Most Mississippi State University students spend their Thanksgiving break at home with family and friends eating turkey and watching football for five straight days. Some started studying for finals, but the Lady Bulldog basketball team ventured to an island getaway for a little bit of basketball.
If a team is going to work up a sweat during the break, they might as well do it in the U.S Virgin Islands at the Paradise Jam Tournament.
During the trip the Lady Dawgs took time out to lounge on the beach, shop at the downtown markets and go snorkeling.
And the weather was not too shabby, either. During their stay in the Virgin Islands, the Bulldogs experienced weather most MSU students could only dream about. The blue skies and tropical temperatures were a far cry from the downpours and gusting winds in Starkville. For Lady Dawg Blessing Chekwa a break from the gloomy fall weather in Starkville was one of the best parts of the trip.
“The weather was so pretty and warm there,” said Chekwa. “It didn’t rain at all while we were there. It is pretty there all the time.”
Junior Rebecca Kates said the best part of the trip for her was going out in the water.
“I was really looking forward to being able to go snorkeling, because I knew before we left that we were going to get to do that,” said Kates.
The Bulldog players were not the only ones feeling the effects of the sun and sand. According to Kates the Bulldog coaching staff took full advantage of the atmosphere as well.
“Our coaches are more laid back in what they wore to the games,” said Kates. “They didn’t wear suits and ties. It was more of a laid back atmosphere for them even though we were playing good teams.”
It may look like Thanksgiving was all beach balls and sunglasses for the Bulldogs, but being away from home during the holiday was still difficult.
Despite being in a paradise setting, Chekwa missed the home-cooked meal she usually gets on Thanksgiving. The tournament provided a traditional holiday dinner for the teams but it was not the same quality received at home from Mom and Dad.
“I missed home on Thanksgiving Day,” said Chekwa. “On Thanksgiving you want a home-cooked meal.”
Kates added that even though her parents made the trip with the team it still was not the same as being at home during the holiday.
The lack of quality turkey and dressing was not the only thing distracting the Lady ‘Dawgs from the white sandy beaches of the islands. The Bulldogs had to stay focused on basketball while shopping and snorkeling because they faced two formidable opponents during the tournament.
MSU got its first W of the season against Indiana. The Bulldogs beat the Hoosiers 70-67 to open the tournament. The Bulldogs then dropped a hard fought game to Virginia Tech 63-56.
Kates and Chekwa both agreed that beating Indiana was the highlight of the trip.
According to Kates, the team shied away from socializing with the competition until the last day after the games were over.
“I think that since you’re playing the other teams you really don’t speak to them,” said Kates. “But on the last day we talked to the Indiana girls about practice.”
MSU will need to take full advantage of the island vacation because the upcoming schedule won’t allow the team any time to relax.
The Bulldogs continue their tough schedule when they hit the road to take on South Alabama on Dec. 6 and Louisiana Tech on Dec. 14.
MSU will host Tennessee-Martin on Dec. 16, Southern University on Dec. 18 and McNeese on Dec. 20.