As Mississippi State University women’s basketball enters the 2017-18 season ranked No. 4 in the nation, they are clearly one of the more talented teams in the country. For the first time in school history, the program expects to compete for, and win, a national championship. Here is an outlook on this year’s team.
Head coach Vic Schaefer is yet to commit to a starting five or a set rotation, but based on last season and the Maroon-White scrimmage, fans should expect a three guard, two forward starting five. This will likely include Teaira McCowan and Ameysha Williams in the frontcourt, and Morgan William, Victoria Vivians and Roshunda Johnson in the backcourt.
In this lineup, Williams provides good ball defense and speed to push the pace at point guard, with a lot of the scoring coming from the wings. Vivians is one of the best scorers in the nation, and Johnson is the team’s best three-point shooter and also one of the better in the country. Vivians shot 43.8 percent from behind the three-point last year.
The combo of McCowan and Williams will give the Bulldogs size and toughness down low as both can block shots, rebound and score from the post.
Blair Schaefer and Jazzmun Holmes are expected to be the biggest contributors off the bench. Schaefer shoots the ball well and plays each play hard. She is expected to take over Dominque Dillingham’s role as the hustle player on the team. Holmes might be the best ball handler on the team and can break down defenders off the dribble getting into the teeth of the defense to make things happen.
Coach Schaefer plans to stagger Williams’ minutes between the four and five spots, but if he sees the need to use a third big in the rotation, expect him to call on the 6’3″ redshirt sophomore, Zion Campbell. Campbell does not have a lot of experience, but she has the size to impact games.
Schaefer believes the team is deepest at guard. To get his best players on the floor, he said he may send out a four-guard group at times. Most likely, this lineup would move Vivians to the four spot, with Blair and Johnson on the wings and William at point in a four-out look centered around McCowan at the five. This is probably the Bulldogs’ best lineup and the one most likely to finish games if Schaefer feels comfortable with Vivians at the four.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were dealt a tough blow when Jacaira “Iggy” Allen tore her ACL and MCL during practice, taking her out for the year. She was slated to be a major contributor as a combo forward. Her injury opens the door for others, like redshirt sophomore Jordan Danberry or freshman Chloe Bibby, to be bigger contributors. Danberry transferred from Arkansas to MSU in the middle of the year last season and will be eligible to play at MSU in January.
Bibby is a freshman from Australia who although new to America, is very talented. She is a modern forward who can shoot from outside and put the ball on the floor. Depending on how fast she adjusts to the college game, she is the freshman most likely to contribute this year.
Overall, the MSU women’s basketball team has higher expectations than ever and the team is embracing those expectations.  The season officially kicks off on Friday with a preseason exhibition against the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith and the first official game against Virginia on Nov. 10.