Dominique Dillingham and the preseason Top-10 Bulldogs officially launched the 2016-17 season with a focused first practice.
Bulldogs Begin Season With Spirited First Practice
October 04, 2016 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State officially began its fifth season of basketball under Vic Schaefer with a high-intensity practice in Mize Pavilion Tuesday afternoon.
The Bulldogs put in strong performances on both ends of the floor during the nearly three-hour session.
Tuesday's practice was the first of 30 MSU is allowed in a 40-day span leading up to the Nov. 11 season opener against Purdue in the Maine Tipoff Tournament.
Schaefer's squad progressed through a series of fast-paced drills focusing on different facets of the game, and it also conducted a series of scrimmage situations before wrapping with focuses on offensive strategy and defense.
"The first day went great. It was so good to see our team out here and be with them on the court. I am eager to see what the season brings us," Schaefer said. "This is a team that can really do some special things. You can get spoiled easily because of what we did the last two years, but you can't forget what it took to get there, the hard work those teams put in. It's sometimes our job as coaches to continue to remind them that you didn't just show up one day and we got there. We got there because we paid the price. It's time to pay the price."
The Bulldogs enter the slate ranked in the Top 10 in several preseason publications. Both Athlon and Sporting News put the Bulldogs at No. 7, while Slam Magazine placed the team at No. 8. Lindy's Sports rated MSU No. 12 in its college basketball preview issue.
Schaefer had 13 players go through Tuesday's practice, a group that includes all five starters and nine letterwinners that return from last year's edition that won a program-best 28 games, tied for second in the SEC and earned the school's second trip to the NCAA Sweet 16.
A strong senior class of Ketara Chapel, Breanna Richardson, Chinwe Okorie and Dominique Dillingham return to lead the veteran Bulldogs. Dillingham earned Associated Press All-SEC Honorable Mention and SEC All-Defensive Team accolades last season.
"It was really good to be back out here practicing. As seniors, it was our last first practice, and I thought it was really good," Chapel said. "The freshmen came in and learned fast. Ameshya (Williams) and Iggy (Jacaira Allen) are going to be great players for us. We were excited to get back out on the court, knock some of the rust off and get ready for what we hope is going to be a great season."
State returns two more starters in juniors Victoria Vivians and Morgan William. Vivians claimed first team all-America honors from Sporting News and second-team accolades from Athlon following a 2015-16 season that saw her average an SEC second-most 17.1 ppg en route to claiming WBCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades and first team All-SEC honors.
The Carthage, Miss., native also ranked in the SEC's Top 20 in both rebounding (5.8 rpg) and steals (1.7 spg).
William ended 2015-16 second on the team in scoring (9.7 ppg) and tops in assists with an SEC second-most 4.9 apg. The Birmingham, Ala., native also finished her sophomore campaign second in the conference at the free-throw line, draining a program-best 84.4 percent.
Before the season-opening trip to Orono, Me., State opens the slate at Humphrey Coliseum on Nov. 3 with a 6 p.m. exhibition against former MSU assistant Elena Lovato and Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Season tickets for the 2016-17 are currently on sale and can be purchased online at www.hailstate.com/tickets or via phone at 1-888-GO-DAWGS. Reserved season tickets (sections 114-118 and sections 105-107) cost $100 each, while general admission tickets for the campaign are $40 each.
The Bulldogs put in strong performances on both ends of the floor during the nearly three-hour session.
Tuesday's practice was the first of 30 MSU is allowed in a 40-day span leading up to the Nov. 11 season opener against Purdue in the Maine Tipoff Tournament.
Schaefer's squad progressed through a series of fast-paced drills focusing on different facets of the game, and it also conducted a series of scrimmage situations before wrapping with focuses on offensive strategy and defense.
"The first day went great. It was so good to see our team out here and be with them on the court. I am eager to see what the season brings us," Schaefer said. "This is a team that can really do some special things. You can get spoiled easily because of what we did the last two years, but you can't forget what it took to get there, the hard work those teams put in. It's sometimes our job as coaches to continue to remind them that you didn't just show up one day and we got there. We got there because we paid the price. It's time to pay the price."
The Bulldogs enter the slate ranked in the Top 10 in several preseason publications. Both Athlon and Sporting News put the Bulldogs at No. 7, while Slam Magazine placed the team at No. 8. Lindy's Sports rated MSU No. 12 in its college basketball preview issue.
Schaefer had 13 players go through Tuesday's practice, a group that includes all five starters and nine letterwinners that return from last year's edition that won a program-best 28 games, tied for second in the SEC and earned the school's second trip to the NCAA Sweet 16.
A strong senior class of Ketara Chapel, Breanna Richardson, Chinwe Okorie and Dominique Dillingham return to lead the veteran Bulldogs. Dillingham earned Associated Press All-SEC Honorable Mention and SEC All-Defensive Team accolades last season.
"It was really good to be back out here practicing. As seniors, it was our last first practice, and I thought it was really good," Chapel said. "The freshmen came in and learned fast. Ameshya (Williams) and Iggy (Jacaira Allen) are going to be great players for us. We were excited to get back out on the court, knock some of the rust off and get ready for what we hope is going to be a great season."
State returns two more starters in juniors Victoria Vivians and Morgan William. Vivians claimed first team all-America honors from Sporting News and second-team accolades from Athlon following a 2015-16 season that saw her average an SEC second-most 17.1 ppg en route to claiming WBCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades and first team All-SEC honors.
The Carthage, Miss., native also ranked in the SEC's Top 20 in both rebounding (5.8 rpg) and steals (1.7 spg).
William ended 2015-16 second on the team in scoring (9.7 ppg) and tops in assists with an SEC second-most 4.9 apg. The Birmingham, Ala., native also finished her sophomore campaign second in the conference at the free-throw line, draining a program-best 84.4 percent.
Before the season-opening trip to Orono, Me., State opens the slate at Humphrey Coliseum on Nov. 3 with a 6 p.m. exhibition against former MSU assistant Elena Lovato and Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Season tickets for the 2016-17 are currently on sale and can be purchased online at www.hailstate.com/tickets or via phone at 1-888-GO-DAWGS. Reserved season tickets (sections 114-118 and sections 105-107) cost $100 each, while general admission tickets for the campaign are $40 each.
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