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| 2004 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct |
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11/25/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- MSU women's hoops travels to Orono, Maine for the Thanksgiving holiday to participate in the Dead River Company Classic Nov.
26-27. State faces Saint Joseph's on Friday, Nov. 26 at 3:30 p.m. CT.
MSU fell to No. 9/12 Baylor on Tuesday night, 66-49. Senior guard Tan White tallied 23 points and senior guard Tiania Burns posted her fourth career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. White is currently second in the SEC, averaging 25.0 points per game.
Saint Joseph's (1-3) lost its third straight game of the season vs. Illinois, 64-50. Redshirt freshman center Erica Pollock and junior forward Maura McBryan registered double digits in the loss with 16 and 12 points respectively. Pollock leads the Hawks with 10.0 ppg and junior guard Kelly Springman is averaging 7.5 ppg.
Head coach Sharon Fanning is 22-21 vs. non-conference teams on the road and 21-12 on neutral courts. This marks the first meeting between the two schools. The Lady Bulldogs are 1-2 vs. the Atlantic 10.
MSU will then play either Loyola-Chicago or Maine on Saturday, Nov. 27 at either 3:30 or 6 p.m. CT.
Source: MSU Media Relations
11/21/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Playing their third game in four days, the 12th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-1) play host to Nicholls State University (0-0) Sunday afternoon in their 2004-05 season home opener. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at MSU's Humphrey Coliseum, which opens its doors this weekend for a 30th season of Bulldog Basketball sporting a new $1.8 million four-sided, center-hung video scoreboard courtesy of the generous financial contribution from the Henry Mize Foundation.
State then continues its busy week of action with its fourth game in six days this coming Tuesday (Nov. 23) by welcoming the UMKC Kangaroos to Starkville. Following the MSU women's game against Baylor (5 p.m.), tip-off for the nightcap of Tuesday's basketball doubleheader at 'The Hump' is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Ranked 12th nationally in this week's AP Top 25 wire service poll, coach Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs enter Sunday's home opener sporting a 3-1 record after splitting a pair of contests earlier this week in the championship round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic played at New York's Madison Square Garden. Champions of last week's Birmingham regional of the CVC Classic with wins over Fairfield and Birmingham-Southern, the Bulldogs rebounded from a 71-58 setback to fifth-ranked Syracuse this past Thursday in New York with a 67-54 victory over Saint Mary's College of California in Friday's consolation contest.
Chosen to the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic All-Tournament in New York, senior forward Lawrence Roberts leads MSU in scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.5 rpg) on the young season. The Preseason National Player of the Year candidate made his season debut at Madison Square Garden after sitting out the season's first two contests due to a broken nose. Fellow Bulldog seniors Winsome Frazier and Shane Power are averaging 11.3 and 9.5 points an outing, respectively, while sophomore point guard Gary Ervin is adding 9.3 points and 2.5 assists a game thus far on the year.
As a team through four games this season, the Bulldogs are limiting their opponents to an average of but 55.5 points per contest on just 37 percent collective field-goal shooting and only 25 percent from beyond the three-point arc.
Out of the Southland Conference by way of Thibodaux, La., the Nicholls State Colonels will open their 2004-05 regular season with Sunday's contest in Starkville. Guided by first-year head coach J.P. Piper, who took over NSU's coaching duties after former head coach Ricky Blanton resigned during the preseason for personal reasons, Nicholls State did record a 78-66 home exhibition win over Delgado Community College this past Thursday. The Colonels' top returning returning player is senior all-conference guard Willie Depron, who led last year's NSU team in scoring (15.4 ppg), rebounding (5.7 rpg), assists (3.6 apg) and steals (2.4 spg). Nicholls State was 6-21 overall and 1-15 in league play a year ago.
Sunday's contest will mark the third all-time meeting on the hardwood between the two teams, with the Bulldogs having previously posted home wins over Nicholls State in MSU's 2001-02 season opener (95-59) and during its NCAA Sweet 16 season of 1994-95 (81-65).
The Bulldogs enter Sunday's home opener having prevailed in 36 of their last 38 home season openers dating back to the 1966-67 hoops campaign. Stansbury is 5-1 in home openers since taking over MSU's head coaching duties in 1998-99, with that lone setback coming at the hands of Louisiana-Lafayette (79-76) in the 2002-03 season opener. A year ago in Starkville, State bested Tennessee-Martin, 90-74, in its 2003-04 season opener. Having already tipped off the current basketball season away from home for only the sixth time since 1975-76, the Bulldogs' Sunday contest against Nicholls State will mark the eighth time in the last 11 seasons that they will have opened their home basketball slate by playing host to a Louisiana-based school.
Source: MSU Media Relations
11/19/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State head women's basketball coach Sharon Fanning announced Thursday that Robin Porter of Abbeville, Ala., has signed a national letter-of-intent to play with the Lady Bulldogs in 2005-06.
Porter, a 5-11 honor student from Abbeville, Ala., led the Abbeville High School Jackets to become 3A State Champions last season with a 27-4 record. Averaging 19.0 points per game, 13.9 rebounds per game, 5.0 steals per game and 2.3 blocks per game as a guard-forward, she was named to the all-Tournament team and earned MVP honors.
"Robin is a versatile player who will be hard to guard," said Fanning. "She can play any position on the floor and has good size and strength. She has run point and played post. Robin understands the game and her state championship in high school reflects her leadership and ability. She is a proven winner who wants to make her teammates better. Robin knows when she needs the ball and doesnąt mind taking the shot when the game is on the line. We are excited she has chosen to become a Lady Bulldog."
She is a two-time finalist for the 3A Player of the Year and was named the Dothan Eagle Player of the Year her sophomore and junior years. In addition Porter earned all-State honors both those years. She is a three-time Dothan Super 12 player. Porter was also the MVP of the South team in the Alabama All-Star game this past summer.
Porter is the daughter of Billy Ray Porter and Emily Porter. Her brother Chris was an All-American men's basketball player at Auburn while lettering there from 1998-00.
2005-06 Recruiting Class
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State head women's basketball coach Sharon Fanning announced Wednesday that Marneshia Richard of Lamar, Miss., has signed a national letter-of-intent to play with the Lady Bulldogs.
Richard was named the 2003-04 District II-2A Best Offensive Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points per game, 11.0 rebounds per game and 6.0 assists per game last season. The 5-8 guard led the Ashland High School Arrows to a 20-9 record last year and postseason advanced to the semifinals of North Half. For her junior campaign, Richard was named all-District and all-North Half.
"Marneshia is an excellent point guard who sees the floor exceptionally well and can break down a defensive player with her quick step," said Lady Bulldog head coach Sharon Fanning. "She understands getting the ball to the rim with penetration or pass and understands the importance of screening and cutting. She can pressure the ball baseline to baseline with her quickness, anticipation and endurance. She is a quiet leader with a big heart for her teammates. Marneshia is an excellent student-athlete who will represent Mississippi State in a first class manner."
She also played two years with an AAU team that won the 16 and Under Girls' State Championship and advanced to the 2004 Nationals. In addition to her basketball talents, Richard was a District II-2A state champion in long jump her sophomore year. She is a three-time Scholastic Award winner with a cumulative 3.9 GPA.
Richard is the daughter of Kervin and Martha Richard.
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State head women's basketball coach Sharon Fanning announced Monday that Heather Hollis has signed a national letter-of-intent to play with the Lady Bulldogs.
The Sulligent, Ala., native led the Sulligent Blue Devils to a 23-9 record last season and Sweet 16 postseason finish, while averaging 17.4 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game and 10.0 assists per game her junior year. She earned all-Conference honors last season and has twice been named to the all-County team.
"Heather is an outstanding lady who understands the game," said head coach Sharon Fanning. "She is a very versatile guard who can play any position on the perimeter. Her work ethic and team play are exceptional and she is a ready shooter. We are excited that she is becoming a Lady Bulldog."
While playing for the AAU team the Alabama Twisters, she was named MVP of the team and was an all-State selection. Hollis was also elected to the North All-Star game in 2004.
Ranking sixth in her class at Sulligent High School, the 5-11 guard is an active member in her student government, having been named the senior class vice president. She is also a member of the Beta Club, Spanish Honor Society, Science Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Junior Civic Club. For her success in the classroom, Birmingham News named her Academic All-State.
Hollis is the daughter of Danny and Kelly Hollis, both Mississippi State alumni. Her brother Eric Hollis lettered in baseball for Samford from 2001-04. In addition to lettering in basketball, Hollis was a 3A Section All-Star in fast pitch softball and member of the track and field team at Sulligent.
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State head women's basketball coach Sharon Fanning announced Tuesday that Lauren Roberts of Germantown, Tenn., has signed a national letter-of-intent to play with the Lady Bulldogs.
The 6-0 forward led Houston High School to a 24-7 record last season and District Championship. For her junior year efforts, she earned all-District, all-Region and District Tournament MVP honors. She averaged 10.0 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 4.0 assists per game for the Lady Mustang.
"Lauren is a versatile player who can play any position on the floor," said Fanning. "She can score from three-point range or play with her back to the bucket. She is a very aggressive, physical player who will hit the floor for the loose ball and really understands the team concept. Lauren handles the ball well and sees the open person. We have signed a great student-athlete as well as an outstanding young leader for Lady Bulldog basketball."
Roberts is the daughter of Terry and Gina Roberts.
Source: MSU Media Relations
11/17/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The 12th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs make their second visit in three seasons to New York's Madison Square Garden this week by participating in the championship round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Having claimed the Birmingham regional championship last week with wins over Fairfield and Birmingham-Southern, MSU meets sixth-ranked Syracuse Thursday in a 9 p.m. ET contest set to be televised live by ESPN2.
With Dick Vitale, Dan Shulman and Doris Burke set to call the exciting college basketball action for ESPN2 in New York City this week, Thursday's CVC Classic action begins at 7 p.m. ET with the University of Memphis taking on Saint Mary's College of California. Friday's consolation and championship contests are slated for 7 and 9 p.m. ET tip-offs. Both Friday games will again be televised live by ESPN2.
Two years ago (Dec. 14, 2002) in their first-ever appearance at Madison Square Garden, the Bulldogs claimed a 71-61 victory over the 11th-ranked Xavier Musketeers.
Ranked 12th in the preseason by The Associated Press and 14th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, coach Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs are 2-0 on the young season after knocking off both Fairfield University (53-49) and Birmingham-Southern College (55-48) last week at the Birmingham regional of the season-opening Coaches vs. Cancer Classic played at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Following Thursday and Friday games in New York, MSU continues its busy, upcoming stretch of four games in six days by playing host to Nicholls State this Sunday afternoon (2 p.m.) and UMKC next Tuesday night (7:30 p.m.) at Humphrey Coliseum on the Mississippi State campus.
The Bulldogs are expected to be led this week by Preseason National Player of the Year candidate Lawrence Roberts, who is slated to make his 2004-05 season debut after sitting out last week's contests in Birmingham due to a broken nose sustained during a Nov. 4 MSU practice. The reigning SEC Player of the Year averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game a season ago for the 26-4 and SEC Champion Bulldogs en route to earning consensus first-team All-America honors. Leading the way for State in Birmingham last week was senior guard Winsome Frazier, who collected regional MVP honors after averaging 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in the two games, including a game-high 18 points in the championship contest against Birmingham-Southern.
As a team last week in Birmingham, the Bulldogs struggled offensively in mustering an average of just 54 points in the two games on collective 39 percent shooting from the field and only 51 percent from the charity stripe. The State defense was solid, however, in limiting the opposition to just 31 percent field-goal shooting and only 19 percent from beyond the arc.
Guided by 29th-year head coach Jim Boeheim, Syracuse of the Big East Conference returns all five starters and a dozen lettermen from last year's 23-8 NCAA Sweet 16 ballclub. Led in scoring (19.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg) last week in regional play by senior forward and Preseason National Player of the Year candidate Hakim Warrick, the Orangemen advanced to this week's championship round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic by claiming home victories over Northern Colorado (104-54) and Princeton (56-45) at the Carrier Dome. Fellow SU All-America candidate Gerry McNamara, a junior guard, is averaging 9.0 points and 4.0 assists an outing thus far on the year after averaging 17.2 points and 3.8 assists per game last season.
Mississippi State and Syracuse last met on the hardwood during the National Semifinals of the 1996 NCAA Final Four played at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., with the Orangemen prevailing by a 77-69 tally.
The Bulldogs have won three of their last four non-SEC games against nationally ranked opponents, including neutral-site wins over No. 11 Xavier and fifth-ranked Oklahoma within a two-week span during the 2002-03 campaign. Mississippi State heads to New York this week having prevailed in 23 consecutive regular-season games against non-SEC opposition in a streak that dates back to the team's 2002-03 season opener.
Source: MSU Media Relations
11/11/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - TeleSouth Communications, radio rights holder for the Mississippi State University athletic program, has released the Bulldogs' 2004-05 men's basketball radio network affiliates' list.
Based in Jackson, TeleSouth Communications reported a list of some 30 affiliates state-wide that will carry the Bulldogs this coming basketball season. This year's schedule begins with MSU's participation in this week's (Nov. 11-12) season-opening Coaches vs. Cancer Classic to be held at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
Throughout Mississippi State's 2004-05 sports season, WFCA-FM (107.9), a 100,000-watt station located in French Camp, will again serve as the flagship station for both Bulldog and Lady Bulldog basketball as well as Bulldog baseball. The station blankets most of the north central portion of the state of Mississippi.
With the veteran broadcasting tandem of Jack Cristil and Jim Ellis set to begin their 48th and 22nd basketball seasons, respectively, behind the microphones, each Mississippi State basketball broadcast will begin with a 30-minute pregame show and conclude with a postgame segment featuring MSU's seventh-year head basketball coach Rick Stansbury.
2004-05 MSU BASKETBALL RADIO NETWORK AFFILIATES
Aberdeen... WWZQ-AM... 1240
Amory... WAMY-AM... 1580
Biloxi... WTNI-AM... 1640
Bude... WMJU-FM... 104.3
Cleveland... WMJW-FM... 107.5
Cleveland... WCLD-FM... 103.9
Columbia... WCJU-FM... 104.9
Corinth... WKCU-AM... 1350
French Camp... WFCA-FM... 107.9
Greenville... WDMS-FM... 100.7
Grenada... WOHT-FM... 92.3
Hattiesburg... WKNZ-FM... 107.1
Houston... WCPC-AM... 940
Indianola... WTCD-FM... 96.9
Jackson... WJDX-AM... 620
Louisville... WLSM-FM... 107.1
Lucedale... WRBE-FM... 106.9
McComb... WAZA-FM... 107.7
Meridian... WMOX-AM... 1010
Monticello... WRQO-FM... 102.1
Philadelphia... WWSL-FM... 102.3
Picayune... WRJW-AM... 1320
Tupelo... WBIP-FM... 99.3
Tupelo... WKMQ-AM... 1060
Vicksburg... WQBC-AM... 1420
West Point... WKBB-FM... 100.9
Winona... WONA-AM... 1570
Winona... WONA-FM... 95.1
Yazoo City... WYAB-FM... 93.1
Source: MSU Media Relations
11/10/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State senior forward Lawrence Roberts has been accorded preseason All-America accolades by The Associated Press, as announced Tuesday afternoon by the national wire service headquartered in New York City.
The reigning SEC Player of the Year, Roberts tied Kansas senior Wayne Simien as the nation's second-leading vote-getters with 50 votes apiece from a national media panel, ranking behind Wake Forest sophomore guard Chris Paul (55 votes). Rounding out this year's AP preseason All-America team are fellow seniors Julius Hodge of North Carolina State (41) and Syracuse's Hakim Warrick (33).
A preseason Top 50 candidate for both the prestigious John R. Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy honors, Roberts became Mississippi State's first AP All-American since Hall of Famer Bailey Howell (1958-59) a year ago after averaging 16.9 points (7th in SEC) and 10.1 rebounds (2nd in SEC & 11th in NCAA) per game for coach Rick Stansbury's SEC Champion Bulldogs. Set to begin the 2004-05 campaign leading the nation among active NCAA Division I players with 38 career double-doubles, Roberts also became the first Bulldog player since Rickey Brown (1979-80) to average a double-double a season ago.
A three-year starter and three-time all-conference performer with 1,400 career points and 821 career rebounds to his credit, the Houston native and former Baylor transfer is also bidding to become the first repeat winner of the SEC's Player of the Year honor since former Arkansas All-American Corliss Williamson (1994 & '95).
Additionally this preseason, the 6-9, 240-pound Roberts has been rated as the nation's No. 1 power forward by both The Sporting News and Lindy's preseason basketball publications.
Source: MSU Media Relations
11/09/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State seniors Lawrence Roberts and Tan White have been named as preseason candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless. The respective men's and women's national preseason candidates were announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
The Top 50 lists were compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its preseason criteria on player performances from last season.
Both Roberts and White have also been previously named as preseason Top 50 candidates for the respective John. R. Wooden Award All-American Teams. A native of Tupelo, White has additionally been tabbed as a candidate for this year's State Farm Wade Trophy.
The reigning SEC Player of the Year and a 2004-05 Preseason National Player of the Year candidate, Roberts averaged 16.9 points (7th in SEC) and 10.1 rebounds (2nd in SEC & 11th in NCAA) per game last season for coach Rick Stansbury's SEC Champion Bulldogs to become the school's first consensus first-team All-American since Hall of Famer Bailey Howell (1958-59). The Houston native will begin the 2004-05 season leading the nation among active NCAA Division I players with 38 career double-doubles.
Like Roberts, White was a unanimous preseason selection to this year's All-SEC First Team as selected both by the league's head basketball coaches as well as by attending media at last week's SEC Basketball Media Days in Birmingham. She finished second in the league and 16th nationally in scoring last year with 20.2 points per game. In the Lady Bulldogs' first exhibition of the season last week versus the Houston Jaguars, White tallied a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
As part of their involvement, Cingular is making this year's selection process unique. For the first time, college basketball fans nationwide will have a voice in deciding who wins the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless through the power and ease of wireless text messaging.
In January, the Naismith Board of Selectors will narrow its preseason lists to the Top 30 men's and women's basketball players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the 2004-05 season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March.
STARKVILLE, Miss. - For the second time in three seasons, the Mississippi State Bulldogs have earned a preseason ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 wire service college basketball poll. The defending SEC Champions begin the 2004-05 campaign ranked 12th nationally in AP's preseason poll, as released Monday afternoon by the organization's national bureau headquartered in New York City.
Also rated 14th nationally in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 preseason coaches poll, coach Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs make their earliest season debut in the school's 93-year basketball history this week at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Nov. 11-12, in Birmingham. State will open the tournament at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex by taking on Fairfield University out of Connecuticut Thursday at 8 p.m., and will then meet the winner/loser of Thursday's other opening-round contest pitting Birmingham-Southern and Alabama A&M on Friday. Friday game times at the BJCC Arena are slated for 6 and 8 p.m. Tickets for the Birmingham games can be purchased by contacting the MSU Athletic Ticket Office (662-325-2600 or 1-888-GO-DAWGS), the BJCC Arena Box Office (1-800-277-1700), or by ordering online at www.ticketmaster.com.
En route to claiming their first outright SEC regular-season championship since 1962-63 with last year's 26-4 overall record and 14-2 SEC mark, the 2003-04 State squad was ranked as high as fourth nationally by AP for two weeks (Feb. 16 & March 8) to mark the school's highest Associated Press ranking since 1961-62. Ranked in the AP Top 25 poll for the final 12 weeks a year ago, MSU's season-ending No. 8 national ranking in the wire service poll marked the school's highest final AP ranking since 1962-63. In making a third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the 2003-04 Bulldogs finished the season ranked among the nation's Top 25 teams (13th in the final coaches poll) for the third straight season to mark the first time MSU has accomplished this feat since the 1956-57, 1957-58 and 1958-59 seasons.
Mississippi State has previously been ranked among AP's preseason Top 25 during the 2002-03 (#12), 1995-96 (#9) and 1962-63 (#6) basketball campaigns. Most recently, Stansbury's 2002-03 State squad posted a 21-10 record as SEC Western Division champions and advanced to the championship game of the SEC Tournament for the second consecutive year. Under the guidance of the school's all-time winningest basketball coach, Richard Williams, the 1995-96 Bulldog club set a then-school record with 26 wins en route to claiming MSU's first SEC Tournament championship and making the program's first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance. With the legendary Babe McCarthy at the helm, the 1962-63 MSU contingent captured a fourth SEC title during a five-year span (1959-63) on the way to participating in the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament.
This preseason, the Bulldogs are also a consensus Top 25 national pick by the various college basketball publications, highlighted by a No. 7 preseason ranking by The Sporting News. Mississippi State is also preseasonally ranked among the nation's Top 10 by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook (#9), Street & Smith's (#10) and Basketball News (#10).
Source: MSU Media Relations