Mornin', y'all. Well State didn't fare as well as we'd hoped this weekend, but a Wednesday off followed by 3 home games promises to be a positive upturn for our forseeable futures as Bulldog fans. Additionally, National Signing Day NSD, aka OMGEEEEEE HE SIGNED WITH WEEEEE) is just a day away, and some of the late deciding recruits are adding their names to lists all across the country. here's some links on basketball, NSD and even some campus non-sports news! #HailState
- Late Surge Dooms Dogs in Road Loss | Brandon Marcello
"We helped it slip away," MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. "We had some turnovers there."
The Bulldogs committed 15 turnovers and couldn't force the Gators into mistakes. Florida turned the ball over only once in the second half (five times in the game) and connected on 11 of 24 3-pointers.
Florida's Bradley Beal and Erik Murphy were a combined 7-for-11 on 3-pointers. Beal led the Gators with 19 points and Murphy added 14 as four Gators scored in double figures.
State was within striking distance for most of the game. The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Gators 34-26 and attempted 14 free throws to the Gators' seven (their first made free throw came with 1:13 remaining).
- Florida runs past MSU | Matthew C. Stevens
MSU (17-5, 4-3) hasn't defeated a team ranked in The Associated Press Top 25. Its ranked losses have come to Baylor and to Florida. The Bulldogs are 5-4 against the top 100 teams in the latest Ratings Percentage Index.
MSU again battled depth issues. Point guard Dee Bost had defenders Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton, and Mike Rosario on him all afternoon, and by the middle of the second half Bost's 39 minutes was a factor in the Bulldogs' ability to score four baskets in final eight minutes.
"That was key in the game for me because Bost gets 16 (points) per game and the one thing that nobody talks about is his ability to find open guys and make the game easier for everybody else," Donovan said.
- Former Bulldog blogger Kyle Veazey to write book on 1963 Bulldog basketball team
In the era of Kentucky and Adolph Rupp's dominance, State won SEC titles in 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963. But because of Mississippi's "unwritten law" that prohibited competition against integrated teams, State turned down NCAA tournament bids. Well, until 1963, when a courageous university president sent them in spite of a court order demanding otherwise. The story builds to that moment, of course, but encompasses the whole era -- and the team's colorful coach, Babe McCarthy.
- QB Nick Schuessler commits to Mississippi State | Atlanta Journal Constitution
The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has been compared to former UGA QB David Greene by Grayson coach Mickey Conn, who was an assistant at South Gwinnett when Greene played there.
"It has been my dream to play in the SEC since I was little," Schuessler told the AJC. "God opened a door for me, so I am taking it and running with it. I'm just chasing a dream."
Schuessler visited Mississippi State this past weekend and spent a lot of time with offensive coordinator Les Koenning. Schuessler picked Mississippi State over Colorado State, and also had serious interest from Arkansas.
- Jeremy Liggins Committs to LSU Tigers over Ole Miss, Mississippi State | SBNation Recruiting
Liggins is thought to be an athlete by some because he is a rather huge quarterback prospect at 6'3" and 270 pounds. Some teams recruited Liggins to play defensive line or tight end. But he is insistent that he will play quarterback. He has excellent athleticism for a recruit of his size, regardless of position, and has a lot of options.
Liggins should be able to flourish in a spread system in which he can run and force smaller defenders to tackle him one-on-one. If he is going to play quarterback at LSU, the Tigers will need to spread things out a bit more.
- 2012 Football Look Ahead: Linebackers | Brad Locke
Overall grade: B. The linebackers made some big strides under new unit coach Geoff Collins, who has a history of making the whole greater than the sum of its parts. But MSU's got some pretty good parts coming back. Lawrence led the team in tackles last season (123), and Skinner has the makings of being an All-SEC player. Bohanna will likely step in at middle linebacker.
- Hurlers performing well for Bulldogs | Michael Wardlaw - SDN
Holder got Cohen's attention with pitches clocked at 91-93 miles per hour on the radar gun and his impressive breaking ball.
At the plate, redshirt freshman Wes Rea stood out with a pair of hits and two RBI. One of his hits was a one-hop ball off the right field fence and the other was a hard hit ball to left.
"Wes is swinging it well," said Cohen. "It is tough in these short inter-squads when you're only getting two ABs a day... it is hard to get a rhythm. We just want to give them a taste of live at bats, but it is hard to get things going when you see a different arm every time up. "
- Waide adding students attorney to MSU responsibilities | Msstate.edu
A University of Mississippi Law School graduate, Waide has taught law and government classes at MSU since 2006. He is a West Point native and Millsaps College alumnus.
"He will work eight hours a week in this role," said Bill Kibler, student affairs vice president.
There are two important limitations on Waide's new duties, Kibler added.
"The office cannot provide legal advice to a student who has a potential legal issue with MSU or with another student," he explained. "In those cases, Mr. Waide will refer the student to off-campus attorneys."