Additions should strengthen MSU
Here comes the calvary for head coach Ben Howland and the Mississippi State men’s basketball team.
After losing D.J. Stewart to professional basketball and seniors Abdul Ado and Jalen Johnson, Howland knew he had a few holes to fill if the Bulldogs were going to make a run back to postseason in 2022.
MSU was able to land a quartet of transfers in Garrison Brooks from North Carolina, D.J. Jeffries from Memphis, Rocket Watts from Michigan State and Shakeel Moore from North Carolina State that will help immediately. Freshmen Keshawn Murphy, Alden Applewhite and Cam Carter are also expected to help.
In the preseason, the Bulldogs have blended well and chemistry seems to exist. Howland likes the progress of the team, which is awaiting the return of Tolu Smith and Watts from injury.
“We have some very good unselfish play out there,” Howland said. “We have excellent passers and create for others. When we get everybody back and we are at full strength, I will really be excited about that. In the meantime, we’ve got to win games without a couple of our best players being available so we’ve really got to do a good job of executing at both ends of the floor. I think we’ve had some really good leadership, especially from Iverson (Molinar) and Garrison. They are doing a good job.
“Cam Matthews is providing good leadership and has been vocal out there. I’m proud of that because it’s helping because all of the other guys and there are a lot of new guys.”
Molinar and Smith are two of the main returning players for MSU. Molinar averaged 16.7 points per game, while Smith led the Southeastern Conference with 8.5 rebounds per game last season and had eight double-doubles.
Howland values the contributions of Molinar, who has already been recognized on preseason ALL-SEC first teams.
“Iverson is obviously a very critical player and is in his third year,” Howland said. “He kind of knows everything that we want to do and how we want to play. He’s worked incredibly hard this offseason. I think he’s made another nice, big jump, especially in his decision-making and I think he has even improved his shot some. He’s done a lot of things to grow as a player between the end of last year until now.”
The Bulldogs made a run all of the way to the National Invitational Tournament finals last season, but they have their eye on making the NCAA Tournament next March.
With a healthy Smith and Watts, Howland believes MSU will have an opportunity to accomplish that.
“If we get healthy and can stay healthy, this team has a chance,” Howland said. “We are not going to rush neither Rocket or Tolu back. We’ve got to see how they continue to evolve coming back from those injuries. It’s going to take each of those guys a few weeks to get back into their groove once they are cleared to play again. I’m hoping by the time we get to mid to early December, we’ll be there.”
The Bulldogs open the season on Wednesday at home against North Alabama.