STARKVILLE — Expect a much different Renardo Sidney this season.
The Mississippi State junior center spent over a month working out with former NBA player and coach John Lucas in Houston, Texas to shed weight and improve his conditioning.
Sidney returned to campus last week 23 pounds lighter after weighing 320 pounds when he showed up in Houston in May.
He wouldn”t divulge Monday what his current weight is but said he”s looking to lose another 20 pounds before the start of the season in November.
He”ll get a jump on that goal with MSU”s preseason tour of Europe in August, which includes games against teams from Amsterdam, Belgium and France.
“I ran 18 miles a week,” Sidney said. “We did two-a-days, basketball-wise. I”ve never worked that hard. I think the last time I worked that hard was in seventh grade.”
Sidney labored through stretches of his first collegiate season as he was overweight and struggling to reach game fitness.
He went into the offseason determined to shed pounds and repair a reputation that had seen him draw praise for his natural ability and criticism for being out of shape.
Still, Sidney averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds after sitting out his freshman season due to an eligibility battle with the NCAA.
“I think I have a lot of people to show that I can do a lot of stuff this year,” Sidney said. “I got a lot of stuff to prove about my attitude, my game and my conditioning.”
Sidney said he works out three times a day, including a morning session with strength and conditioning coach Richard Akins and on-court drills with team trainers.
Sidney”s weight has been an issue from the moment he was cleared to play in April 2010. He”s always been straightforward about his need to lose weight, but it was never clear how much weight he”d actually lost while playing last season.
Teammates have noticed a difference in Sidney”s appearance and ability to run the floor since returning to campus for the start of the second summer semester.
“It makes me happy to know that he”s working,” MSU point guard Dee Bost said. “It”s gonna help us out a lot. He has got better conditioning. He”s ran more possessions each time.”
Partly motivated by his intentions to enter the 2012 NBA Draft, Sidney is attacking his junior season like he should have last season.
Last year, Sidney and Bost served nine-game suspensions for separate eligibility issues. To have both players available for the start of the league season, MSU created a logjam of non-conference games in December that ultimately saw the team suffer RPI-damaging losses.
Then, there was the embarrassment of the brawl between Sidney and former MSU center — and friend — Elgin Bailey in between games of the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.
Sidney was labeled a trouble-maker at the heart of MSU”s dismal season that ended without a postseason bid.
Distractions like controversial twitter posts and lingering issues about his dedication to the team aren”t what you”ll find in Sidney this year.
“I”m trying to stay low,” Sidney said. “Last year was the worst year for me, ever. I”m trying to get my image back out there. I”m not worried about twitter or facebook…just stay in the gym.”
Sidney”s time with Lucas, who battled cocaine and alcohol addiction as a player in the NBA, has served as a motivator and life coach for athletes, including Sidney. Lucas has helped Sidney narrow his focus to improving his game and avoiding negativity.
“Every day, he talked to me about life,” Sidney said. “He was teaching me about how to keep my cool and not worry about what people say. Just stay in the gym and stay hungry.”
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