Vic Schaefer makes return to Humphrey Coliseum as State hosts No. 1 Texas on Thursday

When Vic Schaefer walks on to the Humphrey Coliseum floor on Thursday night, the coach will likely have some bittersweet thoughts flooding through his mind.

Schaefer will be standing on the opposite bench than the one he used to occupy, delivering a pregame speech in another locker room. Most importantly, he’ll be coaching a team to beat Mississippi State surrounded by fans in the stands that are pulling against him.

No. 1 Texas comes to town on Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. showdown against Mississippi State in a game that will be a weird visual for many. Time has healed the wounds of many State fans that were upset with Schaefer’s departure to Austin and the coach still holds Starkville and MSU close to his heart.

“I know there are some people that are unhappy when we left. While it might have been hard, I think people have come to understand why,” Schaefer told Maroon and White Daily earlier this week. “It was the best eight years in the Schaefer’s life in Starkville, Mississippi. We have nothing but tremendous love and respect for the school and the program but also the state as a whole.” 

Coach Sam Purcell probably doesn’t take the State job I not for Schaefer. Because of the coach creating one of the great women’s basketball programs in the country just a few years prior, it attracted Purcell to make the same move as Schaefer did when he left as a successful assistant to come lead the program.

The Bulldogs aren’t far removed from being a program that contended at the top of the game and Purcell sees the ability to do it again. Most of that is thanks to Schaefer and Purcell has been able to admire his work over the years.

On Thursday night, however, he wants to beat him.

“Vic has been in this business for many years and is well thought of and a future Hall of Famer. A lot of respect for who he is,” Purcell said. “This is a unique situation because he still lives here. He still has a home. I hope we give them the flowers that they deserve but when the ball is tipped up, it’s Mississippi State vs. Texas.”

Longhorns bring size, athleticism and experience to Starkville

Beating the coach is tough enough, beating this collection of players has been difficult for everyone.

UT (27-2, 13-1 SEC) is still fighting South Carolina for the SEC title and working to get the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament over the next couple of weeks. It’s easily Schaefer’s best team in his five years in Austin and they’ve done a little bit of everything.

Former Germantown standout Madison Booker has been Schaefer’s MVP for the last two seasons and followed up a fantastic freshman season by averaging 16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds as a sophomore.

Senior point guard Rori Harmon has been a huge addition to this year’s team after missing most of the season last year with a torn ACL. The premium Schaefer puts on a PG is well documented and this one has been one of his best with a 9.6 ppg average and an incredible 173 assists to just 55 turnovers.

“They’ve got extreme talent. There’s one thing to be said about talent and how hard they play. This group plays hard,” Purcell said. “It’s very impressive to watch on tape. There’s good chemistry about them. They can win ugly or they can put up 100. When you have a team that’s flexible like that, that’s why they have a chance to win the National Championship.”

MSU (19-9, 6-8 SEC) is fighting for its NCAA Tournament lives in the last week and Purcell would love nothing more than to lock up a berth this week. The Bulldogs can do that with a win on Thursday and it will take four quarters to  do it.

In Jerkaila Jordan and Eniya Russell’s final home game, they’ll need their best. It will take everyone’s best.

“It’s play to win,” Purcell said. “My favorite month is coming up with March Madness and what a great opportunity for our program when you play at home against the number one team in the country. If you’re a competitor, you live for that.

“We’re not ranked so we have nothing to lose and we’re playing in front of the best team in the country in a white out. My message to our fanbase is to show up and show out loud.”