STARKVILLE — Quinndary Weatherspoon remembers being nervous for his first game away from Humphrey Coliseum.
The Mississippi State guard/forward played two games at the Hump before the Bulldogs hit the road for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic last season. MSU lost to Miami and Texas Tech before beating Missouri State in the three-game tournament.
This season, Weatherspoon and the Bulldogs figure to be more comfortable after playing four games in Italy in August. MSU also played a closed-door scrimmage against Georgia Tech on Oct. 29 in Birmingham, Alabama. Weatherspoon hopes those experiences help a team with six freshmen at 4 p.m. today (ESPN2) when MSU (1-0) plays Central Florida (1-0) in the Charleston Classic in Charleston, South Carolina.
“I’m going to try to tell them it’s all the same, it’s all basketball, and at the end of the day just come out and do what you do,” Weatherspoon said.
MSU will play Boise State or host Charleston on Friday. Reigning NCAA champion Villanova, Western Michigan, Wake Forest, and UTEP are the possible opponents Saturday.
MSU second-year head coach Ben Howland doesn’t feel like the trip to Italy or Birmingham will be help his team because it didn’t play in a hostile environments.
“When we played in Italy, there was no one there,” Howland said. “The biggest crowd was 30 people. I’m not saying there will be a huge crowd for the Mississippi State game against Central Florida, but if we play Charleston, that’s a real road game. These kids have played in high school. They’ve all played against their archrivals, and they all have a feel for that. It’s just a different level in college.”
In a 78-74 season opening win against Norfolk State last Friday at the Hump, Weatherspoon had a game-high 22 points and six rebounds. Freshman guard Tyson Carter, a former standout at Starkville High, had 17 points and was 5 of 7 from 3-point range. Sophomore Aric Holman had 11 points and 11 rebounds, while senior point guard I.J. Ready had 14 points.
After scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a 78-63 exhibition victory against Delta State on Nov. 4, freshman guard Mario Kegler had four points and two rebounds against Norfolk State. Kegler said he played defense too aggressively and had four fouls, which limited him to 26 minutes. That was his biggest takeaway from his first collegiate game.
Kegler, who wasn’t cleared academically to travel with the Bulldogs to Italy, is ready to play away from the Hump.
“I think it’s going to be a challenge for all the freshmen,” Kegler said. “We’re ready for this challenge.”
Weatherspoon, who averaged 12 points and 4.7 rebounds last season, said it took time for him to overcome the nerves of being a freshman. He said Howland told him to play his game.
Howland isn’t worried about the nerves with this freshman class.
“With every game, it becomes more about learning and getting that experience,” Howland said. “Everything’s going to be an experience. It’s a process you have to go through as a freshman. They’re going to play so much (that) by the time we get to January, they’re not going to be true freshmen.”
As one of three upperclassmen, Weatherspoon is being asked to be a leader. He hopes to be a steady presence the Bulldogs will need on the road.
“We’re just going to try to come out and play hard,” Weatherspoon said. “I’m not going to try to do anything spectacular. I’m going to be a team player first and whatever happens, happens.”
Central Florida, which is coached by former Stanford coach and Duke assistant coach Johnny Dawkins, beat Nicholls State 80-56 Monday. The Knights had five players score in double digits, including senior guard Matt Williams with 20 points. Sophomore center Tacko Fall had a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while senior forward Nick Banyard had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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