Is now the time for the Lady Bears?

Forgive me for some cheesiness, but I’m usually big on omens, or at least deja vu and signs. So, with that said, I’d say the Missouri State Lady Bears received a sign they are in the right place on Thursday, with Casey Garrison’s status as the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

Still, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this year’s Lady Bear season. Follow me down this path of logic for a second to make sure I have my facts correct.

• The Lady Bears play a group of mostly sophomores and freshmen
• The team’s record improved from 10-20 to 20-9, the first 20-win season in five years
• The LBs are 13th in the nation in scoring, at 77 points per game
• The LBs are armed with three double-digit scorers: Garrison (19.8), Ja’Leshia Roberson (14.6) and Christiana Shorter (11.3)
• Garrison is named MVC Player of the Year as a sophomore
• Shorter is named MVC Freshman of the Year
• Milleson will likely be named Coach of the Year
• The Lady Bears are officially back

Wait, what? How did this happen? Am I wrong? I think we’d all agree the LBs are back, but how back are they?

The turnaround is remarkable, really.

It wasn’t long ago when the school was paying its last coach to leave early. Now, they’re a favorite for at least the conference tournament semifinals as the No. 3 seed.

When the LBs take on the Wichita State Shockers in the 8:35 p.m. quarterfinal, they have a huge opportunity. First, MSU needs to find a way to beat WSU, which it has lost to twice already this season. Secondly, while the men’s team toils in purgatory, awaiting some type of postseason bid, the LBS will have the local stage. Thirdly, did anyone see this coming? (Honestly? Really?)

I sure didn’t. And why should have we? A team armed with sophomores and freshmen and a Division I newbie coach? Sounds like more growing pains should have been in order.

That’s exactly why this weekend should be a blast for the program. Will the LBs win the MVC tournament this weekend? Probably not. Illinois State looks tough, and frankly, the fact the LBs can’t get past a 16-13 Wichita State team is troubling, but the team can gain some of that, um, what’s it called that they seem to win without? Oh yeah, experience.

I’m all for sprinting ahead of expectations, but there’s a reason that mid-major teams with underclassmen don’t typically make the NCAA Tournament. But maybe, the LBs are just that talented.

Think about it. Coach Nyla Milleson’s fast-break style has created an offensive juggernaut. In a women’s college basketball game that seems to be measured in halfcourt success, the LBs push it up the court so often, the overarching points isn’t even to score every time. It’s to make the opponent nervous of what could be coming and get caught not only trying to get back, but forsake the offensive rebounding. If you can pull it off, it’s genius.

So far, so good. The 77 points per game as a team trails the country’s leader, Oral Roberts‘ 86.1. The 76.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line is 12th best in the country. Their 10.7 steals is 27th best nationally.

And they might have a future All-American on their hands. Any time the Lady Bears are mentioned, Garrison gets more than her share of hype, but it’s all earned. She led the MVC in scoring (19.8) and steals (2.9) while finishing second in assists (5.3), and she ranks within the country’s top 25 in all three categories (15th in scoring, 21st in steals and 25th in assists). Is there any reason to think she’ll decline? Not a chance.

All of it adds up to a team that is built for not only the long haul, as in the next two seasons, but one that could be built for the MVC Tourney long haul. Regardless of a quarterfinal flameout, or a championship game run, the LBs are back, and might be for a long time.

If you are looking for MVC Tournament coverage, the games will be covered by KTXR 101.3, as well as the MVC’s Live Blog.