AUSTIN (KXAN) – As Texas moved to the SEC, their women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer was very used to the new conference. He’d been coach of the year in the SEC three times already in his time at Mississippi State.
Tuesday it was announced that Schaefer earned his fourth coach of the year honor in the SEC. He helped led the Longhorns to a share of the SEC regular season championship in their first year in the conference. Schaefer reflected not just team success, but on individual performances as the Longhorns had three players named to an all-SEC team.
“Rori [Harmon] on the All-Defensive team, Jordan Lee on the All-Freshman team, obviously Madison Booker Player of the Year and on the First Team is really special. I know those three would give props to their teammates first.” said Schaefer.
The Longhorns finished the season 29-2 and 15-1 in conference. Schaefer attributes this to the teams will to win, always looking towards the next step.
“They are battle tested,” said Schaefer. “I’m really proud of them. They’ve done a lot. The jobs not done for sure. Lots of goals in front of us. Three championship opportunities in front of us.”
After becoming the first freshman in Big 12 history to win Player of the Year, Madison Booker, a sophomore from Ridgeland, Mississippi, adds another plaque to her shelf with SEC player of the Year honors.
“It’s surprising,” said Booker. “I just didn’t think it was me this year. There were so many other great players in this league. I could go down the list, but its just a blessing. I wouldn’t even thank myself, I would thank my teammates.”
Schaefer had nothing but good things to say about Madison Booker, not just as a player but as a person.
“There is nothing harder than leading from the front,” Schaefer said about Booker being one of the favorites to win SEC Player of the Year. “And she did it and is the most humble kid. She has such humility. She’s a team player. She just wants to win.”
Despite most questions at Tuesday’s media availability focused around her award, Booker focused less on herself and instead attributed all the credit to her teammates.
“I’m proud of Rori [Harmon],” said Booker. “For her to come back from her ACL injury and just being able to carry this team and now we’re number one…Just showing everyone the right way to play basketball here at Texas.”
The Longhorns await their first match up of the SEC tournament this Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Greenville, South Carolina.
