Appreciating The Dawg Defense
December 13, 2024 | Women's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Mississippi State has been putting the clamps on opponents all season long.
STARKVILLE – In the town where Elvis Presley was born, Mississippi State's defense is looking to keep its foes all shook up.
The Bulldogs are set to battle Belmont on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo. Headed into the contest, it bears appreciating what's perhaps been the driving force behind MSU's fantastic 9-1 start to the season – an unbelievable ability to put the clamps on opposing offenses.
Consider all this. State begins play on Saturday holding its opponents to just 29.6 percent shooting from the field this season. That's the top mark in the Southeastern Conference and the second-best mark in the entire country.
Much of the Dawgs' success on the defensive end has come from guarding the perimeter. Teams are shooting just 21.8 percent from 3-point range against State – another SEC-best number and the eighth-best in the nation.
Oh, but that's not all. Combine MSU's shot guarding ability both inside and outside the arc and that of course means foes are having an incredibly hard time putting up points. If you can't score, you can't win, right? Well when teams play State, they're having to scratch and claw to add any digits at all to the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs are surrendering just 48.7 points per game. That's good for third in the nation and second in the SEC.
But what's the secret to all the Dawgs' defensive success? Head coach Sam Purcell says it's a team effort, but that this year's consistently strong play in the post is a driving factor.
"It's our fives," Purcell explained. "I think our guard play over the last three years has always been solid. I think we've always had electric guards, but I don't think my fives get enough recognition.
"You've got [Madina Okot] who's got a motor like no other. She's got a 6-foot-6 wingspan. [Quanirah Montague] comes in, [opponents are like], 'OK, I finally get a break from Madina.' No, you don't. Then [Kayla Thomas] is the glue. Kayla does everything right."
Just how tough is this trio to get through? Purcell compares his bigs to three of the best boxers to ever put on a pair of gloves.
"It's like facing three fighters," Purcell said. "It's like going from Mike Tyson to Holyfield to Muhammad Ali. We're just punching all kinds of different ways, but boy, are they great punches."
Come 2 p.m. Sunday, the Dawgs will try and keep rolling by landing a few more Hail State haymakers.
