The MSU women’s basketball team will open the regular season today at 7 p.m. in the MSU Chevrolet Classic at Breslin Student Events Center.
The Spartans face Arkansas State in the first game, while Tennessee Tech will play Boston College at 9 p.m.
Regardless of today’s outcome, MSU will play at 7 p.m. Saturday in either the championship or consolation game.
MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said she will emphasize the team’s improvement rather than the outcome of the game early in the season.
“We try not to concern ourselves with results, we try to concern ourselves with effort,” McCallie said. “Usually if you’re getting great effort, the team’s playing aggressive and you’re improving, results take care of themselves.”
McCallie said that effort wasn’t present Sunday when the team lost its second exhibition game, 66-57 to the Houston Jaguars.
“For us as a staff and a team this is an opportunity,” McCallie said. “I’m still lit up from the loss on Sunday because I felt that was one we gave away. So there might be additional motivation, not because it’s the first regular season game but because we are coming off a loss in my eyes.”
Freshman guard Candice Jackson, a Lansing native, earned a starting position in today’s game because of her breakout performance Sunday, recording 24 points.
Jackson said she would rather be on the court in the final minutes of a game than on the court for tip-off.
“I really don’t think too much about starting,” Jackson said. “The people who finish the game, that’s what means the most.”
McCallie said the Arkansas State game will be a good test for the Spartans because it is a fast-breaking team. She also added that MSU will have to control the tempo of the game to combat Arkansas’ speed.
“We know quite a bit about (Arkansas State); we’ve been watching film,” McCallie said. “They’re just a good, good team. All the teams in the tournament are good. They (Arkansas State) tend to be a little guard-oriented and they have some excellent three point shooters on the outside. They definitely like transition. They’ll take quick shots and they’ll push the ball up the floor.”
