The Lady Bears are going to have a tough time playing the disrespect card this season.
Entering 2019-20, the team wasn't even picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference after going to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament — despite returning all but one player.
That motivated the team under first-year head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton to go 26-4, become nationally ranked and win the league before the conference and NCAA Tournaments were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Women's basketball:MSU Lady Bears close chapter on thrilling, heartbreaking season. Now it's time to move forward.