Men’s Hoops Eyes Charity Exhibition with South Alabama
October 23, 2019 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball head coach Ben Howland along with Abdul Ado, Tyson Carter, KeyShawn Feazell, Reggie Perry and Robert Woodard II met the media before Wednesday's practice at Humphrey Coliseum.
The first opportunity to watch the 2019-20 Bulldogs inside Humphrey Coliseum will be Sunday, October 27 when Mississippi State plays host to South Alabama in a charity exhibition game to benefit the United Way of West Central Mississippi and those affected by the flood waters in the South Delta.
Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT with free admission. Doors to Humphrey Coliseum will open at 2 p.m. CT with standard gameday security procedures in-place which include walk-through metal detectors and the clear bag policy.
Mississippi State will carry a SEC-best, 22-game non-conference home winning streak into its regular season opener versus Florida International on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Tipoff is on-tap for 7 p.m. CT at The Hump, and the game will be streamed live by SEC Network+ via the WatchESPN platform.
Mississippi State is offering a pair of new fan-focused season ticket options for the 2019-20 season which includes the addition of general admission seating to men's basketball. A traditional general admission season ticket for seats in designated areas of the 200 level are available for only $155, while reserved seat season tickets are available for $275.
The second offering is a first-of-its-kind mobile access season ticket, the mobile access pass. This new ticketing option will provide exclusive access to already-sold lower level seats during non-conference games inside Humphrey Coliseum, and a 200 level general admission ticket for all conference games.
During non-conference play, fans with the mobile access pass will be digitally delivered a general admission ticket for a designated lower level section each game and will have access to sit in any open seat within that designated section. The non-conference option is available for $65 whereas the entire season pass is available for $180. Learn more about this new offering at www.HailState.com/accesspass.
Mississippi State posted a 23-11 on-court record last season and secured the program's 11th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs have dialed up 48 on-court victories over the last two seasons which is tied for second-most in program history over a two-year span and fourth among SEC schools.
Mississippi State's roster features a solid nucleus of five returning players who combined for 83 starts and close to 50 percent of the team's points in Abdul Ado, Tyson Carter, Reggie Perry, Nick Weatherspoon and Robert Woodard II.
The quintet is joined by veteran postmen KeyShawn Feazell and E.J. Datcher along with a talented freshmen class which features Devin Butts, Elias King, Iverson Molinar and Quinten Post. After redshirting the 2018-19 season, Prince Oduro and D.J. Stewart also are ready to make an impact during their first season for the Maroon and White.
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.
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
October 23, 2019
Head Coach Ben Howland
Q: How was scrimmage with TCU?
BH: "Good – it was good. I thought it was really helpful. It was really early. I think we had 11 practices prior to playing them. It was good for us though because we watched the entire film when we got back. We, obviously, have a lot of things that we need to work on to be a good team."
"Primarily in that game, we really saw how much we need to get better on our transition defense. We got hurt in transition a number of times. We've spent a lot of time in that a week ago and really emphasizing that every single day in practice."
"We're doing a better job at executing offensively and having some patience. We had some young guys playing for the first time in a game not in front of people but still playing against another D1 [Division 1] team. When you look at D.J. [Stewart, Jr.], Iverson [Molinar], and Prince [Oduro] – Prince has played in the NCAA but not in this level. There were a lot of positives for us that we took from that that I think will help us … We had a fun time too. We took the team to the Jazz game against the Pelicans the night before and had a chance to be there together. It was a good thing for those guys to experience in the Smoothie [King] Center which is actually where we played against TCU the next morning. The Pelicans took really good care of us and treated us first-class."
Q: In your initial press conference a few weeks back, you said Iverson Molinar was going to have to be a big part of things. How has he acclimated and adapted to practice?
BH: "He's done a really nice job. One thing is that he's a scorer. He puts the ball in the basket. He's as good as anyone we have at driving in transition, driving in the half court and finishing at the rim. He's got great explosiveness, he's very quick and gets by people. His shot has continued to improve from the perimeter which is something that he was worked really hard on since he arrived in June."
"He's becoming a better defender. That's one thing for freshman is that he's learning to be more aware of the other team when he's not guarding the ball but being more of a help defender. That's something that is new for him as it is for every high school kid basically because he has the athleticism and the strength to be able to help and still get back to the zone. He's doing a really nice job, and I'm excited about Iverson. He's been very good for us."
Q: What is the plan for Sunday's exhibition game against South Alabama?
BH: "We're going to try to win. We're going to play our top guys. Nick [Weatherspoon] will not play … We will hold him for that game. I was thinking about that, it's probably better for us anyway because we have 10 games coming without him so we can start getting used to it."
"South Alabama is really good. South Alabama returned two guys from last year's team that averaged over 14 [points] a game. They had two guys sitting that when they transferred, they averaged 14 [points] or more at their previous stop. They also had a graduate transfer that they brought in. So, they have five guys that in their previous year of eligibility at their respective schools averaged 14 [points] or more per game, which is really impressive. They're going to play man and zone. They're going to be a difficult challenge for us. We will actually start preparing for them a little bit today."
Q: At this point, how do you feel about your depth?
BH: "I think we have more depth on our front line than we did a year ago. I'm excited about that. The competition we have in practice is helping us get better there. We're are going to be a little iffy here early on because we're without the services of Nick Witherspoon on the perimeter because we're so young in that backcourt. That is something that is a great concerning factor."
Forward Reggie Perry
Q: With the exhibition game coming up, where do you feel like the team is right now?
RP: "I feel like we are at a good point in the season right now. I feel like we still have a lot of work to do, just continuing to work. This exhibition game will be a good point for us to see where are as a team.
Q: How have you responded to Coach Howland's challenge of improving rebounds?
RP: "I feel like I responded pretty well. I feel like that comes naturally to me. Just continuing to get rebounds just like Coach [Howland] asked me to do."
Forward KeyShawn Feazell
Q: What conditions did you do in the offseason to lose weight? Did you take that upon yourself or did you have help?
KF: "Kind of both. I've been working out with [strength and conditioning coach Collin] Crane during the summer. At home, I've been working out by myself. With Coach Crane, it's about off-days and putting in extra work to get my body right."
Q: Do you feel more agile on the court compared to last year?
KF: "Most definitely. I get to spots faster and screens faster. I'm able to stay in front and come quicker so it really helps out a lot."
Forward Abdul Ado
Q: How do you feel the depth is on this team this year?
AA: "I've never played with so many beasts. Last year, we had Aric [Holman], KeyShawn [Feazell], and Reggie [Perry], but this year we have at least six guys that are 6-8 and above. It's pretty exciting because you know you're coming to practice every day knowing you're going to have the best effort from everyone in that front court. Everybody is trying to play as hard as they can because that's the only way to get everyone better. Guys know that this is the [Southeastern Conference]; a lot of people think that the SEC went down but, no, the SEC gets better every year. I'm looking forward to the competition."
Q: Offensively, how much did you work on your game on that end?
AA: "A lot. This morning and yesterday, we had shooting. We have extra shooting every day before practice. When I came back, I was given about an hour off practice for two or three days. The week after, I went full contact and everything, so during that time I was coming in every morning and getting extra shots every 45 minutes and just working on my offensive game. I feel like I'm confident on my defense. That's one thing that I pride myself on is on the defensive end that I'm pretty solid. As time continues, I'm still trying to grow confident. Every day there are new things to learn on the offensive end, so Coach Howland and all the coaches are doing a great job trying to put me in the right position to get better."
Guard Tyson Carter
Q: How do you feel like that depth is building in the backcourt so far?
TC: "I'm definitely feeling pretty good. They had to come along and grow up quick because guys like Iverson [Molinar] as well as D.J. [Stewart, Jr.]. He [Stewart, Jr.] didn't get as much experience last year, both of those guys have contributed a lot."
Q: What have you seen from Iverson [Molinar] in practice that he can contribute to this year?
TC: "He can really finish, and he's probably one of the most athletic guys on the team. He's already strong and got SEC-type athleticism so he'll fit right in. He'll be a pretty good player."
Q: What does D.J. [Stewart, Jr.] bring to the backcourt?
TC: "D.J. and Iverson are a lot similar. D.J. can shoot it and do just about everything. He's very versatile. He's long and a big guard. He's going to help us out a lot too."
Guard Robert Woodard II
Q: How different is your mindset this year compared to last year with coming off the bench and now being a permanent starter?
RW II: "It's a lot different this year. We lost a lot of key players and key guys, so it's just time to step up and take roles of the guys that left."
Q: Will this year's team be a physical team that wants to grind out basketball games?
RW II: "Yes sir, very much. Mainly, this year is about the will to win. We already have the mental toughness and physical toughness, so it's all about how bad you want it and bang the other team for it."
Q: You, Reggie [Perry], and Tyson [Carter's] fathers have all played basketball here at Mississippi State. What pride does that bring to the floor?
RW II: "Just keeping the legacy going. With Tyson's, Reggie's and my father, it's a great feeling. Even though they didn't play at the same times, we being able to play together at the same time means a lot more. It's almost like we have something to prove as well."
The first opportunity to watch the 2019-20 Bulldogs inside Humphrey Coliseum will be Sunday, October 27 when Mississippi State plays host to South Alabama in a charity exhibition game to benefit the United Way of West Central Mississippi and those affected by the flood waters in the South Delta.
Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT with free admission. Doors to Humphrey Coliseum will open at 2 p.m. CT with standard gameday security procedures in-place which include walk-through metal detectors and the clear bag policy.
Mississippi State will carry a SEC-best, 22-game non-conference home winning streak into its regular season opener versus Florida International on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Tipoff is on-tap for 7 p.m. CT at The Hump, and the game will be streamed live by SEC Network+ via the WatchESPN platform.
Mississippi State is offering a pair of new fan-focused season ticket options for the 2019-20 season which includes the addition of general admission seating to men's basketball. A traditional general admission season ticket for seats in designated areas of the 200 level are available for only $155, while reserved seat season tickets are available for $275.
The second offering is a first-of-its-kind mobile access season ticket, the mobile access pass. This new ticketing option will provide exclusive access to already-sold lower level seats during non-conference games inside Humphrey Coliseum, and a 200 level general admission ticket for all conference games.
During non-conference play, fans with the mobile access pass will be digitally delivered a general admission ticket for a designated lower level section each game and will have access to sit in any open seat within that designated section. The non-conference option is available for $65 whereas the entire season pass is available for $180. Learn more about this new offering at www.HailState.com/accesspass.
Mississippi State posted a 23-11 on-court record last season and secured the program's 11th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs have dialed up 48 on-court victories over the last two seasons which is tied for second-most in program history over a two-year span and fourth among SEC schools.
Mississippi State's roster features a solid nucleus of five returning players who combined for 83 starts and close to 50 percent of the team's points in Abdul Ado, Tyson Carter, Reggie Perry, Nick Weatherspoon and Robert Woodard II.
The quintet is joined by veteran postmen KeyShawn Feazell and E.J. Datcher along with a talented freshmen class which features Devin Butts, Elias King, Iverson Molinar and Quinten Post. After redshirting the 2018-19 season, Prince Oduro and D.J. Stewart also are ready to make an impact during their first season for the Maroon and White.
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.
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
October 23, 2019
Head Coach Ben Howland
Q: How was scrimmage with TCU?
BH: "Good – it was good. I thought it was really helpful. It was really early. I think we had 11 practices prior to playing them. It was good for us though because we watched the entire film when we got back. We, obviously, have a lot of things that we need to work on to be a good team."
"Primarily in that game, we really saw how much we need to get better on our transition defense. We got hurt in transition a number of times. We've spent a lot of time in that a week ago and really emphasizing that every single day in practice."
"We're doing a better job at executing offensively and having some patience. We had some young guys playing for the first time in a game not in front of people but still playing against another D1 [Division 1] team. When you look at D.J. [Stewart, Jr.], Iverson [Molinar], and Prince [Oduro] – Prince has played in the NCAA but not in this level. There were a lot of positives for us that we took from that that I think will help us … We had a fun time too. We took the team to the Jazz game against the Pelicans the night before and had a chance to be there together. It was a good thing for those guys to experience in the Smoothie [King] Center which is actually where we played against TCU the next morning. The Pelicans took really good care of us and treated us first-class."
Q: In your initial press conference a few weeks back, you said Iverson Molinar was going to have to be a big part of things. How has he acclimated and adapted to practice?
BH: "He's done a really nice job. One thing is that he's a scorer. He puts the ball in the basket. He's as good as anyone we have at driving in transition, driving in the half court and finishing at the rim. He's got great explosiveness, he's very quick and gets by people. His shot has continued to improve from the perimeter which is something that he was worked really hard on since he arrived in June."
"He's becoming a better defender. That's one thing for freshman is that he's learning to be more aware of the other team when he's not guarding the ball but being more of a help defender. That's something that is new for him as it is for every high school kid basically because he has the athleticism and the strength to be able to help and still get back to the zone. He's doing a really nice job, and I'm excited about Iverson. He's been very good for us."
Q: What is the plan for Sunday's exhibition game against South Alabama?
BH: "We're going to try to win. We're going to play our top guys. Nick [Weatherspoon] will not play … We will hold him for that game. I was thinking about that, it's probably better for us anyway because we have 10 games coming without him so we can start getting used to it."
"South Alabama is really good. South Alabama returned two guys from last year's team that averaged over 14 [points] a game. They had two guys sitting that when they transferred, they averaged 14 [points] or more at their previous stop. They also had a graduate transfer that they brought in. So, they have five guys that in their previous year of eligibility at their respective schools averaged 14 [points] or more per game, which is really impressive. They're going to play man and zone. They're going to be a difficult challenge for us. We will actually start preparing for them a little bit today."
Q: At this point, how do you feel about your depth?
BH: "I think we have more depth on our front line than we did a year ago. I'm excited about that. The competition we have in practice is helping us get better there. We're are going to be a little iffy here early on because we're without the services of Nick Witherspoon on the perimeter because we're so young in that backcourt. That is something that is a great concerning factor."
Forward Reggie Perry
Q: With the exhibition game coming up, where do you feel like the team is right now?
RP: "I feel like we are at a good point in the season right now. I feel like we still have a lot of work to do, just continuing to work. This exhibition game will be a good point for us to see where are as a team.
Q: How have you responded to Coach Howland's challenge of improving rebounds?
RP: "I feel like I responded pretty well. I feel like that comes naturally to me. Just continuing to get rebounds just like Coach [Howland] asked me to do."
Forward KeyShawn Feazell
Q: What conditions did you do in the offseason to lose weight? Did you take that upon yourself or did you have help?
KF: "Kind of both. I've been working out with [strength and conditioning coach Collin] Crane during the summer. At home, I've been working out by myself. With Coach Crane, it's about off-days and putting in extra work to get my body right."
Q: Do you feel more agile on the court compared to last year?
KF: "Most definitely. I get to spots faster and screens faster. I'm able to stay in front and come quicker so it really helps out a lot."
Forward Abdul Ado
Q: How do you feel the depth is on this team this year?
AA: "I've never played with so many beasts. Last year, we had Aric [Holman], KeyShawn [Feazell], and Reggie [Perry], but this year we have at least six guys that are 6-8 and above. It's pretty exciting because you know you're coming to practice every day knowing you're going to have the best effort from everyone in that front court. Everybody is trying to play as hard as they can because that's the only way to get everyone better. Guys know that this is the [Southeastern Conference]; a lot of people think that the SEC went down but, no, the SEC gets better every year. I'm looking forward to the competition."
Q: Offensively, how much did you work on your game on that end?
AA: "A lot. This morning and yesterday, we had shooting. We have extra shooting every day before practice. When I came back, I was given about an hour off practice for two or three days. The week after, I went full contact and everything, so during that time I was coming in every morning and getting extra shots every 45 minutes and just working on my offensive game. I feel like I'm confident on my defense. That's one thing that I pride myself on is on the defensive end that I'm pretty solid. As time continues, I'm still trying to grow confident. Every day there are new things to learn on the offensive end, so Coach Howland and all the coaches are doing a great job trying to put me in the right position to get better."
Guard Tyson Carter
Q: How do you feel like that depth is building in the backcourt so far?
TC: "I'm definitely feeling pretty good. They had to come along and grow up quick because guys like Iverson [Molinar] as well as D.J. [Stewart, Jr.]. He [Stewart, Jr.] didn't get as much experience last year, both of those guys have contributed a lot."
Q: What have you seen from Iverson [Molinar] in practice that he can contribute to this year?
TC: "He can really finish, and he's probably one of the most athletic guys on the team. He's already strong and got SEC-type athleticism so he'll fit right in. He'll be a pretty good player."
Q: What does D.J. [Stewart, Jr.] bring to the backcourt?
TC: "D.J. and Iverson are a lot similar. D.J. can shoot it and do just about everything. He's very versatile. He's long and a big guard. He's going to help us out a lot too."
Guard Robert Woodard II
Q: How different is your mindset this year compared to last year with coming off the bench and now being a permanent starter?
RW II: "It's a lot different this year. We lost a lot of key players and key guys, so it's just time to step up and take roles of the guys that left."
Q: Will this year's team be a physical team that wants to grind out basketball games?
RW II: "Yes sir, very much. Mainly, this year is about the will to win. We already have the mental toughness and physical toughness, so it's all about how bad you want it and bang the other team for it."
Q: You, Reggie [Perry], and Tyson [Carter's] fathers have all played basketball here at Mississippi State. What pride does that bring to the floor?
RW II: "Just keeping the legacy going. With Tyson's, Reggie's and my father, it's a great feeling. Even though they didn't play at the same times, we being able to play together at the same time means a lot more. It's almost like we have something to prove as well."
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