STARKVILLE — Malik Newman is experiencing something new this season.

The Mississippi State freshman guard was part of four Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A State championship teams at Callaway High School. He led the Chargers to a record of 114-16 and was named a McDonald’s All-American.

A freshman class that included Newman and Quinndary Weatherspoon was expected to join an experienced group of players to help the Bulldogs push for a winning record and a possible postseason berth this season.

But winning hasn’t been that easy for the Bulldogs.

With six regular-season games remaining, Newman and the Bulldogs are still trying to figure out how to develop consistency. MSU (10-14, 3-9 Southeastern Conference) will get its next opportunity at 8 tonight (SEC Network) when it plays host to Vanderbilt (15-10, 7-5) at Humphrey Coliseum.

“We just need to try to execute the game plan,” Newman said. “We just need to try to go out and compete and do what the game plan asks of us.”

MSU avenged a road loss with a 78-46 victory against Arkansas on Feb. 9. MSU coach Ben Howland believed that effort would carry over after the team had several good practices and walkthroughs prior to the game against Georgia on Saturday. But MSU didn’t do much right in a 66-57 loss at Humphrey Coliseum.

“I think part of it is we didn’t get going well offensively,” Howland said.

MSU shot 26 percent (7 of 27) from the field in the first half and trailed 32-21.

Newman believes the defense needs to get off to a good start to give his team its best chance of winning.

“I think whenever we’re playing good defense our offense comes easier,” Newman said. “If we can get off to a great start on the defensive end, we’ll have a great chance of winning.”

Weatherspoon led Velma Jackson High to three Class 3A State titles from his sophomore to his senior seasons. Forward Aric Holman, who was named a 2015 finalist for Kentucky Mr. Basketball, led Owensboro High to a state championship as a senior for the first time since 1980. He scored 20 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked eight shots as his team beat Bowling Green in the final.

Howland knows his team wishes it had more wins, but he said they are going through the learning process of rebuilding a program.

“What I wanted to do was to start putting my imprint on this program, which is getting good kids that are good people and not having guys that are not buying into being a good person on and off the floor and being coachable,” Howland said. “We’re building things from the ground up. I think we’ve imprinted an attitude and a work ethic with the type of kid we’re going to build this program with.”

Howland said he hasn’t felt the urge to massage the egos of the freshmen through the tough times. Instead, he wants them to use the things they have experienced this season to help them mature.

Newman, who hyperextended his knee last week and has been battling pain, knows the season is far from over. A strong finish could help MSU earn an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament or another one of the other postseason tournaments. MSU will advance to the NCAA tournament only by winning the SEC tournament. Either way, Newman wants to push hard every day.

“I just know there is still hope and there is still light at the end of the tunnel,” Newman said. “Once the SEC tournament starts, that’s when things will get serious for us, but right now we’re still looking at it as we’re still trying to get a higher seed.”

n In related news, Howland said senior forward Travis Daniels didn’t practice Monday after suffering a sprained ankle against Georgia. He Daniels will be a game-time decision tonight.

Daniels is averaging 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait

Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.