STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team has another opportunity to damage the University of Mississippi’s hope for a successful season.
In the past two seasons, the Bulldogs not only have successfully retained momentum in the rivalry game, but they also have made sure to leave the Rebels in a state of disarray and unable to recover in the following weeks.
“I don’t have to point those things out,” MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. “Players understand, you’ve got to go on the road somewhere and try to win some games. And y’all have heard me say this a thousand times, everybody’s good at home. Teams that win championships are teams that can go on the road and win.”
No. 18 MSU (15-3, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) will get another chance to prove it is one of those teams when it plays Ole Miss (11-6, 1-2) at 8 tonight (CSS) at Tad Smith Coliseum.
Two years ago, Ole Miss welcomed MSU into Tad Smith Coliseum as the No. 16 in the country. An 80-75 loss sent it into a tailspin that saw the Rebels lose five of six Southeastern Conference games and miss the NCAA tournament.
Last season, a 69-64 loss to the Bulldogs was part of a stretch that saw the Rebels lose five of their first six league games, which was a key reason why Ole Miss didn’t earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
“We understand when we play the in-state rival we’re also in the same league, and it’s unique,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “In college basketball you have 30 some-odd games, and I think we both prepare as if we’re in SEC play. We have two days to prepare, as Mississippi State does. We’ll get together a game plan we think will put us in position to be successful, then we have to go out and execute that plan. I’m sure they’ll do the same.”
Unlike MSU football coach Dan Mullen, Stansbury, who is 20-7 against Ole Miss as a head coach, doesn’t like to put extra emphasis on games against the Rebels. The 14-year veteran sees the series as one-eighth of his team’s league schedule.
“You guys (in the media) think about it more than I do,” Stansbury said. “It’s two games a year. You play 30 games. It does not count as two Ws or two Ls. There are a lot of other games that count the same you have to get your team prepared for.”
MSU freshman guard Rodney went as far as to say Tuesday he didn’t have any ill will toward the program in Oxford, saying the Bulldogs are just as worried about stealing a road win to stay in the running for the SEC championship.
“I know people don’t like Ole Miss, and I don’t have anything against
them, but I know State fans really want this,” Hood said. “I know we don’t like them and they don’t like us. I’m excited for the game.”
Senior point guard Dee Bost has expressed his excitement about the game on Twitter.
“I guess because everybody takes it personal if we lose to them,” Bost said. “If we lose to them, we’re going to hear for a long time. I just seem to play my best up there. For some reason, I tend to attack the basket than settling for jump shots.”
After going through physical battles in home victories against the University of Tennessee and Alabama, MSU likely will see a similar pace tonight, as Ole Miss is searching for consistency and a go-to scorer. The Rebels likely will try to pull the upset by winning the battle down low with their athletic and experienced forwards.
The veterans and showcase pieces of MSU’s rotation feel like that style will play right into what they wish to accomplish.
“It’ll be a physical game, (but) our bigs always prevail, and I feel
like they’re going to come out on top,” Bost said.
One of the reason Bost is so confident is the dominance of junior forward Arnett Moultrie, who was named Tuesday one of 25 finalists for the Wooden Award.
“(The attention) has happened really quick, but it shows all the hard work is starting to pay off and show,” Moultrie said. “I’m real comfortable and embracing the moment while trying to stay humble.”
Moultrie, who named Monday the SEC Player of the Week, leads the league in rebounding (10.9), while his nine double-doubles are tied for the most. Tonight, he will face two of the top five rebounders in the SEC.
“It’s going to be another physical game because of (Reginald) Buckner and (Murphy) Holloway really hit the rebounds really hard,” Moultrie said. “Me and (Renardo) Sid(ney) have to come in and make it a point to box out and make sure they don’t dominate it.
MSU will play at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2) against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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