Stansbury suspends Johnson indefinitely

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury announced Monday guard Ravern Johnson has been suspended indefinitely.

The 6-foot-7 senior was suspended for MSU’s game Saturday at LSU following a rant critical of the coaching staff on the social network Twitter, which came less than an hour after the Bulldogs’ loss at the University of Alabama. Stansbury banned his players from having Twitter accounts the next day.

Stansbury defends handling of team’s troubles

STARKVILLE — For all the naysayers, Rick Stansbury wants you to look at his track record.

The Mississippi State men’s basketball coach wants those who question the lack of discipline in the program to look past Ravern Johnson’s combined suspensions and Renardo Sidney’s fight with Elgin Bailey.

Buckner emerging for Ole Miss

It’s no coincidence why the University of Mississippi men’s basketball team has won two games in a row: Reginald Buckner is playing at a high level.

The sophomore forward has always been lauded for his shot-blocking ability, but the Rebels (15-8, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) haven’t always gotten a complete, foul-free performance from him.

Last week against the University of Kentucky, the light bulb came on.

Cohen likes balance, speed on 2011 team

STARKVILLE — The balance is where John Cohen wants it.

The Mississippi State baseball coach believes he has the perfect mix of veterans and newcomers to get the Bulldogs back to postseason play.

Heritage Academy boys soccer beats Starkville Academy

STARKVILLE — Heritage Academy’s boys soccer team needed to avenge a loss against Starkville Academy to qualify for the postseason.

History wasn’t on the Patriots’ side, as they’d never made it to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools playoffs.

Josh Poe follows brother to EMCC

MABEN — Josh Poe isn’t chasing his brother’s career.

The similarities between Josh and older sibling, Gabe, tell a different story.

Both players were standouts in football at West Oktibbeha High School.

Gabe, a linebacker at the University of West Alabama, started his career at East Mississippi Community College, where Josh will begin his college career in the fall.

MSU softball set to move on without Bramlett

STARKVILLE — Chelsea Bramlett was the face of Mississippi State’s softball team for the past four years.

The catcher re-wrote MSU’s record book and led the team in batting average (..536), stolen bases (61), hits (98), and runs (56) last season.

Stansbury bans Twitter for MSU men

The Mississippi State men’s basketball team thought point guard Dee Bost would be the talisman to help calm the rough waters of a difficult non-conference journey, but his presence hasn’t been enough to keep off-the-court issues from hovering over the team.

Dudy Gras 5.5 begins today

Dudy Gras 5.5 begins today regardless of the weather. The parade, though, could be a game-time decision.

Depth a strength for MSU men’s tennis

STARKVILLE — A year makes all the difference.

Last spring, the Mississippi State men’s tennis team leaned on players who hadn’t played at the top of the lineup.

Resurgent Starkville has solid signing class

STARKVILLE — After a resurgent season under first-year coach Jamie Mitchell, Starkville High School followed Wednesday with a banner signing class.

Headlined by defensive end Chris Prater signing with Louisiana-Lafayette, the Yellow Jackets had seven players sign college scholarships.

MSU satisfied with class of 22

STARKVILLE — Unmoved by how others rate his 2011 recruiting class, Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen locked up 22 players Wednesday he feels “fit” the program standard.

Never mind the stars next to their names on recruiting websites or the hoopla surrounding their National Signing Day decisions — Mullen doesn’t keep up with that.

Alabama men sweep MSU

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s road woes continue.

After beating then-No. 24 University of Florida on Saturday at home, MSU thought it had cured the ills of an up-and-down start to league play.

Instead, it reverted to the form that saw it lose by 22 at Georgia and dropped its second-straight Southeastern Conference road game Wednesday night at Alabama.

MSU lands big recruiting haul in secondary

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team’s 22-player signing class might not have been highly touted, but coach Dan Mullen feels it addressed needs.

Though MSU inked just one linebacker — Rosa Fort’s Bernardrick McKinney — to help cope with the loss of All-Southeastern Conference players KJ Wright and Chris White, the Bulldogs signed four offensive linemen and three running backs.

The Bulldogs’ biggest haul was in the secondary, where they signed five defensive backs, led by Stone County safety Dee Arrington. Athlete Taveze Calhoun also could wind up at defense back.

MSU/Starkville sports blog: State falters in Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Mississippi State’s road woes continue.

After beating No. 24 Florida at home Saturday, the Bulldogs thought they had cured the ills of an up-and-down start to league play.

MSU/Starkville Sports blog: Mullen not fazed by rankings

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen isn’t concerned with recruiting rankings.

Nor does he care about anyone’s perception of why his Mississippi State Bulldogs had six players de-commit and only land two Dandy Dozen players — the least they’ve signed since 2006.

To him, the 22 players in the 2010 class fit his mission of landing the top players in-state and filling needs.

Sidney, MSU front court face tough task against ‘Bama bigs

STARKVILLE — Renardo Sidney once claimed to be “unstoppable” in the post.

“No one in the nation or the world,” Sidney proclaimed in December, could match him on the block.

Except maybe University of Alabama forward JaMychal Green.

Sidney was held to two points and five turnovers in a loss to the Crimson Tide on Jan. 8, the worst performance of his eight-game college career.

MSU/Starkville sports blog: MSU looks to close strong on signing day

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s football recruiting class has taken some hits in recent weeks, and national signing day could provide more surprises.

MSU has had six de-commitments this recruiting season, including All-Americans C.J. Johnson and Nick Brassell.

MSU wants to finish recruiting season strong

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team’s 2011 recruiting class has taken hits in recent weeks, and National Signing Day could provide more surprises.

MSU has had six de-commitments this recruiting season, including All-Americans C.J. Johnson and Nick Brassell.

Changed MSU set to face Alabama again

STARKVILLE — So much has changed for the Mississippi State men’s basketball team since it lost its league opener to the University of Alabama.