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Lady Bulldogs shaping up for season |
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Wednesday, 04 November 2009 |
By DAVID MILLER
For the Bulldog Beat
Expecting depth to be a strength of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs this season, head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis made it a point to stress that her team’s bench and rotations haven’t taken shape like she’s wanted it to.
Speaking to reporters at Tuesday’s preseason press conference, Fanning-Otis noted Sunday’s scrimmage against Delta State and the results of the first action her players have seen against competition other than themselves.
The MSU coach admitted that the number of rotations in the first half might have gotten the team out of sync, but as the second half wore on and rotations started to solidify the team picked it up and increased its offensive output. Still, Fanning-Otis didn’t have a high grade for her team coming off its first scrimmage.
“We talked about the depth of the team, but I didn’t see the numbers off the bench that we have to have,” Fanning-Otis said. “You saw a big difference with your five returning players on the court. But players found a way to help us, whether it was in steals or rebounding, even if they didn’t have a good night offensively.”
Fanning-Otis and the Lady Bulldogs won’t have the same type of early-season slate as they did last year, with a trip to the Virgin Islands-hosted Paradise Jam pitting the team picked third in the Southeastern Conference coaches poll against the likes of Texas, Rutgers and USC.
Plus, the Lady Bulldogs host Maryland just four days before opening up the Paradise Jam against Texas on Nov. 26.
The acclimation period will be shorter than what the team experienced last year before getting to the more competitive part of its schedule, and that’s the main reason for Fanning-Otis’ urge to get her squad operating at a championship level before the regular season starts.
State had starters Armelie Lumanu and Chanel Mokango to integrate into the lineup following a transfer from junior college last year, and guard Marneshia Richard’s status was up in the air following micro-fracture surgery. Questions surrounded the Bulldogs lineup entering last season, but there’s more certainty this time with the core of the team’s scoring back after a second-round NCAA tournament appearance.
Starting shooting guard and All-SEC selection Alexis Rack wants to avoid a slow start like the team had last year, due in part to the experience on this year’s squad.
“We’re expecting to come out harder from the beginning because last year I feel we started out pretty slow,” Rack said.
“We want to get better every game, but we want to start off playing harder. We have the capabilities of being a top team in the SEC, we just have to prove ourselves.”
State returns a talented backcourt with Rack and Lumanu, who was a first team All-SEC defender last season, but with the loss of Richard for a second straight year the explosiveness and plans the team had for its stable of guards has brought about changes to other positions on the floor.
Tysheka Grimes, who mainly saw action at the small forward spot last season, will see more time at the four this season while Lumanu will have more point guard responsibility this season. Junior Mary Kathryn Govero could possibly see time in the front court, as the Lady Bulldogs will lean on the versatility of their guards this season to fill any roster voids.
“I’ve been practicing at a 4 a lot this year,” Grimes said. “Coach Fanning, we’ve had conversations where I’ve had to step up and come in wherever the team needed me. This year, I’m real comfortable though I still have things to learn. Basically, I’ve just had to get stronger and tougher. I feel
positive this year. In high school, I know it’s different, but I played the post and when I first got here I thought that would be my position.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 November 2009 )
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