MSU’S Fountain hits stumbling block in freshman development
Derek Fountain had done enough as a freshman for the Mississippi State Bulldogs to receive the first start of his career from head coach Ben Howland.
After coming off the bench to score 20 points and pull down seven rebounds against LSU, Fountain had made the impression necessary to get the nod from Howland to begin the Vanderbilt game.
Fountain was brought back down to earth pretty quick by the Commodores as he was held to only two points and two rebounds in 17 minutes.
It was considered a humbling experience, but Howland said it’s part of the experience that Fountain needed as a young player in the program.
“Derek has done a good job for us as of late,” Howland said. “He’s played very few games when you look at him.”
Howland said there were three plays against Vanderbilt that Fountain would probably like to have back. When the Commodores were up 31-28, Fountain had tried to force a pass to Abdul (Ado), then took two “ill-advised” shots at the rim.
“He had a tough game which was kind of expected because he’s a freshman and finally played like a freshman for the first time after playing so well the previous couple of games,” Howland said. “He’s still going to be a major part of what we’re trying to get out the rest of this year. He’s done a really good job.”
When the Bulldogs do get back on the court for competition, which won’t be tonight because the game at Auburn was postponed, Howland was not ready to commit to giving Fountain his second-straight start and said it would be “game by game.”
Fountain, Ado, Tolu Smith, Iverson Molinar and D.J. Stewart Jr. were the five players that began the game against Vanderbilt, but it remains to be seen if Howland decides to go in that direction again.
MSU (11-11, 5-8) is trying to end a two-game losing streak in the Southeastern Conference.