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Mississippi State basketball: Sam Purcell issues challenge for fans

By Ethan Lee

Mississippi State Coach Sam Purcell watches Mississippi State guard JerKaila Jordan (2) defend Texas A&M forward Aaliyah Patty (32) during the third quarter of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Thursday, March 2, 2023. Texas A&M won 79-72.Texas A M Vs Mississippi State 2023 Sec Women S Basketball Tournament In Greenville Sc
Mississippi State Coach Sam Purcell watches Mississippi State guard JerKaila Jordan (2) defend Texas A&M forward Aaliyah Patty (32) during the third quarter of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Thursday, March 2, 2023. Texas A&M won 79-72.Texas A M Vs Mississippi State 2023 Sec Women S Basketball Tournament In Greenville Sc /
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As he heads into his second season leading his Mississippi State basketball team, Sam Purcell is looking to build even more fan support.

Things went well for Sam Purcell and his Mississippi State basketball team during his first year in Starkville.

He put together a bit of a piecemeal team, retained some impressive talent, and found a way to elevate the Mississippi State women’s basketball team to where they could compete in the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

MSU went 22-11 in Purcell’s first season. The Bulldogs managed to go 14-2 at home and pulled off a few impressive wins here and there before beating Illinois in the First Four in and Creighton in the First Round before eventually falling to Notre Dame in the Second Round of the NCAA tourney.

Now Purcell wants to continue building.

Sam Purcell seeks even more Mississippi State basketball fan support

And given how the Bulldogs had a solid amount of success in their first season under Purcell and the way they’ve been recruiting as of late, it’s reasonable to expect even more wins and fun in 2023-2024.

It’s also reasonable for Purcell to issue a pretty reasonable challenge to Miss. State fans. What exactly does he want the Bulldog faithful to do?

Show up, donate to NIL efforts, pack the Hump, and sellout at least one game this coming season.

In other words, Purcell is challenging the Bulldog faithful to expand the degree to which they support the team this coming season. Purcell delivered wins. He wants to see even more fans buy into the program that he’s building.

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The Bulldogs are in a pretty good spot with Purcell leading the Mississippi State women’s basketball program and Chris Jans heading up the Mississippi State men’s basketball team. Given how both thrived a season ago, MSU fans should be excited about how this coming season could play out.