State welcomes unique opportunity with Education Day on Wednesday
No matter the opponent, Wednesday will provide a different kind of experience for Mississippi State players.
If an 11 a.m. tipoff wasn’t enough, coach Sam Purcell is expecting nearly 6,000 students to pile off of buses and into their seats at Humphrey Coliseum for State’s 2nd Annual Education Day. It’s a game that takes place around the country in women’s basketball and one that Purcell has begun to make a routine practice for his program.
“Having three kids and seeing the joy and excitement when they come to games is just a joy. There’s just an energy like no other,” Purcell said. “When the mascot comes out, those kids go crazy and when we get a bucket they’ll cheer for us but they’ll probably also cheer for Alabama State. They just don’t know better.
“A young kid that might not have an opportunity to come to the game because they have a hard-working parent, they sit there and watch Eniya Russell and they might say, ‘I want to grow up and be her.’ This game is bigger than getting them out of school, you can make an impact on these young kids’ lives.”
Eniya Russell one of many newcomers off to strong start
Russell is one of several players that the kids will have a chance to get a good eye on Wednesday when State hosts Alabama State. Purcell has already played nine players an average of 10 minutes or more in the first two ball games as State has dominated Memphis and Alcorn State.
Russell was the standout in the first game of the year as the former South Carolina and Kentucky player scored a career-high 26 points against Memphis on 10-of-15 shooting with four 3-pointers. She is already feeling pretty comfortable with her new role with the Bulldogs this year after transferring from Lexington, Ky.
“The style of play has changed. Coach Sam allows me to play free and fast which is how I really like to play,” Russell said. “I think I fit into the system very well, it’s just about getting used to my teammates and we’re doing a good job of that.”
Offense as a whole has been playing free and fast early as several different players are getting in the action alongside Jerkaila Jordan. With that fast play has come some sloppy play as well, though.
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Purcell has been concerned about the Bulldogs’ propensity to turn the ball over and it reared its ugly head on Sunday against Alcorn when State had 20 turns in the victory. It’s something that the coach is working through but not something he thinks will be a long term issue for his squad.
“27 assists to 33 turnovers, that hurts my heart,” Purcell said. “The turnovers are coming because sometimes we’re too unselfish and trying to make that home run pass. Also, we’re new. It’s a combination of everything. Do I think it’s going to improve and get better? I do.”
As the Bulldogs prepare to close out this five-game homestand by next Wednesday and go on the road for over a month, Purcell wants a lot of those kinks worked out. That continues on Wednesday morning when Alabama State checks in to present another challenge.
The Hornets (2-0) have only played two NAIA colleges to this point, but they are in the midst of a gauntlet with Virginia, Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Auburn and Florida all on the way.
“Their coach plays a tough non-conference schedule every year because she understands that she has to win their conference in order to make the NCAA Touranment,” Purcell said. “This is their Super Bowl. They would love to have an opportunity to knock us off. Every possession matters and that’s what I want our team to learn coming into this game that we’ve got to have that same mentality.”
