All-SEC guard Quinndary Weatherspoon gets the dunk at the Bulldogs' first practice on Friday.
Howland Liked What He Saw On Day 1
September 29, 2017 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. — A high tempo, energetic practice was the theme on Friday when Mississippi State opened its 2017-18 campaign with its first official practice.
Sixteen players, including five walk-ons, were on the floor of the Mize practice facility when the first whistle blew at 2:45 p.m. to signal the start of workouts.
"I was really excited about the first day of practice," third-year MSU coach Ben Howland said. "Having numbers return from last year for the first time is something new. My first year we had two guys who returned, Aric (Holman) who played less than 200 minutes and Q (Quinndary Weatherspoon). Xae (Xavian Stapleton) was hurt. This year we have nine guys who were here at practice every day, in addition to spending the spring and fall with us. We are further ahead in our understanding. They are stronger. They are faster. They have a better feel."
MSU returns 10 lettermen, including All-SEC standout and leading scorer Quinndary Weatherspoon and Lamar Peters, who was tabbed to the SEC All-Freshmen team. There are also three new scholarship players in Nick Weatherspoon, KeyShawn Feazell and Abdul Ado, who redshirted last year.
"I feel really good about the team," sophomore guard Tyson Carter said. "I feel like we're going to have a better season this year. We have more weapons on offense so we will be able to score, and I think we are going to be a better defensive team."
The Bulldogs opened practice working on positional drill before transitioning to defensive sessions. Following walk-through instructional-like segments, MSU then turned its attention to half-court offensive sets and a full scrimmage
I thought we had good competition," Howland said. "The guys played extremely hard. We are still starting at the basics in terms of taking our time teaching and reviewing our principals on both ends of the floor."
MSU, coming off a 16-16 campaign, will practice twice on Saturday and again on Sunday before taking Monday off.
The season opener is set for Nov. 10 at home against Alabama State at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateMBK." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Below are quotes from Howland, Tyscon Carter and Abdul Ado:
Ben Howland
Opening Statement
"I was really excited about the first day of practice. Having numbers return from last year for the first time is something new. My first year we had two guys who returned, Aric (Holman) who played less than 200 minutes and Q (Quinndary Weatherspoon). Xae (Xavian Stapleton) was hurt. This year we have nine guys who were here at practice every day, in addition to spending the spring and fall with us. We are further ahead in our understanding. They are stronger. They are faster. They have a better feel. All those freshman last year are now sophomores. The three sophomores are now juniors. I was excited. I thought we had good competition. The guys played extremely hard. We are still starting at the basics in terms of taking our time teaching and reviewing our principals on both ends of the floor."
On Tyson Carter and the team confidence level…
"He has played very well in out fall stuff. We had a practice a week ago Thursday where he couldn't miss. He shot 90% with defense for a 40-minute practice. He was phenomenal. He has improved. He is stronger. We just did our body fat. Even though he is just a few pounds heavier his body fat is much lower. He is more "pure muscle" than he has ever been. He is stronger defensively. That year of experience is huge. Your biggest year of growth is your freshman to sophomore year. You come in not knowing what it is really about, you go through a year and now you know what you have to do."
On the last time he had such diversity and versatility in the lineup's …
"The last time was probably my last year at UCLA. We played Kyle Anderson at the back-up point and started him at power forward."
On the 5 man…
"Lots of added improvement with the addition of Abdul (Ado). With him and Schnider we have a very good tag team. There is no rest for the weary if you're playing against us. We have a great pair that will continue to come in fresh and pound on you. I am very confident in that spot. Especially when one is a freshman and one is sophomore."
Tyson Carter, So., Guard
How do you feel first day back …
"I feel really good about the team. I feel like we're going to have a better season this year. We have more weapons on offense so we will be able to score, and I think we are going to be a better defensive team."
Is there a different attitude …
"Yes, definitely. Last year was a lot of pressure, and we really didn't know what to expect. This year we've already been through a season, and everyone is competing for a spot."
As many as 4 guards on the floor at one time …
"I think we're going to have an advantage on offense especially. We've got four guards and [Xavian] Stapleton at the four, and that's going to be a massive problem for a lot of fours."
Where have you made some gains this year over last …
"With experience it means a lot. Everything with my game I feel like I've improved more. For freshmen, I know confidence is an issue, but I feel like I have a lot more confidence this year, and also in the weight room."
Being a true freshman last year, advice for …
"Go as hard as you can. Don't take any games lightly, especially non-conference games, and have a lot of confidence. Don't let it drop throughout the course of the year."
Were you intimidated last year…
"It can be intimidating, but there are a lot of different factors that go into it."
Different attitude, surprises…
"Yes, these freshmen are going to be really good. That is another reason we are going to be really good because of what the freshman bring. Nick [Weatherspoon] brings a lot of defensive intensity and a lot of athleticism. KeyShawn (Feazell) brings a lot of athleticism and intensity on rebounds and defense."
What is it like with Nick and Q together…
"They make each other better. They don't argue much, but they do compete against each other and make each other better."
Abdul Ado, Fr., Forward
On being back and knowing he will play this year…
"It's very exciting. Today in class I was kind of overwhelmed with my first time practicing after sitting out last year. It was pretty tough, but my teammates got me through it. I was just thankful to be on the floor today to practice with the whole team. That was really great."
On taking pride in pushing teammates from the bench last season…
"That's the fun part of it. You come in, you try to get everybody better and at the same time, you're also learning. I took it personally to come every day and give it my all and do whatever I can to help the team, be it rebounding, blocking shots, running the floor or setting picks. I just try to push everybody on the whole floor to go hard."
On his biggest lesson learned from sitting out last season…
Being patient was the biggest thing I learned, also practicing and playing hard every day. I came in one day and had a bad practice then coach took me out. That's when I figured out 'Hey, you have to go hard every day.'"
Sixteen players, including five walk-ons, were on the floor of the Mize practice facility when the first whistle blew at 2:45 p.m. to signal the start of workouts.
"I was really excited about the first day of practice," third-year MSU coach Ben Howland said. "Having numbers return from last year for the first time is something new. My first year we had two guys who returned, Aric (Holman) who played less than 200 minutes and Q (Quinndary Weatherspoon). Xae (Xavian Stapleton) was hurt. This year we have nine guys who were here at practice every day, in addition to spending the spring and fall with us. We are further ahead in our understanding. They are stronger. They are faster. They have a better feel."
MSU returns 10 lettermen, including All-SEC standout and leading scorer Quinndary Weatherspoon and Lamar Peters, who was tabbed to the SEC All-Freshmen team. There are also three new scholarship players in Nick Weatherspoon, KeyShawn Feazell and Abdul Ado, who redshirted last year.
"I feel really good about the team," sophomore guard Tyson Carter said. "I feel like we're going to have a better season this year. We have more weapons on offense so we will be able to score, and I think we are going to be a better defensive team."
The Bulldogs opened practice working on positional drill before transitioning to defensive sessions. Following walk-through instructional-like segments, MSU then turned its attention to half-court offensive sets and a full scrimmage
I thought we had good competition," Howland said. "The guys played extremely hard. We are still starting at the basics in terms of taking our time teaching and reviewing our principals on both ends of the floor."
MSU, coming off a 16-16 campaign, will practice twice on Saturday and again on Sunday before taking Monday off.
The season opener is set for Nov. 10 at home against Alabama State at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateMBK." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Below are quotes from Howland, Tyscon Carter and Abdul Ado:
Ben Howland
Opening Statement
"I was really excited about the first day of practice. Having numbers return from last year for the first time is something new. My first year we had two guys who returned, Aric (Holman) who played less than 200 minutes and Q (Quinndary Weatherspoon). Xae (Xavian Stapleton) was hurt. This year we have nine guys who were here at practice every day, in addition to spending the spring and fall with us. We are further ahead in our understanding. They are stronger. They are faster. They have a better feel. All those freshman last year are now sophomores. The three sophomores are now juniors. I was excited. I thought we had good competition. The guys played extremely hard. We are still starting at the basics in terms of taking our time teaching and reviewing our principals on both ends of the floor."
On Tyson Carter and the team confidence level…
"He has played very well in out fall stuff. We had a practice a week ago Thursday where he couldn't miss. He shot 90% with defense for a 40-minute practice. He was phenomenal. He has improved. He is stronger. We just did our body fat. Even though he is just a few pounds heavier his body fat is much lower. He is more "pure muscle" than he has ever been. He is stronger defensively. That year of experience is huge. Your biggest year of growth is your freshman to sophomore year. You come in not knowing what it is really about, you go through a year and now you know what you have to do."
On the last time he had such diversity and versatility in the lineup's …
"The last time was probably my last year at UCLA. We played Kyle Anderson at the back-up point and started him at power forward."
On the 5 man…
"Lots of added improvement with the addition of Abdul (Ado). With him and Schnider we have a very good tag team. There is no rest for the weary if you're playing against us. We have a great pair that will continue to come in fresh and pound on you. I am very confident in that spot. Especially when one is a freshman and one is sophomore."
Tyson Carter, So., Guard
How do you feel first day back …
"I feel really good about the team. I feel like we're going to have a better season this year. We have more weapons on offense so we will be able to score, and I think we are going to be a better defensive team."
Is there a different attitude …
"Yes, definitely. Last year was a lot of pressure, and we really didn't know what to expect. This year we've already been through a season, and everyone is competing for a spot."
As many as 4 guards on the floor at one time …
"I think we're going to have an advantage on offense especially. We've got four guards and [Xavian] Stapleton at the four, and that's going to be a massive problem for a lot of fours."
Where have you made some gains this year over last …
"With experience it means a lot. Everything with my game I feel like I've improved more. For freshmen, I know confidence is an issue, but I feel like I have a lot more confidence this year, and also in the weight room."
Being a true freshman last year, advice for …
"Go as hard as you can. Don't take any games lightly, especially non-conference games, and have a lot of confidence. Don't let it drop throughout the course of the year."
Were you intimidated last year…
"It can be intimidating, but there are a lot of different factors that go into it."
Different attitude, surprises…
"Yes, these freshmen are going to be really good. That is another reason we are going to be really good because of what the freshman bring. Nick [Weatherspoon] brings a lot of defensive intensity and a lot of athleticism. KeyShawn (Feazell) brings a lot of athleticism and intensity on rebounds and defense."
What is it like with Nick and Q together…
"They make each other better. They don't argue much, but they do compete against each other and make each other better."
Abdul Ado, Fr., Forward
On being back and knowing he will play this year…
"It's very exciting. Today in class I was kind of overwhelmed with my first time practicing after sitting out last year. It was pretty tough, but my teammates got me through it. I was just thankful to be on the floor today to practice with the whole team. That was really great."
On taking pride in pushing teammates from the bench last season…
"That's the fun part of it. You come in, you try to get everybody better and at the same time, you're also learning. I took it personally to come every day and give it my all and do whatever I can to help the team, be it rebounding, blocking shots, running the floor or setting picks. I just try to push everybody on the whole floor to go hard."
On his biggest lesson learned from sitting out last season…
Being patient was the biggest thing I learned, also practicing and playing hard every day. I came in one day and had a bad practice then coach took me out. That's when I figured out 'Hey, you have to go hard every day.'"
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