STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland calls his team’s matchup against Ole Miss tonight “the biggest game of the season.”
It’s common for coaches to promote the next opponent as the biggest game of the season. However, Howland labels tonight game “big” because of the rivalry aspect, as opposed to where it falls on the schedule.
“We really only have three guys who have played in this rivalry,” Howland said. “They are going to get an education real quick. It doesn’t take long until after the game starts and you feel it throughout the building. It’s electric. For the two fans bases in this state, this is a really a big deal.”
The Rebels and Bulldogs will play for the 254th time at 6 tonight in Oxford (SEC Network).
Sophomore Quinndary Weatherspoon is one of three Bulldogs who tasted the rivalry last season. Being one of five in-state Bulldogs on the roster, Weatherspoon already knew about the rivalry long before he signed with the Bulldogs.
“It’s a different game,” Weatherspoon said. “I know from the first time we played them, how great it felt (to win). The second time we played them, I know how it felt (to lose). That sucked. I don’t want to ever feel that feeling again.”
Last season, the Bulldogs won 83-77 in Starkville but fell 86-78 in Oxford. MSU last won in Oxford in 2011.
“Ole Miss has a really good basketball team,” Howland said. “Their guard play is as good as any in the league. You look and see what they have done with Sebastian Saiz this season. He has always been great from 10 to 12 feet away, but now he can step back and shoot the 3-pointer.
“They like to go on offense. We played high-scoring games last year in the series. Our defensive effort will be vital.”
MSU (13-7, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) will look for its third conference road win in five tries. Ole Miss (12-9, 3-5) is trying to keep NCAA tournament hopes alive after losing to Texas A&M and No. 2 Baylor last week at home.
Ole Miss has lost four of its last five at home. However, Ole Miss led for most of the game and showed better effort in a 78-75 loss to Baylor.
“The win here is critical to them,” Howland said, “When you lose a few games, you need something good to happen. They will be at home in front of their crowd looking for that good to happen.”
MSU will look to bounce back after a 71-62 loss to Alabama on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Weatherspoon hit a 3-pointer for a 58-57 lead with a little more than six minutes remaining, but Alabama scored the next 14 points.
The Bulldogs sent the Crimson Tide to the line 36 times. They also played the final 36 minutes without reserve point guard I.J., who suffered a calf injury. Howland said the MRI showed no tear for Ready and that his return to playing time was a “day-to-day” situation.
“We are really hopeful I.J. can play because he brings so many things to us on both sides of the ball,” Howland said. “We will have to see how he feels at game time. You really want him to play. He’s a senior. He’s played in this rivalry the previous three seasons. You want to see him play this game.”
With or without Ready, Weatherspoon said the Bulldogs have to play better defense.
“We have to quit fouling,” Weatherspoon said. “Turnovers are part of the game. We made some mistakes (against Alabama) and they hurt us. The free throws are something we can eliminate. We just have to play defense without fouling. If we don’t do that, we don’t have a chance.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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