The 2018-19 edition of the Mississippi State women’s basketball team will start things off far, far away from Starkville.
The Bulldogs embarked Wednesday on a 10-day tour of Italy and will play three exhibition games against international competition.
“I think it’s an energy boost for all of us,” said MSU coach Vic Schaefer. “The summer can be a grind, going to class and having your workouts. To have the excitement of going over there to play and see places that you’ve never been before is pretty rejuvenating.”
MSU will take the court for the first time in Rome battling Deep 3 Select on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The Bulldogs will then travel to Florence to play TK Hannover on Monday at 9 a.m. and conclude the trip in Venice with a game against International Select on Aug. 16 at 11:30 a.m.
On its off days, State will visit Lake Como, Vatican City, the Colosseum and Accademia Gallery while also receiving gladiator training and taking a gondola tour.
“They’ll certainly have some distractions being over there, some real pretty distractions,” Schaefer said. “But this time of year, I’m not so much worried about the wins and losses as I am just seeing them perform and having a chance to play together.”
In conjunction with the trip, the Bulldogs receive 10 additional practices which will help Schaefer’s squad with six newcomers start to gel for the upcoming season.
‘We’ll be different’
“We’re really a young team,” Schaefer said. “We’ll be different but we should be talented and be good. This gives these freshmen a chance to play together and get these extra practices together. It’s very beneficial.”
A pair of those newcomers — Connecticut transfer Andra Espinoza-Hunter and Ole Miss transfer Promise Taylor — will be ineligible this season.
In addition to all the fresh faces, Mississippi State will add two more to the mix whodid not see the floor last season. Three-time Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year Myah Taylor will take the court coming off a redshirt year while Jacaira “Iggy” Allen returns after tearing up her left knee during the preseason last year.
“She’s probably 80 percent,” Schaefer said. “She’s eight or nine months post-surgery, so she’s doing good. The thing for Iggy is that she’s got to learn two positions, the 3 and the 4. She was expected to play a lot when she got here but hasn’t, so this will be a big year for her.”
