STARKVILLE — Before Saturday’s game against Missouri at Humphrey Coliseum, Mississippi State coach Chris Jans approached radio play-by-play commentator Neil Price.
“The Hump needs to do what it does today,” Jans said.
Over the next few hours, Jans saw his statement come true.
The Bulldogs’ home arena came to life when Mississippi State jumped out to an early 8-1 lead. It stayed loud when MSU forced Missouri into missed shots or turnovers. And it reached its fever pitch on a pair of alley-oop dunks by forward Tyler Stevenson and guard Shakeel Moore.
“It was rocking there for a while,” Jans said.
It’s been the case more often than not in Jans’ first season in Starkville.
The Bulldogs have seen a spike in attendance since Jans was hired from New Mexico State in March. Compared to last season, they’ve averaged more than 500 more fans per home game and more than 1,500 more for each home Southeastern Conference contest.
Some of that is bound to happen when you have a new coach, particularly one who starts 11-0 in his debut season.
But some of it is by design.
“My staff and I have made it a point to try and build relationships with the student body,” Jans said. “I’m glad for all the people who show up, but certainly our students I think have been over the top with their consistency.”
Whatever the reason, Mississippi State has clearly been fueled by a high-powered Hump — and the Bulldogs’ recent performances should be cause for bigger crowds to come.
— Theo DeRosa
Purcell’s Bulldogs face difficult February with March Madness on the line
March has always been the end goal for the Mississippi State women.
From the moment Sam Purcell landed in Starkville, he’s talked about what once was and what could be again, but even with the talent in his team in Year 1, the road is looking more and more difficult down the final stretch.
The Bulldogs currently sit 40th in NET rankings, falling down a couple spots after their previous two defeats, and are currently the first team out in ESPN’s NCAA women’s bracketology. They’re right on the bubble, and they will need to pick up some wins quickly to move back into the mix.
Tennessee, against whom Mississippi State pushed hard but came up short in Knoxville, visits MSU on Monday night. The Bulldogs will need to rediscover their shooting from that night in order to keep pace or set the tone and shake the cold streaks that have cost them lately.
After that, their final three home games are against Texas A&M, Alabama, and Arkansas. MSU will likely need to win three of those four (including Monday night’s game) and at least two of its remaining road games. Wins over any of Tennessee, Arkansas or LSU would be big résumé boosters, with the former two seeming more likely than a tough road test in Baton Rouge against the currently undefeated Tigers.
There is also, of course, the opportunity of the SEC tournament. Mississippi State made a first-round exit last season and is likely to be in the middle of the seeding for this year’s contest. The Bulldogs will want to avoid the necessity of a deep run to make the Big Dance, but it’s there as a last chance.
— Colin Damms
Reed fading fast on offense
Eric Reed Jr. already lost his starting spot for Mississippi State to Shakeel Moore by late January.
But Reed’s offensive struggles have gotten worse, and they pose a significant problem for an MSU team that could still use help when it comes to scoring the ball.
Reed, who scored 16.1 points per game last year at Southeast Missouri, is averaging just 4.7 points at MSU.
He has attempted at least one 3-pointer in each of his last seven games, but he’s only made one — part of a 1-for-5 night from deep Jan. 17 against Tennessee.
Reed is 0 for 6 from beyond the arc since then and just 1 of 10 from the field. His field goal percentage is down to 31.6 percent, and his 3-point percentage is 25.7 percent — 10 percent lower than it was last year.
“When you work so hard at your craft and spend so much time in the gym like Eric does and the ball doesn’t go in the hole, it becomes frustrating,” Jans said.
Reed is still doing some things right. He’s a great offensive rebounder, he’s a solid defender, and his turnover rate of 5.6 percent is sixth best in the nation.
But when it comes to offense, Mississippi State needs more from Reed — or the Bulldogs will have to shy away from him entirely.
Jans thinks things will turn.
“He’s going to knock them down,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in him.”
— Theo DeRosa
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