STARKVILLE — When the Mississippi State men’s basketball team officially ushers in the 2011-12 campaign on Nov. 7, it will mark the beginning of the program’s 100th season.
The year-long celebration will feature highlights from great Bulldog moments, such as the 1963 squad that won the Southeastern Conference title and garnered a bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, the 1996 team that advanced to the Final Four, and the achievements under current MSU coach Rick Stansbury.
In addition, every home game at Humphrey Coliseum will feature an honorary captain, while selected games will offer promotional items for fans.
“One hundred is a special number, and it presents the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate our basketball history at Mississippi State,” MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said. “We’ve had a lot of great moments involving many, many players and coaches, and I know our fans are looking forward in helping us celebrate this special time.”
The celebration features the selection of an All-Century team. Forty-three nominees were trimmed to 20 finalists. The players represent all decades dating back from the 1950s and includes Jim Ashmore, Bailey Howell, Leland Mitchell, Rickey Brown, Jeff Malone, Erick Dampier, Darryl Wilson, Timmy Bowers, Lawrence Roberts, and Jarvis Varnado, just to name a few. From this talented group of 20, fans will vote on the Starting 5.
Fans also are invited to select the five greatest games in school history from a list of 10 games chosen by the committee.
To participate in the voting, fans can cast their ballots at www.mstateathletics.com or at www.facebook.com/mstateMBK.
Here is a list of all of the finalists: Coyte Vance (1950-52), Jim Ashmore (1954-57), Bailey Howell (1957-59), Joe Dan Gold (1961-63), W.D. “Red” Stroud (1961-63), Leland Mitchell (1961-63), Ray White (1976-79), Rickey Brown (1977-80), Wiley Peck (1976-79), Jeff Malone (1980-83), Greg Carter (1988-91), Cameron Burns (1989-91), Tony Watts (1989-92), Erick Dampier (1994-96), Darryl Wilson (1994-96), Dontae’ Jones (1996), Mario Austin (2001-03), Timmy Bowers (2001-04), Lawrence Roberts (2004-05), and Jarvis Varnado.
Here is a list of the all-time greatest games:
Feb. 28, 1959 — at Ole Miss, won 23-16 to clinch school’s first SEC title
March 15, 1963 — vs. Loyola, lost 61-51 in school’s first NCAA tournament game
March 2, 1991 — LSU, won 76-73 to clinch a tie for the overall SEC title
Feb. 14, 1995 — at Kentucky, won 76-71, the first victory in Lexington since 1967
March 19, 1995 — vs. Utah, won 78-64 to advance to the first Sweet 16 in school history
March 10, 1996 — vs. Kentucky, won 84-73 to claim MSU’s first SEC tournament title
March 22, 1996 — vs. Connecticut, won 60-55 to advance to first Elite 8 in school history
March 24, 1996 — vs. Cincinnati, won 73-63 to advance to school’s first Final Four
March 6, 2004 — at Alabama, won 82-81 in overtime to clinch overall SEC title
March 15, 2009 — vs Tennessee, won 64-61 to claim MSU’s third SEC tournament crown
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