 

But the cautionary tale is that Joe Ciampi and Auburn made three straight without winning one. He was not always the SEC champion in those years, either.

Pat Head lost several national title games, both pre and post-NCAA before she settled in as the second-winningest coach behind Geno Auriemma.

When a school starts to win, the recruiting gets a tad easier.

Top-level players declare in middle school they want to play there. High school standouts may commit a year early.

And players also leave for a variety of reasons. 

Tennessee had a run for several seasons wherein a freshman stayed home after Christmas break. It was not about the coach. 

Sometimes, Knoxville appeared too cosmopolitan for a country girl, or too far from home and, yes the player wanted to go back to being a big fish in small pond.

Many transfers were personally successful in their future endeavors, if not on the national stage.

So spin ahead now to UConn, losing a player on a regular basis.

Couple that with the ascension of Mississippi State and you have this: A great week for the program was topped off when they landed five-star recruit Andra Espinoza-Hunter after her decision to transfer from UConn.

 Because she waited until January to leave, it is likely she will be eligible after sitting out a season.

She is coming from UConn and only played in seven games.

 “I just realized UConn wasn’t really a good fit for me,” Espinoza-Hunter said at the time.

She had committed during her sophomore season and came to realize she jumped into it too quickly.

The 5-foot-11 guard said Huskies coach  Auriemma and the coaching staff was “understanding” of her decision to transfer. Auriemma said he has “enjoyed getting to know Andy and her family.”

“Everyone at UConn wishes Andy all the best as she continues her college career elsewhere,” he added.

Espinoza-Hunter took a few classes at Westchester Community College and visited schools. It is too late to enroll this season. She will sit out next season as a valuable practice player.

“Distance really isn’t a problem for me,” she said. “Wherever I think (the best fit) is, whether it’s in like California or Texas or whatever it is, no matter how far, as long as I think that it’s a good fit for me, then hopefully I’ll be going there.”

Espinoza-Hunter committed to UConn during her sophomore season at Blair Academy, when former Ossining teammate Saniya Chong was still with the Huskies. 

She was just 14 at the time.

“I think if I didn’t commit at such a young age, I would’ve been able to explore more options,” she said. “Just to look at other schools, see what other schools had to offer as well – kind of what I’m doing right now, hence why I stayed home, so I have that time to weigh out my options.”

In her return to Ossining and Section 1 last season her senior season of high school, she put together a legendary season, scoring a record 995 points (more than 2,000 career) and earning the Gatorade New York State girls Player of the Year.

 She averaged 36.9 points per game for her high school career. She also hit 99 3s in junior high.

Coming to Mississippi State is a more-informed decision. Top schools can express an interest, especially in such a talented guard, especially when the player approaches them first.

For State coach Vic Schaefer what he thought sold her is his embracing atmosphere of “family.”

“I decided to come to Mississippi State because of the close-knit family environment with the coaches, players, fans and everyone else I encountered while I was there,” Espinoza-Hunter said. “Seeing how the fans support the coaches and the team solidified that this was the place that I want to be. 

“Being a Bulldog isn’t just a four-year commitment like most institutions, it’s a lifetime commitment. I’m so excited to be a part of this wonderful program! Go Dawgs!”

Espinoza-Hunter joins a signing class that includes another five-star player, 6-5 Daphne White, another forward, 6-3 Jessika Carter, with 6-1 four-star wing Xaria Wiggins. These will be her sophomore classmates when she begins play.

 

“Obviously, we’re ecstatic to add such an impact player and a highly-rated player like Andra to our program,” Schaefer said. “Anytime you get to add a Gatorade player of the year to your program, it’s exciting and certainly impactful.

“I think the thing that we’re impressed with the most is not just her game and her skill set, but she really fit in with our program and our players. Family is important to her, and she saw first-hand how important that is to us in our program, as well as our entire university. 

“We’re looking forward to her coming here and impacting our program, much like this senior class has done over the course of their careers.”

No. 2 Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have one of the best scoring duos in America, Teaira McCowan and Victoria Vivians. Each at better than 19.4 points per game. McCowan is also one of the country’s top rebounders, rating third in the Division I  with 13.0 per game.

The counter, as ever, is South Carolina’s impeccable A’Ja Wilson, the league’s only All-American so far, averaging a double/double at 27 points and 11.5 rebounds. 

They last met in the national championship game of course, with SC losing their two guns for hire, one-year star guards now in the WNBA.

Each coach is well-respected. State was defending the home court. SC had lost that to Tennessee, which also beat each at home last season. 

South Carolina was on an 11-0 roll against this rival. It was the seventh time they met as Top 25 teams, the fourth straight as Top 10 teams. Even this deep into the season, the league was not yet decided.

The most-previous meeting was the national Championship game. State has not lost since. 

By defeating UConn in the national semifinal, their 24-0 (26-0 after Sunday) start is the longest winning streak in America. 

The 12-0 in conference is another program record.

Yes, they and SC are projected into the SEC conference tournament finals, which is the official SEC title game as the league makes it the official NCAA bid-winner (another accomplishment to so far elude State) as a way of justifying the money of the post-season conference tournament.

Starkville turned out with a Humphrey Coliseum basketball record 10,794 with loud and unwavering support throughout. The 67-53 win was not easy.

The Gamecocks led by a dozen before halftime.

“I would like to praise our fan base tonight,” Schaefer said. “We don’t win that game if we are not at home. Our fans were spectacular. 

“What an environment for both sets of student-athletes. Most nights it’s loud in there but tonight was special. As a coach, I really appreciate that. Tonight was special. To have the game sold out two weeks in advance is special.

“We didn’t start the game well. South Carolina punched first and second. We were not engaged offensively or defensively to start the game. To lock in and allow eight points (in the second quarter) and nine points (in the fourth quarter) was special. 

“This game was about toughness. I don’t know if we out-toughed them, but we certainly were even with them in the toughness category.”

Vivians led the Bulldogs with 24 points (20 in the in the crucial first half).

Blair Schaefer scored 14. Twice she raised the decibel level with fourth-quarter 3s.

McCowan barely missed a double/double with nine points and a game-high 20 rebounds. She has passed 318 rebounds for the season, another program record.

The most important player was a season-high 29 minutes by Australian  Chloe Bibby the principal hustling defender of South Carolina All-American A’Ja Wilson.

“Jazzmun (Holmes) came in in the second quarter and really gave us a big lift on both ends of the floor,” Schaefer said. “She really gave us a toughness factor. On the defensive end, she was great. On offense, she gave us a spark.

 “Chloe Bibby really gave us some great minutes. She has been in our system for five months, so she is still learning. I am proud of the competitive spirit and the toughness.”

The slugfest continued in the third quarter with the lead vacillating. South Carolina appeared to have a separation when a 3 fell as the third ended for a 44-39 lead.

But Vivians answered with a 3 for her first points of the half. Then came the Schaefer bombs and it was suddenly reversed to 52-44  with 5:19 left.

The Gamecocks were held to three field goals in the fourth, but did get as close as seven before the home team hit seven free throws to preserve the biggest win of the conference season.

MSU kept a 40-36 rebounding advantage, a rarity for SC.

Wilson had 25 and 14 rebounds, but just seven points after intermission.

“First of all, I want to give God the glory for No. 24,” said Schaefer.

“And I just praise our fan base tonight. I don’t think we win that game, much like Dawn (Staley) said a year ago at their place. We probably don’t beat them today if we’re not at home. Our fans were just spectacular – what an environment for both teams to get to play in.

“The Hump was just incredible. And to get to have an opportunity like that in your career, to play in that environment – and most nights it’s loud in there, y’all – but boy, tonight was special. And just to be a part of that as a coach, I really appreciate that.

“As a coach, it’s not like that everywhere. In fact, it’s not like that most places. But it is here, at Mississippi State, and tonight was just so special to have our game sold out two weeks in advance, which, by the way, when that happens, it’s really hard to keep people focused.

“I’m not complaining. But to have it happen and to have the involvement of our fans tonight is just really good.

“Dawn’s got her a heck of a team again, and another Top 10 team.

“They’re so hard to defend in so many ways. And for us to get down 10, we may have even got down further, but to fight back, and have the lead at halftime really speaks to our toughness. And I know my kids love it when I talk about that because here’s what we talked about before this ever started tonight. We’ve lost to South Carolina because they’ve out-toughed us.

“I don’t know that we out-toughed them tonight, but I think we matched their toughness. 

“They always are such a tough, hard-nosed basketball team, extremely competitive, and Dawn was that was as a player and she has been that way as a coach. 

“You know you’re going to get that with them. She’s going to expose you, she’s going to attack your weaknesses, and I thought tonight our kids match that toughness factor.

“I just believe in this team; they’ve been surprising me. I see them every day, so I know our faults. Sometimes I have to get past that, because everybody on the outside keeps telling me how good they think we are.

 “I think we are tough because I know how hard we practice, I know what these kids have been through, I know this group of seniors, how hard they’ve worked, these juniors…

 “That’s been my point to the national media: Until you come to this game today, to this environment, until you come watch us practice, until you come live with us for a while and understand the price these kids have paid their entire career – Tori’s senior year, Blair’s senior year – what they’ve done over a four-year period, you just don’t have any idea what’s in their breastplate. They have a heart that will not give.

“You hold (SC) to eight in the second quarter and nine in the fourth. You lock in and really try to defend, and make it important, which is what it’s always been around here. 

“This team’s challenged me there. They haven’t always been that way, we’re starting to get that way now. When we put it all together, the defense, the offense, the rebounding piece, then you have the chance to do something really special.

 “But we haven’t been putting it all together, and that’s been my fight with them.”

Each side had three games this week. Next for State were the wavering Gators, trying hard to rebuild in the toughest conference in America. 

They have no NCAA  post-season hopes for a second straight season, but that is one reason there is a new coaching staff.

State made a 25-13 impact statement in the first quarter and came out after halftime with  24 of the first 28 points.  McCowan had a double/double with five minutes left in the quarter, Vivians had scored 17, Morgan William 15 (6-of-7 from the field, 4-of-3 at the line) and Roshunda Johnson had hit 4-of-6 3s. It was 83-44 heading into the fourth and well over.

It was 98-50 at the end, with 1,502 witnesses.

Five hit double figures.  Johnson led scoring with 22, Vivians had her 17, William 15 and Jordan Danberry scored a career-high 11.  McCowan made her 17th double/double of the season with 10   and 11 rebounds.

 “Really proud of our kids, especially in the second half,” Schaefer said. “After having a bad second quarter, we came out and had a great third quarter. We outscored them 30-7 in the third and 26-14 in the fourth, so that’s 56 in the second half. That is a great half of offensive execution.”

                           

State took a 38-25 rebounding advantage.

Then came Kentucky, winners of 11 straight in the series and the only other SEC team than South Carolina and Tennessee to get a conference win last season against State. 

The three-point loss in Lexington is why the Bulldogs were not regular-season champs.

But when was the last time they were 4-7 in conference in March? Or two under .500 overall? Mississippi State drew another Sunday sellout, 9520, and exorcised the demon of Kentucky, 74-55. 

No other SEC team has won them all at home. It’s a historical mark when winning conference.

The league is theirs to lose with a three-game lead and four to go.

 “The first quarter was really special,” Schaefer said. “Roshunda Johnson was special there in the first half. She made some really big shots. It changes us when both Ro and Blair (Schaefer) are out there making shots. Kentucky is a heck of a team. They have had some hard luck with injuries.

“We have to go back there in two weeks and that will be a challenge.”

 Vivians led with 23 points. McCowan scored 21 wit three blocks and earned her 18th double-double of the season with 16 rebounds, 10 offensive. Johnson added 17 points.

              

The Bulldogs set the tone from the opening tip. A 3 by Johnson capped a 9-2 run to start the game. The Bulldogs then held the Kats scoreless over the final 3:35 of the quarter.

 It was 22-8 after one and everyone knew here this one was going.

The Bulldogs hit eight 3 in the half to take a 40-22 lead at halftime. State hit 9 of 21 3s.

The are 6-0 in the final 10, a test the NCAA uses for seedings. They are at Vanderbilt and welcome in needy Texas A&M this week.

No. 7 South Carolina

At Alabama was the feast after State, having rolled itself out of NCAA entries once again. 

It’s been a long while since SC lost two straight, though they did lose two of three each of the past two seasons.

Wilson started with two fouls and no points in the opening quarter, while Alabama hung around, behind 21-20. Tyasha Harris chipped in seven. 

The Gamecocks hit 58 percent from the field and all six free throws The Tide hit 38 percent from the field.

SC stayed hot in the second half, now 67 percent from the field with 10-of-11 free throws, and led by 15 at the break. 

Wilson’s backup, sophomore Mikia Herbert-Harrigan, was 4-of-4 from the field. Harris was 6-of-6 from the line and had scored a dozen. They kept a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter and won, 79-66.

A'ja Wilson shook off the funk to scored 21 points with nine rebounds. Wilson didn't score in the first 15 minutes but largely had her way inside when she started getting the ball regularly. She made 8-of-10 shots.

Carolina finished  20-of-27 from the line, connecting on 20 or more free throws for the fifth time this season. They got 17 points from reserves.

“I thought our team really competed,” said Crimson Tide coach Kristy Curry.

“Against a team like South Carolina, you have to give them credit because they just don’t make a lot of mistakes and we made too many. You look at the effort category: We gained 11 more shots, we only turned the ball over nine times, we had 19 offensive rebounds, we out-rebounded them by six, and we matched getting to the free throw line, which you have to do.

“I sit here and look at the stat sheet, and again our effort and the numbers are there, we just aren't cleaning those numbers up with the finishes."

So they had this ‘Gator barbecue back at home, Staley having never lost to Florida anywhere.

It was not pretty, but the Gamecocks began Success Sunday 64-57, reaching 20 wins by taking three of four quarters. Wilson scored 22. Staley kept her seated to start the second quarter. That’s when the Gators made a run to take a 10-point lead.

Wilson came back and led a 10-0 burst to tie it, then scored at the buzzer for a halftime tie. They kept it going in the third and simply refused to be caught again.

 Harris scored.

Maybe this was reflective of a sadness that came with the announcement one-year-wonder --Penn State transfer guard Lindsey Spann – has completed her career after re-injuring a rebuilt knee. SC is at Georgia and welcome in unassuming Kentucky this week.

SC is 4-1 in the league in the final 10 games.

 

No. 11 Tennessee

As the only league team to move up in the poll, the Vols had a winnable game at Arkansas and then came home for long-time rival Georgia.

They placed Mississippi State in a position to win the conference early while bring Georgia back to the three-loss pack that includes themselves scuffling for second.

Jamie Nared was elected league Player-of-the-week and sixth man Anastasia Hayes Freshman-of-the-Week.

At Arkansas, the Razorbacks had yet to reward its new coach a declarative game

They did not again, 90-85

Rennia Davis scored 33 and grabbed 14 rebounds, both career bests. Even last season, a non-contribution night from Mercedes Russell would have ended with a different outcome. 

Not this year. 

Tennessee made 9 of 10 free throws in the last minute, four by Nared, as Arkansas fouled to try and seize momentum.

Meme Jackson also had a career high with 21. Nared scored 16, including the final four free throws and 7-of-8 in the fourth quarter when Tennessee made 15-of-20.

“It’s hard to leave the locker room having tried to explain what invisible results are,” said Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors, “We learn as adults, over time but to explain to them is hard,

“They are not depressed, they are ‘Let’s go, what’s next?’ which is why I love my kids. That’s a proud coach moment.

“It would be something to get a win against a team like that, with their traditions.

“We were able to zone in into it, but crucial plays and drawing on past errors . . .  there was no quit. If someone got tired, that’s bad coaching. We played well because we were at home. Our crowd (925) was into it.”

So Tennessee returned home to 12,523 faithful and took out Georgia, 62-46.

Georgia has not won in Knoxville since Dec. 8, 1996 -- a 94-93 overtime victory. 

Seven players on the Lady Bulldogs’ current roster were born after that date. 

They stifled the previously hot ’Dawgs with a six-point second quarter. The defense was forcing a 23 percent average from the field.

While it was statistically classic Lady Vols, they would have lost this kind of game last season.

Nared scored a dozen – 3-of-5 from the field, 5-of-6 from the line with nine rebounds at the break. Davis had scored nine, with six rebounds and three assists, also 3-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line

“We just missed a lot of opportunities in transition,” Georgia coach Joni Taylor said. “I thought their length really bothered us and affected the way we played. With that said, we have to put this behind us and get ready for a really good South Carolina team on Thursday.”

Jackson scored five straight The Lady Vols hit three 3s in the first 10 minutes to take a 17-13 lead. That is when Tennessee really took control. 

The Lady Vols scored the first 10 of the second quarter as Georgia was held scoreless for the first six minutes of the period and did not hit a field goal until 33 seconds left before halftime, missing 89 percent of its shots.

 

Mercedes Russell doubled, 13 points and 15 rebounds, 11 defensive. Nared finished with 15, Jackson and Davis 11 each.

At this rate, the season-ending Tennessee contest against South Carolina in Knoxville will be just for SEC tournament seeding, though they would play each other in the semifinals if the seeds proved correct. 

Each would also win a Sweet 16 ticket by hosting first-round games.

That’s another move up for Tennessee and the end of four straight regular seasons titles for SC.

This week is another patsy, Alabama, but then the scary road trip to contentious Missouri. Tennessee is 4-2 in final 10.

 

 

No. 14 Texas A&M

The Aggies had a winnable game against Ole Miss then headed to a team which always seems to battle them well, the rematch with LSU.

A&M coach Gary Blair picked up his 350th win at the school, 83-54. They drew 3,252.

Chennedy Carter scored a dozen and the defense did its job in the 21-4 first quarter.  It was more of the same in the second, 48-13 at halftime.

Carter eased into 26 points with seven assists and four steals. It is her eighth 20-plus point effort in her past nine games. 

In this one, the nation’s leading rookie scorer  was 10-of-17 from the field with three 3s. She is in double figures every game of her career.

 Khaalia Hillsman scored 16 with seven rebounds; Danni Williams had 13 with three 3s; Anriel Howard extended her Texas A&M double/double-- the 25th of her career -- 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Ole Miss’ Promise Taylor  had 14 points, 10 blocks and eight rebounds.

 “Great first half,” Blair said. “I thought we were really ready to play. We talked about all the things that happen in sports when you know a team is short-handed because they’ve got a player that’s hurt. We made sure that wasn’t going to happen.

“I was pleased with the first half. We got 10 kids with minutes played and there wasn’t a drop off. The drop off started in the second half when we came up and gave them three straight 3s. 

“It took us five minutes before we ran one play correctly in the third quarter. The last three or four minutes that the starters were in there we played OK, but then I think we struggled.

“We’ve done this before and shot 27 percent in the last quarter, but I’m gonna play my bench when I’m up as much as I am. What we’ve got to do is just do a better job of not turning the ball over and give them opportunities. They’ve earned them during practice.  

 “(Carter) did a lot of very good things tonight. She’s got a clean sheet. I was pleased with her. She’s taking good percentage shots. That’s four games in a row that she acted like a point guard.

“What she’s got to do is learn the offense a little bit better on man. We’ve seen so much zone. I ran a couple of plays for her, and she ran the wrong way. She’ll learn. 

“I’m trying to play her at the two some and Danni at the one to try to get different looks in there.”

Carter said, “Throughout the whole week we have practiced and game planned and that was never lost in our mind. We knew what we had to do and that we had to come out here and win tonight. 

“It was kind of payback for the game that I wasn’t apart of but from watching film and studying the game I could kind of see what was happening. I just tried to do what I can to what I can to help us on my behalf and make sure it didn't happen again this year.

“Honestly, I was just executing my offense and getting shots inside the offense. I was kind of flowing into my shots and wasn't rushing in it tonight. I took what the defense gave me and got my teammates involved. I feel like it was a good night not just for me but all of us.

“We are playing well. At this point in the season we are all starting to gel together and become one. It is not just any individual player on our team, it is all of us together. We all contribute to the win.”

Carter, the nation's leading freshman scorer, also leads the Aggies with 21.3 points per game.  Hillsman (15.1), Williams (14.5) and  Howard (11.5) means four of five starters are averaging double figure points for the Aggies.

Ole Miss won 62-49 in last season's matchup in a publicity mark between the schools, the Rebels' first SEC win in six tries against Texas A&M. But the Aggies have now won all matchups in College Station.

LSU has played A&M predictably well at this time every season. The overall series is now 12-12.

The 80-78 loss to the Ben-Gals, kept LSU’s hopes of being the final NCAA representative with 16 wins  and left A&M searching for the sixth league team with 20 wins, now tied at 8-4 in fifth place.

Chloe Jackson scored her season-best 27 and Raigyne Louis  26 at home. The hard-charging Tigers will not win a 20th this season by sweeping their final four – they play at South Carolina this week – but could win three of four and remain in third heading into the conference tournament.

The Lady Tigers shot 53 percent in taking down their third Top 25 team in their past five games. Maybe you don’t want to play in Baton Rouge during Mardi Gras. They only drew 2,103.

Texas A&M got it down to 79-78 after a 3 by Williams with 17 seconds left. Louis made a free throw and LSU got the ball back after Khayla Pointer created a double team on Hillsman and forced a jump ball.

 A long inbounds try went awry and the Aggies got a final chance. Carter drove the floor, hounded by Williams, and missed a hurried 3.

The shocker is that left Carter at eight points, the first time in her career under double figures at eight. Hillsman scored 23, Williams 21 and Anriel Howard 13 with 11 rebounds.

 “We have been concentrating on defense,” said LSU coach Nikki Fargas, “and Jackson and Lewis coming if ball screen action. We tried to speed the game up. You have to go faster with whatever your offensive package is. The tempo became in our flavor.

“We were able to playing some small ball and equally be effective. “We didn’t allow a lot of transition basketball. This group deserved this win.”

Texas A&M shot 57 percent but were outscored, 18-4, off turnovers.

The Aggies are 4-2 in final 10. They have Florida this week before heading to the to the top team in the conference.

LSU is also 4-2, one of those losses at A&M Their only home loss was to Mississippi State.

No. 18 Georgia

Having completed only the fifth undefeated January in program history,  the ’Dawgs stayed in second place in conference with a win over Vanderbilt.

They completed Ranked Teams Win Night before 3,490 against the Commodores, 67-55.

Last season, they won 16. They are five games above that. Last season, they were eighth in conference This season, they are tied for second with Tennessee and South Carolina.

 “We talked a lot about movement,” coach Joni Taylor said. “We didn’t think that they would handle movement very well so we needed to keep cutting and moving. I was pleased with how we ran it forward, our pace, and our overall offensive performance.”

Three Lady hit double-digits: Redshirt sophomore guard Taja Cole (11), senior forward Mackenzie Engram (11) and freshman guard Que Morrison (10). Engram was honored before the game for breaching the 1,000-point barrier.

Cole had a team-leading seven assists and a career-high five steals.

Georgia opened well, an 8-2 lead moving to a 21-12 quarter and 36-25 half. They were well on their way.

Yes they play at South Carolina this week, but they finish with the three worst in conference and could easily end up No. 2 in the league, setting up an SEC semifinal with either State or SC. 

Either South Carolina or Tennessee will eliminate the other on the last day of the regular season. Heady stuff if they pay attention. They are 3-3 in the final 10.

Trend: Why they lead the league: Mississippi State has the top scoring offense, 85 points per game, and the stingiest league defense, 55.6.

For the second straight season, No. 15 Missouri has declined to participate in our coverage.