Corry's Corner - April 2023
April 10, 2023 | Women's Basketball
We started the month of March sitting in a circle in a fluorescent-lighted locker room inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. We just finished our first and only game in the SEC conference tournament. Together we sat in silence and disbelief as some seniors shared their feelings.
Losses are not the defining factor of a successful or unsuccessful season. They are the foundation for growth. Every loss is an opportunity to be great. While we listened to their words, there was a sense of urgency that previously did not exist. It was the realization that the season could be over. They recognized that they wanted another opportunity to play together again. After they spoke, Coach Purcell preached actions, not words. He challenged them to show, not tell.
We gave them three days off after returning to Starkville, an opportunity to refresh and refocus. We returned to a week of some of the season's best practices. We worked, communicated, overcame adversity but most importantly, competed. A week of tough practices led to a Sunday dinner at Coach Purcell's house. It was full of food, family and anticipation.
It was Selection Sunday. Only we didn't know if we would be selected or not. As we talked and gathered together, we did not discuss what-ifs. We waited patiently as we watched the show on ESPN. After a few minutes, the room filled with screams, high-fives and smiles. We had made the NCAA Tournament.
Our team listens to music. One of the artists our graduate assistant often plays is Drake. He has a song called "Started from the Bottom." As we sat in Coach Purcell's house that day, it was one of the songs that played. It's a song that reflects our season. In April 2022, we came together. New coaches and players joined a returning group with limited NCAA tournament experience. We were embraced by a community that wanted to believe again. We worked tirelessly to rebuild, rebrand and rejuvenate a storied Bulldog women's basketball program.
We were loading our charter plane with the band, spirit team, support staff and administration. We landed as an NCAA tournament play-in team in South Bend, Indiana. We did not care how we made it; we were grateful to be there. In seven days, we felt a whirlwind of emotions. We made history, becoming the first-ever play-in team to win a first round game and play in the second round.
It has been a year since Coach Purcell became the head coach of this program. Ten months since the "Why Not Us?" slogan was engraved throughout our locker room. In a short time, a group of young women, their coaches and support staff rejuvenated a program. We came together, and we made history.
The 2022-23 season was just the beginning of this story. Now we hit the recruiting trail and build towards the 2023-24 season.
Hail State!
Coach Corry
Losses are not the defining factor of a successful or unsuccessful season. They are the foundation for growth. Every loss is an opportunity to be great. While we listened to their words, there was a sense of urgency that previously did not exist. It was the realization that the season could be over. They recognized that they wanted another opportunity to play together again. After they spoke, Coach Purcell preached actions, not words. He challenged them to show, not tell.
We gave them three days off after returning to Starkville, an opportunity to refresh and refocus. We returned to a week of some of the season's best practices. We worked, communicated, overcame adversity but most importantly, competed. A week of tough practices led to a Sunday dinner at Coach Purcell's house. It was full of food, family and anticipation.
It was Selection Sunday. Only we didn't know if we would be selected or not. As we talked and gathered together, we did not discuss what-ifs. We waited patiently as we watched the show on ESPN. After a few minutes, the room filled with screams, high-fives and smiles. We had made the NCAA Tournament.
Our team listens to music. One of the artists our graduate assistant often plays is Drake. He has a song called "Started from the Bottom." As we sat in Coach Purcell's house that day, it was one of the songs that played. It's a song that reflects our season. In April 2022, we came together. New coaches and players joined a returning group with limited NCAA tournament experience. We were embraced by a community that wanted to believe again. We worked tirelessly to rebuild, rebrand and rejuvenate a storied Bulldog women's basketball program.
We were loading our charter plane with the band, spirit team, support staff and administration. We landed as an NCAA tournament play-in team in South Bend, Indiana. We did not care how we made it; we were grateful to be there. In seven days, we felt a whirlwind of emotions. We made history, becoming the first-ever play-in team to win a first round game and play in the second round.
It has been a year since Coach Purcell became the head coach of this program. Ten months since the "Why Not Us?" slogan was engraved throughout our locker room. In a short time, a group of young women, their coaches and support staff rejuvenated a program. We came together, and we made history.
The 2022-23 season was just the beginning of this story. Now we hit the recruiting trail and build towards the 2023-24 season.
Hail State!
Coach Corry
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Sam Purcell, Favour Nwaedozi vs Florida - 3/4/26
Wednesday, March 04
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Sam Purcell Media Session - 2/24/26
Tuesday, February 24
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Sam Purcell Media Session - 2/18/26
Wednesday, February 18
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Highlights at Arkansas - 2/16/26
Tuesday, February 17