Bulldogs Ready To Get Back To Work After Long Layoff

March 16, 2018

STARKVILLE, Miss. (MSU Athletics/WCBI) – With a record-setting regular season in the books, Mississippi State begins a new chapter Saturday as it opens NCAA Tournament action against Nicholls in a sold-out Humphrey Coliseum.

MSU, which earned a No. 1 seed for the first time, is scheduled to tip action in the Kansas City Regional at 5 p.m. Eight-seed Syracuse and nine-seed Oklahoma State open play in Starkville at 2:30 p.m.

All games will be shown on ESPN2, with Courtney Lyle and Tamika Catchings calling the action. The contest can also be streamed on www.WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.

Jason Crowder and Charlie Winfield will describe play on the MSU Radio Network, HailState.com/Plus and the TuneIn app.

MSU is hosting the opening two rounds for the third-straight year. The Bulldogs earned the opportunity after putting together a 32-1 regular season and winning the program’s first SEC Championship with a 16-0 league mark.

Naismith Coach of the Year finalist Vic Schaefer’s Bulldogs went 30-0 in the regular season, the first SEC team to put together an undefeated regular season in 20 years. The Bulldogs’ 32-game win streak ranks second in SEC history.

Senior Victoria Vivians paces State in scoring, averaging an SEC third-best 19.6 ppg. In addition to posting her best scoring season, the USA Today First Team All-American has also shot 11.4 percentage points higher from both the field and 3-point range.

ESPNW First Team All-American Teaira McCowan has also enjoyed a banner campaign, tallying 17.7 ppg to go with a nation’s third-best 13.2 rpg.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Nicholls (NCAA Tournament First Round)
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)

Date: Saturday, March 17

Time: 5 p.m. CT

Television: ESPN2 (PxP – Courtney Lyle; Analyst – Tamika Catchings)
Watch Online: WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN App
Listen: MSU Radio Network, HailState.com/Plus, TuneIn App (PxP – Jason Crowder; Analyst – Charlie Winfield)

SERIES HISTORY

NICHOLLS STATE (MSU leads 1-0)

At MSU: MSU leads 1-0

At Nicholls State: 0-0

At Neutral Sites: 0-0

1/16/1984 W 79-66 H

BULLDOG BITES

Mississippi State earned a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Bulldogs are making a 4th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 10th overall.
State is hosting the opening rounds for the 3rd-straight year.
MSU had a 32-game win streak, the 2nd-longest win streak in SEC history, this season. The 32 wins are tied for most in the nation this season.
State is the first SEC team in 20 years to finish the regular season undefeated (30-0).
Victoria Vivians was named First Team All-American by USA Today and College Sports Madness.
Teaira McCowan was named ESPNW First Team All-American, while Vivians was tabbed to the Third Team.
Vivians won a 4th-straight Gillom Trophy, presented to Mississippi’s top women’s basketball player. It is the first time a player has won it 4 years in a row.
Vivians averaged a career-best 19.6 ppg this season. Her 646 points are a personal-best and 8th-most in school history.
She was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.7 ppg and 5.3 rpg over the weekend.
With 2,400-career points, Vivians is 21 back of Tan White for 2nd at MSU.
Vic Schaefer was named College Sports Madness National Coach of the Year after garnering SEC Coach of the Year accolades from the Associated Press and league coaches. He is also one of four finalists for Naismith National Coach of the Year.
Teaira McCowan was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and to the league all-defensive team along with Blair Schaefer. Schaefer was also tabbed SEC Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
McCowan’s 435 rebounds this season are a school record and 8th in SEC history. Her 23 double-doubles are the 4th most in Division I this year.