STARKVILLE — Ben Howland saw what he needed to see in February and March of last season.
For Mississippi State’s men’s basketball coach, it was more than the wins, the ones that took MSU to the brink of the NCAA tournament bubble before a deep run in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). It was more than production from specific players or lineups. It was his vision of what this program would look like away from games manifesting itself in the public realm.
Howland has seen more of it in between then and now, and he anticipates it playing a big role in MSU’s ability to satisfy preseason expectations this year. MSU is likely to be picked to finish in the top six of the league when it goes to Southeastern Conference Media Day Oct. 17 and could be a preseason top 25 team.
“You can see having guys back from last year’s team, we have a lot of experience on the roster that we’re looking forward to,” Howland said. “What’s great is the leadership from our players. I catch Q coaching his teammates, ‘You should’ve taken that shot.’ It’s fun to see how guys are trying to help each other and coach each other, both doing the right things on- and off-the-floor. They’re a positive group, they really compete out there between the lines, but outside they support each other. We have very good leadership and great culture.”
Of course some of that culture is based in the presence of veterans, but it is more nuanced than that. Howland pointed out this team only has two seniors, and by that measure he has had teams for more experienced than that in his career — including his first MSU roster, which had five.
The benefits of his current veteran group are more based in time in his system.
“Now we’re teaching the young guys the culture of Mississippi State basketball,” senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon said.
Weatherspoon is part of that veteran group, joined by senior forward Aric Holman and others, tasked with leading a group of newcomers expected to contribute immediately.
Those newcomers will make the presence most felt in the frontcourt with San Jacinto College transfer Jethro Tshisumpa and freshman Reggie Perry, plus certain configurations with Columbus native Robert Woodard in the frontcourt, too. Woodard could also see some backcourt time alongside fellow freshman D.J. Stewart.
Howland expects many of them to be thrust into roles like those of Quinndary and Nick Weatherspoon, where they are asked to play multiple positions in the interest of lineup flexibility. It may be a lot to throw on newcomers, but Howland expects the summer within the program’s culture to be useful in that regard.
“I think having them here in the summer really helps that. The eight weeks in the summer of conditioning, lifting, skill development, some five-on-five practices, obviously going to school and classes helps in terms of getting everybody familiarized with each other,” Howland said.
On top of those newcomers, Howland expects this team to shoot better. On top of the team’s own emphasis of it, Howland has seen player running their own five-on-five sessions until midnight. The culmination of it all brings to the MSU of a season where expectations are high and they know it; they also plan on meeting them.
“We haven’t had that to this level, people having us nationally ranked,” Howland said. “The bottom line is it’s really nice, it brings a lot of excitement for our fans and t’s been exiting for our players, but you still have to go out and earn it every day. Those rankings mean nothing once the ball is tipped. All it does is put a bigger bull’s eye on your chest for other people.
“We’re trying to win the SEC. That’s the goal.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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