March 2005 MSU Basketball Skuttle-Butt

This page consists of facts and some rumors. Do you have info you want to share? Email me at swindoll@genespage.com

3/25/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - For the third consecutive season, the Mississippi State men's basketball team has placed a league-leading total of five student-athletes on the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll. Based on grades from the 2004 Spring, Summer and Fall terms, the announcement was made Thursday by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive from the league's Birmingham-based headquarters.

In becoming the first Bulldog player since Bart Hyche (1997-99) to earn SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition for three straight years, junior center Wesley Morgan leads this year's Bulldog quintet with a third consecutive league academic honor. The Gallatin, Tenn., native is on target to earn his bachelor's degree in sports communication this May. Last year's SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, senior swingman Shane Power has made the league's honor roll for a second straight year after transferring from Iowa State University. Having completed his undergraduate degree in sports communication last summer, the Crown Point, Ind., native is currently pursuing his master's in sports administration.

Sophomore swingman Michael Boler, a former redshirt majoring in biological sciences, has also made the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll for the second consecutive season, while fellow second-year players Piotr Stelmach and Billy Begley have both earned the honor for the first time after making the 2003-04 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll as collegiate rookies. Stelmach and Begley are majoring in physical education and business management, respectively.

As a team, Mississippi State's five academic honorees this year top league members Georgia, Kentucky, LSU and Vanderbilt, which all placed four student-athletes on the 2004-05 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll. With five honorees each of the last three years, MSU's collective total of 15 academic recipients since 2002-03 leads second-place Georgia's 13 selections. Dating back to seventh-year head coach Rick Stansbury's first season at the Mississippi State helm, the Bulldogs' composite total of 22 academic league honorees since 1998-99 ranks tied for second with Florida - one behind LSU's 23 combined total.

A total of 318 student-athletes were named to the 2004-05 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll, which includes the sports of men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's gymnastics, men's and women's rifle, and women's bowling.

Source: MSU Media Relations

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mississippi State Lady Bulldog senior forward Rebecca Kates was named to the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll for the second consecutive year as released today by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. The 6-1 Cashion, Okla. native recorded a 3.04 GPA majoring in communication with an emphasis in broadcasting. She is also getting her minor in public relations and is expected to graduate this May.

While State produced six of the 318 student-athletes on the list, Florida was at the top with 45 on the winter academic roster. Kentucky was next with 38 honorees and LSU was close behind with 37. The 2004-05 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll is based on grades from the 2004 Spring, Summer and Fall terms.

Kates helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to her third straight postseason appearance in her senior season with the Maroon and White. With the loss in the first round of the 2005 WNIT, Kates concluded her MSU career with 615 points and 390 rebounds in 121 games played. With her 107 three-pointers, she finished seventh best on the MSU career chart and her 325 three-point attempts finish sixth on the list. Kates was also named to the SEC Good Works Team for the third straight year.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2004-05 Mississippi State Women's Basketball Season Recap

TEAM
-Head coach Sharon Fanning earned her sixth winning season while at State. With the 2005 WNIT postseason trip, Fanning has taken the Lady Bulldogs to postseason in seven of her last eight years at State.
-Fanning is seven wins shy of 500 career wins.
-The Lady Bulldogs tallied a school record 12-game winning streak from Nov. 27, 2004 - Jan. 13, 2005.
-Fanning tallied her fourth best non-conference record at State of 11-3 (this includes postseason tournament competition).
-State defeated No. 21/20 ranked Louisiana Tech, 72-55, at home on Nov. 30.
-MSU experienced two overtime games this season going 1-1. The Lady Bulldogs lost in double overtime vs. Vanderbilt (2/3/05), 106-98, but then defeated Auburn (2/27/05), 75-68.
-With its 98 points in the overtime loss vs. Vanderbilt, MSU scored the most points by an MSU team in an official SEC regular season game and marked the most points scored by an MSU team in a loss.
-The Lady Bulldogs held a team to its lowest points in a loss with 41 allowed by Saint Joseph's (11/26/04).
-State tallied 13 three-pointers in the win over Southeastern Louisiana (12/16/04), tying a Humphrey Coliseum record of the most made in a game.
-With a 6-8 SEC record, State finished in sixth place in the conference.
-Going 0-1 in the 2005 SEC Tournament, MSU now has an 11-26 SEC Tournament record and is 8-17 in first round competition. State fell to 11-seed Arkansas, 80-73. MSU shot the highest free throw percentage in State SEC Tournament competition of 91.7 percent. The Lady Bulldogs had previously recorded 90 percent from the free throw line vs. Tennessee in 2004. White tied the most three-pointers attempted by a Lady Bulldog in an SEC Tournament game (10) previously tying her record set vs. Tennessee in last year's tournament.
-With the 78-61 loss at Arkansas State in the first round of the WNIT, State is now 3-5 in WNIT postseason play. MSU's 43 rebounds mark the most grabbed by an MSU team in a WNIT game. The Maroon and White's four blocked shots were also the most tallied by an MSU team in a WNIT game. Tan White's five three-pointers and three blocked shots vs. the Lady Indians mark the most by an MSU player in a WNIT postseason game.

INDIVIDUAL
-Averaging 23.5 points per game at the end of MSU's 2004-05 season, Tan White has led the conference in scoring the entire season and has led the nation in scoring for seven weeks.
-White became the SEC's All-Time Career Steals Leader with 372 in 121 games played. She surpassed South Carolina's Jocelyn Penn who had 359 in 117 games from 1998-03.
-With her career-high 47 points vs. Vanderbilt, White scored the most points by an individual in the NCAA this year. This was also a game-high for a Lady Bulldog senior.
-White was named to the Dead River Company Classic All-Tournament team. She was the MVP of the MSU Classic and Rebecca Kates and Doceide Warren were named to the all-Tournament team.
-At the conclusion of her career, White climbed to the top of five MSU career categories: blocked shots (118), field goal attempts (2,102), three-point field goals made (222), three-point field goals attempted (714) and steals (372).
-Postseason awards: White was a unanimous selection to the first team all-SEC voted on by the coaches and was also named to the first team all-SEC by the Associated Press. She was named to the AP All-America second team. White was named a recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award; a Kodak/WBCA All-American Region 3; Wooden Award finalist; State Farm Wade Trophy finalist; Senior CLASS Award finalist; semifinalist for Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence. She was also selected to participate in the WBCA All-Star Challenge in Indianapolis, Ind. over the NCAA Final Four weekend.
-State graduates four seniors in Tiania Burns, Ebonie Ferguson, Rebecca Kates and Tan White. The Lady Bulldogs signed four players in the early signing period for the class of 2009 - Heather Hollis of Sulligent, Ala.; Robin Porter of Abbeville, Ala.; Marneshia Richard of Lamar, Miss. and Lauren Roberts of Germantown, Tenn.
-Burns (2003-05) totaled 729 points in just two years, 58 games, with the Maroon and White. She was only 33 points shy of breaking into MSU's Career Top 25 points scored.
-Ferguson (2001-05) concluded her career in seventh place on MSU's three-point field goal percentage list (.351).
-Kates (2001-05) tallied 107 three-pointers in her 121 career games with the Lady Bulldogs, seventh best on the MSU chart. Her 325 three-point attempts finish sixth on the list. Kates was named to the SEC Good Works Team for the third straight year and was named to the SEC Winter Academic Honor roll for the second consecutive year.
-White (2001-05) recorded the second most points scored by a senior with 681. Her 86 steals and 30 blocked shots rank her second among Lady Bulldog seniors. Her 222 rebounds rank her eighth. With her 61 three-pointers made this season, White registered the most made by a senior in a season.

Head Coach Sharon Fanning Quotes

On success at the beginning of the season...
"I think getting started with a big win over Louisiana Tech was very positive in helping lead into that 12-win stretch that we had. Anytime that you establish positive records for your program, it is a step in the right direction."

On regrouping the team after suffering injuries...
"Down the stretch we won three out of the last four games. I was pleased with that and felt like that was momentum going into the tournament."

On losing to Arkansas in the SEC Tournament...
"If I look back in our league, Arkansas was playing hard for 40 minutes. They were a very determined team. We played as good a first half as we could play in the SEC Tournament and then just lost focus. Two or three possessions in a ball game can change the momentum for the opposing team and that was what happened with Arkansas. We didn't manage that focus for 40 minutes."

On postseason...
"Then it becomes a waiting game. We put ourselves in a position that we were a bubble team as opposed to playing ourselves into the tournament. As I watch the NCAA Tournament right now, of the at-large teams that are in there, I feel like we are as competitive as many teams that are in the tournament but that is where a team has to learn that one game, one play can make a difference."

"That's the frustration from this season that there were some lapses this season and that we needed to be more focused and more composed and playing better together as a team."

"Postseason play is always a plus for a program. At Arkansas State we were on a homecourt and in a very tough environment. Give Arkansas State credit, they are a good basketball team."

On next season...
"We have met with the team and talked about the offseason this spring, summer and fall. We have to be a more mentally tough team. We have to be a more competitive, tough, smarter basketball team next year."

On players next year...
"Right now it is wide open. Sarah, who has set out, has some great point guard experience and surely has had the work ethic you would want in any player. I think next year you will see Doceide at the one or two. Blessing will be back at the three. Mamie and then either Tasha or Shorty need to step up in that post position. Miayorka and Amy will have a year's experience, conditioning and strength training. Those two ladies can step up and help us and then you will have Alex and Maribeth in supportive roles. Then you have the new players coming in that have each shined in their own settings."

On seniors...
Tiania Burns--"Just being with a program for just two years, you are limited with how a person grows but I think she continued to improve over these two years. She was always ready to run the sprints and make times and to work hard on the floor during the practice setting. I know that she anticipates playing overseas if she can and hopefully that opportunity will come about for her when she finishes her degree in another year."

Ebonie Ferguson--"I'm happy for Ebonie, as a senior she got to step up in such a prominent role. She battled back from injuries. Shešs always been willing to contribute to the team effort and I feel like she did that in a big way this year. She's looking forward to working with the team next year as a student assistant. She wants to coach in the future and we look forward to her with a new hat on next year."

Rebecca Kates--"She has been a leader since she came in terms of her work ethic and from an academic perspective, in the community and on the floor. One that would always condition in the off days and was always in the best possible shape to get up and down the floor. She had to defend the toughest post player from her freshman year on. For a player to accept that responsibility and just to attack it day in and day out, it says a lot for her mental toughness and character. She put the team first. I think she developed as a player this year, taking the ball off the dribble, not only shooting the three. I know that this basketball program meant a great deal to Rebecca Kates and I just appreciate her hard work and enthusiasm. When you can look back on a kid that really loved to play the game and loved to be a part of this program, then that means a lot to a coach."

Tan White--"It has been a blessing to have the opportunity to coach probably one of the best athletes I will ever coach. As an explosive of a player that there ever has been in the women's game. I think she has a great future playing with the WNBA and playing overseas. I'm excited she's going to get her degree. I'm excited for her academically that she has made such strides in terms of her focus and manage all she has had this year, taking 19 hours and having a 3.1 GPA in the fall. The honors that she has accumulated, I'm happy for her as well as for the program that has been recognized as the top 5-8 senior guard in the country, leading the SEC in scoring, the other stats that figure in nationally as well as in the SEC. It has been great to see her grow as a person, as a student-athlete, to see her take on more responsibility as a leader and I think she is excited and very focused on what's ahead of her."

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/24/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Lady Bulldog Tan White became an all-American. The 5-7 guard was bestowed the honor for her senior year efforts, being named to the Associated Press All-America second team released today. White has consistently led the nation in scoring for seven total weeks and has led the SEC the entire season, concluding her senior season averaging 23.5 points per game.

"It is exciting to be recognized nationally by the Associated Press," said Tan White. "It's nice to represent the SEC."

White was honored along with fellow SEC players Seimone Augustus and Temeka Johnson of LSU. While Augustus was named to the first team, White; Johnson; Janel McCarville of Minnesota; Candice Wiggins of Stanford, and Sophia Young of Baylor were named to the second team.

White concluded her Lady Bulldog career becoming just the second MSU women's basketball player to surpass 2,000 career points, finishing with 2,421. She now owns five MSU career categories including blocked shots (118), field goal attempts (2,102), three-point field goals made (222), three-point field goals attempted (714) and steals (372). She recorded 40 consecutive games scoring in double digits, 29 this season, including her career-high and NCAA season game-high 47 points vs. Vanderbilt.

White has previously been named a Basketball Times Freshman All-American (2002) and WomensCollegeHoops.com All-American Honorable Mention (2003).

AP All-America
First Team
*Seimone Augustus, LSU
Kendra Wecker, Kansas State
Monique Currie, Duke
Jessica Davenport, Ohio State
Sandora Irvin, TCU

Second Team
Janel McCarville, Minnesota
Candice Wiggins, Stanford
Sophia Young, Baylor
Temeka Johnson, LSU
Tan White, Mississippi State

Third Team
Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame
Ivory Latta, North Carolina
Tiffany Jackson, Texas
Khara Smith, DePaul
Steffanie Blackmon, Baylor
Tanisha Wright, Penn State

Honorable Mention (only SEC players listed)
Ashley Earley, Vanderbilt
Shyra Ely, Tennessee
Sylvia Fowles, LSU
Tasha Humphrey, Georgia

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/20/05
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Mississippi State senior guard Tan White is the 2005 recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the nation's outstanding female collegian 5'8" and under who has excelled both athletically and academically.

"It is just an honor to be recognized as one of the top senior guards in the country," said senior guard Tan White. "It has taken a lot of hard work over the past four years at Mississippi State both on and off the court. I'm thankful to receive this award and am in great company with the past recipients."

A native of Tupelo, Miss., White led the nation in scoring this season, averaging 23.5 points per game while leading the Lady Bulldogs (17-12) to a school record 12 straight wins. White was a unanimous selection to the all-SEC first team, leading the conference in scoring and ranking second in steals. She became the SEC's All-Time Career Steals leader with 372 in her career. As a 5'7" guard White still managed to pull down 7.7 rebounds per game, and amazingly became the career leader in blocked shots for Mississippi State (118) with a block in the first half against Mississippi on Feb. 17.

In addition to her all-SEC honors, White is a finalist for a number of prestigious national awards, including The State Farm Wade Trophy, Naismith and Wooden Awards, and has been named to the Kodak/WBCA Region 3 All-America team. She has also been selected to play in the WBCA All-Star Challenge in Indianapolis, Ind. during the NCAA Final Four.

"We are proud to honor Ms. White with the 2005 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award," stated John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "The combination of her success on the court and her achievements in the classroom as a student-athlete make Tan a deserving recipient who exemplifies the qualities this award is designed to celebrate."

The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is named in honor of James Naismith's daughter-in-law. The recipient is selected by a panel of representatives from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. To earn the award, the recipient must demonstrate leadership, character, loyalty, all-around basketball ability and excellence in the classroom. Hall of Famer Ann Meyers will present White with the award at the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens during the Women's NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis.

Previous Winners of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
1984 Kim Mulkey, Louisiana Tech
1985 Maria Stack, Gonzaga
1986 Kamie Ethridge, Texas
1987 Rhonda Windham, Southern California
1988 Suzie McConnell, Penn State
1989 Paulette Backstrom, Bowling Green
1990 Julie Dabrowski, New Hampshire College
1991 Shanya Evans, Providence College
1992 Rosemary Kisorek, West Virginia
1993 Dena Evans, Virginia
1994 Nicole Levesque, Wake Forest
1995 Amy Dodrill, Johns Hopkins
1996 Jennifer Rizzotti, University of Connecticut
1997 Jennifer Howard, North Carolina State
1998 Angie Arnold, Johns Hopkins
1999 Becky Hammon, Colorado State
2000 Helen Darling, Penn State
2001 Niele Ivey, Notre Dame
2002 Shelia Lambert, Baylor
2003 Kara Lawson, Tennessee
2004 Erika Valek, Purdue

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/17/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Having again extended their all-time, school-record streaks with this year's fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and fifth straight postseason tournament appearance, the ninth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs (22-10, 9-7 SEC) will meet the eighth-seeded Stanford Cardinal (18-12, 11-7 Pac-10) in Friday's opening round of the 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship held in Charlotte, N.C. Tip-off for Friday's MSU-Stanford game at the 22,806-seat Charlotte Coliseum is set for approximately 9:55 p.m. ET, following the other first-round contest pitting Duke against Delaware State. Sunday's game times are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET and 30 minutes following the conclusion of the day's first contest. CBS Sports is slated to televise the entire NCAA Tournament, with Jim Nantz scheduled to handle the play-by-play duties and Billy Packer providing the color analysis this weekend in Charlotte.

Prior to last year's SEC Championship season, Mississippi State had neither previously earned three consecutive NCAA Tournament bids nor made four straight postseason tournament appearances in the school's 92-year basketball history. With their highest seeding (No. 2) in school history a year ago, coach Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs claimed an 85-52 first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Monmouth in Orlando before dropping an 89-74 second-round decision to an Elite Eight-bound Xavier ballclub at the TD Waterhouse Centre.

This year's State squad enters NCAA Tournament competition sporting a 22-10 overall record and 9-7 league mark to finish third in the SEC Western Division standings behind divisional co-champions Alabama and LSU. The Bulldogs this season have also bettered their previous school standards by recording a fourth straight 20-win season as well as registering a winning record in regular-season conference play for the fourth year in a row.

Statistically, Mississippi State is bidding for an unprecedented fifth consecutive SEC rebounding margin team statistical title. Ranked fourth nationally as of last week in rebound margin (+8.8 rpg), the Bulldogs have outrebounded all but five of their 32 opponents on the season, including all but one (at Alabama) of their regular-season conference foes. Also as a team, MSU enters NCAA Tournament play ranked third in the league in three-point field goal percentage defense (31.8%) and fifth in overall field-goal percentage defense (41.1%).

Individually, the Bulldogs continue to be powered by repeat first-team all-SEC standout Lawrence Roberts, who leads the SEC in rebounding (10.9 rpg) and double-doubles (18), while ranking fifth in the league in scoring (16.7 ppg), eighth in field-goal percentage (45.1%) and 10th in steals (1.6 spg). The reigning first-team all-American currently leads all active NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 56 career double-doubles. Fellow seniors Winsome Frazier and Shane Power are also averaging in double figures on the year at 12.2 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.

Earning an 11th straight NCAA Tournament berth, the Stanford Cardinal enters this year's NCAA Tournament with an 18-12 overall record and 11-7 league mark after finishing tied for third with UCLA behind Arizona and Washington in the regular-season Pac-10 Conference standings. Guided by first-year head coach and former Nevada head man Trent Johnson, Stanford is down to only nine healthy players and will be without the team's leading scorer, first-team all-Pac-10 performer Dan Grunfeld (17.9 ppg), for the rest of the season after going down with a torn ACL in his right knee against California on Feb. 12. In his absence, the Cardinal has been led by junior guard Chris Hernandez, who now tops the club in scoring (15.2 ppg), assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.7 spg), along with shooting 41 percent from three-point range and 81 percent from the line. Junior 6-11 forward Matt Haryasz averages 12.5 points and a team-leading 9.1 rebounds per contest, while 6-10 senior center Rob Little contributes 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds an outing.

Friday's Mississippi State-Stanford contest will mark just the second all-time hardwood meeting between the two teams. In Stansbury's second season at the State helm, the 1999-2000 Bulldogs dropped a 76-56 decision to the then-top ranked Cardinal during the Pete Newell Challenge played in Oakland.

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/16/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State all-SEC seniors Lawrence Roberts and Shane Power have been named as finalists for the 2004-05 Cellular South Howell Trophy, the Jackson-based Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum announced Tuesday. The award for Mississippi's top male college basketball player of the year will be announced at the First Annual Cellular South Howell Trophy presentation at the Museum on April 14.

Joined by Ole Miss senior forward Tommie Eddie, the veteran trio finished at the top of the voting by media members from across the state of Mississippi. Eleven players from six in-state colleges and universities received votes.

Named to the official voting ballot for this year's John R. Wooden Award and a top 10 finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, Roberts hails as Mississippi State's first repeat first-team all-SEC performer since current Dallas Mavericks standout Erick Dampier. The 6-9, 240-pound Roberts leads coach Rick Stansbury's 22-10 Bulldogs into this week's NCAA Tournament pacing the SEC in rebounding (10.9 rpg) and double-doubles (18), while ranking fifth in scoring (16.7 ppg), eighth in field-goal percentage (45.1%) and 10th in steals (1.6 spg). The Houston native also begins postseason tournament play leading all active NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 56 career double-doubles and 1,147 career rebounds. Now with 1,902 career points to his credit as a former transfer from Baylor University, Roberts recently became only the third player in school history to reach 1,000 career points in just two seasons at Mississippi State.

A second-team all-SEC selection as voted on this season by the league's head coaches, Power enters the postseason ranking as State's third-leading scorer (11.2 ppg), No. 4 rebounder (4.1 rpg) and second-leading playmaker (2.5 apg). Last year's SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and an academic all-district selection this season, the 6-5, 210-pound Power leads the Bulldogs with 55 made 3-pointers and in three-point field goal percentage (38.2%). The Crown Point, Ind., native rates as the lone Bulldog player to have started all 32 games this season and also leads the team in minutes played (33.3 mpg).

The Cellular South Howell Trophy is named in honor of former Mississippi State All-American and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Bailey Howell. Ticket information for the First Annual Cellular South Howell Trophy presentation can be obtained by contacting the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at (601) 982-8264 or 1-800-280-FAME.

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/15/05
ATLANTA, Ga. - Mississippi State senior guard Tan White was named a finalist for the 2005 Kodak/WBCA All-America Basketball Team as one of six representatives from Region 3, announced today by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), in cooperation with Eastman Kodak Company.

White joins former Lady Bulldog LaToya Thomas as the only women's basketball players from State to be named a finalist. Thomas was a four-time Kodak All-American during her career from 1999-2003.

The 48 finalists, who are voted upon by WBCA member coaches in each of the eight WBCA geographical regions, are now in the running for selection to the 10-member Kodak/WBCA All-America Team. The Kodak/WBCA All-America Basketball Team for NCAA Division I will be announced at the Kodak/WBCA All-America Team press conference at the Westin Hotel on April 2, 2005 in Indianapolis, Ind. For a complete listing of the finalists, go to www.wbca.org.

Region 3
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Seimone Augustus Louisiana State University Junior Guard 6-1
Ashley Earley Vanderbilt University Senior Forward 5-10
Shyra Ely University of Tennessee Senior Forward 6-2
Tasha Humphrey University of Georgia Freshman Forward 6-3
Temeka Johnson Louisiana State University Senior Guard 5-3
Tan White Mississippi State University Senior Guard 5-7

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/11/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Lady Bulldog senior guard Tan White was named to the 2005 Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference women's basketball first team, released Monday. White was previously named a unanimous selection to the Coaches' all-SEC first team. This marks the third time in her career that she was honored on the first team and was named to the second team her freshman year by the AP. State has experienced 10 AP all-SEC selections in three people in Lady Bulldog history, including LaToya Thomas (1999-03) and Nitra Perry (1996-00).

First Team
u-Seimone Augustus, LSU, G, 6-1, Jr.
u-Tasha Humphrey, Georgia, F, 6-3, Fr.
Tan White, Mississippi State, G, 5-7, Sr.
Temeka Johnson, LSU, G, 5-3, Sr.
Ashley Earley, Vanderbilt, G-F, 5-10, Sr.
Shyra Ely, Tennessee, F, 6-2, Sr.

Second Team
Armintie Price, Mississippi, G, 5-9, So.
Sylvia Fowles, LSU, C, 6-5, Fr.
Natasha Brackett, Auburn, G, 5-9, Sr.
Carla Thomas, Vanderbilt, F, 6-3, So.
Dee Davis, Vanderbilt, G, 5-7, So.
Bernice Mosby, Florida, F, 6-1, Jr.
Sara Potts, Kentucky, F, 6-0, Sr.
Shanna Zolman, Tennessee, G, 5-10, Jr.

Player of the Year - Seimone Augustus, LSU
Coach of the Year - Pokey Chatman, LSU
Newcomer of the Year - Tasha Humphrey, Georgia

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/10/05
ATLANTA, Ga. - Mississippi State all-SEC player Tan White has been selected as one of the top 20 senior collegiate women's basketball players to participate in the 2005 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Star Challenge Game. The game will take place on Saturday, April 2 in Indianapolis, Ind., at the University of Indianapolis' Nicoson Hall.

This capstone event tips-off the 24th Annual WBCA National Convention, which takes place in Indianapolis, at the site of this year's NCAA Women's Final Four. The WBCA All-Star Challenge game will be the second of a doubleheader event featured during the "WBCA Night of All-Stars." Fans will have an opportunity to watch and collect autographs from the future WNBA stars, as well as see the WBCA High School All-America Game, presented by Nike, which tips-off at 4:30 p.m. (Indianapolis Time).

The WBCA All-Star Challenge features 17 of the top senior NCAA Division I players, voted on by Division I WBCA-member head coaches. The remaining three players are the top senior vote getters in the State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year ballots. They are selected from the NCAA Division II, III and NAIA levels. Those names will be released at a later date.

The 2005 roster includes Penn State's Jess Strom and Tanisha Wright, Texas' Jamie Carey and Heather Schreiber, Tennessee's Loree Moore and Shyra Ely, LSU's Temeka Johnson, Oklahoma's Dionnah Jackson and Notre Dame's Jacqueline Batteast.

Rounding out the roster are Tan White of Mississippi State, Sandora Irvin of Texas Christian, Caity Matter of Ohio State, Florida State's Roneeka Hodges, Kansas State's Kendra Wecker, Janel McCarville of Minnesota, Steffanie Blackmon of Baylor, and Jessica Moore from the University of Connecticut.

The WBCA All-Star Challenge roster may alter if any of the aforementioned players' teams are participating in the NCAA Women's Final Four. In that case, alternates will be selected based on voting results.

"The WBCA All-Star Challenge has become one of the most anticipated events surrounding our national convention and the NCAA Final Four," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "This year's event is no exception; the Class of 2005 will be represented very well in this year's game."

Past stars of the WBCA All-Star Challenge include: LaToya Thomas (San Antonio Silver Stars); Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury); Alana Beard (Washington Mystics); Cheryl Ford (Detroit Shock); Chantelle Anderson (Sacramento Monarchs); Chamique Holdsclaw (Washington Mystics) and many more stars of the WNBA.

Fans can order tickets by calling the University of Indianapolis' Athletic Department Office at (317) 788-3359, TicketWeb at 800-965-4827 or visit www.ticketweb.com. Tickets for the "WBCA Night of All-Stars" start at $15.00 and $25.00 for reserved seating.

2005 WBCA All-Star Challenge Team

Name Pos. School
Jackie Batteast G Notre Dame
Steffanie Blackmon F Baylor
Jamie Carey PG Texas
Shyra Ely F Tennessee
Roneeka Hodges G Florida State
Sandora Irvin F TCU
Dionnah Jackson PG Oklahoma
Temeka Johnson PG LSU
Caity Matter G Ohio State
Janel McCarville F Minnesota
Jessica Moore F UCONN
Loree Moore PG Tennessee
Heather Schreiber G Texas
Jess Strom PG Penn State
Kendra Wecker F Kansas State
Tan White G Mississippi State
Tanisha Wright G Penn State

Source: MSU Media Relations

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Mississippi State Lady Bulldog Tan White is one of 17 women's college basketball players named to the official voting ballot for the 2005 Women's Wooden Award presented by Applied Materials, announced today by the John R. Wooden Award Committee. The Women's Wooden Award, presented annually to the nation's top female collegiate basketball player, will announce its 2005 recipient on Saturday, April 9 during a national CBS telecast airing live at 1 p.m. EST from The Los Angeles Athletic Club.

White has also been named a Naismith Award finalist, a Senior CLASS Award finalist, a State Farm Wade Trophy candidate and a semifinalist for the Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence. She was a preseason Wooden Award candidate last season.

In order to be considered for the national ballot, all players must have been accredited by their university as meeting the Wooden Award criteria, which includes making normal progress towards graduation and maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

A panel of over 200 voters comprised of sports media members and women's college basketball experts from around the nation will have until 3 p.m. EST on Monday, March 28 to cast their votes for both the five-member All-American Team and Wooden Award recipient as the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player in the United States.

The 2005 award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Men's and Women's Wooden Award, the Wooden Award All-American Teams, and Legends of Coaching award recipient Jim Calhoun of the University of Connecticut, will be held at The Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 9, 2005, and will be broadcast live on a national CBS telecast. The top five male and female finalists will be invited to Los Angeles for the awards ceremony and will receive a contribution from the John R. Wooden Award Scholarship Fund fortheir university's general scholarship fund.

Women's Finalists
Seimone Augustus 6'1" Jr. G LSU
Jacqueline Batteast 6'2" Sr. F Notre Dame
Steffanie Blackmon 6'2" Sr. F Baylor
Lindsay Bowen 5'7" Jr. G Michigan State
Monique Currie 6'0" Jr. G/F Duke
Jessica Davenport 6'4" So. C Ohio State
Sandora Irvin 6'3" Sr. F TCU
Tiffany Jackson 6'3" So. F Texas
Temeka Johnson 5'3" Sr. G LSU
Janel McCarville 6'2" Sr. C Minnesota
Cappie Pondexter 5'9" Sr. G Rutgers
Khara Smith 6'2" Jr. F DePaul
Kendra Wecker 5'11" Sr F Kansas State
Tan White 5'8" Sr. G Mississippi State
Candice Wiggins 5'11" Fr. G Stanford
Tanisha Wright 5'11" Sr. G Penn State
Sophia Young 6'1" Jr. F Baylor

Source: MSU Media Relations

The first three days of the SEC Tournament will be televised by Jefferson-Pilot Sports, though Thursday's and Friday's games will be shown on Fox Sports Net South within the local Golden Triangle Region viewing area. Tom Hammond and Larry Conley are slated to call Thursday's first-round tournament contest between Mississippi State and Georgia, with Dave Neal serving as the tournament host and Dave Baker handling the sideline reporting duties for JP Sports. The MSU-Georgia winner will advance to meet the No. 2-seeded Florida Gators of the SEC East in Game 6 Friday afternoon beginning at 3:15 p.m. ET.

Having already extended their school-record streaks by securing a fourth consecutive 20-win season and posting a fourth straight winning record in regular-season conference play, coach Rick Stansbury's 21-9 Bulldogs finished out a 9-7 regular-season mark in SEC action by dropping a 68-63 home decision to the SEC West Champion Alabama Crimson Tide this past Saturday. Prior to the five-point setback to the then-19th ranked Tide, State had won three straight league games, including road wins over Arkansas (57-55) and Georgia (76-62).

Statistically as a team, Mississippi State continues to top the conference in rebounding margin (+9.6 rpg), averaging better than three rebounds more per game than Florida (+6.4 rpg) for all games. In pursuit of their unprecedented fifth consecutive SEC rebound margin team statistical title, the Bulldogs have outrebounded 26 of 30 opponents this season, including all but one SEC foe (at Alabama) on the year. In addition, MSU enters the SEC Tournament ranked second in the league in three-point field goal percentage defense (31.1%) and fourth in overall field-goal percentage defense (41.1%).

Recently chosen to the NABC All-District 6 First Team for the second straight year as well as being selected as one of 23 student-athletes named to the official voting ballot of this year's John R. Wooden Award All-American Team, senior forward Lawrence Roberts begins postseason play leading the conference in rebounding (11.1 rpg), as well as ranking fourth in scoring (17.3 ppg), eighth in field-goal percentage (45.9%) and ninth in steals (1.7 spg). The reigning SEC Player of the Year also paces the SEC with a career-high 18 double-doubles on the season, in addition to leading all active NCAA Division I players with 56 career double-doubles. Roberts enters Thursday's Georgia contest needing just 10 more points to become the 27th all-time member of MSU's 1,000-point club.

The Bulldogs are also receiving double-figure scoring on the year from seniors Winsome Frazier and Shane Power at 12.4 and 11.4 points per game, respectively. In addition, senior forward Ontario Harper is contributing 8.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest, while sophomore point guard Gary Ervin averages 7.8 points an outing and ranks second in the SEC behind Tennessee's C.J. Watson in assists (4.9 apg).

Guided by second-year head coach Dennis Felton, the Georgia Bulldogs open SEC Tournament competition with an 8-19 overall record and 2-14 SEC mark after dropping a 78-68 decision at Tennessee this past Saturday to conclude the regular season. Georgia's pair of conference wins this season came at home over Vanderbilt (68-59) and Auburn (57-45). Beginning with the team's 76-62 home loss to Mississippi State two weeks ago, UGA dropped its last four regular-season decisions heading into this week's SEC Tournament. The Georgia Bulldogs are led in scoring by sophomore guard Levi Stukes, who is averaging 15.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game on the year. Freshman guard Sundiata Gaines ranks second on the team in both scoring (11.9 ppg) and rebounding (5.0 rpg), while pacing Georgia in assists (3.0 apg) as well as steals (2.4 spg). Fellow freshman guard Channing Toney adds 9.8 points per contest and is shooting 91 percent from the charity stripe for the season.

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/8/05
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Mississippi State senior guard Tan White was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 3rd annual Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence presented by Creamland Dairies announced by the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB).

The award honors college seniors for their athletic and academic achievement as well as their community involvement. Three finalists for the collegiate awards will be named during the NCAA basketball tournaments and will be present in Albuquerque, N.M. on April 12 at an awards dinner held at the Albuquerque Marriott.

White, the four-time all-SEC selection, has been recognized as a State Farm Wade Trophy candidate, midseason Naismith Award and Wooden Award candidate and Senior CLASS Award finalist. The 5-7 guard tallied 38 points in Mississippi State's (17-11) 80-73 loss to Arkansas in the first round of the SEC Tournament. White is tops in the nation averaging 23.6 points per game and concluded the regular season leading the SEC in scoring. The postseason fate of the Lady Bulldogs will be determined on Sunday, March 13 when the NCAA Selection Show will be broadcast on ESPN at 4 p.m. CT.

Female Student-Athletes
Katie Billue, University of Alabama-Birmingham
Becky Heidotten, University of Tulsa
Sandora Irvin, TCU
Nicole Lehman, Southwest Missouri State
Mandi Moore, University of New Mexico
Tiffany Mor, Wisconsin-Green Bay
Beth Swink, St. Francis (PA)
Kendra Wecker, Kansas State University
Dee-Dee Wheeler, University of Arizona
Tan White, Mississippi State University

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/6/05
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 5, 2005) - The John R. Wooden Award Committee has announced the 23 student-athletes (see attached list) named to the official voting ballot for the 2005 Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate basketball player. The winner will be announced on Saturday, April 9, during a national CBS telecast of the John R. Wooden Award ceremony that will air live at 1 p.m. EST from The Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Ten NCAA conferences are represented on the ballot, including the ACC (5), America East (1), Big 10 (3), Big 12 (3), Big East (3), Conference USA (1), Mountain West (1), Pac-10 (3), SEC (2), and the West Coast Conference (1). The best represented conferences include the ACC with five candidates and the Big 10, Big 12, Big East and Pac-10 conferences, which each have three candidates. Several teams have multiple players nominated, including Illinois with three nominees, and Duke, Oklahoma State and North Carolina with two nominees each.

The ballot for the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball also includes three 2003-04 Wooden Award All-Americans including Ryan Gomes (Providence), John Lucas (Oklahoma State) and Lawrence Roberts (Mississippi State). Luther Head of Illinois is the only candidate on the national ballot who was not a Wooden Award Midseason nominee. In total, 11 juniors, 10 seniors and two sophomores are represented.

"Each of these players should be commended for their athletic and academic achievements as they have all met the comprehensive Wooden Award criteria," said Richard 'Duke' Llewellyn, founder and chairman of the Wooden Award. "This year's race for the Wooden Award is wide open, and we look forward to closely following both the conference and national tournament to see who will emerge from the talent-rich field of national finalists."

In order to be considered for the national ballot, all players must have been accredited by their university as meeting the Wooden Award criteria which includes making normal progress towards graduation and maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. It should be noted that all players considered for the national ballot, including those on the midseason list, were deemed eligible as meeting the Wooden Award academic requirements.

A panel of over 1,000 voters comprised of sports media members and college basketball experts from around the nation will have until 3 p.m. EST on Monday, March 28 to cast their votes for both the 10-member All-American Team and Wooden Award recipient as the most outstanding collegiate basketball player in the United States. The Wooden Award opts for the March 28 deadline because it allows voters to evaluate players up until the Final Four has been determined.

The 2005 award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Men's and Women's Wooden Award, the Wooden Award All-American Teams, and Legends of Coaching award recipient Jim Calhoun of the University of Connecticut, will be held at The Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 9, 2005, and will be broadcast live on a national CBS telecast. The top five male and female finalists will be invited to Los Angeles for the awards ceremony and will receive a contribution from the John R. Wooden Award Scholarship Fund for their university's general scholarship fund.

The Wooden Award Scholarship Fund was established in 2002 by Applied Materials and corporate partners through the California Community Foundation (CCF) to honor Coach Wooden's dedication as an educator and mentor. The Scholarship Fund distributed $15,000 last year to each university represented by a men's and women's Wooden Award All-American Team finalist (for a total of $150,000). Additional donations to Applied Materials' John R. Wooden Award Scholarship Fund can be made by contacting the scholarship fund through the CCF (www.calfund.org).

Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his/her university that he/she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Michael Jordan ('84), Larry Bird ('79), Tim Duncan ('97), and last year's recipient, Jameer Nelson ('04).

Wooden Award Ballot
(Players listed alphabetically)

A national poll was conducted by the John R. Wooden Award National Advisor Board to determine the ballot for the 2004-2005 Wooden Award All-American Team. The top 23 candidates have been selected based on this year's individual performance and team records.

Andrew Bogut 7'0" So. F/C Utah
Dee Brown 6'0" Jr. G Illinois
Taylor Coppenrath 6'9" Sr. F Vermont
Ike Diogu 6'8" Jr. F Arizona State
Francisco Garcia 6'7" Jr. F Louisville
Ryan Gomes 6'7" Sr. F Providence
Joey Graham 6'7" Sr. F Oklahoma State
Luther Head 6'3" Sr. G Illinois
John Lucas 5'11" Sr. G Oklahoma State
Sean May 6'9" Jr. F/C North Carolina
Rashad McCants 6'4" Jr. F/G North Carolina
Chris Paul 6'0" So. G Wake Forest
J.J. Redick 6'4" Jr. G Duke
Lawrence Roberts 6'9" Sr. F Mississippi State
Nate Robinson 5'9" Jr. G Washington
Wayne Simien 6'9" Sr. F Kansas
Craig Smith 6'7" Jr. F Boston College
Salim Stoudamire 6'1" Sr. G Arizona
Ronny Turiaf 6'10" Sr. F Gonzaga
Hakim Warrick 6'8" Sr. F Syracuse
Deron Williams 6'3" Jr. G Illinois
Shelden Williams 6'9" Jr. F Duke
Kennedy Winston 6'6" Jr. F Alabama

Source: MSU Media Relations

Women's Basketball--Mississippi State vs. Arkansas Postgame Notes

TEAM
-With the 80-73 loss, MSU is now 17-11, marking the 12th season State has posted a winning record.
-State is now 11-26 in overall SEC Tournament competition and 8-17 in first round play.
-In their second straight loss in the series, the Lady Bulldogs are now 9-11 vs. Arkansas and 2-2 in neutral court competition.
-MSU shot the highest free throw percentage in State SEC Tournament competition of 91.7 percent. The Lady Bulldogs had previously recorded 90 percent from the free throw line vs. Tennessee in 2004.

INDIVIDUAL
-Tan White scored in double digits for the 39th consecutive game with her 38 points Thursday night. This marks her fourth game scoring 30+ points this season.
-White tied the most three-pointers attempted by a Lady Bulldog in an SEC Tournament game previously tying her record set vs. Tennessee in last year's tournament.

Source: MSU Media Relations

3/3/05
Men's Basketball
THE ROAD TO ATLANTA
Below is a breakdown of the 2005 SEC Tournament seeds and matchups if the season ended on March 3. (!-Clinched seed or title)

SEC Champion: Kentucky (14-1)!
SEC Eastern Division Champion: Kentucky (14-1)!
SEC Western Division Champion: Alabama (11-4)*

TOURNAMENT SEEDS (as of 3/3)
Eastern Division Games Remaining