What beating Ole Miss basketball means for MSU moving forward
Just when the world was ready to count them out, they did something to redeem themselves. Don't count out Mississippi State just yet.
Ben Howland's team needed a win, and it got one against one of the hottest teams in the SEC in beating Ole Miss 6656 on the Rebels' home floor at the Pavilion in Oxford.
So was the second SEC win in the last month for Mississippi State (12-11, 6-8 SEC) a one-off, feel good for one day type of performance or was it something the Bulldogs can build upon going into Wednesday night's home game (at 6 p.m.) against South Carolina (5-11, 3-9)?
"It shows that if we play hard and play our game, then we go out there and compete and play harder than the last game," sophomore guard Iverson Molinar said. "We can see how capable we are of winning.”
Perhaps more important than anything, Mississippi State stuck to its game plan in every way against Ole Miss.
Shut down senior guard Devontae Shuler? Check.
After scoring 31 points against South Carolina a week earlier, Shuler shot 1 for 15 from the field and scored a mere four points.
"I thought D.J. (Stewart Jr.) did a really nice job defending him," Howland said. "We did a really good job of helping him with our team defense. We didn't do that at all in our first game (against Ole Miss). I thought he had a lot more stunts and a lot of help so that when Shuler had some openings, the team defense was making up until D.J. could get back in front of the ball off screens."
Shoot well from the field and the free throw line? Check.
Mississippi State went 25 for 49 (51.0%) from the field and 14 for 18 (77.8%) from the free throw line.
Don't get outworked in a rivalry game? Check.
"Before the game, we sat down and talked about it," senior center Abdul Ado said. "I let them know that every game matters, but this game was the most important game of the year. It's always the most important. Every time we play Ole Miss, it's a pride thing for me. … We want to come out and put our stamp there that we're the best team in the state."
The Bulldogs made good on multiple pregame talking points. That proves they can play solid basketball when they're locked in. That shouldn't be an issue at home against one of the worst teams in the conference in South Carolina.
But if it is, then that'll show that this team just isn't there yet. Consistency is key in college basketball. Teams will go through tough stretches in their season, but those can't be as bad as losing six of seven conference games, like Mississippi State did going into the game in Oxford.
Mississippi State has four games left in the regular season. In theory, they're all winnable. Yes, even the one against No. 7 Alabama (18-5, 3-1). The Bulldogs get the Crimson Tide at home Saturday after just an eight-point road loss last month.
In addition to South Carolina and Alabama, Texas A&M (8-7, 2-6) and Auburn (11-12, 5-9) remain on Mississippi State's schedule.
So that leaves the question of which Bulldogs will show up for those games? Will it be the ones who beat their bitter rival by 10 points on the road, or will it be the ones who lost to that same team by 18 at home on Jan. 19?
Maybe MSU will round the corner after all.
"We needed this one to get us some momentum as we go into the last four games," Howland said.