STARKVILLE — While the Mississippi State men’s basketball season opener on Nov. 5 against Florida International is still more than five months away, the schedule picture has reached its clearest point as the athletic department announced the team’s nonconference schedule Tuesday afternoon.
For a slate that could boast as many as 13 games depending on what occurs in the Myrtle Beach Invitational, the nonconference schedule is a rather uninspiring one in terms of name recognition.
The Bulldogs will face a maximum of four power five programs. Of those games, only a Dec. 14 date against Kansas State in the Never Forget Tribute Classic has been officially scheduled. MSU could face 2016 and 2018 national champion Villanova and Big 12 foe Baylor in Myrtle Beach. The Bulldogs will also participate in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, though their opponent has yet to be announced.
Of those remaining games, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, and Louisiana Tech offer the most intriguing matchups of the nonconference schedule.
Sam Houston State is the first of those games to take place Nov. 8 in Starkville. The Bearkats finished the 2018 season 21-12 and 16-2 in the Southland Conference. SHSU brings back six of its top 10 scorers from last season — including senior Kai Mitchell, a 12.5 point per game scorer a year ago.
The Louisiana Tech game is the first back from the Myrtle Beach Classic for MSU and one that likely poses a more serious threat to coach Ben Howland’s bunch. The Ruston, Louisiana Bulldogs bring back their top five scorers from last season’s 20-13 group. Former West Virginia forward Andrew Gordon also joins the fray at Louisiana Tech and will give the Bulldogs a 6-foot-10 frame in the middle.
New Mexico State is perhaps the most difficult mid-major matchup of the early season following a 2018 season in which it finished 30-5 and fell by one point to eventual Final Four team Auburn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Aggies come into the 2019 season with a seasoned group of seven seniors on their roster. Offensively, leading scorer Terrell Brown returns after averaging 11.3 points per game in 2018. Ivan Aurrecoechea, AJ Harris and Trevelin Queen all averaged 7.8 points per game or better and will be back this season.
Beyond the actual roster, the circumstances of the NMSU game foreshadow a wild affair. The game will be held at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. Over the past four years, MSU has played one game per season in Jackson — the last two of which were decided by a total of 10 points.
More pressing, while the Bulldogs won both games in the state capital against Wright State and Southern Miss, those teams ranked No. 146 and 204 in the RPI, respectively. By contrast, NMSU finished last season ranked No. 43.
Of note, MSU’s other opponents include 2018 Big South regular season title winner Radford and College Insider Tournament participants FIU, Louisiana-Monroe, New Orleans and Kent State.
In all, MSU’s nonconference schedule does lack in name recognition and national relevance, but the slate is chock full of strong mid-major opponents and a solid field in Myrtle Beach that should leave the Bulldogs battle tested by the time the SEC season comes around.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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