After a slow start in SEC play, Bulldogs appear to be clicking
If Mississippi State head basketball coach Ben Howland could rewind time back to last Monday and outline his ideal plan for how he wanted this past week to play out, it likely wouldn’t have been much different than the actual result.
MSU played two games. The Bulldogs got two dominant wins.
On the heels of an 0-3 start to Southeastern Conference play, it was just what the doctor ordered to cure what had been ailing State. That winless beginning to league play seems like a distant memory right now.
“You can just see how together our guys are right now, both in how they’re playing and how they’re supporting one another,” Howland said after MSU thumped Georgia 91-59 on Saturday. “It’s just really fun to be a part of.”
Few probably could’ve seen Mississippi State riding this high only a few days ago. Back on January 11, MSU lost in last-second fashion at LSU. The wheels looked to be coming off of State’s season. However, the Bulldogs roared back. On Tuesday, MSU rolled past Missouri 72-45. State followed that up with the lopsided win over Georgia Saturday. It marked the first time over the last 20 seasons that Mississippi State won consecutive SEC games by 25 or more points.
Was Howland shocked at just how impressively his team responded this past week given where they sat heading into it? Not at all, he says.
“I’m not surprised,” Howland said. “I’m excited. We’re playing how we’re capable of playing right now. I think we can continue to improve and get better. That’s always the key is continuing to get better and grow and become better in your execution at both ends of the floor, so I’m really excited for our guys. They should feel good about themselves.”
MSU players share Howland’s
exuberance.
“Yeah, we’re still getting better,” junior guard Nick Weatherspoon said. “We still feel like we haven’t played our best basketball yet. We’re still trying to get better right now.”
If Mississippi State can indeed find a way to improve upon how it has played over the last two games, a special season could be in store in Starkville. There’s a talented group from Arkansas coming in on Wednesday night though that’ll be looking to spoil all the good vibes in Starkville.
The Bulldogs
battle the
| Page 6