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The SEC: who’s trending up, who’s trending down

By Blake DuDonis

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs guard Victoria Vivians (35) pushes the ball up the court during a game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on January 21, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Mississippi State defeated the Lady Vols 71-52. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs guard Victoria Vivians (35) pushes the ball up the court during a game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on January 21, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Mississippi State defeated the Lady Vols 71-52. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – JANUARY 21: Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs center Teaira McCowan (15) is guarded by Tennessee Lady Volunteers center Mercedes Russell (21) during a game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on January 21, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Mississippi State defeated the Lady Vols 71-52. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – JANUARY 21: Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs center Teaira McCowan (15) is guarded by Tennessee Lady Volunteers center Mercedes Russell (21) during a game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on January 21, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Mississippi State defeated the Lady Vols 71-52. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Teaira McCowan and Victoria Vivians- Mississippi State

The Bulldogs are in first place so their players are going to get named first. Last season, McCowan came off the bench and finished the season averaging 8.7 ppg and 7.1 rpg. This season, those numbers are up to 19.8 ppg (third in the SEC) and 13 rpg (first) while shooting 62.8% from the field (2nd). Undeniably in contention for most improved player, McCowan has been a dominating force inside. Even last night when she struggled shooting the ball, she still finished the game with 17 points and 17 rebounds.

Meanwhile Vivians has transformed herself from a high volume shooter into an efficient scorer. Playing at the 4 spot for the first time in her life, Vivians is big enough to bang down low (she posted up a ton last night) but quick enough to take players off the bounce. She is putting up career high numbers this year of 19.4 ppg (fouth), 51.5% fg (11th), 39% 3pt (ninth) 82% ft (ninth) and 5.9 rpg. Both players are in the discussion for player of the year and have (in addition to Blair Schaefer, Morgan William and Roshunda Johnson, among others) put the Bulldogs in the position to control their own destiny in the SEC for the second season in a row. Last year they dropped their last two games against Kentucky and Tennessee, costing them the title. Redemption has made itself available.

A’ja Wilson and Ty Harris- South Carolina 

COLUMBIA, SC – FEBRUARY 01: Tyasha Harris (52) guard of the South Carolina Lady Gamecocks during the UConn Huskies game versus the South Carolina Lady Gamecocks on February 1, 2018, at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC – FEBRUARY 01: Tyasha Harris (52) guard of the South Carolina Lady Gamecocks during the UConn Huskies game versus the South Carolina Lady Gamecocks on February 1, 2018, at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

I really don’t need to go into A’ja Wilson’s bonafides because you likely are plenty aware of them, but let’s just do a quick overview. She has increased her scoring from 17.9 ppg last year to 22.7 (1st) this year and her rebounding from 7.8 rpg to 11.5 (3rd), while continuing to shoot above 50% from the field. She is going to be the number one pick in the WNBA draft following this season and as long as she is on the court, the Gamecocks have a chance.

The rise of Ty Harris, perhaps, was not quite as obvious if you weren’t paying attention. An all-freshman team member last season, Harris has continued to improve as a true point guard and is leading the league in assists per game (6.5) and is second in assists-to-turnover ratio (2.8). Her three point shooting percentage has dipped slightly, but she has filled her role at point guard extremely well. With weapons like Wilson, Alexis Jennings and Lindsey Spann (when healthy), Harris knows her role is to distribute the ball, something she does extremely well.

Chennedy Carter- Texas A&M

Ever since she hung 46 points on Southern Cal back in December, Chennedy Carter has been on the national radar. The Aggie freshman has eclipsed the 30-point mark four times already in her young career and has yet to see a shot she doesn’t like. She has been hovering around 21 ppg all season but against LSU, things turned ugly. 2-of-13 from the floor for a season-low 10 points to go along with seven turnovers, Carter was at a crossroads that many freshmen find themselves: bounce back or go into the gutter. Fortunately for A&M fans, Carter chose the former and scored 25+ in her next two games. She can be erratic at times but Carter has the ability to light up anyone, anytime. If she can stay hot down the stretch, the Aggies will be tough to beat.

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