Sam Purcell updates practice progress, previews State's 2024-25 team

Basketball season is just around the corner.

Mississippi State women’s hoops has a lot of new faces on its team heading into this season but the Bulldogs are excited and hopeful for the year. State will break in an almost entirely new team except for starters Jerkaila Jordan and Debreasha Powe and backup center Quanirah Montague.

With practices underway, third-year head coach Sam Purcell had a chance to talk to the media to discuss the progress of his team this offseason.

Question: A few days into practice, what are your thoughts on your team?

SP: “Excited coach. This is year three – wow how fast. Most importantly, this year at look at this team. We put it together with a vision and when you’re early in the season you’re hungry to achieve that vision. I’m excited about the success this team can have this season.”

Q: What went into the process of hiring Victoria Vivans as an assistant?

SP: “It’s a no-brainer. She’s a connector in many ways. She’s a connector with young people. What great recruiting opportunities for me that when I call, they know that she’s on staff. She’s a great connector for my young women on the team that when we talk about playing for championships and getting to deep, Final Four runs, she did that. She’s also a great connector for life.

“She’s a great person. The first thing that everybody told me was her nickname is ‘The Queen’. There’s two queens that I know of: Beyonce and Queen V. I’m fortunate to get one of them.”

Q: How did the whole thing come together with Victoria?

SP: “I’m a good recruiter. I’m no dummy. She’s on our banners. I’ve always been a big fan. When I was at Louisville, I called and tried to recruit her and we obviously didn’t connect then, but we’ve connected now. It’s funny how life works.

“I told her that I know she’s at a certain point of her career. She’s got several more years but eventually the ball will stop bouncing. I told her that I see a rising star. What I want for her is to give back to my young women, but let me give back to you. At the same time, I’m going to stop coaching and she’ll be that next generation. I’m glad that she’s able to come back to her Alma Mater and give back to these young women.”

Q: With the transfer portal being what it is, you have to speed up development and installations with a new roster. How has that process been?

SP: “It’s fun and a lot of grey hairs. Where it’s fun is they’re going to make mistakes; they’re new. But I told them we’ve got to fail fast and when we fail fast, we’ve got to learn quick. We’re trying to put them in as many situations to get there because we’ve got to figure out who’s going to make the next shot. Who’s going to be my defensive stop. What play are we going to run when we need to execute to win that game. With only three returners, we’ve got to learn a lot of that in practice so we can be ready for a serious opening game against Memphis this season.”

Q: Where does this team stack up with your first two from a talent standpoint?

SP: “That’s a loaded question because I haven’t seen them, but as far as athleticism, we’re scary. We are fast. We can get after it on the offensive and defensive group. I would say this chemistry is better than the other two groups and that’s two teams that won 20-plus games. They cook together, they hang out together, they love being around each other. Let’s hope they love being together on the floor when the lights come on.”

Q: Last season didn’t end the way you wanted. Is that something that you’ve talked about in the offseason?

SP: “Oh yeah. It starts with me as the coach. I’m disappointed, I’m upset. That was a team that could have made the NCAA Tournament and we didn’t. Guess what? It starts with me as the head coach.  That’s what part of our hashtag is to own it. Own what happened. We can’t cry about it, we’ve got to build on it.

“We’ve got to own what comes in today’s climate with the transfer portal and adding Texas and Oklahoma, it is what it is. If we can be a tough unit and a tough fist, I like our chances.”

Q: How big of a piece is Fred Castro to what you’re going to do on offense?

SP: “He’s huge. He’s got a bright mind. He’s sharp, he’s passionate but most importantly, he’s a great teacher. That’s what separates him from other coaches around the country is his ability to teach the game where players understand. When they understand what their role is, then you’re able to execute and put up points night in and night out.”

Q: Where have you seen Jerkaila Jordan grow the most this offseason?

SP: “I’d just say as a person. She is Mississippi State. In a time and era in college athletics where you can transfer multiple times, she didn’t. She’s been through three different head coaches and she loves Mississippi State. She loves what this program is about. She got us to the NCAA Tournament in year two and she’s upset like I am about year two.

“Instead of running and trying to join a super loaded team, she was one of the main recruiters for this group we have for this team. She worked hard behind the scenes because she wants to make sure she leaves here by getting us to the NCAA Tournament and doing big things.”

Q: You have several former head coaches on this staff. What does that add to this team?

SP: “I’ve got three former head coaches, so automatically I’m a better head coach. Now they understand what they can take off of my plate. They understand how the small things are really big things. There’s a hunger and desire that they’ve been to other places and our fanbase is one of the best in the country. This environment and living in this town, they’re thriving for it. They’re not only bringing a lot to our program, but I’m excited about what they’re going to bring to our community as well.”

Q: Where is Chandler Prater in her rehab?

SP: “She’s practicing. She’s looking better and better every single day. It’s one of those things that I told her to get to November. She’s got to communicate with me because if I can get Kansas Chandler who averaged 11 or 12 points a game, watch out. Our team really got better. But she can’t help me win in March if she’s not healthy and can’t play. We’ve had a great relationship and understanding, but as of today, I’m really excited with where she’s at.”

Q: Thoughts on Debreasha Powe’s leadership as a veteran on the team?

SP: “Powe is my day one. When I got the job, I took the UHaul and didn’t even unpack – I went straight to her house. I knew how special she was and she’s special for a lot of ways. Her freshman year she thought 30% from the 3-point line. Her sophomore year was close to 40% which is tops in the country.

“Outside of that, you all see her in the media – she’s coming after your job. She’s doing sideline reporting. She’s like Coach (Vivians). She’s doing everything off the court. She’s a part of my leadership council and a leader for my team. The young lady is a winner and there’s no doubt 15-20 years from now I’m going to see her on ESPN doing big time things for sports.”

Q: How have you seen yourself learn and grow over the last three years as head coach?

SP: “The biggest thing is experience. I’m forever grateful to Mississippi State hiring a guy who never coached and having trust in how can we get this program back to its winning ways. Give credit to the mentors that put me in place and gave me the keys to this car and actually do it. Now in year three, I know what to expect. My mentors told me to be prepared for this but now I’m in year three and I know what to expect and I’m ready.