August 2005 MSU Basketball Skuttle-Butt

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8/27/05
FORT MYERS, Fla., Aug. 23 - Jeff Malone has been named head coach of the Florida Flame for the upcoming 2005-06 NBA Development League season. A 13-year NBA veteran and two-time NBA All-Star, Malone spent the past four seasons as the head coach of the D-League's Columbus Riverdragons, leading Columbus to a pair of playoff berths and the 2004-05 regular season championship.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity with the Flame," said Malone. "I can continue with the NBA Development League, a league I'm very familiar with. The ownership group is terrific and it Œs a great organization that's moving in the right direction. I love the state of Florida and I look forward to coaching in the Sunshine State."

A veteran of 51 playoff games in the NBA, Malone has reached the playoffs in three of his six seasons as a head coach. In four years at the helm of the Riverdragons (2001-2005), Malone posted an overall record of 102-98 (.510) during the regular season, with a 3-3 mark in the playoffs. This past season, Malone led Columbus to a 30-18 record, earning the D-League's regular season crown. The Riverdragons advanced all the way to the postseason championship game before falling to Asheville.

"We are very pleased to announce Jeff Malone as our head coach," said Flame managing partner, Gary Fluharty. "Not only does Jeff bring years of D-League experience and expertise to the organization, but also the proven track record of a winner."

Prior to joining the NBA Development League, Malone spent the previous two seasons in the International Basketball League (IBL). Malone served as head coach of the Trenton Stars (2000-01) and was promoted from assistant to head coach by the San Diego Stingrays during the 1999-2000 season. Malone made his coaching debut as an assistant with the Yakima Sun Kings of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) in 1998.

Malone played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Washington Bullets (1983-84 ­ 1989-90), Utah Jazz (1990-91 ­ 1993-94), the Philadelphia 76ers (1993-94 ­ 1995-96) and the Miami Heat (1995-96). A deadly mid-range shooter, Malone averaged 19.0 ppg on .484 shooting on his way to scoring 17,231 career points. Malone was also clutch from the free throw line, shooting .871 for his career from the charity stripe. Selected by Washington in the first round (10th overall) of the 1983 NBA Draft, Malone went on to earn NBA All-Rookie team honors following the 1983-84 season. Twice Malone earned selections to the NBA All-Star Game, representing the Bullets and the Eastern Conference in 1986 and 1987 in Dallas and Seattle.

In college, Malone played four seasons (1979-83) at Mississippi State University where he averaged 26.8 points per game his senior year and still reigns as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,142 points. Malone is also MSU's all-time leader in career minutes played (3,851), field goals made (906), and field goals attempted (1,768). The nations' no. 2 scorer as a senior (26.8 ppg), Malone was chosen UPI's 1982-83 SEC Player of the Year in addition to being named a first-team All-American by the Sporting News. Recently, during the 2002 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Atlanta, Malone represented MSU as a SEC Men's Basketball Legend.

A native of Macon, Georgia, Malone was born June 29, 1961. A basketball stand-out at Southwest High School in Macon, Malone went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science at MSU. Malone has dedicated a significant amount of time throughout his career to community outreach programs including the NBA Development League's Read To Achieve, Back-to-School and Jumpball Clinics programs.

"The wealth of NBA knowledge that Coach Malone has obtained is tremendous," said Florida Flame Director of Basketball Operations, Terry Thimlar. "Through his thirteen seasons as an outstanding player in the NBA, in addition to his years as a successful coach, I feel Coach Malone is a great fit for our team."

Malone's first job responsibility will be administering the open player tryouts tentatively scheduled for late October.

The Flame open their 2005-06 NBA D-League season in Southwest Florida on Friday, November 25 at 7 p.m. when Florida hosts the Roanoke Dazzle at Germain Arena. For more information, contact Florida Flame Director of Media Relations Tim Becwar at (239) 561-8130, tbecwar@nba.com or log onto the internet at www.floridaflame.com.

Florida Flame season ticket and group ticket packages are available by calling the Flame ticket office at 1-877-FLAME-TIX. Season ticket packages for all Flame home games at Germain Arena start as low as $120, with group ticket rates for groups of 20 or more starting at just $8 per ticket.

The NBA Development League includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (Texas), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.).

The D-League offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. Thirty-four (34) players have been called up to the NBA on 50 separate occasions. Ten (10) former D-League coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The D-League is a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.

Source: MSU Media Relations

8/19/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The 2005-06 Mississippi State women's basketball schedule features 14 regular season home games, 15 opponents that advanced to postseason play last year and six teams that were ranked in the final Top 25 polls, released Wednesday by MSU Director of Athletics Larry Templeton.

"Our schedule is extremely challenging," said Lady Bulldog head coach Sharon Fanning. "We will be tested early that will help prepare us for SEC play."

The Lady Bulldogs start off the preseason with two exhibition games in early November followed up by a home opener vs. Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 18 and then a return visit from East Tennessee State and later on from Maine.

State travels to Cancun, Mexico over Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-26, to participate in the Caribbean Classic in a dual bracket concept with national champion Baylor, California and Marshall on one side and MSU, former No. 6 North Carolina, No. 16 Arizona State and TCU on the other.

The schedule revisits several regional rivalries starting with Southern Mississippi on Nov. 29, then UAB and New Orleans in December.

The 17th MSU Classic, Dec. 19-20, looks to be challenging this year with opponents Centenary, Morehead State and NCAA postseason participant Purdue. Former Lady Bulldog and 2000 MSU grad Elizabeth Wamsley will be returning to Starkville for the tournament as the head coach for Centenary.

MSU will open conference play at home vs. Arkansas on Jan. 5, followed by visits from Tennessee and Mississippi in January. The beginning of February holds a four-game home stand before closing out the 2005-06 slate on the road at South Carolina and at LSU.

Televised games will be released at a later date.

Last season State finished 17-12 overall and 6-8 in the SEC for a sixth place finish. The Lady Bulldogs advanced to postseason play for the seventh time in the last eight years and earned their sixth winning season while under the tutelage of Fanning. State fell at Arkansas State in the first round of the 2005 WNIT in Jonesboro, Ark., 78-61 to end the season. The Lady Bulldogs tallied a school record 12-game winning streak in 2004-05 in addition to graduating Kodak All-American Tan White.

The Lady Bulldogs add six new faces to the 2005-06 squad, freshmen Heather Hollis, Robin Porter, Marneshia Richard, Lauren Roberts and walk on Bethany Workman. Junior Sarah Johnson is now eligible to play for State after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules.

MSU returns eight letterwinners, including two starters to the 2005-06 squad. Leadership will come from the four seniors highlighting this team in guard/forward Blessing Chekwa, forward Chalandra Hilliard, forward Mamie McKinney and guard Doceide Warren. Head coach Sharon Fanning enters her 30th year as a head coach with a 493-351 career record and 11th year at the Lady Bulldog helm, totaling a 170-125 record at State.

2005-06 MISSISSIPPI STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

NOVEMBER
4--Fri.--HOUSTON JAGUARS (EXH.)--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT
11--Fri.--ATHLETES IN ACTION (EXH.)--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT
18--Fri.--SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT
20--Sun.--EAST TENNESSEE STATE--Starkville, Miss.--2 p.m. CT

25-26 Fri.--Sat.--! Caribbean Classic--Cancun, Mexico
25--Fri.--! vs. TCU--Cancun, Mexico--TBA
26--Sat.--! vs. Arizona State--Cancun, Mexico--TBA

29--Tues.--SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT

DECEMBER
2--Fri.--at Florida State--Tallahassee, Fla.--TBA
11--Sun.--MAINE--Starkville, Miss.--2 p.m. CT
13--Tues.--at Louisiana Tech--Ruston, La.--6 p.m. CT
15--Thurs.--at New Orleans--New Orleans, La.--7 p.m. CT

19--Mon.--# MOREHEAD STATE--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT
(19--Mon--#Purdue vs. Centenary--Starkville, Miss.--4:30 p.m. CT)
20--Tues.--# PURDUE or CENTENARY--Starkville, Miss.--4:30 or 7 p.m. CT

29--Thurs.--at UAB--Birmingham, Ala.--7 p.m. CT

JANUARY
2--Mon.--BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT
5--Thurs.--* ARKANSAS--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT
8--Sun.--* at Mississippi--Oxford, Miss.--2 p.m. CT
12--Thurs.--* at Vanderbilt--Nashville, Tenn.--7 p.m. CT
15--Sun.--* TENNESSEE--Starkville, Miss.--2 p.m. CT
19--Thurs.--* at Georgia--Athens, Ga.--7 p.m. ET
22--Sun.--* at Arkansas--Fayetteville, Ark.--2 p.m. CT
26--Thurs.-- * MISSISSIPPI--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT
29--Sun.--* at Auburn--Auburn, Ala.--2 p.m. CT

FEBRUARY
5--Sun.--* SOUTH CAROLINA--Starkville, Miss.--2 p.m. CT
9--Thurs.--* FLORIDA--Starkville, Miss.--7 p.m. CT
12--Sun.--* ALABAMA--Starkville, Miss.--2 p.m. CT
19--Sun.--* KENTUCKY--Starkville, Miss.--2 p.m. CT
23--Thurs.--* at South Carolina--Columbia, S.C.--7 p.m. ET
26--Sun.--* at LSU--Baton Rouge, La.--2 p.m. CT

MARCH
2-5--Thurs.-Sun.--^ SEC Tournament--North Little Rock, Ark.--FOX--TBA

All times are local to game site and subject to change.
Home games in bold CAPS.
* Southeastern Conference games
! Caribbean Classic (Cancun, Mexico)--[Arizona State, MSU, North Carolina, TCU/Baylor, California, Marshall]
# Mississippi State Classic (Starkville, Miss.)--[Centenary, Morehead State, Purdue]
^ at Alltel Arena (North Little Rock, Ark.)

Source: MSU Media Relations

8/2/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State head women's basketball coach Sharon Fanning will hold her 11th annual Lady Bulldog Basketball Coaches Clinic Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Sanderson Center on the campus of MSU.

The clinic is open to all coaches and will feature Fanning, along with MSU assistants Steve Curtis, Errol Rogers and Stacey Franklin. In addition, there will be a panel discussion with Bracky Brett, compliance coordinator, Mary McLendon, certified trainer and Richard Akins, strength and conditioning. The clinic is designed to help develop a championship program.

On-court and classroom activities include position work, man-to-man and zone offenses and defenses, special situations, breakdown drills and NCAA rules.

There is a $25 registration fee that includes breakfast and lunch. There will also be the opportunity to play golf at the end of the session for an additional $25. The clinic will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those interested can register online at www.mstateathletics.com or on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8 a.m. in the Sanderson Center Meeting Room. For more information and to confirm your attendance, contact Gail Dorroh at 662.325.0198.

Schedule of events:
8 a.m.--Breakfast--Registration (Sanderson Center Meeting Room)
9 a.m.--Favorite Drills
10 a.m.--Teaching Man-to-Man Defense
11 a.m.--Transition Offense & Defense
Noon--Lunch--Panel: Compliance Coordinator - Bracky Brett, Certified Trainer - Mary McLendon, Strength/Conditioning Coach ­ Richard Akins
1 p.m.--Individual Workouts
2 p.m.--Quick Hitters, Teaching Motion & Press Offense
3 p.m.--Special Situations/Q&A
4 p.m.--Golf (optional)

Source: MSU Media Relations