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Bulldogs get first real test with road showdown at Texas Tech

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk20 hours agoRobbieFaulkOn3
destiney mcphaul7.png
Destiney McPhaul and Chandler Prater (Photo by Mississippi State Athletics)

Breaking in a team full of new faces is nothing new to Sam Purcell, but this year might be his biggest challenge to date.

Mississippi State is returning just two regular contributors from last year’s roster in Destiney McPhaul and Chandler Prater and the team is full of new transfers and players that were just playing high school basketball this time last year. Despite that, the Bulldogs are learning through winning as they’re off to a 4-0 start with three-straight wins of 26 points or more.

“We’re on an airplane, currently in the air, and we’re building it as we’re in the air,” Purcell said. “You’ve got to take off. There’s some things that we’ve got to be better in like there’s time where I’ve got to be better in execution and sets, but we can’t overload them right now because we’ve got to get  our base. Sometimes, it’s about just being fundamentally sound and it’s effort and attitude. If you can do those two areas really well, you have a chance to win games night in and night out.”

Through the first four games, efficiency has been the key. The Bulldogs are shooting 50% from the field, forcing 19 turnovers a game on defense and outrebounding the opponents by 16.

Center Favour Nwaedozi has been a revelation early. The Nigeria native transferred from Japan and has averaged 13.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game and seems to be getting more confident by the game. Along with the steady work of McPhaul (13.5 ppg) and Prater (13.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg), freshmen Madison Francis (11.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.8 bpg) and Jaylah Lampley (12.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) have equally impressed.

Texas Tech represents major early challenge

Through four games, however, the Bulldogs haven’t been tested quite like they will on Thursday night. State travels to Texas Tech for a 6 p.m. matchup (ESPN+) and the Red Raiders look the part of a contender in the Big 12 during their 5-0 start. Most recently, they knocked off Arkansas 8-69 on Sunday at home and they’re looking for another SEC win on Thursday.

“The biggest thing for me is first of all the environment. Just like Mississippi State, they value women’s basketball. I know that sounds silly, but it’s not like that everywhere you go in women’s basketball,” Purcell said of TTU. “Their point guard to their center can rebound and bring the ball up the floor. When they do that, it’s no longer about matchups. We’ve got to scramble and find bodies because if you don’t, they’re going to make you look stupid with transition threes.

“They want to press and trap, muck it up and make it ugly. What I do like is if you do handle the press and attack them and finish strong, you can also make them look dumb. That’s going to be the challenge for Thursday is whose style of play can affect the others for four quarters and find a way to win.”

Win or lose on Thursday, Purcell wants to see his team competing. The Bulldogs have yet to truly figure out who they are as a team and they’re just now fully healthy with sophomore transfer point guard Saniyah King making her debut last Thursday.

The vision of the team is always the same for Purcell and it needs to be on display against a talented Power 4 opponent.

“I always want to be known as blue-collar, hard-working dogs. IN this league, you’re playing the best and when you’re playing any national championship caliber team, you’ve got to be able to punch for four quarters,” Purcell said. “Our defense has been phenomenal. You’ve got to be a two-way team and get stops on defense and on the offensive end, be a team that’s willing to share the ball and play the game the right way. I think that’s what we’re slowly seeing.”

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