STARKVILLE – Moments after his team’s biggest win in more than a month, Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Rick Ray was already looking forward.
“We have to make sure this isn’t a one-time thing,” said Ray after a 62-55 win over Florida State last Friday. “We have to ensure that this carries over with conference play coming.”
Ray’s first chance to see if his Bulldogs listened to that message will come tonight, when MSU hosts Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. at the Humphrey Coliseum and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
The matchup will not only pit the Bulldogs against the Volunteers, but it was also match up Ray with first-year Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall. Both coaches got their start in Iowa over two decades ago.
“Donnie does a great job keeping things simple for his team,” said Ray of Tyndall, who left Southern Mississippi to take the Tennessee job this past offseason. “Whenever they make a basket, they’ll fall back into a 1-2-2 or they’ll get set in a 2-3 zone whenever the situation dictates. They do what do and they’re not going to change it.”
For Ray, more important than Tennessee’s gameplan will be his team’s effort level. According to MSU’s third-year head coach, that’s the key for the Bulldogs, who own home wins over teams like FSU and Utah State while also taking home losses from the likes of McNeese State and Arkansas State.
“It’s a matter of energy level,” said Ray. “I think our guys now see that we have to play at a certain level or we’re in danger. We are not good enough as a basketball team to play with poor effort and win the game.”
MSU enters at 7-6 overall, bolstered by the seven-point win over FSU to close non-conference play. Prior to beating the Seminoles, the Bulldogs had lost six of seven games. Entering SEC play, a trio of Bulldogs are scoring in double figures, led by junior guard Fred Thomas and senior forward Roquez Johnson, who both average 10.8 points per game. Starkville High product Gavin Ware, a junior post player, averages 10.4 points per night.
Additionally, junior guard Craig Sword, MSU’s leading scorer last year, has started to round into form, as he has scored eight, 11 and nine points in his last three outings.
“I’m starting to get back to where I was,” said Sword, referring to a back injury that cost him the first four games of the season. “I know that conference play is huge for us, so it feels good to be getting back into game shape, back to where I need to be.”
The Bulldogs hold an all-time record of 30-16 in SEC openers played at home and are 27-27 in home match-ups against Tennessee. The Volunteers (8-4) are coming off four straight home victories and will be playing in only their second true road contest of the season.
Senior guard Josh Richardson enters Wednesday’s contest leading Tennessee in points (16.5), assists (3.6) and steals (2.3). Junior forward Armani Moore brings in a team best 6.9 boards.
The Bulldogs continued to excel defensively, holding the Seminoles to only 55 points and lowering their opponents’ scoring average to 57.8. They also remain atop the conference in rebounds allowed at 29.3.
Mississippi State and Tennessee most recently met last February in a 75-68 Bulldog loss at Humphrey Coliseum. Tennessee currently leads the all-time series 78-41 and has won the last three and nine of the last 12 meetings.
“Conference play gives us an opportunity to take what went right against Florida State and keep it going,” said Ray on Monday. “If we are able to do that, we can have success. If we don’t, it will be tough.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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