| 1996 | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Jan | Feb | Mar | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1998 | Jan |
02/27/98 - Here are a few comments made my several of the MSU basketball players at the Tip-Off Club post-game gathering after the final home game:
Overall, the players were very, very down and some even apologized to us for how badly they played Wednesday night.
02/27/98 - All of you know about Ashland's outstanding 6-6 forward Leon Crawford (excellent student, very interested in MSU) and NECC 2-Guard Tim Cole, but there is another player I know that MSU is looking at: Sergerio Gipson, a 6-2 2-Guard from Farmerville HS in Louisiana. He is rated the 118th best player in the country by Hoop Scoop and 138th by Recruiter's Handbook. I was told that he has been offered by Arkansas.
02/26/98 - In a very disappointing home final, Miss State lost to Alabama 85-70. Mary Ann and I attended the post-game Tip-Off Club gathering and got to talk and visit with some of the players. They ranged from very down to optimistic for the future. I truly wish each one of you could have been there. These guys have gone through one of the most frustrating seasons I have ever seen and some of them really showed it at the Tip-Off Club gathering. I will go more in-depth tomorrow.
02/25/98 - Tonight is senior night so make plans on being at the game. They deserve your support. Some of you may be a little down because this team has not played up to his capabilities, but we will be back. MSU continues to attract interest from the best players in the South and nation. I have no doubt whatsoever MSU will be back playing for the SEC Championship next year. Look for signees Robert Jackson and Tyrus Boswell to have a major impact on our team next year. Those 2 to 4 point losses will become 2 to 4 point wins next year with the help of these two major talents and more experienced Tang Hamilton, Detrick White and Oral Roberts. Guys, we just were not that far from being a very good team this year. BTW, show your appreciation to Head Coach Richard Williams for the tremendous success he has brought to the Miss State basketball program. Very few SEC schools can lay claim to two Sweet 16's and Final 4. Also show your appreciation to Associate Head Coach Rick Stansbury, the absolute best recruiter in the SEC and a man who will help lead MSU back to the promise land.
02/22/98 - Today, by defeating Miss State, Ole Miss proved to me that they are definitely a better team than Miss State this year. Not much better, but better. However, with that said, I am not pessimistic about the future of Miss State basketball. In fact, I am very optimistic. Why would I say that?
Look at the facts:
Obviously, Miss State was no where near the team we expected this year, but considering the above factors, the MSU basketball program is much better than what some would have you believe. Stay tune Bulldog fans, it will be better next year. Who knows, we have two regular games and then the SEC Tournament; maybe our luck will change this season.
02/22/98 - This info is found on the ESPN site. Commentary by Clark Francis of the Hoop Scoop:
"Rounding out our list of the top five juniors nationally is 6-10 Jonathan Bender from Picayune (H.S.) Miss., who is one of the most versatile big men we've seen in a long time. His mobility is one of his greatest strengths, allowing him to play on the low post, high post and along the perimeter. Although not physically strong, he is still a good rebounder and can block shots. Among the schools he mentioned last summer were UCLA, Mississippi and Jackson State, but when it is all said and done, we'd be shocked if he ends up anywhere other than Mississippi State."
To read the entire article click here. Like I said, MSU's basketball future looks very, very bright.
02/21/98 - MSU Associate Head Coach Rick Stansbury was recently seen at two Northeast MS CC games, watching NECC's Tim Cole I assume.
02/21/98 - Don't forget the Ole Miss/Miss State basketball game is at 2 p.m. today. Make plans on attending the game, then go to the La. Tech/Miss State baseball game immediately after the basketball game.
02/21/98 - Click here to read a very good article which has some very positive remarks about MSU signee Tyrus Boswell.
02/19/98 - As most of you have noticed, Oral Roberts continues to improve his offensive game each time he goes out on the court. Well, here is a behind the scenes story about his dunking ability; something we have not seen a lot of this year but, hopefully, will next year. Supposedly, Oral challenged Tang Hamilton to a dunking contest. When he jumped from the free throw line and dunked the ball, Tang realized he was not going to win that contest. Here's hoping we will see a lot of dunks from both of these guys next year. Wouldn't it be nice to see these two guys, along with signee Tyrus Boswell, in next year's lineup at the same time? Talking about jumping ability and dunking.
02/18/98 - Miss State lost to an outstanding Tennessee team 87-63 last night. There's not much I can say about the game except Tennessee played as well as I have ever seen a team play at the Hump. They shot the ball as well as any team possibly could.
Miss State's players will just have to forget about this game and come back Saturday and play as hard as they possibly can. They can't control some things that are going on, but things they can do is continue to play with effort and play to the best of their ability. We, as fans, can't ask for anything more.
All you Bulldog fans, this team needs your moral support and attendance more than any other team I can remember, so please, please be there Saturday.
02/17/98 - OK guys, I sure hope you are true fans and will be at the game tonight when the Bulldogs entertain Tennessee on ESPN beginning at 8:30 p.m. I realize it would be very easy for some of you to sit back on the couch and watch the game on television, but that wouldn't help our team, now would it?
BTW, I sure hope every one of you will be using your tickets to this Saturday's Ole Miss/Mississippi State game. It seems a few Rebel fans believe a lot of you will be no-shows and they will be able to buy tickets pretty easily when they get to State. Now, are we going to allow that to happen? Plus, it wouldn't surprise me if quite a few of the top basketball players (remember how great the junior class is supposed to be) from across Mississippi will be at the Hump, since almost all of the high school basketball division championship games will be played on Friday and they will probably have the day off. Wouldn't it be nice for them to see a packed house (Bulldogs Only) in the Hump Saturday. I mean don't you want them to see who (do I really have to say whom the who is?) still has the top basketball program in Mississippi?
02/16/98 - Here is what a Bulldog fan, who went to the South Carolina/Miss State basketball game, had to say about the game:
"My wife and I drove to Columbia Saturday night and watched the basketball game against South Carolina. I thought some of our guys played well, especially Tang Hamilton. He is going to be GREAT when it's all over! Horatio Webster looked awful. He was just missing wide open shots and had no game at all. I felt the referees were very unfair to MSU and gave South Carolina quite an advantage. They would have beaten us regardless, but I don't think the score was very evident of the talent difference between the two teams."
02/15/98 - Miss State, playing their worse game since the Arkansas game, lost by 11 to South Carolina yesterday. Miss State's next game is against Tennessee, Tuesday night on ESPN. Let's have a sellout Tuesday.
02/14/98 - I mentioned a kid (Leon Crawford) on my Mississippi HS Skuttle-Butt section yesterday and have just found out he attended the MSU/LSU game Wednesday night. I also found out that Ole Miss is also looking at him. Could this guy be the next Marckell Patterson, a player who had an outstanding year his senior season and received a lot of attention from schools nationwide? What makes Leon so appealing, you ask; what about a 6-6 player who is a 3.5 gpa student; makes 80% of his free throws, 56% of his 2-point shots and 38% of his 3-pointers. He scored 54 points against Pontotoc earlier this year and is averaging 27 ppg along with 6 rpg.
02/14/98 - If you can pick up Fox/Sports South, you will be able to watch the South Carolina/Miss State basketball game today at 5:00 p.m.
02/12/98 - Miss State, taking out all of the frustrations of the past 5 games, defeated LSU 85-48. Tang Hamilton was the star of the game, with 16 points (7 of 8 from the field), 12 rebounds (6 offensive), 1 steal and 1 block. Horatio Webster scored 19 pts to lead the Bulldogs. Whit Hughes continues to shoot the 3-point shot well, making two last night. All the players played hard last night. This was a game our players needed and deserved. They have continued to play hard even while continuing to lose heartbreaking games at home and on the road. They need and deserve your support, so please be in attendance at the next three home games. To all you students who chanted McKie, McKie, Mckie; great job. He is a great kid and deserved it. Now, do it for Ward next Tuesday.
02/12/98 - Here is the latest on former MSU basketball player Dontae' Jones (not sure of the source):
As the trade deadline approaches, Dee Brown is again going to pack an extra bag just in case. It has been this way for several years. We're told Atlanta would love him as a third guard, but the Hawks won't give up anyone the Celtics might want. One suggestion might be to swap Kenny Norman for Brown. Their salaries match for cap purposes. Norman has one fewer year on his contract. The Celtics could then keep Norman on the IL - where he has been all year - and activate either Dontae' Jones or Roy Rogers. Just a thought. The Celtics might wait, however, and see if they can actually get a body for Brown, if indeed they even are trying to move him ...
Speaking of Jones, how much good is it doing his career to stay on the injured list when he's clearly able to play? This is his second year and no one knows what he can do. ''It's a major concern,'' said Jones's agent, Tim Jumper. ''But it's up to Dontae. He missed his first year, and I think it's time he has to show somebody that he can play. I think there are people out there wondering what can he do. All I can say is he's not unhappy in Boston. The only unhappy part is that he's not playing.'' Jones has talked with Rick Pitino about his situation and, for now, is satisfied. ''I'm staying in shape and working hard in practice. I know I've got a lot to learn, and I've got to believe that my time is going to come. I told Rick I want to stay a Celtic, that I'm happy here. I'm a happy camper.''
02/10/98 - A very good friend of Tyrus Boswell's wants all of you to know that Tyrus is really looking forward to playing for the Bulldog next season. Tyrus told his friend he is improving every game.
02/10/98 - I found out yesterday that LaRico Duncan (Shelby College) is a swing player who can play the 2 or 3 position.
02/09/98 - The latest word, according to someone who recently talked to Tim Cole, is Tim would like to sign with Cincinnati. My source, who has seen Tim play several times this year, feels Tim is the best player, including NBA player Dontae' Jones, he has ever seen at NEMCC
02/09/98 - The Recruiter's Handbook scouts saw MSU forward signee Tyrus Boswell a month and a half ago and this is what they said about him: "We recently watched Boswell play and the range on his jumper is astonishing, he looked like a stud. Boswell could one day be pro material...."
02/08/98 - Miss State lost another very close game to Auburn, 68-66, in overtime. It truly amazes me how this team, even though they have lost so many heartbreaking games this year, have continued to hang in there and not let those close losses effect them. They continue to play as hard as they possibly can. I promise you, it is only a matter of time before good things start happening to this team: they put forth too much effort for it not to. Now, let's see if the Miss State fans put forth the same effort and make it to this week's home games. This team deserves our support. BTW, congrats go out to Whit Hughes for the best offensive game (16 points, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range) he has ever had at Miss State.
02/08/98 - The word is Miss State is in the hunt for NEMCC 2-guard deluxe Tim Cole. I hear Memphis is the leader, although I have also heard they have no scholarships available.
Another player Miss State may be recruiting is Shelby State basketball player LaRico Duncan. Sorry, I have absolutely no info on him. Does anyone know anything about him?
02/05/98 - Miss State lost another close one on the road, 82-78 in overtime, to Florida. Three Bulldogs were in double figures in points: Horatio Webster 28 pts, Detrick White 16 pts, Tyrone Washington 15 pts. Our Bulldogs are going through a very tough losing streak. It is very easy to get down on them right now due to the streak, but they haven't given up, so there isn't any reason for any of you to. All they need are a few lucky breaks because the talent is there.
02/04/98 - According to The Clarion-Ledger, Ontario Harper is averaging 18.1 points per game.
02/01/98 - Miss State (13-8) lost a close one, 76-73, to Arkansas yesterday. MSU played very hard but just couldn't make the clutch plays while Arkansas did.
Northeast Miss CC 2-Guard deluxe Tim Cole was at the game yesterday. I heard he has gotten interested in MSU. Not sure how serious and not sure how interested MSU is in him.