| 1996 | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1998 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1999 | Jan | Feb |
03/30/99 - Former MSU head basketball coach Richard Williams was at Lamar University interviewing for the head coaching job Monday. The Beaumont paper had a long article about Richard and his record. According to my source, Richard's comments were very positive toward coming there.
03/29/99 - MSU is recruiting Gulf Coast CC (FLA) point guard Jason Pryor. Jason, 6-1, averaged 18 points per game this past season at GCCC. He shot 45% from the 3-point range and 48.8% from the field. Other stats: 4.0 a/gm, 3.14 to/gm, 4 s/gm. Jason transferred from Clemson to GCCC.
Jason officially visited MSU a couple of weekends ago and, according to my sources, is leaning to MSU. Jason will be classified as a sophomore next sesason and will have 3 years to play 3.
03/29/99 - If you would like to see Jonathan Bender in the McDonald's All-American game again, it is on ESPN at 2:30 a.m., Tuesday (March 30th). Jonathan will also perform in the Magic's Roundball Classic Sunday (April 4th) at 11:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
03/29/99 - Advertisement: For some of the best tasting food in Starkville, check out The Grill which is located at 106 Maxwell Street. For more info, visit The Grill's website at http://www.eatwithus.com/grill/grill.html
03/26/99 - According to an ESPN chat session from yesterday, MSU basketball signee Jonathan Bender will be attending MSU and not go pro next season. I do believe basketball season tickets sales are going to shoot through the roof, don't you?
Here are a few links to articles that include Bender in them:
03/25/99 - MSU signee Jonathan Bender, the star of the McDonald's All-American game, broke former North Carolina star/pro basketball player Michael Jordan's record of 30 points scored by scoring 31. If you missed the game, you missed a heck of a show by an extraordinary talent. Do you guys realize the hype this kid will receive if he doesn't turn pro and comes to State next season? Bender and MSU will be under the microscope like never before. Everybody knows Picayune, Mississippi's Jonathan Bender now!
Now the wait is on: Will he go to college or go pro? Obviously his skill level is near NBA quality, but is his stamina and body strength?
03/22/99 - For those of you who have never seen MSU signee Jonathan Bender play, Wednesday night on ESPN is your chance. He will be playing in the McDonald's All-American game on ESPN at 8 p.m.
BTW, Jonathan was chosen as The Clarion-Ledger's Player of the Year.
03/19/99 - The strong rumor is MSU is definitely recruiting Kansas Juco basketball player Antonio Jackson, a 6-5 point guard. Wouldn't it be nice to win the recruiting wars for Jackson and Derrick Zimmerman (2G from Monroe, LA.)? When you have Rick Stansbury on your side I wouldn't bet against you.
03/18/99 - Thought you would enjoy reading this email from a Bulldog fan who happened to be in Colorado when our basketball team was out there for the NIT game.
"Gene, my family and I were in Colorado this week skiing and were able to attend the basketball game in Ft. Collins Wednesday night. I have never been prouder of our guys including the coaches, trainers, players and everyone associated with our team. It was obvious for anyone knowing about the altitude problems you have in going from 350 feet to 5500+ feet that you have a disadvantage that just can't be overcome in 3-4 days. Heck, I'm in pretty good shape and I got out of breath just leaning over to tie shoes. Rick was the most gracious person I have ever seen before the game (first time my wife has met him and his wife, and she was wowed..). I think they didn't expect to see any Bulldogs, and when they came in and 6 of us were sitting on the first row behind the bench, he came over and spent probably 15 minutes talking and letting us know how proud he was to see us. There was probably 35-40 total maroon-clad fans there (mostly living in the area), so we didn't compete in sound, but we made pretty good noise for the number. We have the best coaching staff of any school anywhere, in every sport. By the way, we met 6-8 different Mississippi groups while there, mostly by them recognizing my Bulldog stocking cap, and only one was not our fans..."
03/15/99 - There was a very good MSU basketball analysis by The Clarion-Ledger's Sekou Smith in yesterday's Clarion-Ledger. Thought you would enjoy reading it.
Some folks like to refer to Starkville as Stark Vegas sometimes, and even though there is no strip, first-year Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury could certainly be called the gambler.
Stansbury didn't like the way the season was headed by late January, after a 3-5 Southeastern Conference start, and decided to roll the dice.
He sat down seniors Bart Hyche and Oral Roberts in favor of redshirt freshman Marckell Patterson and junior college transfer Joe Marshall, a sophomore.
Tang Hamilton moved from small forward to power forward, making room for Patterson. Marshall moved into Hyche's role at shooting guard. Todd Myles also returned a changed player for the better after a three-game suspension.
Stansbury's gamble paid off in wins, including seven of the last 12 games, as the Bulldogs finished 20-13 and on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
All in all, when you consider the early season tragedy he had to overcome with the passing of his mother, it was a successful rookie season for Stansbury. It was a good season for any coach.
In fact, it was the best debut in school history.
Nobody, State athletic director Larry Templeton included, expected the Bulldogs to contend for an NCAA Tournament bid.
If you don't think so, look at the early season schedule (thus the weak RPI that kept them out of the Big Dance).
But as much of a surprise as this season was, next year expectations will soar. With a recruiting class rated among the nation's top 15 on its way, fans will expect big things from a team that returns six of its top nine players.
It's going to be nearly impossible to replace all the things that Detrick White does for a team at the point. And a reliable post man like Tyrone Washington has to develop over time. Still, there are building blocks for a bright future.
Hamilton, Patterson and Myles should provide a talented nucleus. Robert Jackson had a standout freshman season and classmate Michael Gholar showed glimpses of the tremendous potential his coaches have raved about.
The recruiting class -- highlighted by McDonald's All-American Jonathan Bender, Jim Hill's Dandy Dozen Trey Sanders and Simmon's Lincoln Smith -- should add even more talent.
Bender, at 7 feet, and Smith, 6-10, should give the Bulldogs one of the taller teams in the league. Meanwhile, Sanders is versatile enough to understudy at the point or get minutes at shooting guard.
The wildcard will be the development of freshman Tyrus Boswell, who came in after the first semester of this season but never became a factor. If Boswell can become the physical presence in the paint, that would give the Bulldogs a number of options.
Quentin Smith, 1996 Clarion-Ledger high school player of the year, also has to fit into the mix.
There could be any number of different lineups that could play the up-tempo style Stansbury favors.
Every game the Bulldogs lost from January until the end of the season was lost because of muscle or a lack thereof.
With an added year of maturity, a few more hot meals and some weightroom work, too, the Bulldogs could change that next season. Stansbury proved that he could get the players to respond to challenges, though they did falter down the stretch at LSU and at Colorado State in the first round of the NIT.
Stansbury demands defense, rebounding and effort from his players. And when they covered those areas, they were as explosive as any team in the SEC.
Now the Bulldogs just have to become more consistent.
03/15/99 - Update on three juniors I suspect MSU will be recruiting next season: Darius Rice scored 24 points (four 3-pointers, 10-12 from the free-throw line) and pulled down 6 rebounds in leading Lanier HS over Provine HS in the 5A Championship game. His teammate James Thomas also looked good at the point, showing great floor leadership. Provine's outstanding forward, Justin Reed, also had a good game, scoring 16 points while hauling down 7 rebounds. The final score was 65-50.
All three of these players made the all-tournament team as did MSU signees Trey Sanders, Jonathan Bender and Lincoln Smith.
03/15/99 - Advertisement: Check out Colbert Auto World's website if you are looking for a new or used vehicle. Click here to go to their website.
03/14/99 - In their first ever NCAA Tournament, the Lady Bulldogs were defeated by North Carolina State 76 to 56.
It wasn't how any of us wanted it to end, but it was the start of something, potentially, great for our Lady Bulldogs. Appearing in the NCAA Tournament was a huge step for our program.
03/14/99 - Basketball Recruiting Rumors: The rumor is MSU has backed off Canton's Alonzo Lane. It has also been rumored Miss State is heavily recruiting guards now. Don't be surprised if MSU signs at least two guards (one combo and one point). I have also heard a rumor that MSU may be re-evaluating Gulf Coast CC center Raynell Brewer.
Two of Mississippi's top juniors, Lanier's Darius Rice and Provine's Justin Reed, have MSU very much in the picture. I have been told that Darius is an excellent student and that, with Ernie Watson now coaching at Provine, Reed will also do well academically. I have talked to quite a few Starkville HS basketball fans who said Coach Watson is an outstanding person, as well as coach, who places strong emphasis on academics.
Remember, these are rumors that I have heard from various sources.
03/14/99 - A player to watch is MSU signee Lincoln Smith's teammate Jasper Johnson, a 6-5 sophomore. Jasper scored 25 points in a 64-62 overtime loss to Raymond HS in the 3A Boys State Championship semifinals.
03/13/99 - Click here to read all the details about today's MSU Women's NCAA Tournament game.
03/12/99 - The top high school female basketball player in the state of Mississippi, LaToya Thomas of Greenville, has Mississippi State, Tennessee, Florida and Howard on her list of schools she will choose from, according to The Clarion-Ledger. She was The Clarion-Ledger player of the year and one of the USA Today Super 25 as well as a preseason Street and Smith's All-American this past year.
03/11/99 - Colorado State 69, MSU 56. Colorado State played great and deserved the win.
With all the young talent coming back and Coach Stansbury and his staff bringing in another great recruiting class, look for great things next season. Remember what our football team did this year after getting snubbed two years ago; they won the SEC West, played eventual National Champion Tennessee a great game in the SEC Championship Game and then played in a New Year's Day Bowl. With Coach Stansbury coaching our basketball team, there is no reason we can't do the basketball equivalent of this next season.
03/10/99 - MSU takes on Colorado State tonight in the 1st round of the NIT. Here are the NIT brackets. Good luck Bulldogs. Hope to see you at the Hump next Monday night.
03/09/99 - Don't be surprised if MSU hosts a second round game next Monday night if they defeat Colorado State. Although I am sure our team and fans would prefer to be in the NCAA, I see many positives in being in the NIT. State hosts at least one game if we win our first one, we have a big AND LOUD crowd, our young guys get more practice and tournament experience, our veterans go out with a bang, we continue to get media attention, and, who knows, maybe we wind up in New York City and play in Madison Square Garden, one of the most famous arenas in the world. What the heck, we may do so well we receive an invitation to next year's NIT Pre-Season Tournament, a very prestigious tournament.
03/09/99 - The rumor is MSU will not sign Alonzo Lane. The word is MSU is now after several guards. One guard I have heard MSU is heavily recruiting is Derrick Zimmerman from Monroe, La. Derrick, a smart player and a coach's son, is averaging in the 27 to 30 ppg range. However, it seems we have a lot of competition, including Alabama, LSU, Tulane, Rice and Purdue just to name a few. Don't be surprised if MSU also signs a top-notch juco point guard. Coach Stansbury, the best recruiter in the South, will get more than his fair share, again.
Just in case you have forgotten, here is MSU's top basketball accomplishments in the last five years:
BTW, don't forget Rick Stansbury won more games than any first-year coach in MSU basketball history. Usually they say a first-year coach wins with someone else's players. Can't say that about Coach Stansbury since he recruited all of these players. I suspect we will be looking at a lot of 20+ win seasons during the Stansbury era.
03/08/99 - Thanks to everyone in regard to the Arkansas / MSU football tapes. I found out MSU TV has tapes you can purchase.
03/08/99 - Our Lady Bulldogs, in their first ever NCAA tournament, will take on North Carolina State this week. Click here to go to the official NCAA Tournament site.
03/08/99 - MSU takes on Colorado State, March 10th, in the 1st round of the NIT. Here are the NIT brackets.
03/08/99 - Here is info I received from a national recruiting analyst.
"I saw Ontario Harper play at the National Prep School Invitational. Very impressive. If you were to want the perfect shooting guard build, it's Harper. He's a legit 6-5, 6-6. Can run and jump with anybody in the country. If he can add some consistency to his jump shot, he'll be a solid 15-20 point scorer by his junior year, and possibly his sophomore year. I loved Robert Jackson when I watched him at Milwaukee Washington and he was underrated coming out high school and Harper is the same way. If Bender is as good as so many people think he is, from an outsider, it looks like Miss. State is a point guard away from causing some serious damage in the future."
03/07/99 - MSU gave it their all against Arkansas but came up on the short end 84 to 79 in overtime. Check out what they are writing on the internet.
Congrats go out to former MSU basketball assistant coach Owen Miller who is in the NCAA Tournament with his Texas-San Antonio team.
03/06/99 - MSU defeats Tennessee 62 to 56 to move a huge step closer to a spot in March Madness. MSU tangles with Arkansas, a 75-74 winner over Florida, today at 2:15. Here are last night's game reports from various sources:
03/06/99 - Tyrone Washington has been listed as number 10 among the nation's power forwards expected to enter the NBA draft according to Chris Monter in the current edition of The Sporting News.
03/05/99 - MSU defeats Vanderbilt 76 to 58 to edge closer to an NCAA berth. MSU plays Tennessee at 2:15 today. Hopefully, one more victory, our 20th, puts us in the NCAA.
Even if we don't go to the NCAA Tournament, look how far Coach Stansbury has brought us in one year. We have gone from winning a combined 10 SEC games the past two seasons (10-22 SEC record) to winning at least 9 this season (9-8 SEC record). Overall, we won 15 games last season and have won a minimum of 19 this season. Considering Coach Stansbury is one of the top recruiters in the game, you really have to be excited about the possibilities for MSU's future.
03/05/99 - Look for most of the basketball players to go to summer school this summer. Also expect them to be in great physical shape next season. This is one of the reasons the Sanderson Recreational Center is such a great advantage for the MSU athletic programs. Not only can the athletes work out at the Shira Fieldhouse, but they can go over to the Sanderson Rec Center and continue their workouts.
03/04/99 - In the SEC Tournament today, MSU plays Vanderbilt at 2:30. Good luck Dogs!
03/02/99 - In his last two games, one against a good Oxford team with one of the better big men in the state in John Gunn, MSU signee Jonathan Bender has scored 56 points and blocked 17 shots. In fact in his last game, while being guarded by most of the Oxford team, Jonathan scored 25 points.
03/01/99 - I didn't notice this but someone brought it to my attention. There was a stretch in the game Saturday for about 8 minutes where we were playing 3 freshmen, Michael Gholar, Marckell Patterson and Robert Jackson, a sophomore, Tang Hamilton, and one senior, Detrick White, against the #2 team in the country and played them straight up man to man. In fact, we out scored them and out rebounded them during that stretch.