State continues tough start to SEC schedule with road matchup at Arkansas
Mississippi State is off to a rough start in SEC play but Sam Purcell hasn’t hit the panic button.
The Bulldogs have been in this position before under Purcell. Just last year, State lost three-straight games early in the SEC slate to fall to 1-3 in the league. Two demoralizing losses in the middle of the schedule dropped State to 4-5, but the Bulldogs fought their way out of it to finish 9-7 on the year, in the top half of the league and, ultimately, inside the NCAA Tournament.
While the season is long and there’s no time to panic, Purcell’s Bulldogs are searching to build some momentum and get better as a team this week. It won’t be easy with the schedule that awaits over the next two weeks.
State starts by going on the road to Arkansas on Thursday night for an 8 p.m. tipoff at 8 p.m. before coming home to take on Ole Miss on Sunday at 4 p.m. and Tennessee next Thursday. A road game at a resurging Florida and home against top 10 LSU follows.
Purcell said he’s not using last year as motivation for his team but is just focusing on what he has now.
“My focus is on this team. You could reflect on that, but it’s just about hard work. We’ve talked about it and it’s just life. This is how the real world works,” Purcell said. “Did we want to be undefeated last week? You better believe it. But at the same time, it didn’t happen so let’s roll up our sleeves, get better and see what happens.”
Razorback offense presents major challenge
Up first is a dangerous Arkansas team who has become quite unpredictable on any given night. The 13-4 Razorbacks are led by veteran coach Mike Neighbors and the coach’s style of offense makes it hard to gameplan. This year’s team has a loss to Arkansas Pine Bluff and Kentucky but also has a win over Florida State and put up a fight against UCLA. This past week, they beat Georgia by 40 points.
Freshman Taliah Scott has been the straw stirring the drink this year as she’s averaging an amazing 22.3 points a game with 40 3-pointers and a 42% shooting percentage. Sophomore Saylor Poffenbarger has added 13.1 rebounds a game to lead the conference along with 10.7 points. Their offense makes for a pill to defend.
Top 10
- 1
Rick Pitino
New sheriff in Big Ten?
- 2
Ryan Day
Buyout revealed from new contract
- 3
UNC president
Belichick hire fall out
- 4
'I'm 1-0 vs. PETA'
La. Gov. defends LSU live tiger
- 5
2025 CFB odds
Key game point spreads
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“It’s really difficult. When you look at their season statistics, they’re capable of a 30 piece in a quarter. For us to get back to championship behavior, we’ve got to get some defensive stops. The glimpses when we lose is because we’re not stopping the ball. We’re terrible in ball screen coverage. If we want to have a chance to win this game, we’ve got to get some stops on defense.”
For the Bulldogs (13-4, 0-2 SEC), the team is just trying to get everyone back on the same page. After Jessika Carter ended non-conference with a bang, the All-SEC center hasn’t been able to get to double figures in either of the first two games and Arkansas transfer Erryn Barnum is going back home looking for redemption following just five points through the first two games.
This week has been about getting back to work for players like Debreasha Powe. The team is focusing on getting things back on track.
“I think the biggest thing is to stay together and putting in the hard work in the gym,” Powe said. “We have to continue to keep fighting together and working hard. You can’t coach effort so constantly working hard and giving 110% every time we step on the floor whether it’s practice or in the game.”
