GTR Times

 Bulldogs Surging Behind Toughness And Togetherness

Challenges come in different forms. Winners find a way to overcome whatever adversity comes their way.

In its last two games, Mississippi State found itself in a couple of difficult spots. 

The Bulldogs saw a big lead slip away against Auburn and had to regroup. 

They had to fight back from a sizable deficit versus Kentucky. 

Both times State delivered and emerged victoriously.

The Dawgs topped the Tigers 72-58. They beat the Wildcats 77-76. 

They also showed head coach Sam Purcell exactly what they're made of.

"You know what I learned this last week? We're tough," Purcell said after Sunday's game. 

"[The way we beat Auburn and Kentucky], that's toughness. We want something. 

We're trying to go somewhere, but when adversity hits and you want something so bad and you see it in front of you and feel like you're going to be denied, you've got to be tough. 

That's what I felt this week. There's a good juju in that locker room. I want them to enjoy it and just ride this wave."

It'd be hard for this team to not be having fun right now. They're winning. 

They're solidly in the mix to go to the Big Dance come March, currently standing as one of the last four teams with a bye in the NCAA Tournament per ESPN's Charlie Creme's latest projections. 

And, maybe the most exciting thing of all is everyone is playing a part in this and picking each other up.

On Thursday against Auburn, MSU was down a couple of players. The rest of the roster stepped up.

There was JerKaila Jordan notching a double-double as she scored 14 points and brought down a career-high 12 rebounds.

"She does things that I've never seen some female players do," Purcell said of Jordan. 

"She reminds me of [former NBA star Dwyane Wade] and I tell her, 'You've got even more in the tank.'"

Asianae Johnson was forced into starting duty at point guard versus the Tigers. She responded with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

"She came here for the bright lights and big stage," Purcell said of Johnson. 

"She's been the ultimate team player coming off the bench and being [like a] Sixth Man of the Year. 

Then when the cards were dealt and she needed to step up [and start], she was great."

The bench shined as well on Thursday.

"Also proud of some other unsung heroes," Purcell noted. "Mia Moore, even though it was one minute and 31 seconds, her minutes were huge. 

[Charlotte Kohl], [had a] play at the end of the second quarter where she just flat out got after it defensively. 

Kourtney Weber [was] big time. So, when you have so many people who can step up and most importantly play together, boy it's fun to coach, and [Thursday] was one of those nights."

None of this is even to mention center Jessika Carter. She had a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds against Auburn. 

Then, she followed that showing up on Sunday by scoring 21 and bringing down eight more boards.

Headed into this week's action, Carter is leading the Southeastern Conference in blocks per game. 

She's fourth in the league in rebounds per game and second in field goal percentage.

"In my opinion, [opponents] can't stop Jess," MSU guard JerKaila Jordan said. "In my opinion, Jess is the best big in the SEC."

Purcell completely agrees with Jordan's assessment of Carter's dominance.

"100 percent and I've been saying it from day one," Purcell said. 

"I believe it with all my heart…We've definitely got one of the best post players in the country. No doubt."

The heroes for this team are many. Ahlana Smith has been huge and contributes in multiple ways, much as she did when she scored 18 to go along with seven rebounds to lead a Bulldog win at Texas A&M.

Denae Carter is sidelined with injury currently, but when healthy, she's continued to show the tremendous talent that made her a fan-favorite and SEC All-Freshman a season ago.

Nowadays, the Bulldogs are benefitting from another fantastic freshman. 

Debreasha Powe has already scored in double figures nine times and is averaging 10.4 points a game.

Then there's veteran guard Anastasia Hayes. 

The SEC's current assists-per-game leader is both creating opportunities for teammates as well as putting points on the board herself, as she did Sunday when she tallied 17 points to help complete the comeback over the Wildcats.

Ramani Parker has been hampered by injury but has been a key contributor. 

She returned to action against Kentucky with four points and three rebounds.

Weber has played in every game as an incredibly valuable reserve.

Alasia Hayes and Nyayongah Gony have both provided backup help for the Bulldogs at points this year.

State's success is by any measure a total group effort.

"I've talked to them about how it can be a different person [to come through for us] night in and night out," Purcell said. 

"We're one team and one fist. Just so proud of my squad."

State's unity is perhaps the foundation of its toughness. The Dawgs don't let each other get down.

"I know we all love each other and keep each other involved in the game," Anastasia Hayes said. 

"We're going to make mistakes. But just letting it go…and remaining positive – keeping each other accountable and holding each other together and staying as one and being a family; I feel like that's what's helped us."

A new week of new challenges awaits the Bulldogs. 

They'll have a pair of road tests with a game at rival Ole Miss on Thursday ahead of a Sunday tilt at Georgia.

In the course of those games and all the ones ahead, there'll be ups. There'll be downs. 

But there'll also be a group of Bulldogs that are all ready to take on whatever comes at them. 

That's why this bunch's future is so bright.

"If you can take the cards that are dealt to you and you can handle it together as a team, man, special things can happen and we can have a special season," 

Purcell said. "I love this team, and I'm so excited about where we're going."

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