MSU’s women’s basketball media day

The Mississippi State women’s basketball team enters the new season ranked sixth in the Associated Press top 25 pre-season poll. However, thanks to graduation this year’s squad will look a little different except for the player in the middle of the floor.

Teaira McCowan, MSU’s 6’7” center, is the key returning piece to a roster missing a lot of other key pieces from last year’s Final Four run.

The rising senior is the reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and recorded 29 double-doubles in 39 games. Those numbers aside, head coach Vic Schaefer says she’ll need to be even more involved in the year ahead. “I probably need to make sure she’s getting plenty of touches, quite honestly. We really have her get plenty of touches every night and give her a chance to do what she can do, cause she is one of the elite players in the country, by far, and can affect the game on both ends. I think getting her to continue to compete and play at that level is our challenge.”

The Bulldogs begin the season on Tuesday at home against Southeast Missouri State.