STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland is excited about the next week and a half.
The Bulldogs won’t play any games while the players study for final exams that run through Friday. After giving his team Monday and Tuesday off, Howland will get MSU back on the court for practice Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Since MSU returned from the Gildan Charleston Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, MSU has played four games and practice time has been almost non-existent.
But Howland will get time to go over plenty of things before MSU plays host to East Tennessee State at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14 (SEC Network), at Humphrey Coliseum.
“When we’re preparing for opponents, we’re really locked in a lot to what they do and we’re going to respond to it and how we’re going to attack them defensively and offensively,” Howland said. “Now we can get back in these next four practices to execution offensively, fundamentals, and passing.”
After losing to Lehigh 87-73 on Nov. 25 without sophomore guard/forward Quinndary Weatherspoon, who was sidelined with a wrist injury, MSU (6-2) has won its last three games. MSU beat Northwestern State 65-69 last Monday without Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon scored 21 points in his return Thursday in a 74-57 victory against Oregon State. MSU capped the week with an 82-60 victory against Georgia State on Sunday.
Freshman guard Mario Kegler, who is averaging 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds, said the team is in a good rhythm, but he is excited to have a couple of days off because the team needs a break. He expects practices to be intense.
“I think coach Howland is going to come out, lay it down, and make us practice hard and go after each other. It’s going to be worth it,” Kegler said.
MSU is averaging 71.8 points and is shooting 43.9 percent from the field. Opponents are averaging 68.1 points and shooting 45.2 percent.
Against Georgia State, freshman guard Lamar Peters scored a career-high 24 points. Peters has been suspended for two games. He was suspended for the Northwestern State game because he overslept.
After scoring in double digits in two of six games, Kegler has scored double figures in his last two games. He had 12 points against Oregon State and a career-high 16 against Georgia State.
“Like coach Howland said, this was going to be a big game for us with us going on a break,” Kegler said. “We just wanted to come out and get this win to show everybody we’re ready for SEC play.”
Although Howland said the Bulldogs have a lot to work on, a three-game winning streak should provide a lift. He was pleased with the victory against Georgia State because he knows the Panthers will be a force in the Sun Belt Conference.
“What sounds better, 6-2 or 5-3? You’re always thinking about that,” Howland said. “But not just winning, it’s beating good teams. That’s a good team we beat. That team was a problem. I was not excited about playing them. We had to do that because our RPI rule in the SEC. We’ve got to play guys that are going to be tough to beat in this non-conference with all freshmen except for three guys. It’s hard.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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