Miss State's New Coach

[DaBball]

MS does not produce a lot of top WBB players. Over the past 3 years, 2018-2020, there has been only 1 MS HS player ranked in Hoopgurlz top 100. Jacorriah Bracy, ranked 47th in the 2020 class, is heading to Ole MIss. That’s 1 out of 300 players.

As for Vic’s new destination, TX has produced dozens of Hoopgurlz top 100 players over the past 3 years. Vic has done a great job in attracting top talent from all over the country and internationally to Starkville. It’s going to be really interesting to see how he does at TX, a state loaded with top WBB recruits.

I believe Daphane White was also a top-100 player in the class of 2018 who committed to Mississippi State before heading the JUCO route.

But yes, Mississippi does not produce a lot of great women’s basketball talent nowadays.

It’ll be fun to see him and Kim along with others battle it out for top players in Texas. 2021 is not great, but 2022 should be very good.

Vic has pretty much kept every Mississippi kid he wanted home since Vivians I believe, but there’s only been like 2-3.

 

[oldude]

I believe Daphane White was also a top-100 player in the class of 2018 who committed to Mississippi State before heading the JUCO route.

But yes, Mississippi does not produce a lot of great women’s basketball talent nowadays.

It’ll be fun to see him and Kim along with others battle it out for top players in Texas. 2021 is not great, but 2022 should be very good.

Vic has pretty much kept every Mississippi kid he wanted home since Vivians I believe, but there’s only been like 2-3.

Yes. I missed White. But you get the point.

 

[SECbbfan24]

So far for Miss St, it appears everyone is set to return with unknowns at this time between Carter and Jackson. Nice to see a lot of the players each make individual videos welcoming her and showing enthusiasm for the future. Some of the kids are showing great leadership through this time.

 

[bballnut90]

I get amused that people say that Starkvegas is difficult to recruit to. What a bunch of bunk. In the 1950-1960’s, yes it was like a Mayberry tucked away, hard to get to and there was nothing to do.

Nowadays, you have 3 four lane highways crisscrossing it, plenty of entertainment, restaurants, hotels, good air service etc. It much easier to get to these days.
The area has grown exponentially but still has a lot of small town charm.

WBB at State has developed a great fan following which will continue with the new coach. These fans are smart as well and they understand a transition is going to be painful and take some time even with a great roster.

But the location of the university is not a hindrance anymore and in fact it might actually be an asset.

Not trying to tear down Starkville, but first 2 searches of SEC college towns ranked both have Starkville as dead last. Academics aren't strong, and they've never won a team championship in any sport. Women's basketball has thrived under Vic, both in team results and fans in attendance, so these factors are clearly not a huge deterrent but it does create more hurdles for Mississippi State's new coaching staff to overcome compared to other P5 programs.

 

[DaBball]

So far for Miss St, it appears everyone is set to return with unknowns at this time between Carter and Jackson. Nice to see a lot of the players each make individual videos welcoming her and showing enthusiasm for the future. Some of the kids are showing great leadership through this time.

They're also expecting to keep an assistant, which could also be beneficial for recruiting purposes. Probably Elena Lovato if I had to guess.

 

[DaBball]

Sorry Brenda:

 

[SimpleDawg]

Carter says she's returning, but I see everyone's point here and I agree... Mississippi does suck.

 

[Plebe]

 

[Plebe]

 

[SECbbfan24]

Good for Carter! Some kids need days to process and get connected with a new coach as well before making decisions as well. Seems all the girls really like Nikki so far

Hope Rickea stays

 

[militarydog]

Good for Carter! Some kids need days to process and get connected with a new coach as well before making decisions as well. Seems all the girls really like Nikki so far

Hope Rickea stays

All these are good signs but I’d be cautious for the next couple of weeks or so. It is still alot for everyone to process. The staff should be complete soon.

 

[Plebe]

All these are good signs but I’d be cautious for the next couple of weeks or so. It is still alot for everyone to process. The staff should be complete soon.

"Don't get too excited!" I hear a lot of that these days.

Seriously, I think MS State got a really good one. I would've loved to see Johnnie Harris get her shot, and I felt she should've had right of first refusal, but the strong likelihood is that if Nikki McCray didn't get this job, she'd be getting another job in the SEC or ACC within one year and doing well wherever she was hired. I think she has the type of personality that connects well with players and can rally people behind her.

 

[triaddukefan]

Good to see these positive tweets from a few of the returning players. Hopefully all will decide to give the new coach a chance.

Not trying to tear down Starkville, but first 2 searches of SEC college towns ranked both have Starkville as dead last. Academics aren't strong, and they've never won a team championship in any sport. Women's basketball has thrived under Vic, both in team results and fans in attendance, so these factors are clearly not a huge deterrent but it does create more hurdles for Mississippi State's new coaching staff to overcome compared to other P5 programs.

thanks... just got another idea for an off-season thread. Hopefully I'll get around to it this year... if not... perhaps by 2024.

 

[militarydog]

"Don't get too excited!" I hear a lot of that these days.

Seriously, I think MS State got a really good one. I would've loved to see Johnnie Harris get her shot, and I felt she should've had right of first refusal, but the strong likelihood is that if Nikki McCray didn't get this job, she'd be getting another job in the SEC or ACC within one year and doing well wherever she was hired. I think she has the type of personality that connects well with players and can rally people behind her.

I don’t disagree. I wasn’t trying to be a wet blanket or overly cautious. In contrast I think Coach McCray-Penson will do well and could likely keep everyone. However I think people can get too down or excited by what a teenager puts or does not put on social media.
While I like Coach Harris and believe she is a very coach she has really boxed herself in with her career choices. She has had opportunities in the past to be a head coach but didn’t take it. She had a great interview but my understanding is the lack of head coaching experience was a fairly big issue. If she wants to be a head coach she really needs to get some experience as a head coach.

 

[SECbbfan24]

I’m interested in who she brings on staff. I imagine her top assistant from ODU will follow. Rumor has it she may retain one of MSU’s asssistants (going to assume Lovato). She supposedly wants to add another top recruiter to the staff as well.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Having lived and traveled all over the US. I can honestly say that the smaller towns are a lot more welcoming. Athletes get extra special treatment. The big cities are very cliquey, people usually have just a small footprint of friends and acquaintances. Places like Storrs, Starkville, and other small college towns, the locals know almost everyone. It does appeal to a lot of the city kids that have never had that kind of atmosphere.

You just can't beat a true college town, especially when the student body is gone!

 

[SECbbfan24]

 

[Plebe]

 

[SimpleDawg]

The RICKEA has broken her silence.

 

[SECbbfan24]

McCray already winning big by keeping the entire nucleus since she was hired. MSU should be really something to watch next season especially adding Cooks to the lineup.

State fans can now breathe a lot more.

 

[triaddukefan]

McCray already winning big by keeping the entire nucleus since she was hired. MSU should be really something to watch next season especially adding Cooks to the lineup.

State fans can now breathe a lot more.

But... but.... but.... they still have to live in Mississippi though

Im just joshing.... Hope yall Mississippians stay safe tonight... looks like some rough weather has passed/is passing through the eastern part of the state

 

[msupinebelt]

But... but.... but.... they still have to live in Mississippi though

View attachment 52999


Im just joshing.... Hope yall Mississippians stay safe tonight... looks like some rough weather has passed/is passing through the eastern part of the state

Looks like a F-4 tornado in Mississippi. Six people have died so far.

 

[militarydog]

McCray already winning big by keeping the entire nucleus since she was hired. MSU should be really something to watch next season especially adding Cooks to the lineup.

State fans can now breathe a lot more.

Agreed. I’m curious the type of lineup Coach McCray-Penson will use. J Carter, S Cooks, and R Jackson is a potent frontcourt and barring some unreal grad transfer I can’t imagine all three not in the starting lineup. I wonder the direction she goes in the backcourt and who shakes out as the main players. Does she use A Matharu as more of a scoring point or does she go more with a distributor first point with M Taylor.

 

[SimpleDawg]

C - Carter
PF - Cooks
F - Jackson
SG - Matharu
PG - Taylor

That chess scheme is pretty easy to figure out if you ask me.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Agreed. I’m curious the type of lineup Coach McCray-Penson will use. J Carter, S Cooks, and R Jackson is a potent frontcourt and barring some unreal grad transfer I can’t imagine all three not in the starting lineup. I wonder the direction she goes in the backcourt and who shakes out as the main players. Does she use A Matharu as more of a scoring point or does she go more with a distributor first point with M Taylor.

I think the starting 5 is a given on paper unless someone separates themselves this offseason. Guessing because she is defensive minded coach she will go with M Taylor first at PG with Matharu at the 2 spot. Rickea, Cooks and Carter fill out the remaining spots which would make a very strong lineup.

curious how much Mingo Young can up her game this offseason.

 

[militarydog]

I think the starting 5 is a given on paper unless someone separates themselves this offseason. Guessing because she is defensive minded coach she will go with M Taylor first at PG with Matharu at the 2 spot. Rickea, Cooks and Carter fill out the remaining spots which would make a very strong lineup.

curious how much Mingo Young can up her game this offseason.

Mingo-Young could be a big factor next season with her versatility.

 

[militarydog]

Assuming M Hayes and D Gaston follow through on their commitments Mississippi State still has four scholarships open. Prior to Coach Schaefer’s departure Lauren Ebo from Penn State was ready to commit and supposedly there was going to be a grad transfer point guard coming. I’m curious if Coach McCray-Penson uses some of those scholarships. She obviously recruited elite players at South Carolina but it will tell a lot about her recruiting ability to who is she is able to add to this class and bring in this fall.

 

[G-Dawg]

I would've loved to see Johnnie Harris get her shot, and I felt she should've had right of first refusal,

For all we know, she may have. I'm good friends with someone who was a trainer on that staff during the National Championship runs and they said "Johnnie Harris is a WONDERFUL person. But she is NOT a head coach, nor does she want to be." She's the good cop to Vic's bad cop. That six inches to the left is a LONG way.

 

[G-Dawg]

I think the starting 5 is a given on paper unless someone separates themselves this offseason. Guessing because she is defensive minded coach she will go with M Taylor first at PG with Matharu at the 2 spot. Rickea, Cooks and Carter fill out the remaining spots which would make a very strong lineup.

curious how much Mingo Young can up her game this offseason.

With a potent bench in Mingo-Young, Yamiah Morris, Xaria Wiggins, and HOPEFULLY Madison Hayes and Gaston.

 

[HailHoops]

For all we know, she may have. I'm good friends with someone who was a trainer on that staff during the National Championship runs and they said "Johnnie Harris is a WONDERFUL person. But she is NOT a head coach, nor does she want to be." She's the good cop to Vic's bad cop. That six inches to the left is a LONG way.

I totally agree. I think she was interested in being the head coach of THIS team, but I know she’s been approached about other jobs in the time she’s been at State, and hasn’t wanted to interview. I know that for a fact. Johnnie is an incredible person, and a fantastic positional coach and role model. I just think it would take a lot to get her to leave Vic and run her own show. They are so much better together. Of that staff, Dee Jackson-Durrett has the personality of a head coach, and will probably do it one day.