Freshman Bulldog Smith keeps improving
It hasn’t been uncommon for the Mississippi State Bulldogs to have a leading rebounder in a game have the last name of Smith.
Most of the time, it has been Tolu Smith.
During Wednesday night’s 63-57 victory over Texas A&M on the road, it was freshman guard Deivon Smith that had the most boards for the Bulldogs with eight.
Deivon Smith prides himself in being a rebounding guard and all of his rebounds were defensive.
MSU head coach Ben Howland started Smith in the second half against the Aggies to provide a spark offensively and he ended up getting so much more.
“I thought Deivon Smith had a great game with eight defensive rebounds,” Howland said. “He was matched up on (Andre) Gordon and he was 0-for-11 from the field.
“We were better when (Deivon Smith) was in the game, especially against the zone. I thought it was important for us to get off to a good start offensively in that second half.”
Smith scored seven points
to go along with his rebounds and dished out six assists.
He has played in 26 games with seven starts this season and is becoming more comfortable with the Bulldogs.
“Every time I step on the court I play the same way and prove myself,” Smith said. “I prove myself not only to coaches, but everyone watching to show what I’m capable of.
“My first few college games was a lot faster. It was adjusting to the speed. It’s just about me staying in the gym and working hard. Being patient is starting to pay off a lot and it’s about trusting the process.
My teammates and my coaches help me a lot throughout the season. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but they have helped me a lot. It’s been a good season.”
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints made several moves on Wednesday with one being the signing of special teams regular, reserve safety and former Mississippi State player J.T. Gray to a two-year extension
Gray was due to become a restricted free agent after originally making the club as an undrafted free agent out of MSU in 2018.
Other steps taken by the Saints were cutting eightyear veteran tight end and special teams regular Josh Hill and also voided the contract of Jared Cook, who was due to become a free agent this offseason.
The decision to release the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Hill saves the Saints about $2.6 million in salary cap space for the coming season.
The termination of Cook’s contract was a formality but also signifies the Saints’ intention to let Cook test the free-agent market rather than proactively looking to extend him after a season in which he caught 37 passes for 504 yards and seven touchdowns.
Hill, 30, has spent his entire NFL career with New Orleans since making the club as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State in 2013.