Bulldogs Hold First Media Session of 2018-19
October 03, 2018 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State men's basketball team played host to its first media session of the 2018-19 season as head coach Ben Howland along with Aric Holman and Quinndary Weatherspoon met with the media prior to Wednesday's practice.
The Bulldogs next media appearance is slated at SEC Basketball Tipoff '19 on Wednesday, Oct. 17 located at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama.
Mississippi State faces Austin Peay for its regular season opener on Friday, Nov. 9. The Bulldogs are slated to face eight non-conference opponents who made postseason play a season ago.
The Mississippi State Athletics Ticket Office is selling season tickets for as low as $199. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.HailState.com/Hoops, in person at the MSU Athletics Ticket Office located at the Bryan Athletic Building or via the phone at (662) 325-2600. Information on single-game tickets and mini plans will be announced at a later date by the ticket office.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Below is a transcript of Wednesday's media session.
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
October 3, 2018 – Mize Pavilion
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement
BH: We're just really excited to begin the season. Practices have gone well thus far. Today will be our fifth official practice of the 30 that we're allowed prior to our first game. The guys have been doing a good job. It's been good competition. They're all working real hard. You can see having guys back from last year's team – we have a lot of experience that returns which is obviously really important.
Q: What are your thoughts on s practice starting earlier and earlier each year?
BH: I like it because we get more rest. For example, we started last week. We went Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then, we had Monday off. We went Tuesday and Wednesday, and we have tomorrow off this week. We have more days in between [practices] to give them rest so they can recover. I think that's a smart thing, and you're not trying to jam quite as much into preparation for the season. It used to be it was always October 15 [the start of practice], but we didn't play [our first game] until the Friday after Thanksgiving. The season continue to creep up where it was starting earlier and earlier, but they never adjusted the practice start date.
Q: How have the newcomers meshed with the veteran players?
BH: Good, really well. I think, obviously, having them here in the summer really helps that. So, the eight weeks in the summer of conditioning, lifting, skill development, some five-on-five practice and obviously going to school taking some classes has helped everyone in terms of familiarizing them with each other. I think Reggie [Perry], Robert [Woodard] and D.J. [Stewart] along with Jet [Tshisumpa] and Andrew [Junkin] have all done a good job. We are excited about them.
Q: You talked about the culture last season and that building up in your program. Have you seen the results of that during the offseason?
BH: We really are, and what's great is the leadership coming from within our players. I almost catch Q [Quinndary Weatherspoon] coaching his teammates [saying] 'You should have taken that shot, shoot that shot.' It's kind of fun to see how guys are trying to help each other and coach each other doing the right things both on and off the floor. They are a very positive group. They compete out there between the lines, but outside [the lines] they support one other. It has really been good. We have very good leadership and a really good culture. Abdul [Ado] is a great leader, both by example and as well as being real positive with his teammates.
Q: What are your thoughts on the schedule both non-conference and conference?
BH: It's really a tough schedule for us and that was by design. We don't have any easy games per say. You look at our league schedule, and they really loaded us up. The two crossover games are Auburn and Kentucky, playing each twice was done because there's an expectation that we're going to be a good team by TV and by the conference. Our league is such a monster. It's incredible. You look at it, and you say 'Where is there a breather?' Every game is a hotly contest, really tough game every night in this league. That's what makes the league great. I think last year was a breakthrough year for the conference with eight teams being invited to the [NCAA] Tournament. Now, you have a lot of those teams return a lot. Tennessee returns everybody. Auburn [returns] a bulk of that and add a NBA player with their starting center and the forward that comes back. They're a monster. We always know Kentucky is what Kentucky is year-in and year-out, what [Coach] Calipari continues to do in terms of reloading. Our league top-to-bottom is incredible.
Q: During your career, you've coached teams that can score a lot and coached teams that can grind you to death on defense. Which do you see this year's team being?
BH: I hope we can do both. We have to be able – I think this is a team that is going to shoot the ball a lot better than we did last year. We spent a lot of time in the offseason really working on shooting. Our players spent a lot of time on their own, that's the best thing. These guys are gym rats. Thursday night, the night before we started our official practice last week, they were playing five-on-five in the gym until midnight. That's so gratifying as a coach to see how excited they are about the season. They put in an incredible amount of time on their own to improve their game and their shooting. I'm really pleased with that.
Q: Is it too early to talk to your team about goals and expectations? If you have, what are your team goals for this season?
BH: Our team, obviously, we want to do really well in the SEC. We're trying to win the SEC. That's the goal. It's going to be an incredible task for whoever comes out of this league. Right now, you look at the favorites. You have Kentucky, Tennessee and Auburn based on last year and what they have back. LSU is going to be incredibly tough. There are so many teams. I think Alabama and Florida are going to be really, really good, but that is our goal. If you come out and you finish in the top of this league, you're going to get a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Everybody is trying to get to the NCAA Tournament, that's a given.
Guard Quinndary Weatherspoon
Q: You've been here a while, what's different about this year's team makeup?
QW: Everybody has been working hard since the summer time. From my freshman year to now, I think this is the most competitive team we've had. People are in the gym every day, trying to get better on their own game. I think that will make the team better as well."
Q: What's the excitement level with the team going into this year after how you finished last year?
QW: Just knowing how far we made it, but we fell short last year. Just to know we made it that far in the NIT with everyone coming back. We know we should have a good run to make it to the NCAA Tournament this year."
Q: Coach mentioned you and your teammates being in the gym until midnight last night, is that a sign that you guys are changing the culture and coming together?
QW: I think so, it's us being together as a team. We do more team things now instead of everyone being separate. I think us just playing as a team and bringing everyone into the gym at one time is helping us a lot."
Forward Aric Holman
Q: A lot of newcomers in the front court, what have you done to mentor those guys to help them?
AH: I would say just keep building confidence in them. I just let them know that this is the same game you played in high school, and there's no difference. There are still five people on the court. Keeping it simple and sweet so that they can understand that this is the same game."
Q: The numbers you have down there, how much easier will the depth this year's team make it for you?
AH: It's going to be very helpful. Like you said, we're deep in every position. So, we have that mindset where it's the next man up. Some guys may not have a good night, but we can trust in each other that somebody is. With having a deep team like that, it's easy to sacrifice and rely on [your teammates]."
Q: Speaking of the front court, what are your thoughts on the new guys that have come in? Also, what have you seen from Abdul Ado this summer?
AH: I would say that, with the new guys, they love learning. They're quick learners. They're asking questions, and they want to get better every day. That's all you can ask for as a leader on this team and as a teammate of the new guys. With Abdul, he's the same guy. He's getting better every day. He's getting better at the leadership role. He's expanding his game, and he's doing everything that we're asking him to do."
– HailState.com –
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State men's basketball team played host to its first media session of the 2018-19 season as head coach Ben Howland along with Aric Holman and Quinndary Weatherspoon met with the media prior to Wednesday's practice.
The Bulldogs next media appearance is slated at SEC Basketball Tipoff '19 on Wednesday, Oct. 17 located at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama.
Mississippi State faces Austin Peay for its regular season opener on Friday, Nov. 9. The Bulldogs are slated to face eight non-conference opponents who made postseason play a season ago.
The Mississippi State Athletics Ticket Office is selling season tickets for as low as $199. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.HailState.com/Hoops, in person at the MSU Athletics Ticket Office located at the Bryan Athletic Building or via the phone at (662) 325-2600. Information on single-game tickets and mini plans will be announced at a later date by the ticket office.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Below is a transcript of Wednesday's media session.
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
October 3, 2018 – Mize Pavilion
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement
BH: We're just really excited to begin the season. Practices have gone well thus far. Today will be our fifth official practice of the 30 that we're allowed prior to our first game. The guys have been doing a good job. It's been good competition. They're all working real hard. You can see having guys back from last year's team – we have a lot of experience that returns which is obviously really important.
Q: What are your thoughts on s practice starting earlier and earlier each year?
BH: I like it because we get more rest. For example, we started last week. We went Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then, we had Monday off. We went Tuesday and Wednesday, and we have tomorrow off this week. We have more days in between [practices] to give them rest so they can recover. I think that's a smart thing, and you're not trying to jam quite as much into preparation for the season. It used to be it was always October 15 [the start of practice], but we didn't play [our first game] until the Friday after Thanksgiving. The season continue to creep up where it was starting earlier and earlier, but they never adjusted the practice start date.
Q: How have the newcomers meshed with the veteran players?
BH: Good, really well. I think, obviously, having them here in the summer really helps that. So, the eight weeks in the summer of conditioning, lifting, skill development, some five-on-five practice and obviously going to school taking some classes has helped everyone in terms of familiarizing them with each other. I think Reggie [Perry], Robert [Woodard] and D.J. [Stewart] along with Jet [Tshisumpa] and Andrew [Junkin] have all done a good job. We are excited about them.
Q: You talked about the culture last season and that building up in your program. Have you seen the results of that during the offseason?
BH: We really are, and what's great is the leadership coming from within our players. I almost catch Q [Quinndary Weatherspoon] coaching his teammates [saying] 'You should have taken that shot, shoot that shot.' It's kind of fun to see how guys are trying to help each other and coach each other doing the right things both on and off the floor. They are a very positive group. They compete out there between the lines, but outside [the lines] they support one other. It has really been good. We have very good leadership and a really good culture. Abdul [Ado] is a great leader, both by example and as well as being real positive with his teammates.
Q: What are your thoughts on the schedule both non-conference and conference?
BH: It's really a tough schedule for us and that was by design. We don't have any easy games per say. You look at our league schedule, and they really loaded us up. The two crossover games are Auburn and Kentucky, playing each twice was done because there's an expectation that we're going to be a good team by TV and by the conference. Our league is such a monster. It's incredible. You look at it, and you say 'Where is there a breather?' Every game is a hotly contest, really tough game every night in this league. That's what makes the league great. I think last year was a breakthrough year for the conference with eight teams being invited to the [NCAA] Tournament. Now, you have a lot of those teams return a lot. Tennessee returns everybody. Auburn [returns] a bulk of that and add a NBA player with their starting center and the forward that comes back. They're a monster. We always know Kentucky is what Kentucky is year-in and year-out, what [Coach] Calipari continues to do in terms of reloading. Our league top-to-bottom is incredible.
Q: During your career, you've coached teams that can score a lot and coached teams that can grind you to death on defense. Which do you see this year's team being?
BH: I hope we can do both. We have to be able – I think this is a team that is going to shoot the ball a lot better than we did last year. We spent a lot of time in the offseason really working on shooting. Our players spent a lot of time on their own, that's the best thing. These guys are gym rats. Thursday night, the night before we started our official practice last week, they were playing five-on-five in the gym until midnight. That's so gratifying as a coach to see how excited they are about the season. They put in an incredible amount of time on their own to improve their game and their shooting. I'm really pleased with that.
Q: Is it too early to talk to your team about goals and expectations? If you have, what are your team goals for this season?
BH: Our team, obviously, we want to do really well in the SEC. We're trying to win the SEC. That's the goal. It's going to be an incredible task for whoever comes out of this league. Right now, you look at the favorites. You have Kentucky, Tennessee and Auburn based on last year and what they have back. LSU is going to be incredibly tough. There are so many teams. I think Alabama and Florida are going to be really, really good, but that is our goal. If you come out and you finish in the top of this league, you're going to get a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Everybody is trying to get to the NCAA Tournament, that's a given.
Guard Quinndary Weatherspoon
Q: You've been here a while, what's different about this year's team makeup?
QW: Everybody has been working hard since the summer time. From my freshman year to now, I think this is the most competitive team we've had. People are in the gym every day, trying to get better on their own game. I think that will make the team better as well."
Q: What's the excitement level with the team going into this year after how you finished last year?
QW: Just knowing how far we made it, but we fell short last year. Just to know we made it that far in the NIT with everyone coming back. We know we should have a good run to make it to the NCAA Tournament this year."
Q: Coach mentioned you and your teammates being in the gym until midnight last night, is that a sign that you guys are changing the culture and coming together?
QW: I think so, it's us being together as a team. We do more team things now instead of everyone being separate. I think us just playing as a team and bringing everyone into the gym at one time is helping us a lot."
Forward Aric Holman
Q: A lot of newcomers in the front court, what have you done to mentor those guys to help them?
AH: I would say just keep building confidence in them. I just let them know that this is the same game you played in high school, and there's no difference. There are still five people on the court. Keeping it simple and sweet so that they can understand that this is the same game."
Q: The numbers you have down there, how much easier will the depth this year's team make it for you?
AH: It's going to be very helpful. Like you said, we're deep in every position. So, we have that mindset where it's the next man up. Some guys may not have a good night, but we can trust in each other that somebody is. With having a deep team like that, it's easy to sacrifice and rely on [your teammates]."
Q: Speaking of the front court, what are your thoughts on the new guys that have come in? Also, what have you seen from Abdul Ado this summer?
AH: I would say that, with the new guys, they love learning. They're quick learners. They're asking questions, and they want to get better every day. That's all you can ask for as a leader on this team and as a teammate of the new guys. With Abdul, he's the same guy. He's getting better every day. He's getting better at the leadership role. He's expanding his game, and he's doing everything that we're asking him to do."
– HailState.com –
Players Mentioned
Josh Hubbard - "I'm Back"
Friday, April 17
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans & Players SEC Tournament Postgame vs. Auburn - 3/11/26
Thursday, March 12
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Media Session - 3/9/26
Monday, March 09
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Josh Hubbard & Ja'Borri McGhee Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Sunday, March 08