Miss. State Women's Basketball vs Florida (Women's Basketball)

[CaptainObvious]

They won the game. If at the end of the regular season they have won 20+ games I will be pleasantly surprised. But I have my doubts right now.

[NCMSTFAN]

The previous coach wouldn't put up with the crap we're seeing.

What "crap" are you seeing? Explain it. No we aren't where we need to be yet but we are still 7-2. Explain the "crap" you speak of .

[R2Dawg]

The intensity and defense just is not there like it was in the past. Pinson may be a defensive coach but she doesn?t demand defense.

One of biggest things I've observed too. Vic demanded all out effort or you don't play. Big drop off from previous years.

We are so talented we will still win a lot of games but we have dropped off for sure. I'm a little concerned.

[R2Dawg]

Final
Miss. State 68
Florida 56

Jessika Carter 25 pts, 15, rbs, 2 blks, 2 stls
Rickea Jackson 16 pts, 4 stls

(Notes) Aliyah Matharu took a hard fall in the game, best to her. Miss. State with 10 steals in the game. Team forced Florida into 16 turnovers. Held Florida to 14.3% from 3 point range (2-14). Also, they out rebounded Florida 40 to 34.

Lots of talk (and just so) about Rickea Jackson, but...keep an eye on Jessika Carter, starting to emerge into an SEC Player Of The Year type candidate as well.

Been saying since late last year, Carter is a star flying under the radar. That girl can flat play. If we didn't have her it wouldn't look good for us.

[Irondawg]

One of biggest things I've observed too. Vic demanded all out effort or you don't play. Big drop off from previous years.

We are so talented we will still win a lot of games but we have dropped off for sure. I'm a little concerned.

We had effort issues last year so this isn’t all about a new coach

[Captain Falcon]

Did I just totally imagine us being inconsistent for a big chunk of last season? Nope? Didn?t think so. People want to pretend this is the same group that was a national title contender three years in a row... it?s just not at all. Entirely different set of players and experience levels.

We are very talented but this team hasn?t developed a killer instinct yet. And that?s not exclusive to Nikki?s short time here, Vic struggled with it with this group too. The 2017-2019 teams had a toughness level that?s unparalleled in our history, perhaps in any sport. This group of players hasn?t gotten there to date. Doesn?t mean they can?t or won?t though. It?s just a young core group that is still trying to click.

We played poorly and still won by 12 on the road... I don?t particularly understand all the hand-wringing over this particular game. Now if they do something like lose to Ole Miss on Sunday that?s a different deal. But we?re currently in the Top 15 with our only two losses being in overtime against two ranked teams. I?m not really feeling the need to panic at this stage.

[Irondawg]

Yep this team had ole run of issues last year - we just lack the toughness of Vics best teams.

We’ve got a few problems right now we need to work through:

1) the offense for whatever reason is regressing from early in the year. Ball movement has slowed down and we are not improving moving without the ball to create some open shot or open lanes.

2) toughness on D. Signs that we are improving there a little bit but I think a lot of these girls just aren’t wired with a deep desire to win. Mingo Young has it but not seeing enough hustle plays out of others.

Like others have said it’s not the Titanic and we are still talented enough to win games but everyone can see we are struggling to play well for extended stretches and we seem to look bad more than we look good.

Still early and time to get it together before the important tournaments.

[Dawg2003]

One of biggest things I've observed too. Vic demanded all out effort or you don't play. Big drop off from previous years.

We are so talented we will still win a lot of games but we have dropped off for sure. I'm a little concerned.

Actually, Vic put up with a lot last year. He allowed some players to turn the ball over and stay in the game. He even said himself he wasn't as harsh with pulling people last year and had to let them work through some things. A lot of people apparently didn't watch this team last year.

Vic was always saying how this team lacked toughness, was immature, and wouldn't rebound. All but three players were late to shoot around before a game, and he didn't punish them. Maybe he should have.

[NCMSTFAN]

Did I just totally imagine us being inconsistent for a big chunk of last season? Nope? Didn?t think so. People want to pretend this is the same group that was a national title contender three years in a row... it?s just not at all. Entirely different set of players and experience levels.

We are very talented but this team hasn?t developed a killer instinct yet. And that?s not exclusive to Nikki?s short time here, Vic struggled with it with this group too. The 2017-2019 teams had a toughness level that?s unparalleled in our history, perhaps in any sport. This group of players hasn?t gotten there to date. Doesn?t mean they can?t or won?t though. It?s just a young core group that is still trying to click.

We played poorly and still won by 12 on the road... I don?t particularly understand all the hand-wringing over this particular game. Now if they do something like lose to Ole Miss on Sunday that?s a different deal. But we?re currently in the Top 15 with our only two losses being in overtime against two ranked teams. I?m not really feeling the need to panic at this stage.

Spot on post!!!!! You said it all.

[CaptainObvious]

The concern is the Net ranking which is 27. There are 7 SEC teams with a higher Net ranking. Poor performances even in close wins could translate into unexpected losses to inferior teams, like an Ole Miss or an Auburn or an LSU or an Alabama or a Vanderbilt. But we can definitely tell she learned from her mentor at South Carolina on how to coach from the seat of her pants. No since in getting up and directing or hollering or taking her sport coat off and throwing it on the chair. All that excess activity might actually inspire her team and players not to stand with their arm around her with their hand on her shoulder like they are best buds who paint their toe nails during sleep overs. She needs to separate the coach/player personal relationships especially on live TV like the above happened Thursday night. Not a good look professionally speaking.

[Cooterpoot]

Let's go in a different direction. This team lacks toughness. I can't blame all that on the coach. I went back and watched it again and it's simply a lack of toughness and bad decision making. There's some issues on both ends coach needs to clean up, but these girls could do with some Leach Beach.

[R2Dawg]

Actually, Vic put up with a lot last year. He allowed some players to turn the ball over and stay in the game. He even said himself he wasn't as harsh with pulling people last year and had to let them work through some things. A lot of people apparently didn't watch this team last year.

Vic was always saying how this team lacked toughness, was immature, and wouldn't rebound. All but three players were late to shoot around before a game, and he didn't punish them. Maybe he should have.

There are exceptions to everything; you pointed out those. Vic has years of hard nose toughness. The girls said so many times. They looked forward to the games because they were easy. He benched the starters in NCAA first two rounds. If you didn't think Vic's teams were tough, you ain't watched much.

He would said they were not tough enough to toughen them up more. He rode their tails. Probably cost us a NC the first time.

This team is not tough compared to past Vic teams. A few of his players still show flashes but not like it used to be.