Departures, injuries have reduced the depth of women’s basketball in the state of Mississippi

STARKVILLE – In a way, the limited number of banking options plays in Doug Novak’s favor. The interim coach of women’s basketball in the state of Mississippi doesn’t have to worry too much about rotations knowing that each of his available players will see the floor a lot.

But the lack of bodies causes problems in other ways – everything from durability in practice to endurance during play. Throughout Novak as a coach, he said he had never seen such a short bench. The Bulldogs have 10 players available due to injuries and transfers.

The limited options left the state of Mississippi (5-1) with just two bank points from Saturday’s loss to the No. 12 in Michigan. And when McNeese State (3-3) arrives at the Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday (6pm, SEC Network +), the Bulldogs will face a similar problem.

DEPARTURE:KN’isha Godfrey enters the transfer portal and leaves Mississippi state women’s basketball

FIRST LOSS:Mississippi State women’s basketball falls to 12th Michigan for Doug Novak’s first loss as an interim coach

In the first half against the Wolverines, Mississippi State held the score tight and stepped into the locker room three points behind. The game billowed to a 64-48 loss on the track, due in part to fatigue. Of the nine featured players, six played for 20 minutes or more – enough to take their toll.

“I’m having a hard time saying, ‘Thank you, Michigan, for this loss,'” Novak said on Tuesday. “Nobody wants to lose. But we don’t want to make excuses, we don’t want to blame the referees. We are today. We’re not there yet. “

Novak said the loss allowed the Bulldogs to see where they need to improve. The state of Mississippi had more or less its first five wins before Michigan finished this run, proving that maintaining a high level of play for 40 minutes will be a challenge.

The Bulldogs are in this position for a number of reasons. Guards Alasia Hayes and Mia Moore are on hold due to injury and Novak has not given a schedule for their return. When Novak was asked about an update on striker Jessika Carter who is taking time off the program, Novak didn’t have one.

And since former coach Nikki McCray-Penson stepped down in September to focus on her health, two players have entered the transfer portal. Warden Jasmine Shavers has since announced her move to Texas Tech, while Warden KN’isha Godfrey is looking for a school near her home in Florida.

These deviations make practice difficult. When Novak first became the interim head coach, he commented that the team had yet to get a group of male players to train with. This group is more organized now, Novak said, and is improving what it can achieve.

“The NCAA has rules about how many exercises you can have, but it’s more about what you do during that time and how long you stay on the ground,” Novak said. “And then the next component is how much contact is involved. We probably don’t have as much contact as you normally would. “

These measures were taken to reduce the likelihood of further injuries and to further streamline the available players. It is the hand that Mississippi State was dealt.