Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Bulldogs Persevere Through Non-Conference Play
December 24, 2021 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – The past few months have been a wild ride for Mississippi State women's basketball.
The Bulldogs had their head coach resign 28 days before the season started, leaving interim head coach Doug Novak in charge. Novak himself had only been with the team since September and this was to be his first time ever working with women in his three-plus decades as a coach.
Even with all the adversity, MSU has persevered. The Bulldogs closed out their non-conference slate with a 9-3 record and currently rank second in the country averaging 7.7 blocks per game despite being severely undersized at several positions.
Two of State's losses have come against Power 5 opponents – Michigan and Oklahoma.
"We definitely did have to get used to each other but I feel like we're gelling pretty well," said freshman forward Denae Carter. "We know our strengths and our weaknesses. But also with that, we're learning from each other. We're definitely making the right plays now, the right shots and being aggressive. I think all of that will help us moving forward."
The Bulldogs closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule with an 85-47 victory over South Carolina State on Monday. It was the final trial from a grueling three games in three days round robin tournament that tested a thin roster depleted by injuries and attrition.
Carter was one player who really came into her own during those final three games. The 6-footer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania posted three consecutive double-doubles averaging 13.3 points and 13 rebounds over that stretch. She also switched from playing power forward off the bench to the team's starting center.
"Denae is a heck of a player for us," said senior guard Myah Taylor. "She works every day. We're just making sure she stays confident. She knows her role on this team and I think she takes it personal to rebound and bring that energy and get putbacks. Denae works her butt off every single day so it's no surprise to us what she's doing out there."
Mississippi State has a 10-day layoff between games and will take a break for Christmas so the players can spend time with their families before resuming practices to start preparing for SEC play.
"They've worked really hard and gotten better each game with their focus and consistency of focus," Novak said. "But if you have to do that every day, 365 days a year, you're going to snap. So these little built-in breaks are valuable to recharge. Then when you come back, your foundation is a little bit stronger and we can build on the foundation."
All their trials and tribulations over the past few months have helped toughen up a team that now faces a 16-game conference schedule starting at home against Florida on Dec. 30.
"We've had a variety of experiences, which is what you want to have during your non-conference play to prepare us for the gauntlet that's coming," Novak said.
As a veteran point guard that has been part of past SEC championships, Taylor understands the challenges that most of her teammates will experience for the first time and has tried to relay that message to them of late and provide the leadership they will need.
"I try to tell them what's coming down the pipe," Taylor said. "The SEC is really tough. It starts at practice, everyday having that focus and toughness. If you display it in practice, it'll slide over into the game. I'm going to do a better job holding my teammates accountable at practice and make sure they're focus because it's a totally different focus in the SEC."
The Bulldogs had their head coach resign 28 days before the season started, leaving interim head coach Doug Novak in charge. Novak himself had only been with the team since September and this was to be his first time ever working with women in his three-plus decades as a coach.
Even with all the adversity, MSU has persevered. The Bulldogs closed out their non-conference slate with a 9-3 record and currently rank second in the country averaging 7.7 blocks per game despite being severely undersized at several positions.
Two of State's losses have come against Power 5 opponents – Michigan and Oklahoma.
"We definitely did have to get used to each other but I feel like we're gelling pretty well," said freshman forward Denae Carter. "We know our strengths and our weaknesses. But also with that, we're learning from each other. We're definitely making the right plays now, the right shots and being aggressive. I think all of that will help us moving forward."
The Bulldogs closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule with an 85-47 victory over South Carolina State on Monday. It was the final trial from a grueling three games in three days round robin tournament that tested a thin roster depleted by injuries and attrition.
Carter was one player who really came into her own during those final three games. The 6-footer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania posted three consecutive double-doubles averaging 13.3 points and 13 rebounds over that stretch. She also switched from playing power forward off the bench to the team's starting center.
"Denae is a heck of a player for us," said senior guard Myah Taylor. "She works every day. We're just making sure she stays confident. She knows her role on this team and I think she takes it personal to rebound and bring that energy and get putbacks. Denae works her butt off every single day so it's no surprise to us what she's doing out there."
Mississippi State has a 10-day layoff between games and will take a break for Christmas so the players can spend time with their families before resuming practices to start preparing for SEC play.
"They've worked really hard and gotten better each game with their focus and consistency of focus," Novak said. "But if you have to do that every day, 365 days a year, you're going to snap. So these little built-in breaks are valuable to recharge. Then when you come back, your foundation is a little bit stronger and we can build on the foundation."
All their trials and tribulations over the past few months have helped toughen up a team that now faces a 16-game conference schedule starting at home against Florida on Dec. 30.
"We've had a variety of experiences, which is what you want to have during your non-conference play to prepare us for the gauntlet that's coming," Novak said.
As a veteran point guard that has been part of past SEC championships, Taylor understands the challenges that most of her teammates will experience for the first time and has tried to relay that message to them of late and provide the leadership they will need.
"I try to tell them what's coming down the pipe," Taylor said. "The SEC is really tough. It starts at practice, everyday having that focus and toughness. If you display it in practice, it'll slide over into the game. I'm going to do a better job holding my teammates accountable at practice and make sure they're focus because it's a totally different focus in the SEC."
Players Mentioned
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