Howland: LA Tech a tough challenge from a veteran group
December 04, 2019 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball head coach Ben Howland along with KeyShawn Feazell and Iverson Molinar had the opportunity to preview the Bulldogs much-anticipated return to the hardwood against Louisiana Tech leading into Wednesday's practice.
PROMOTIONS/TICKETS/ACCESS PASS
Fans can receive free admission to Thursday's game by bringing either a canned good, nonperishable food or toiletry item to Humphrey Coliseum to benefit Bully's Closet & Pantry. The canned goods will be collected and tickets will be issued outside the east and west coliseum entrances.
Thursday's game also is "Christmas Vacation Night" at the Hump, and the first 500 fans will receive a "Cousin Eddie" style M-State branded ski alpine hat.
Fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with "The Golden Egg" on the concourse near the Mize entrance leading into the game.
General Admission seating is now available at Humphrey Coliseum for men's basketball. Tickets can be purchased in advance for only $5 at www.HailState.com/tickets or in person staring 90 minutes before tipoff for $10 at the Humphrey Coliseum Box Office. Discounted online purchasing also ends two hours prior to tip time for each game.
Mississippi State is offering a pair of 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 4, 2019
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement
BH: "So, talking about Louisiana Tech. Yesterday, [ESPN's] Joe Lunardi came out with a new Bracketology prediction. Louisiana Tech, according to Joe, is the one that he predicts to come out of Conference USA. Right now, they are projected to be in the tournament. They're a team that is one of the older teams in the country. They're averaging 20.64 years of age. They really have a lot of backcourt experience and really good players."
"[Daquan] Bracey is incredibly athletic, really really skilled, unbelievably quick and he's got incredible lightning speed quickness. He's a very, very good player. [Amorie] Archibald, who played very well in the Indiana game, is a very good player. He can really shoot it. I love the kid [Kalob] Ledoux, who is a transfer from McNeese State who is a very good three-point shooter who shot it well on a ton of attempts. This is his first year at Louisiana Tech. Dericc Jean is another very experienced, strong and physical guard. They've got a number of good players."
"If you watch their Creighton game, which I watched, it's a 3-point game with six minutes to go on the road in front of 14,000 people. They're good, and they're tough. They fell down behind Indiana and came back and really made it a tough game down the stretch. Indiana pulled away in the last four minutes, but they could have won any of those games, potentially. They've won 20 games in three of his first four years there. This coach [Eric Konkal] is a very good coach. He was an assistant with [Jim] Larranaga, both at George Mason and at Miami. He really has a clue about what he's doing, Eric Konkol. This is going to be tough challenge from a veteran group. They play man-to-man, they will play some zone and they'll press after free throws. They get after you defensively and really try to pressure you."
"We've had a big break in the action between when we played last, and I think we've made good use of it. I think we had some really good practices. We had very good practices on Friday and Saturday. Then again, on Monday and Tuesday. Today, we'll back it off and not go as long. We've been getting up and down. It's a tough time for players right now. Today is the last day of class, tomorrow is reading day and then we go into finals. They've got their head's spinning with a lot of academic responsibilities right now, which is tough at times for all players and all student athletes."
Q: You have five players averaging double figures right now, are you pleased with how balanced the scoring output has been the first seven games?
BH: "Yeah, I think that anytime you have a good team, you have balance in your scoring. My past suggests that when you look at really the best teams I've ever coached, I've always had four or five guys in double figures."
"I love that any one of them can go off at any time. D.J. Stewart for example, he and Iverson [Molinar], are really growing. They're the kids are really having a lot of growth right now because it's their first year. Yesterday in practice, D.J. was fantastic. It was Iverson's birthday yesterday. Those kids are really coming on. Reggie [Perry] took a big step in the tournament with the way he was shooting the ball. We're getting better, we're improving and we're going to be challenged again tomorrow."
Q: In this point in the season, what has stood out to you about the make-up of this team?
BH: "I think we're very physical. I think we rebound the ball extremely well, especially on the offensive end. We want to be as dominant on the defensive end as we are on the offensive end. We've got to improve in that area. I think we're becoming a good defensive team. The one game that we've had a poor defensive showing was the game that we lost against a very good team [against Villanova]. I think we're a very unselfish team. I like how hard we play and how unselfish we play. We're physical, and we're big."
Q: How does Nick look in practice?
BH: "Yeah, Nick's done well. Nick's practiced really hard. He helps us get better every day because of the kind of pressure he applies defensively on the ball as well as him running the second team. He's done a really good. So, he's made it that group much more competitive. He's looking good, and he's shooting the ball well. He's in great physical condition right now, so he's chomping at the bit waiting for his opportunity to get back out there."
Q: How has Iverson Molinar entered this season, and how has he come along after the first month?
BH: "I think he's done a really good job. You're asking a lot anytime you throw a freshman out there and say, 'You're the point [guard].' That's the most important position on the floor and the hardest to play. There's a lot of responsibility with being a point guard, and I've thought he's handled it really well. I think he's done a good job scoring the ball. He's a natural scorer. I think he's learned a lot. He's getting better defensively. We've watched a lot of film. One of the good things about having this break is we watched edits from all three of those games at Myrtle Beach. I think it really helps when you see, and you study it. You're learning, and he's improving. He's getting better and better, so I'm really excited about him and what he's accomplished thus far and even more-so where his potential is."
Closing Statement
BH: "In terms of the game tomorrow, if you bring a canned good or a box of cereal, you get into the game for free. And what this food is for is that it is given to students who are in need here at Mississippi State, so it's for a great cause. It helps our own students and kids who are struggling to actually make ends meet that are putting themselves through college and working really hard. I think it's a great cause, and I think it's a great thing that the Athletics Department does to support our students on campus and also bring some awareness to it. It allows people to get into [the game] pretty inexpensively."
Forward KeyShawn Feazell
Q: What have you seen from scouting Louisiana Tech?
KF: "They have a great point guard. They're a smaller team, so they're quicker and faster."
Q: How was this break in games impacted the team?
KF: "Three games in four days was pretty tough on our bodies. It's kind of helped us as far as recovering."
Q: Are you guys eager to get back on the court and play a game?
KF: "Oh yeah. It's been nine days. It's been a while, so it's always good to play. It'll be really good to get back out there."
Guard Iverson Molinar
Q: What are the differences between playing college versus playing in high school for you?
IM: "I think it's just handling pressure. Being out here and playing for a big crowd, it's a lot of pressure. Coming out here and being able to play right away from high school, it's big. I think that's the biggest difference."
Q: How did you learn from playing in the Myrtle Beach Tournament?
IM: "Playing against Villanova, it's a big team. I haven't had the experience of playing against a top 20 team. It's a big opportunity for me to grow as a player."
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball head coach Ben Howland along with KeyShawn Feazell and Iverson Molinar had the opportunity to preview the Bulldogs much-anticipated return to the hardwood against Louisiana Tech leading into Wednesday's practice.
PROMOTIONS/TICKETS/ACCESS PASS
Fans can receive free admission to Thursday's game by bringing either a canned good, nonperishable food or toiletry item to Humphrey Coliseum to benefit Bully's Closet & Pantry. The canned goods will be collected and tickets will be issued outside the east and west coliseum entrances.
Thursday's game also is "Christmas Vacation Night" at the Hump, and the first 500 fans will receive a "Cousin Eddie" style M-State branded ski alpine hat.
Fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with "The Golden Egg" on the concourse near the Mize entrance leading into the game.
General Admission seating is now available at Humphrey Coliseum for men's basketball. Tickets can be purchased in advance for only $5 at www.HailState.com/tickets or in person staring 90 minutes before tipoff for $10 at the Humphrey Coliseum Box Office. Discounted online purchasing also ends two hours prior to tip time for each game.
Mississippi State is offering a pair of 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 4, 2019
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement
BH: "So, talking about Louisiana Tech. Yesterday, [ESPN's] Joe Lunardi came out with a new Bracketology prediction. Louisiana Tech, according to Joe, is the one that he predicts to come out of Conference USA. Right now, they are projected to be in the tournament. They're a team that is one of the older teams in the country. They're averaging 20.64 years of age. They really have a lot of backcourt experience and really good players."
"[Daquan] Bracey is incredibly athletic, really really skilled, unbelievably quick and he's got incredible lightning speed quickness. He's a very, very good player. [Amorie] Archibald, who played very well in the Indiana game, is a very good player. He can really shoot it. I love the kid [Kalob] Ledoux, who is a transfer from McNeese State who is a very good three-point shooter who shot it well on a ton of attempts. This is his first year at Louisiana Tech. Dericc Jean is another very experienced, strong and physical guard. They've got a number of good players."
"If you watch their Creighton game, which I watched, it's a 3-point game with six minutes to go on the road in front of 14,000 people. They're good, and they're tough. They fell down behind Indiana and came back and really made it a tough game down the stretch. Indiana pulled away in the last four minutes, but they could have won any of those games, potentially. They've won 20 games in three of his first four years there. This coach [Eric Konkal] is a very good coach. He was an assistant with [Jim] Larranaga, both at George Mason and at Miami. He really has a clue about what he's doing, Eric Konkol. This is going to be tough challenge from a veteran group. They play man-to-man, they will play some zone and they'll press after free throws. They get after you defensively and really try to pressure you."
"We've had a big break in the action between when we played last, and I think we've made good use of it. I think we had some really good practices. We had very good practices on Friday and Saturday. Then again, on Monday and Tuesday. Today, we'll back it off and not go as long. We've been getting up and down. It's a tough time for players right now. Today is the last day of class, tomorrow is reading day and then we go into finals. They've got their head's spinning with a lot of academic responsibilities right now, which is tough at times for all players and all student athletes."
Q: You have five players averaging double figures right now, are you pleased with how balanced the scoring output has been the first seven games?
BH: "Yeah, I think that anytime you have a good team, you have balance in your scoring. My past suggests that when you look at really the best teams I've ever coached, I've always had four or five guys in double figures."
"I love that any one of them can go off at any time. D.J. Stewart for example, he and Iverson [Molinar], are really growing. They're the kids are really having a lot of growth right now because it's their first year. Yesterday in practice, D.J. was fantastic. It was Iverson's birthday yesterday. Those kids are really coming on. Reggie [Perry] took a big step in the tournament with the way he was shooting the ball. We're getting better, we're improving and we're going to be challenged again tomorrow."
Q: In this point in the season, what has stood out to you about the make-up of this team?
BH: "I think we're very physical. I think we rebound the ball extremely well, especially on the offensive end. We want to be as dominant on the defensive end as we are on the offensive end. We've got to improve in that area. I think we're becoming a good defensive team. The one game that we've had a poor defensive showing was the game that we lost against a very good team [against Villanova]. I think we're a very unselfish team. I like how hard we play and how unselfish we play. We're physical, and we're big."
Q: How does Nick look in practice?
BH: "Yeah, Nick's done well. Nick's practiced really hard. He helps us get better every day because of the kind of pressure he applies defensively on the ball as well as him running the second team. He's done a really good. So, he's made it that group much more competitive. He's looking good, and he's shooting the ball well. He's in great physical condition right now, so he's chomping at the bit waiting for his opportunity to get back out there."
Q: How has Iverson Molinar entered this season, and how has he come along after the first month?
BH: "I think he's done a really good job. You're asking a lot anytime you throw a freshman out there and say, 'You're the point [guard].' That's the most important position on the floor and the hardest to play. There's a lot of responsibility with being a point guard, and I've thought he's handled it really well. I think he's done a good job scoring the ball. He's a natural scorer. I think he's learned a lot. He's getting better defensively. We've watched a lot of film. One of the good things about having this break is we watched edits from all three of those games at Myrtle Beach. I think it really helps when you see, and you study it. You're learning, and he's improving. He's getting better and better, so I'm really excited about him and what he's accomplished thus far and even more-so where his potential is."
Closing Statement
BH: "In terms of the game tomorrow, if you bring a canned good or a box of cereal, you get into the game for free. And what this food is for is that it is given to students who are in need here at Mississippi State, so it's for a great cause. It helps our own students and kids who are struggling to actually make ends meet that are putting themselves through college and working really hard. I think it's a great cause, and I think it's a great thing that the Athletics Department does to support our students on campus and also bring some awareness to it. It allows people to get into [the game] pretty inexpensively."
Forward KeyShawn Feazell
Q: What have you seen from scouting Louisiana Tech?
KF: "They have a great point guard. They're a smaller team, so they're quicker and faster."
Q: How was this break in games impacted the team?
KF: "Three games in four days was pretty tough on our bodies. It's kind of helped us as far as recovering."
Q: Are you guys eager to get back on the court and play a game?
KF: "Oh yeah. It's been nine days. It's been a while, so it's always good to play. It'll be really good to get back out there."
Guard Iverson Molinar
Q: What are the differences between playing college versus playing in high school for you?
IM: "I think it's just handling pressure. Being out here and playing for a big crowd, it's a lot of pressure. Coming out here and being able to play right away from high school, it's big. I think that's the biggest difference."
Q: How did you learn from playing in the Myrtle Beach Tournament?
IM: "Playing against Villanova, it's a big team. I haven't had the experience of playing against a top 20 team. It's a big opportunity for me to grow as a player."
Players Mentioned
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