Ole Miss’ Kennedy has nice problem at guard position

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — University of Mississippi men’s basketball coach Andy Kennedy has a nice problem.

He has to find places for guards Terrico White, Chris Warren, Eniel Polynice, and Trevor Gaskins to play this season.

Kennedy didn’t have that dilemma last year when Warren, Polynice, and Gaskins all went down with knee injuries and White was the only point guard left.

Alabama men’s basketball team turns up the tempo

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The tempo is about to be turned up a notch on the basketball court in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

With Anthony Grant as the new men’s basketball coach at the University of Alabama, the team will play a different style from past years.

Grant developed a reputation for an up-tempo style of play in three seasons as coach at Virginia Commonwealth.

He plans to use the same approach at Alabama, but he knows there will be a transition.

MSU nearly picks off Florida

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State freshman safety Johnthan Banks wasn’t going to be intimidated Saturday night by the University of Florida.

Even though the Bulldogs lost a 29-19 decision to the No. 2 Gators, Banks showed he belonged on the field.

The former East Webster High School standout intercepted senior quarterback Tim Tebow twice and returned both for touchdowns. He returned the first one 100 yards with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter to pull MSU (3-5, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) within 13-10 at halftime.

Fans show support of MSU

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen asked for it and he got it Saturday night.

Mullen wanted fans to fill Davis Wade Stadium and make it a tough environment when No. 2 University of Florida came to town.

The largest crowd in MSU history of 57,178 looked on as the Bulldogs lost to the Gators 29-19.

Varnado poised to set NCAA record for blocks

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury preaches defending and rebounding to his team.

But he has yet to run a shot-blocking drill in practice.

Stansbury discovered early Jarvis Varnado didn’t need it. He already had that skill.

SEC excited for another basketball season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two things excite Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive about the upcoming basketball season.

MSU’s Dixon faces challenge against Florida

STARKVILLE –– Anthony Dixon doesn’t shy away from a challenge.

That’s just what Mississippi State’s new all-time leading rusher will get against the University of Florida.

Something will have to give at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) when one of the nation’s top defenses takes on one of the country’s top rushing attacks.

Dixon expects a “grind it out game,” and that’s the type he likes.

Starkville bids to make up for missed opportunity

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School football coach Bill Lee believed his team missed a great opportunity this past Friday.

Lee said all the Yellow Jackets had to do was beat Southaven to make the Class 6A state playoffs.

That didn’t happen as Starkville lost 27-16.

A victory would have made things a lot easier on the Yellow Jackets, but now the playoff picture in Class 6A, Region 1 is clouded.

Mississippi State assistant Hevesy faces former team

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State offensive line coach John Hevesy said going against the University of Florida will be different for him.

When Hevesy left Florida to join Dan Mullen’s staff at Mississippi State he knew it meant one day having to see the players he helped recruit at Florida.

That’s something he has never experienced.

MSU plays host to Florida at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) and Hevesy admits it will be a little strange.

Florida’s goal is to stay among nation’s elite

University of Florida head football coach Urban Meyer can tell when his players, assistant coaches and support staff are feeling the pressure.

When a program has won two out of the last three national championships and has been highly ranked over that span, it’s only natural to have an overwhelming desire to hold on to that standing.

That’s the challenge No. 2 Florida (6-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) has once again as the Gators travel to play Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN).

EMCC’s Cox, Shelton thrive as teammates

Quartney Cox and Avis Shelton are inseparable.

The two offensive linemen have been side by side during their football careers at West Point High School and East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.

They are even roommates at EMCC.

“Everyone thinks we follow each other around,” Shelton said.

With Scooba only being a 40-minute drive from West Point, Shelton and Cox have been able to enjoy their junior college careers and stay close to home.

Mullen, Tebow share special bond

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen and University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow share a special bond.

What began as a relationship between a quarterback and his position coach has become a valued friendship.

MSU’s Lee respects Florida’s Tebow

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State senior quarterback Tyson Lee, of Columbus, said it will be “an extreme honor” to step onto the same field as University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

Florida might have edge in talent on Mississippi

STARKVILLE — It has made for interesting talk around the football locker room at Mississippi State.

There has been a running debate among the Bulldogs about which state, Mississippi or Florida, has the better high school talent.

MSU, Varnado get top billing in SEC

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury likes his team better now than he did at this time last year.

With the return of five starters from a team that reached the NCAA tournament for the second season in a row, Stansbury is more comfortable this preseason.

Hamilton edges East Webster in district matchup

MABEN — The mud that collected on the back of Hamilton High School senior receiver Kevin McCartney might have obscured the jersey number so it couldn’t be seen.

That didn’t keep sophomore quarterback Austin Welch from finding McCartney at a critical part of Friday night’s 12-6 victory against East Webster.

EMCC quarterback Henderson makes most of start against ICC

FULTON — Former Starkville High School quarterback Brad Henderson wondered when he would get another chance to start for the East Mississippi Community College football team.

After getting the nod in the first game of the season against Copiah-Lincoln C.C., Henderson spent the next six games backing up sophomore Randall Mackey.

Mackey hurt a knee and an ankle last week in a victory against Northeast Mississippi C.C., so Henderson knew the chances were pretty good he would get another opportunity.

Shed leads EMCC football team in rushing against ICC

FULTON — Former Starkville High School running back Pat Shed is never satisfied.

The East Mississippi Community College sophomore was the leading rusher Saturday with 83 yards on 16 carries in the Lions’ 28-6 victory against Itawamba C.C.

The effort helped Shed increase his season totals to 590 yards on 102 carries, but he believes there’s room for improvement.

EMCC football team has nothing to hide about Footman

FULTON — The East Mississippi Community College football team has nothing to hide concerning eligibility issues surrounding punt returner and backup wide receiver British Footman.

As far as the Lions are concerned, questions about Footman never were an issue.

“Not for us,” EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said. “We understood the rules, and if there ever was a question, I promise you we would never risk a season to play one kid.”

Footman played Saturday for the Lions in a 28-6 victory against Itawamba C.C.

Former MSU coach Williams joins staff at Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech University announced the addition of former Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Richard Williams to its men’s basketball staff.

Williams will be the director of basketball administration and program coordinator on a volunteer basis at Louisiana Tech. He served as the director of basketball operations at UAB in 2008.

During his tenure (1986-98) at MSU, Williams helped coach the Bulldogs to the NCAA Final Four in 1996 and he was chosen Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year twice.

Williams is the second-winningest coach in MSU history with a mark of 191-163.