STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland provided clarity about Nick Weatherspoon’s availability to start the year on Thursday.
Howland confirmed the point guard will be suspended for the first 10 games of the 2019-2020 season for a violation of team rules. No other suspensions were announced.
Weatherspoon was suspended for the Bulldogs’ final 10 games a year ago. In August, the NCAA found one men’s basketball player (along with 10 football players) guilty of academic misconduct involving a former athletic department tutor.
If Howland’s statement stands, the 6-foot-2 junior guard would be on track to make his season debut against New Mexico State on Dec. 22 in Jackson. The Canton product averaged 9.6 points in 24 games in the 2018-2019 season.
“Nick Weatherspoon is our starting point guard,” Howland said. “But he’ll miss the first 10 games.”
In the interim, senior Tyson Carter will take over point guard duties in Weatherspoon’s absence, as he did last year, and move to the two position once the suspension is over.
“I think (playing point guard) helped me a lot,” Carter said. “I was playing anywhere from 30 to 35 minutes. That’s what I’ll be playing this year. I feel comfortable playing at both spots, because I played point guard before I got to college. I’ve been playing there a lot this offseason.”
Carter, a Starkville native, averaged 10.4 points in 34 games for the Bulldogs in his junior year.
“Tyson is so much quicker and stronger than he was a year ago,” Howland said. I think he’s playing with a lot of confidence. The last 10 games of last season where Nick missed, he filled in admirably and really grew a lot. He’s learning from all the experienced guys.”
Howland said Weatherspoon will be eligible to play in the team’s exhibition game against South Alabama on Oct. 27 in Starkville.
Perry expecting big year
When MSU’s season ended, Reggie Perry got to work.
Perry attended the NBA combine in May in hopes of declaring for the NBA draft after his freshman season, but ultimately decided to return for his sophomore year. The Thomasville, Georgia, native produced a productive 9.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor, but was told his long range game needs work if he wants to improve his pro stock. A 6-foot-10 forward, Perry shot 28 percent from deep in his first collegiate season.
“Going into the combine, that’s what they said was the biggest thing I needed to work on,” Perry said. “(They said) I need to hit between 35 and 40 percent this year.”
Perry heard the lesson loud and clear, according to his coach.
“Where he’s really grown is he’s a much better shooter,” Howland said. “His jump shot has really improved.”
In the summer, Perry led the FIBA U19 USA men’s basketball team to a gold medal and was later named the tournament’s MVP. In seven games with Team USA, he averaged 13.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest.
“It was a great experience playing with the USA team,” Perry said. “You get the chance to go against some pretty good players. I got a lot better going against good competition every single day.”
Meanwhile, the fifth-year MSU coach lauded Perry’s passing ability out of the post and called him one of the better all-around passers on the team. Perry was recently named to Lindy’s preseason All-America first team. Howland shares the publication’s lofty expectations for the sophomore.
“I want him to be a better rebounder and average double figures in rebounding every single night,” Howland said. “I want him to have a goal of being a guy who can average a double-double, which is extremely difficult to do, but he’s capable of doing it.”
‘You have to have a fair playing field’
It’s fair to wonder how the Fair Pay to Play Act, a bill that was signed into law in the State of California that allows collegiate athletes to profit off their likeness starting in 2023, will impact college basketball.
Count Howland among those curious.
“You have to have a fair playing field,” Howland said. “You can’t have certain states allowing something that other states aren’t. I think it’s a very complex issue and a very difficult thing. We’re going to follow whatever rules we’re told to follow.”
The former UCLA coach also seemed very fond of finding ways to help athletes make the most of their brand.
“What I do think is great is doing everything we can to help our players,” Howland said. “I think since I’ve been here in four years, we’ve added cost of attendance where athletes get more money on top of their full scholarship. I hope we can get them better numbers there because we want our players to be comfortable.”
Dawg Notes
– Howland went out of his way to heap praise on Western Kentucky transfer Tolu Smith Thursday. Smith, who’s transfer was announced in early September, is a 6-foot-10 forward and averaged 3.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 10.1 minutes in 34 games with Western Kentucky his freshman season. He’ll be eligible in the 2020-2021 season and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
“The guy that we’re super excited and thrilled about is Tulo Smith,” Howland said with enthusiasm. “He’s going to be an impact player for us a year from now. He’ll be that way because of his attitude and has a great drive to want to be really good. Boy, I wish he was eligible right now.
– Junior forward KeyShawn Feazell has lost 30 pounds since the end of last season.
“You can see it in his movements,” Howland said. Feazell could be in the MSU rotation this year.
– At the end of last season, Howland considered burning D.J. Stewart’s redshirt. Eventually, he decided against it, and is thankful he did.
“He’s so much better after a year of practicing with the program and growing his understanding of the game,” Howland said of the redshirt freshman. “I think he’ll be one of our better perimeter defenders.”
– MSU will scrimmage Texas Christian University Oct. 12 in New Orleans.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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