STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women’s basketball head coach Sam Purcell has put together an incredible season that isn’t over quite yet.
Purcell has led his team to a 20-8 record with just one regular season game left to play, already becoming the winningest first-year head coach in program history. His 9-6 ledger in SEC play is also the best mark for an MSU coach in a debut season.
On Thursday night, Purcell picked up his final Humphrey Coliseum victory of the season with an 87-73 rout of Arkansas. It was the most points that the Bulldogs have scored during regulation in a conference game since 2020, and it was never a close contest. They have now won five of their last six SEC games and reached a milestone 20th victory for the first time since the 2019-2020 season.
“To be at 20 wins, I’m just so thankful,” Purcell said. “I’ve got great people. I’ve got players who stayed that could have left. I’ve got players who believed in me.”
Plenty of fans showed up to watch the Bulldogs play on their home court one last time, staying after the game to get autographs and take pictures with their favorite players. With the turnout, Mississippi State officially averaged more than five thousand fans at each contest, putting them among the top four conference teams in average attendance.
“There’s no better feeling than to play at home, and it’s just something special that you can’t put a word to,” Purcell said. “It’s just a magical place that loves women’s basketball.”
Flashback to nearly one year ago, when Purcell was first introduced as the head coach of Mississippi State. He had spent years at schools all across the country helping lead teams to success, but he hadn’t yet taken a head coaching opportunity due to one criterion that had to be met.
“I wanted to go somewhere where women’s basketball mattered,” Purcell said.
What better place to go than down to Starkville, Mississippi? Women’s basketball had been a dominant athletic program at MSU for years, attracting national attention and bringing in some top talent. Still, Purcell’s desire to join the Bulldogs went far beyond just what the players were capable of on the court.
“It’s got everything that I want,” Purcell said. “It’s got a fanbase that’s passionate. I’m back home in the South. It’s about people. It was the perfect fit.”
Upon arriving in Starkville,…
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