This page consists of facts and some rumors. Do you have info you want to share? Email me at
swindoll@genespage.com
| 2004 | Jan | Feb |
|---|
03/11/04 - Excerpts from NCAA D-I Men's Basketball Committee Chairman Bob Bowlsby's teleconference.
Do you believe conference tournaments are more important this year than in past?
"We are always, as a committee, keeping our eye on critical matchups; those games where two teams with a lot on the line. We look for those to make differentiations between teams that might otherwise have similar credentials. While we don't want to weigh a conference tournament game any more heavily than we would any other game during the season, they do represent opportunities for two teams to play with a lot on the line. So, it is a good opportunity to assess what the differences might be between two teams. I do believe the last 10 games of the season are important and, clearly, those games in the conference tournament are part of those 10 games."
How much does the committee take into account injuries, especially, if a team has a, potentially, critical injury to a player? How do you go about judging whether they will be healthy for the tournament?
"There are some very good examples right now of some high profile players that have varying degrees of debilitation as a result of injuries. We try and draw upon the best medical information that we can get. It comes from conference offices and comes from institutions. We recognize that they both have a vested interest in it and we take that into consideration. But, basically, if a team has an injury to a player that causes him to miss the rest of the season, we are going to assess that team without that player in the lineup. Likewise, if we are not able to determine that player will be available or full-strength, it could very well cause consideration as to whether they deserve to be in the tournament if they are on the bubble or how high they are seeded. I don't think you would look for us to unduly penalize a team if we couldn't get definitive information. But, on the other hand, you are not going to be rewarded when there is a significant cloud as to whether or not that player is going to play."
There is a lot of speculation that both Kentucky and Mississippi State both been contenders for a number one seed. How plausible is it if both of those teams were to meet in the final, they would both get number one seeds, even though one would win and one would lose?
"It seems to me I recall my first year on the committee we had that situation in the Big 10. I believe it was Illinois and Michigan State that were going to meet in the finals and there was a potential to have both of them on the top line (number 1 seeds). I think, especially, relative to the top four lines of the tournament, that honor of being one of the top seeded teams in the tournament comes from a season long effort and we take into account the last 10 games and we take into account the last game. The loser of that game is not going to be seeded ahead of the winner of that game. There is no doubt about that. But it is conceivable that one could be seeded on the right side of the top line and one on the left side of the top line. That is not implausible at all, especially with two institutions that have had the kind of years that they have had. Having said that, however, I think there are probably 7, 8 or 9 institutions that could make a case at one level or another for being a number 1 seed and there is a lot of basketball to be played. Somebody is going to play themselves in and somebody is going to play themselves out, but I don't think two teams playing in a final of a conference tournament, necessarily eliminates one of them from a possibility of a line one (seed)."
You mentioned some of the criteria being RPI, Strength of Schedule, last 10 games, road victories. Which is more significant and less significant in the seeding process?
"If you were to ask committee members and poll all of them, you would probably get some deferential in what they say. We know that seven out of ten games in college basketball are resolved in favor of the home team, so, for me, if I get to a point where I can't slide a piece of paper between two teams in terms of their resume, I look at how they played on the road because that is a demonstration of how tough they are and how they do in hostile environments."
03/09/04
Women's Basketball
ATLANTA, Ga. Mississippi State Lady Bulldog Tan White was named to the Associated Press All-SEC First Team announced today. White was also named to the coaches all-SEC first team last week.
"It is exciting to be recognized as one of the top players in the SEC," said White. "It's a privilege just to be named and be able to play in this tough conference."
This is the second time that White was named a first team selection and third overall with a second team nomination her freshman year. State has experienced eight AP all-SEC selections in three people in Lady Bulldog history, including LaToya Thomas (1999-02) and Nitra Perry (1997-00). The Tupelo, Miss. native is averaging 20.2 ppg after two 20-point outings in the SEC Tournament.
Source: MSU Media Relations
In helping to secure MSU's first outright SEC title since 1962-63 and wrapping up an undefeated season in road competition (12-0 overall and 8-0 in SEC play) for coach Rick Stansbury's 25-2 Bulldogs, Bowers scored 17 of his team-high 20 points and handed out six of his game-high eight assists after halftime of the Alabama game. While playing a career-most 44 minutes in Saturday's 82-81 overtime win over the Tide in Tuscaloosa, Bowers led the fifth-ranked Bulldogs back from an 18-point, second-half deficit (down 16 with 9:19 left) to the come-from-behind victory.
Not only did State's team co-captain score the game-winning basket in overtime against Alabama, Bowers also hit a clutch 3-pointer and a last-second, game-tying bucket within the final 14 seconds of regulation to send the thrilling contest into an extra period. Saturday's win gave the Bulldogs new all-time, school-best marks of 25 overall wins and 14 SEC victories during regular-season play.
Earlier in the week during State's 105-91 home triumph over Auburn on Senior Night at MSU's Humphrey Coliseum, Bowers scored 15 points, handed out eight assists and blocked a pair of shots against the Tigers.
One of 16 finalists for the inaugural Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award, the Gulfport native enters this week's SEC Tournament ranked among the league's top 13 leaders in six different statistical categories, including scoring (15.4 ppg; 13th), assists (4.7 apg; 3rd), steals (1.9 spg; 6th), and made 3-pointers per game (2.4 treys/gm; T-3rd).
For his career, MSU's all-time winningest basketball player (91 career wins) begins postseason play ranked 12th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,266 career points. In addition to standing second with 192 career made 3-pointers and fourth with 155 career steals, Bowers is also approaching State's all-time Top 10 list with 283 career assists after posting back-to-back, eight-assist outings during last week's wins over Alabama and Auburn.
Bowers joins two-time SEC Player of the Week selection Lawrence Roberts as Mississippi State's league honorees this season. Roberts won the conference's weekly award on Feb. 16 and Nov. 24.
Source: MSU Media Relations
03/07/04
2004 SEC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, March 11-14 - Georgia Dome - Atlanta, Ga.
FIRST ROUND: March 11 (Thursday)
Game 1 [E5] Georgia vs. [W4] Auburn [JP] 1:00 ET
Game 2 [W6] Arkansas vs. [E3] South Carolina [JP] 3:15 ET
Game 3 [W5] Ole Miss vs. [E4] Vanderbilt [JP] 7:30 ET
Game 4 [E6] Tennessee vs. [W3] Alabama [JP] 9:45 ET
SECOND ROUND: March 12 (Friday)
Game 5 Game 1 Winner vs. [E1] Kentucky [JP] 1:00 ET
Game 6 Game 2 Winner vs. [W2] LSU [JP] 3:15 ET
Game 7 Game 3 Winner vs. [W1] Mississippi St. [JP] 7:30 ET
Game 8 Game 4 Winner vs. [E2] Florida [JP] 9:45 ET
SEMIFINALS: March 13 (Saturday)
Game 9 Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner [JP] 1:00 ET
Game 10 Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner [JP] 3:15 ET
FINALS: March 14 (Sunday)
Game 11 Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner [CBS] 1:00 ET
All Times EASTERN
03/06/04
Women's Basketball
Mississppi State's Lady Bulldogs ended their season by losing to the top-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols, 67-57, in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament Friday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs (14-15) tied the game at 51-51 with a little under 6 minutes to go in the game, but the Lady Vols (26-2) regained the lead and put the game away, 62-55, on two free throws by LaToya Davis with a little over a minute to go in the second half.
The Lady Bulldogs were led by Tan White's 25 points. She also had 5 steals.
One of the leading candidates for this year's SEC Player and Newcomer of the Year Awards, Roberts joins Josh Childress of Stanford, Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson, Chris Duhon of Duke, and Connecticut's Emeka Okafor on this year's inaugural five-man list of honorees.
Also a mid-season finalist for both the Wooden and Naismith All-American Teams, Roberts is a two-time SEC Player of the Week this season. He is looking to become MSU's first SEC Player of the Year selection since former NBA All-Star Jeff Malone garnered the league honor from the United Press International (UPI) organization and earned first-team all-America accolades by The Sporting News publication as a senior in 1982-83.
Formed in 1972, the Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky had previously named just a national player of the year in honor of the legendary University of Kentucky basketball coach. From this year's talented quintet, a player of the year will be awarded the coveted Adolph F. Rupp Trophy at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas. The club will also award the inaugural Adolph F. Rupp Cup to this year's Division I men's basketball coach of the year, as selected by its independent national selection panel. The awards will be presented at the Marriott Riverwalk in San Antonio on Thursday, April 1 at 1 p.m.
More basketball info...
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State senior guard Timmy Bowers has been named as one of the nation's 10 semi-finalists for the Second Annual Creamland Dairies Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence, as announced Thursday by the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Creamland Dairies Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence honors college seniors for their athletic and academic achievement, as well as their community involvement. Last year's inaugural male winner was Matt Bonner of Florida.
The other nine semi-finalists for this year's male Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence presented by Creamland Dairies include: Jameer Nelson of second-ranked Saint Joseph's, Morris Finley of UAB, Bradley's James Gillingham, Tommy Gunn of Middle Tennessee State, William and Mary's Adam Hess, Michael Lindeman of Creighton, Belmont's Adam Mark, Jason Parker of Tulsa, and Iowa State's Jake Sullivan.
The three finalists for both the men's and women's awards will be selected during the upcoming respective NCAA Tournaments, with the awards being presented on Tuesday, April 13 at an awards dinner at the Albuquerque Marriott.
Source: MSU Media Relations
03/04/04
Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southeastern Conference announced its 2004 women's basketball postseason awards Wednesday. Mississippi State Lady Bulldog Tan White became the ninth MSU women's player to be named to the first team all-SEC. This is White's second first team selection and third overall in her career. She was named to the second team in 2003 and first team and all-SEC freshman team in 2002.
Source: SEC Media Release
03/02/04 - MSU has moved up to 5th in the latest AP and ESPN polls.
More basketball news...
The MSU Alumni Association, the MSU Foundation and the MSU M Club Alumni Association invite you to join University and Athletic Officials for a SEC Tournament Tip-Off Party.