Mississippi State basketball: Vic Schaefer and Bulldogs picked to win SEC

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Head coach Vic Schaefer of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs speaks to his team against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half in the semifinals of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs defeated the Louisville Cardinals 73-63. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Head coach Vic Schaefer of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs speaks to his team against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half in the semifinals of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs defeated the Louisville Cardinals 73-63. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Vic Schaefer and his Mississippi State basketball team have been selected as the preseason favorites to win the Southeastern Conference during the 2018-2019 season.

After back-to-back national runner up finishes, Vic Schaefer and his Mississippi State basketball team are expected to accomplish a lot in this upcoming season. The 2018-2019 MSU women’s hoops team has lost quite a bit from a season ago, but the Bulldogs are reloading and are primed for success this year.

Because of how talented this team is and the fact that Schaefer has established this program at the top of the Southeastern Conference, the Bulldogs were picked to win the SEC again this season.

Earlier this week at SEC Media Days for women’s hoops, the media tabbed the Bulldogs as their preseason pick to claim the conference title.

Last season, Vic Schaefer led the Mississippi State basketball team to 37 wins, a conference title, and a second consecutive appearance in the national title game. The Bulldogs played phenomenal basketball and dominated their way through SEC play, crushing their opponents along the way.

The Bulldogs are working to piece together a starting lineup after last year’s team moved on. Schaefer is having to replace four starters from a season ago, but this team has the talent to do that. It also helps that Teaira McCowan, arguably the best center in the country, has returned for another season.

Schaefer and the Bulldogs have high hopes for this year, as they should. It’s hard to tell exactly how far this team will go given what MSU lost from last season. However, this program has established itself as a national power. State isn’t going away anytime soon.