Howland: “I feel really strongly about helping families involved in 9/11.”
December 12, 2019 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball faces its first fellow Power Five opponent of the season in defending Big 12 regular season co-champion Kansas State during Saturday's Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
Head coach Ben Howland had the opportunity to preview the matchup and met with the media leading into Thursday's practice. The Bulldogs defeated Clemson, 82-71, behind a program single-game record 19 three-pointers at last year's Never Forget Tribute Classic.
Saturday's tip time is on-tap for 10:30 a.m. CT. The game will be televised by ESPNU and streamed online courtesy of 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.
WATCH PARTY/PROMOTIONS/TICKETS/ACCESS PASS
For fans in the Jackson area, Mississippi State athletics is hosting a "Watch Party" for Saturday's neutral site matchup against Kansas State at the Bulldog Bar and Grill located at 6111 Ridgewood Road. Doors open at 10 a.m. CT with prizes including Ben Howland signed basketballs and jerseys along with "Cousin Eddie" style M-State branded ski alpine hats.
The Bulldogs next two home games against Radford (Dec. 18) and Kent State (Dec. 30) are "$1 General Admission Nights" with advanced purchase at www.HailState.com/tickets or in person at the Mississippi State Athletics Ticket Office located on the first floor of the Bryan Building. Discounted pricing will not be available on gamedays at the Humphrey Coliseum Box Office.
The Bulldogs also will play their annual Jackson game versus New Mexico State on Sunday, Dec. 22 at Mississippi Coliseum. Tickets for that matchup are available for $10, $15 and $25 plus fees via TicketMaster. Fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with "The Golden Egg" prior to the game.
Mississippi State is offering a new fan-focused season ticket option for the 2019-20 season, 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 $185. Learn more about this new offering at www.HailState.com/accesspass.
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
December 12, 2019
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement
BH: "We're going back to this game in New Jersey [the Never Forget Tribute Classic] for the second year in a row, and I feel really strongly about the cause which is raising money. We're helping families, kids of fallen first-responders, a lot of the people that were involved in 9/11 that ended up getting some of the terrible cancers and diseases from being there as first-responders and also some of the people who lost their lives … The money's been great – they've helped kids go to college and have helped put them in school, people that lost their major breadwinner in their family so, it's really for a good cause."
"It's a well-run event, and we're going to have our hands full with Kansas State. Kansas State returns two starters from last year's Big 12 championship team that ended Kansas' streak at 14 years in a row of being a conference champion. They're very well coached [by Bruce Weber]. In 2018 they were in the Elite Eight. So, they're a very good program with a great basketball history and tradition. Bruce does a great job. They're a team that pressures you. They're top two in turnovers forced and in steals in the KENPOM rankings. They're going to get after us and we're going to have to really play well to have success up there."
Q: After watching film, did anything major stick out about the Louisiana Tech game?
BH: "Our defense in the first half was just awful. I didn't think it was as bad in the second half, but the first half we gave up layup after layup. They were missed responsibilities on rotations, and not helping each other enough and confused on being too one-on-one oriented versus team defense. I think we'll play better defensively here on Saturday. We have to get back to helping [defensively], and we're going to give up some jump shots."
"In that game [against Louisiana Tech], we got off to a good start too – we were up 10-2, they miss a three and we have a chance to get the rebound. Everybody goes to rush in, it bounces over our head, and they get a three back out of it. We had some tough breaks that way."
"Robert Woodard [II] had his toughest outing as a Bulldog. A lot of it had to do with the fact that he's up studying. He didn't even sleep the night before the game [against Louisiana Tech]. He admitted that to me the day after that he didn't even sleep the night before the game. It showed because he was exhausted and was tired. He hasn't had a game like that, and no one would expect him to ever have another one like that. He knows that. He's so important to our team, and he's a real leader. His intensity and his energy is a huge part of who we are."
"Again, I have to do a good job of utilizing our bench. It's hard, I know that Prince [Oduro] should have played some more minutes looking back at it. But we're only playing four guards, and it's tough. We're going to really be thankful to get Nick [Weatherspoon] back in the lineup after two more games because we'll be able to spread the minutes out a little more. Playing Tyson Carter 35 minutes a game is too many for anybody."
Q: How do you prepare for Kansas State's defense?
BH: "Just our normal execution. I think that they do a good job – they're athletic, and they're long. They're going to play really hard. They've got good depth. So, we're going to have to execute really well and be patient. It will be a grind-it-out affair, I'm sure."
Q: What would be an ideal number of minutes for Prince Oduro to play?
BH: "I don't know that. It kind of depends game-to-game on what Abdul [Ado] is doing, foul trouble-wise and that type of thing. Abdul, he had a great practice yesterday and was really good. Abdul had a good game in that game the other night [against Louisiana Tech]. He had nine points and eight rebounds. Part of it, you had a couple easy passes from Reggie [Perry] on the double team where he finished. I think he had five offensive rebounds. He did a nice job for us in that game.
"That's who he [Oduro] is playing behind [is Ado]. I would say that he [Oduro] has to be ready to play double figure minutes when called upon. But when he was in there, he did a good job. The whole thing I'm evaluating on for all of these kids that are fighting for playing time is your ability to defend. We have to be good defensively."
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball faces its first fellow Power Five opponent of the season in defending Big 12 regular season co-champion Kansas State during Saturday's Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
Head coach Ben Howland had the opportunity to preview the matchup and met with the media leading into Thursday's practice. The Bulldogs defeated Clemson, 82-71, behind a program single-game record 19 three-pointers at last year's Never Forget Tribute Classic.
Saturday's tip time is on-tap for 10:30 a.m. CT. The game will be televised by ESPNU and streamed online courtesy of 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.
WATCH PARTY/PROMOTIONS/TICKETS/ACCESS PASS
For fans in the Jackson area, Mississippi State athletics is hosting a "Watch Party" for Saturday's neutral site matchup against Kansas State at the Bulldog Bar and Grill located at 6111 Ridgewood Road. Doors open at 10 a.m. CT with prizes including Ben Howland signed basketballs and jerseys along with "Cousin Eddie" style M-State branded ski alpine hats.
The Bulldogs next two home games against Radford (Dec. 18) and Kent State (Dec. 30) are "$1 General Admission Nights" with advanced purchase at www.HailState.com/tickets or in person at the Mississippi State Athletics Ticket Office located on the first floor of the Bryan Building. Discounted pricing will not be available on gamedays at the Humphrey Coliseum Box Office.
The Bulldogs also will play their annual Jackson game versus New Mexico State on Sunday, Dec. 22 at Mississippi Coliseum. Tickets for that matchup are available for $10, $15 and $25 plus fees via TicketMaster. Fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with "The Golden Egg" prior to the game.
Mississippi State is offering a new fan-focused season ticket option for the 2019-20 season, 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 $185. Learn more about this new offering at www.HailState.com/accesspass.
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
December 12, 2019
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement
BH: "We're going back to this game in New Jersey [the Never Forget Tribute Classic] for the second year in a row, and I feel really strongly about the cause which is raising money. We're helping families, kids of fallen first-responders, a lot of the people that were involved in 9/11 that ended up getting some of the terrible cancers and diseases from being there as first-responders and also some of the people who lost their lives … The money's been great – they've helped kids go to college and have helped put them in school, people that lost their major breadwinner in their family so, it's really for a good cause."
"It's a well-run event, and we're going to have our hands full with Kansas State. Kansas State returns two starters from last year's Big 12 championship team that ended Kansas' streak at 14 years in a row of being a conference champion. They're very well coached [by Bruce Weber]. In 2018 they were in the Elite Eight. So, they're a very good program with a great basketball history and tradition. Bruce does a great job. They're a team that pressures you. They're top two in turnovers forced and in steals in the KENPOM rankings. They're going to get after us and we're going to have to really play well to have success up there."
Q: After watching film, did anything major stick out about the Louisiana Tech game?
BH: "Our defense in the first half was just awful. I didn't think it was as bad in the second half, but the first half we gave up layup after layup. They were missed responsibilities on rotations, and not helping each other enough and confused on being too one-on-one oriented versus team defense. I think we'll play better defensively here on Saturday. We have to get back to helping [defensively], and we're going to give up some jump shots."
"In that game [against Louisiana Tech], we got off to a good start too – we were up 10-2, they miss a three and we have a chance to get the rebound. Everybody goes to rush in, it bounces over our head, and they get a three back out of it. We had some tough breaks that way."
"Robert Woodard [II] had his toughest outing as a Bulldog. A lot of it had to do with the fact that he's up studying. He didn't even sleep the night before the game [against Louisiana Tech]. He admitted that to me the day after that he didn't even sleep the night before the game. It showed because he was exhausted and was tired. He hasn't had a game like that, and no one would expect him to ever have another one like that. He knows that. He's so important to our team, and he's a real leader. His intensity and his energy is a huge part of who we are."
"Again, I have to do a good job of utilizing our bench. It's hard, I know that Prince [Oduro] should have played some more minutes looking back at it. But we're only playing four guards, and it's tough. We're going to really be thankful to get Nick [Weatherspoon] back in the lineup after two more games because we'll be able to spread the minutes out a little more. Playing Tyson Carter 35 minutes a game is too many for anybody."
Q: How do you prepare for Kansas State's defense?
BH: "Just our normal execution. I think that they do a good job – they're athletic, and they're long. They're going to play really hard. They've got good depth. So, we're going to have to execute really well and be patient. It will be a grind-it-out affair, I'm sure."
Q: What would be an ideal number of minutes for Prince Oduro to play?
BH: "I don't know that. It kind of depends game-to-game on what Abdul [Ado] is doing, foul trouble-wise and that type of thing. Abdul, he had a great practice yesterday and was really good. Abdul had a good game in that game the other night [against Louisiana Tech]. He had nine points and eight rebounds. Part of it, you had a couple easy passes from Reggie [Perry] on the double team where he finished. I think he had five offensive rebounds. He did a nice job for us in that game.
"That's who he [Oduro] is playing behind [is Ado]. I would say that he [Oduro] has to be ready to play double figure minutes when called upon. But when he was in there, he did a good job. The whole thing I'm evaluating on for all of these kids that are fighting for playing time is your ability to defend. We have to be good defensively."
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