Jordan Danberry arrived on time for Mississippi State

COLUMBUS,OH— It is often said that defense wins championships. If that is so, keep an eye on Jordan Danberry tonight as Mississippi State looks to win a national championship. The junior transfer from Arkansas has played a key role for the Bulldogs en route to an NCAA title.

More from NCAA

• Your Day in Women’s Basketball, April 6: Stanford defeats Arizona in a tightly contested matchup to win the national title
• Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 30: UConn and Baylor deliver a classic battle of storied programs
• Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 26: Louisville and Texas A&M survive and advance
• Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 23: Highlights from the first round of the NCAA Tournament
• Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 16: Tournament bracket released

Coming into the Final Four, Danberry played a total of 27 minutes in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. In four games, she collected five rebounds, one steal, and 11 points.  On Friday, the junior played 26 minutes and recorded four rebounds, three steals, and 10 points, including clutch free throws with 38 seconds left in overtime. Danberry also stripped Asia Durr with 31 seconds left, Louisville did not score for the remainder of the game.

After the game, coach Vic Schaefer praised his guard for her play, “Jordan Danberry comes off the bench and plays 26 minutes, really did a nice job defensively on Asia (Durr), held her to 6-of-17 … that kid’s not played half that many all year but was really playing well today, hit some big free throws for us.”

Guard Blair Schaefer agreed, “Someone has stepped up for us every night when we needed someone to step up,” the senior told the media yesterday. “Last night, it was Jordan. Jordan really came off the bench and gave us great minutes.”

Danberry on defense

Danberry had the game of her Mississippi State career when it mattered the most. She attributes her performance to the clear expectation set by her coaching staff heading into the Final Four. Her job was simple, work in tandem with Roshunda “Ro” Johnson to shut down Durr.

“I just knew to stay ready because Asia Durr, she’s a great player and having to guard her is a team effort,” Danberry told High Post Hoops yesterday.  “I wasn’t expecting to play as many minutes as I did. I was just expecting to play enough minutes to give Ro a [breather] and for her to come back in and pressure her some more. So it was a total team effort. I know I had a lot of help.”

Guarding Durr by committee paid off. Not only did Danberry excel, Ro Johnson came up clutch in regulation to send the game to overtime. Johnson was given the confidence to keep shooting by her coaches and teammates, despite struggling offensively during the game. “Shooters never give up,” said Johnson post game. She was 0-2 from three-point range until the final seconds of regulation. “My teammates got me open. The coach wrote up and excellent play … when I hit the shot, I mean, it made me 1-for-3 (laughs).”

Johnson hitting that shot was far from shocking to Danberry, “Once she hit that shot, we had momentum and we knew that it was our time. We knew it was our game know our game because we’re built for that. All year we’ve been talking about one more. That’s kind of been the theme of the year. One more.”

Preparing for Notre Dame

One more indeed. For a second year, the Bulldogs have made it to the final game of the NCAA Women’s Basketball season. Coach Schaefer believes the Bulldogs are ready for the challenge. While addressing the media yesterday he stated, “I do think that our kids have been prepared for this moment. They’ve wanted this moment … You know, we have a saying, when it gets too tough for everybody else, that’s when it gets about right for us. It was just about right last night. And so I think we’ve embraced that.”

This year, the team is more familiar with the additional responsibilities associated with a National Title run. “I think we’re more prepared mentally … we know everything that goes on and all the demands with the media and waking up early, the awards and everything. So, I think we’re more prepared mentally to accept all those challenges as well as get ready for the game.”

Danberry and teammates Victoria Vivians (Ann Meyers Drysdale Award), Teaira McCowan Naismith Defensive Player of the Year) and coach Vic Schaefer (Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year) have all been recognized this weekend.

While the other three were part of national conversations throughout the season, Danberry’s academic award was more of a surprise. Danberry received the Elite 90 Award, given to the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among her peers.

“I was actually surprised,” Danberry told us. ” I didn’t know until they called out the name of the award. It was funny because I was telling my team, ‘that’s my business major,’ and then they called my name. I was just surprised. It was a good feeling though.”

The  Business Economics major currently has a 3.86 GPA at Mississippi State. If Friday was any indication, Danberry is more than capable of having an elite basketball IQ as well, one that she hopes will lead to a national championship.