Men’s Hoops Rankings, What Was Said at Monday’s Media Session
January 28, 2019 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – On the strength of its first win during a ranked versus ranked matchup since 2003-04, Mississippi State remained inside the top 25 rankings for a 13th straight poll released Monday.
The Bulldogs are No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25 and hold the No. 21 position in this week's USA Today/Coaches Top 25. Mississippi State has been ranked for 13 consecutive polls which is the third longest streak to begin a season in program history. This year's team is behind the 2002-03 and 1958-59 squads who were ranked for 17 and 14 straight polls, respectively.
Mississippi State is one of four SEC teams ranked in this week's polls which include Tennessee (1 AP, 1 USA Today), Kentucky (7 AP, 6 USA Today) and LSU (19 AP, 19 USA Today). Auburn and Ole Miss represent the SEC in the receiving votes category of both polls.
The Bulldogs and Wildcats are two of 10 teams to be ranked inside the AP's Top 25 on both the men's and the women's side. They are joined by Florida State, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Louisville, Marquette, Maryland, Michigan State and North Carolina State.
Below is a transcript of Coach Howland's media session prior to Monday's practice.
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
January 28, 2019 – Humphrey Coliseum
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement
BH: "Obviously, tough game tomorrow [against a] very, very good [Alabama] team. Watching Alabama play, they have incredible length and size at every position. Really, really good guard play. [Kira] Lewis, [Jr.] has had a spectacular year for a freshman. [Dazon] Ingram is so tough and physical. I really like him. They really start long and big with [Herbert] Jones as a three. So, you have a 6-9 three man who's an excellent passer. He pushes the ball in transition, so he plays point in a lot of their sets, and so does Ingram."
"They basically have three points … Then, they space the four well. The four man either [Tevin] Mack, [Riley] Norris or [Alex] Reese – They come in, and they all stretch the floor, which opens up drives for those guards. They get to use their size against small people. [Donta] Hall is having a great senior year. He's really, really a good senior player – a shot blocker and a finisher. He's a really good player."
Q: Last week, you mentioned an emphasis on getting to the free throw line. Are you looking at specific players to get to the line?
BH: "I think Aric Holman and Abdul [Ado] [get to the free throw line for us]. Abdul had 10 attempts in the last game. That was very good. We have got to get Aric there more and Reggie [Perry] there more. We've got to get our bigs the ball more and give them a chance to score around the goal and get fouled. In terms of perimeter players, Nick [Weatherspoon] and Lamar [Peters] are both capable of getting in there and getting fouled a little more."
Q: When looking at Alabama, what kind of style do you see from Avery Johnson as their head coach?
BH: "I think there's a big NBA influence in their style in that they really try to get matchups and go where they feel they have the advantage because of the size or the ability of the matchup with one player onto another."
"I think they're playing really well. They lost a tough game at Baylor. Baylor played great. I was watching that game this morning at 1 a.m. on film. I was impressed with how well they move the ball and how well they share the ball. They had a great chance to win that game and had it tied with six or seven minutes remaining in the game at Baylor. Baylor is really hot right now. They have had really good league wins recently including one over Iowa State."
"They're good, and they pound the glass. What they've really done more so this year than in the previous few years is that they are really pushing the ball hard on made and missed shots. They're trying to get more offense out of the transition game. They're letting whoever rebounds it that is a perimeter. It could be [Herbert] Jones, it could be [Dazon] Ingram, [John] Petty and [Kira] Lewis [Jr.]. Whoever gets the rebound is really pushing it. They really run the floor, line up for the three and attack. They played really good transition offense against Kentucky, and that was really a big part of their win."
Q: How do you balance getting Aric Holman enough touches so that his role is as good as it can be?
BH: "Part of it is just our team showing patience like we did the other night and getting him more touches. I thought we did that especially in the second half. He made some big plays. The one play where he got it face up and drove it right down the middle of the floor for a dunk. That was a really patient play."
"For me, I'm not worried about Aric's offense. It's his defense, that's the key for him. When we are switching things and he's matched up on guys that are stretching him out on [the perimeter], he's got to be able to get out on them and run them off the three-point line. He did a great job of that against Auburn. That's the consistency I'm looking for. We're talking about offense, offense, but it's his defense."
"He had four blocks in the game against Auburn. We were up 15, and they cut it down to 8 with a chance to score a layup in the last minute of the game or so. He ran down their guard and blocked it. I think it was [Jared] Harper. It was a big-time block and really important. He had a number of blocks where we ran them off the three-point line, and he blocked the shot. When I talk about Aric right now, that's what I'm most concerned with … We need him to block shots, be in a stance and really play defense with a great sense of urgency."
Q: After Ole Miss's performance against Alabama, what does your team need to work on to avoid a similar outcome?
BH: "I thought that Alabama played great in that game. They're going to be hyped for us. It's a huge game for both teams, but we're a ranked team. So, the NET Rankings and all of that stuff really helps you. Ole Miss came in there as a ranked opponent with a high NET Rankings, and you're going to get the other team's best shot [at you], especially when you're on their home floor. I thought they played incredibly hard and were really good defensively because of their length … They're blocking shots and forcing turnovers. They're a very long and athletic team."
Q: How has Reggie Perry developed over the past few games, what do you feel his ceiling is?
BH: "I think he's a double-double guy. He had a double-double in the last game, and I think that he can consistently be a guy who can get a double-double night in and night out. That's my expectation for him moving forward."
Forward Aric Holman
Q: Coach mentioned he wanted to see more of your back to the basket in the offense with more opportunities to pass out of the post. Where does that fit within the offensive scheme alongside the pick-and-roll you are involved in?
AH: "It gives the team and me another way of scoring and starting the offense. By me being more aggressive on the lower block, it gives us another chance to get some movement off the ball and to set up in a different way."
Q: How much are you working on your defense and blocking shots?
AH: "Coach [Howland] told me to take more pride in it [defense and blocking shots]. That's what's going to start my offense. I feel like I depend on my offense to get me going all the time but getting those stops and blocking shots are what get you going on the offensive end."
Q: You've had a lot of battles with Alabama. Do you guys put more emphasis on this game like you do with Ole Miss?
AH: "No, we take every game with the same preparation. This is another game along our journey. It's the one we have to focus on right now and stay focused on."
Guard Nick Weatherspoon
Q: Last week, you didn't shoot the three-ball very well as a team at Kentucky but turned around and shot well against Auburn. Does the team still confident and was the Kentucky game an anomaly?
NW: "We still feel the same. We just have to get used to the Nike balls because they're slippery, and it makes a big difference. We're not going to use that as an excuse … We just have to get used to them and shoot the three-ball better on the road."
Q: Coach mentioned wanting everyone to get to the free throw line more. With you shooting 11 out of 14 from the line in conference play, what can you personally do to get to the line more?
NW: "By attacking more. I've been trying to work on my jumper so much that sometimes I forget how athletic I am and that I can finish over guys. I feel like I need to start getting to the rim a lot more than I am now."
Q: Are you comfortable getting to the rim even with your mid-range game has excelled the most this season?
NW: "Most definitely. I was more of a driver before I got here, but I knew I had to work on my jumper so now I have to start getting back to the rim."
AP Top 25 Poll – Week 13 – January 28, 2019
Ranking, Team (First Place Votes), Record, Points
1, Tennessee (48), 18-1, 1,575
2, Duke (12), 17-2, 1,527
3, Virginia (4), 18-1, 1,473
4, Gonzaga, 19-2, 1,382
5, Michigan, 19-1, 1,381
6, Michigan State, 18-3, 1,235
7, Kentucky, 16-3, 1,226
8, Nevada, 19-1, 1,158
9, North Carolina, 15-4, 1,065
10, Marquette, 18-3, 973
11, Kansas, 16-4, 972
12, Virginia Tech, 16-3, 858
13, Houston, 20-1, 795
14, Villanova, 16-4, 734
15, Louisville, 15-5, 658
16, Texas Tech, 16-4, 561
17, Purdue, 14-6, 532
18, Buffalo, 18-2, 468
19, LSU, 16-3, 435
20, Iowa State, 15-5, 327
21, Maryland, 16-5, 280
22, Mississippi State, 15-4, 236
23, North Carolina State, 16-4, 203
24, Wisconsin, 14-6, 179
25, Florida State, 15-5, 141
Others receiving votes: Auburn 85, Cincinnati 76, Washington 75, Kansas State 73, Oklahoma 41, Iowa 28, Wofford 10, Hofstra 9, Ole Miss 7, TCU 7, Nebraska 6, Davidson 5, Syracuse 3, Minnesota 1.
Dropped from rankings: No. 16 Auburn, No. 19 Iowa, No. 20 Ole Miss
USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll – Week 13 – January 28, 2019
Ranking, Team (First Place Votes), Record, Points
1, Tennessee (31), 18-1, 799
2, Duke (1), 17-2, 755
3, Virginia, 18-1, 733
4, Gonzaga, 19-2, 701
5, Michigan, 19-1, 679
6, Kentucky, 16-3, 599
7, Nevada, 19-1, 589
8, Michigan State, 18-3, 573
9, Marquette, 18-3, 503
10, North Carolina, 15-4, 498
11, Virginia Tech, 16-3, 462
12, Kansas, 16-4, 455
13, Houston, 20-1, 424
14, Villanova, 16-4, 385
15, Texas Tech, 16-4, 280
16, Louisville, 15-5, 255
17, Buffalo, 18-2, 241
18, Purdue, 14-6, 203
19, LSU, 16-3, 175
20, Iowa State, 15-5, 174
21, Mississippi State, 15-4, 158
22, North Carolina State, 16-4, 152
23, Wisconsin, 14-6, 96
24, Maryland, 16-5, 94
25, Iowa, 16-5, 64
Others receiving votes: Auburn 58, Florida State 57, Ole Miss 51, Cincinnati 44, Oklahoma 38, Kansas State 35, Washington 29, Furman 10, North Texas 10, Arizona State 6, Baylor 4, TCU 4, Wofford 4, Hofstra 2, Texas State 1.
Dropped from rankings: No. 15 Auburn, No. 20 Ole Miss, No. 23 Florida State
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs wrap the January portion of their schedule with the first of its two matchups against Alabama over a two-week span on Tuesday. Tip time is on-tap for 7:30 p.m. CT from Coleman Coliseum. The game will be televised by SEC Network and available online through the WatchESPN platform.
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.
STARKVILLE – On the strength of its first win during a ranked versus ranked matchup since 2003-04, Mississippi State remained inside the top 25 rankings for a 13th straight poll released Monday.
The Bulldogs are No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25 and hold the No. 21 position in this week's USA Today/Coaches Top 25. Mississippi State has been ranked for 13 consecutive polls which is the third longest streak to begin a season in program history. This year's team is behind the 2002-03 and 1958-59 squads who were ranked for 17 and 14 straight polls, respectively.
Mississippi State is one of four SEC teams ranked in this week's polls which include Tennessee (1 AP, 1 USA Today), Kentucky (7 AP, 6 USA Today) and LSU (19 AP, 19 USA Today). Auburn and Ole Miss represent the SEC in the receiving votes category of both polls.
The Bulldogs and Wildcats are two of 10 teams to be ranked inside the AP's Top 25 on both the men's and the women's side. They are joined by Florida State, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Louisville, Marquette, Maryland, Michigan State and North Carolina State.
Below is a transcript of Coach Howland's media session prior to Monday's practice.
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
January 28, 2019 – Humphrey Coliseum
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement
BH: "Obviously, tough game tomorrow [against a] very, very good [Alabama] team. Watching Alabama play, they have incredible length and size at every position. Really, really good guard play. [Kira] Lewis, [Jr.] has had a spectacular year for a freshman. [Dazon] Ingram is so tough and physical. I really like him. They really start long and big with [Herbert] Jones as a three. So, you have a 6-9 three man who's an excellent passer. He pushes the ball in transition, so he plays point in a lot of their sets, and so does Ingram."
"They basically have three points … Then, they space the four well. The four man either [Tevin] Mack, [Riley] Norris or [Alex] Reese – They come in, and they all stretch the floor, which opens up drives for those guards. They get to use their size against small people. [Donta] Hall is having a great senior year. He's really, really a good senior player – a shot blocker and a finisher. He's a really good player."
Q: Last week, you mentioned an emphasis on getting to the free throw line. Are you looking at specific players to get to the line?
BH: "I think Aric Holman and Abdul [Ado] [get to the free throw line for us]. Abdul had 10 attempts in the last game. That was very good. We have got to get Aric there more and Reggie [Perry] there more. We've got to get our bigs the ball more and give them a chance to score around the goal and get fouled. In terms of perimeter players, Nick [Weatherspoon] and Lamar [Peters] are both capable of getting in there and getting fouled a little more."
Q: When looking at Alabama, what kind of style do you see from Avery Johnson as their head coach?
BH: "I think there's a big NBA influence in their style in that they really try to get matchups and go where they feel they have the advantage because of the size or the ability of the matchup with one player onto another."
"I think they're playing really well. They lost a tough game at Baylor. Baylor played great. I was watching that game this morning at 1 a.m. on film. I was impressed with how well they move the ball and how well they share the ball. They had a great chance to win that game and had it tied with six or seven minutes remaining in the game at Baylor. Baylor is really hot right now. They have had really good league wins recently including one over Iowa State."
"They're good, and they pound the glass. What they've really done more so this year than in the previous few years is that they are really pushing the ball hard on made and missed shots. They're trying to get more offense out of the transition game. They're letting whoever rebounds it that is a perimeter. It could be [Herbert] Jones, it could be [Dazon] Ingram, [John] Petty and [Kira] Lewis [Jr.]. Whoever gets the rebound is really pushing it. They really run the floor, line up for the three and attack. They played really good transition offense against Kentucky, and that was really a big part of their win."
Q: How do you balance getting Aric Holman enough touches so that his role is as good as it can be?
BH: "Part of it is just our team showing patience like we did the other night and getting him more touches. I thought we did that especially in the second half. He made some big plays. The one play where he got it face up and drove it right down the middle of the floor for a dunk. That was a really patient play."
"For me, I'm not worried about Aric's offense. It's his defense, that's the key for him. When we are switching things and he's matched up on guys that are stretching him out on [the perimeter], he's got to be able to get out on them and run them off the three-point line. He did a great job of that against Auburn. That's the consistency I'm looking for. We're talking about offense, offense, but it's his defense."
"He had four blocks in the game against Auburn. We were up 15, and they cut it down to 8 with a chance to score a layup in the last minute of the game or so. He ran down their guard and blocked it. I think it was [Jared] Harper. It was a big-time block and really important. He had a number of blocks where we ran them off the three-point line, and he blocked the shot. When I talk about Aric right now, that's what I'm most concerned with … We need him to block shots, be in a stance and really play defense with a great sense of urgency."
Q: After Ole Miss's performance against Alabama, what does your team need to work on to avoid a similar outcome?
BH: "I thought that Alabama played great in that game. They're going to be hyped for us. It's a huge game for both teams, but we're a ranked team. So, the NET Rankings and all of that stuff really helps you. Ole Miss came in there as a ranked opponent with a high NET Rankings, and you're going to get the other team's best shot [at you], especially when you're on their home floor. I thought they played incredibly hard and were really good defensively because of their length … They're blocking shots and forcing turnovers. They're a very long and athletic team."
Q: How has Reggie Perry developed over the past few games, what do you feel his ceiling is?
BH: "I think he's a double-double guy. He had a double-double in the last game, and I think that he can consistently be a guy who can get a double-double night in and night out. That's my expectation for him moving forward."
Forward Aric Holman
Q: Coach mentioned he wanted to see more of your back to the basket in the offense with more opportunities to pass out of the post. Where does that fit within the offensive scheme alongside the pick-and-roll you are involved in?
AH: "It gives the team and me another way of scoring and starting the offense. By me being more aggressive on the lower block, it gives us another chance to get some movement off the ball and to set up in a different way."
Q: How much are you working on your defense and blocking shots?
AH: "Coach [Howland] told me to take more pride in it [defense and blocking shots]. That's what's going to start my offense. I feel like I depend on my offense to get me going all the time but getting those stops and blocking shots are what get you going on the offensive end."
Q: You've had a lot of battles with Alabama. Do you guys put more emphasis on this game like you do with Ole Miss?
AH: "No, we take every game with the same preparation. This is another game along our journey. It's the one we have to focus on right now and stay focused on."
Guard Nick Weatherspoon
Q: Last week, you didn't shoot the three-ball very well as a team at Kentucky but turned around and shot well against Auburn. Does the team still confident and was the Kentucky game an anomaly?
NW: "We still feel the same. We just have to get used to the Nike balls because they're slippery, and it makes a big difference. We're not going to use that as an excuse … We just have to get used to them and shoot the three-ball better on the road."
Q: Coach mentioned wanting everyone to get to the free throw line more. With you shooting 11 out of 14 from the line in conference play, what can you personally do to get to the line more?
NW: "By attacking more. I've been trying to work on my jumper so much that sometimes I forget how athletic I am and that I can finish over guys. I feel like I need to start getting to the rim a lot more than I am now."
Q: Are you comfortable getting to the rim even with your mid-range game has excelled the most this season?
NW: "Most definitely. I was more of a driver before I got here, but I knew I had to work on my jumper so now I have to start getting back to the rim."
AP Top 25 Poll – Week 13 – January 28, 2019
Ranking, Team (First Place Votes), Record, Points
1, Tennessee (48), 18-1, 1,575
2, Duke (12), 17-2, 1,527
3, Virginia (4), 18-1, 1,473
4, Gonzaga, 19-2, 1,382
5, Michigan, 19-1, 1,381
6, Michigan State, 18-3, 1,235
7, Kentucky, 16-3, 1,226
8, Nevada, 19-1, 1,158
9, North Carolina, 15-4, 1,065
10, Marquette, 18-3, 973
11, Kansas, 16-4, 972
12, Virginia Tech, 16-3, 858
13, Houston, 20-1, 795
14, Villanova, 16-4, 734
15, Louisville, 15-5, 658
16, Texas Tech, 16-4, 561
17, Purdue, 14-6, 532
18, Buffalo, 18-2, 468
19, LSU, 16-3, 435
20, Iowa State, 15-5, 327
21, Maryland, 16-5, 280
22, Mississippi State, 15-4, 236
23, North Carolina State, 16-4, 203
24, Wisconsin, 14-6, 179
25, Florida State, 15-5, 141
Others receiving votes: Auburn 85, Cincinnati 76, Washington 75, Kansas State 73, Oklahoma 41, Iowa 28, Wofford 10, Hofstra 9, Ole Miss 7, TCU 7, Nebraska 6, Davidson 5, Syracuse 3, Minnesota 1.
Dropped from rankings: No. 16 Auburn, No. 19 Iowa, No. 20 Ole Miss
USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll – Week 13 – January 28, 2019
Ranking, Team (First Place Votes), Record, Points
1, Tennessee (31), 18-1, 799
2, Duke (1), 17-2, 755
3, Virginia, 18-1, 733
4, Gonzaga, 19-2, 701
5, Michigan, 19-1, 679
6, Kentucky, 16-3, 599
7, Nevada, 19-1, 589
8, Michigan State, 18-3, 573
9, Marquette, 18-3, 503
10, North Carolina, 15-4, 498
11, Virginia Tech, 16-3, 462
12, Kansas, 16-4, 455
13, Houston, 20-1, 424
14, Villanova, 16-4, 385
15, Texas Tech, 16-4, 280
16, Louisville, 15-5, 255
17, Buffalo, 18-2, 241
18, Purdue, 14-6, 203
19, LSU, 16-3, 175
20, Iowa State, 15-5, 174
21, Mississippi State, 15-4, 158
22, North Carolina State, 16-4, 152
23, Wisconsin, 14-6, 96
24, Maryland, 16-5, 94
25, Iowa, 16-5, 64
Others receiving votes: Auburn 58, Florida State 57, Ole Miss 51, Cincinnati 44, Oklahoma 38, Kansas State 35, Washington 29, Furman 10, North Texas 10, Arizona State 6, Baylor 4, TCU 4, Wofford 4, Hofstra 2, Texas State 1.
Dropped from rankings: No. 15 Auburn, No. 20 Ole Miss, No. 23 Florida State
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs wrap the January portion of their schedule with the first of its two matchups against Alabama over a two-week span on Tuesday. Tip time is on-tap for 7:30 p.m. CT from Coleman Coliseum. The game will be televised by SEC Network and available online through the WatchESPN platform.
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.
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