Today's opponent is Mississippi State. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Bulldogs, here's what you need to know.
This was a preseason top 35 team in both of the national polls. An 84-82 loss to Clemson (#22) is the only blemish on their record. The Bulldogs return their leading scorers and rebounders from a team that finished 2006-07, just 3 points away from the NIT finals. During that post-season run, Mississippi State thumped Bradley 101-72.
Jamont Gordon and Charles Rhodes form the SEC's most productive inside-outside combination. Gordon averaged 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game last season, all while running the point. Charles Rhodes tested the waters after last season, but decided not to formally declare for the NBA. He's physical, quick, and capable of putting up a double-double on any given night.
The supporting cast is led by Ben Hansbrough. He looks just like his big brother, but a couple of inches shorter. He's got good touch on the ball and can hit from outside or clean the boards for points down low. Also, Jarvis Varnado is a defensive specialist that had 67 blocks as freshman last season and Barry Stewart averaged just under 10 ppg in his first year of college ball.
Both the Salukis and the Bulldogs won ugly yesterday, but on the other side of the coin, both squads were able to elevate their game when faced with lesser competition. Gametime is 2:00 PM on ESPN 2.
