Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Men’s Basketball Matchup at Auburn Moved to Thursday
February 15, 2021 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Due to inclement weather, the Mississippi State men's basketball team will travel to Auburn for a Thursday afternoon matchup on the Plains as announced by the SEC office.
The Bulldogs (11-11, 5-8 SEC) and Tigers (11-11, 5-8 SEC) will tip at 4 p.m. CT from Auburn Arena. The game will still be televised by ESPNU and carried online courtesy of the Watch ESPN app. Below is an updated SEC schedule for all seven midweek contests.
Mississippi State and Ole Miss will meet Saturday at 5 p.m. CT from the Pavilion at Ole Miss.
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.
Tuesday, February 16
No. 20 Missouri at Georgia, 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Florida at No. 24 Arkansas, 6 p.m. CT, ESPN2
Wednesday, February 17
Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network
South Carolina at No. 19 Tennessee, 8 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Thursday, February 18
No. 9 Alabama at Texas A&M, 2 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Mississippi State at Auburn, 4 p.m. CT, ESPNU
LSU at Ole Miss, 4 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
Monday, February 15, 2021
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement:
BH: "Thanks for joining us. We were not able to practice today because of the weather here in Starkville. It's really unsafe right now to drive around. It was determined by myself along with our administration to make sure no one got hurt. Class was canceled today as it is tomorrow on-campus in person. They do have virtual learning."
"We are going to try and make it work tomorrow to get to practice, safety is our first priority … The roads are slick. The airports are closed all today and tomorrow. The airport runways are frozen. Hopefully we will be able to [travel] by Wednesday and have things start to clear up. It's supposed to get above 32 degrees on Wednesday so that should really help a lot."
Q: Iverson talked about after the game Saturday about staying positive. What is the mood among the players, and where do you feel the team mindset is right now?
BH: "We met yesterday [Sunday] … We lifted as a team. We had a team meeting together for about 45 minutes and really tried to get some feedback from the guys so we can try to finish really strong here in these last five games with our performance, effort, intensity and preparation."
"My whole thing, as a coach and talking with my team, is I just want to know that we're doing everything we can to be the best we can be. If we're doing our very best in our preparation, in our effort, and trying to execute as the best we can on both ends of the floor, that's all I can ask as a coach. That's all we want. And to have fun doing it and really being together."
"Obviously, it was a very disappointing loss on Saturday against Vanderbilt. Give them credit, they played great. I thought [Scotty] Pippin [Jr.] was really good and really ran their team incredibly well. We've got to be able to be tougher than that and not allow a team when it's a tie game at 28 with five minutes to go in the first half to not go on a run the way they did because that really determined the outcome of the game."
"I think our guys are actually going to benefit, to be honest with you, having the last two days off. Some of these guys have played so many minutes. Sometimes, when you get two days off for your legs, it can really help you. I'm hoping that will be the case. Also, just trying to reflect mentally about some of the things that we've talked about as a group yesterday."
Q: What were your thoughts about how Derek Fountain played during his first career start, and your thoughts on the starting lineup moving forward?
BH: "He has obviously done a really good job for us as of late. He's played very few games when you look at him. He had tough stretch there when the game it was actually 31-28, he had three plays in a row. One was a turnover trying to pass to Abdul [Ado] and two were just ill-advised shots at the rim that all turned into baskets [for Vanderbilt]."
"He had a tough game, which is kind of to be expected. He's a freshman who finally played like a freshman for the first time after playing so well in the previous couple of games. He's still going to be a major part of what we're trying to get out of the rest of this year in terms of his playing time because I think he's done a really good job. In terms of who we start moving forward, that will be game-by-game."
Q: How have the leaders of this team been off the court the last week or so?
BH: "We had a meeting yesterday as I mentioned. We had a chance for some guys to get to talk amongst each other. I thought it was really healthy and positive. We have good kids. I think they're very good with each other and very supportive of one another. We've got to regroup here and finish strong in terms of understanding that we're only good as each other. We've got to be all tied together and all understanding of each other."
"We're only going to be successful if everybody is pulling in the same direction and doing the very best they can do. As long as we're doing that, that's all I can demand. As long as we're doing our very best, that's all you want as a coach. That's something I learned from John Wooden [at UCLA]. When he was coaching, it wasn't about trying to win. It was just about trying to play the best they could play, and they let everything else take care of itself. It's kind of what I've been trying to get them to focus on. It's just be the best that we can be, and everything else takes care of itself at both ends."
Q: Obviously, the SEC has a lot of talented guards. Where would you rate Sharife Cooper compared to some of the other guards you've seen this season?
BH: "He's one of the better point guards in our league, for sure. When you look at him as a point, he's a true point. He creates for others and can score himself. He's a really smart player, a very unselfish player. I've been very, very impressed with him."
"When you look throughout the league, I've seen most everybody in our conference. Herb [Jones] is really interesting at Alabama because he's playing the point. He's a very interesting guy to be your point guard and main ball handler. I think [Javonte] Smart at LSU is really special. I think Javonte is about as good as it gets in terms of point guards in our conference. I'm really impressed with him."
Q: What's your general overall thoughts on Auburn, and what you will be looking out for?
BH: "They're a really talented team. I watched their game against Kentucky, 82-80. They played very hard against Kentucky there. I'm impressed with their bigs. I thought that J.T. Thor played great. He knocked down five three's and really stretches the floor well. They're very long, very athletic and very good on the offensive glass."
"Allen Flanigan is one of the best wings in our conference and is really playing good basketball. They play extremely hard. They're very good in terms of trying to pressure the ball and get after you defensively. They're a great offensive rebounding team, and they've got talent. [Sharife] Cooper and J.T. Thor are two of the best freshmen in our league for sure. I was talking about Cooper earlier as one of the best point guards regardless of age in our conference right now. I think he's number one in the country in free throws made per game, and he's leading the conference in assists. That's pretty impressive."
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Due to inclement weather, the Mississippi State men's basketball team will travel to Auburn for a Thursday afternoon matchup on the Plains as announced by the SEC office.
The Bulldogs (11-11, 5-8 SEC) and Tigers (11-11, 5-8 SEC) will tip at 4 p.m. CT from Auburn Arena. The game will still be televised by ESPNU and carried online courtesy of the Watch ESPN app. Below is an updated SEC schedule for all seven midweek contests.
Mississippi State and Ole Miss will meet Saturday at 5 p.m. CT from the Pavilion at Ole Miss.
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.
Tuesday, February 16
No. 20 Missouri at Georgia, 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Florida at No. 24 Arkansas, 6 p.m. CT, ESPN2
Wednesday, February 17
Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network
South Carolina at No. 19 Tennessee, 8 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Thursday, February 18
No. 9 Alabama at Texas A&M, 2 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Mississippi State at Auburn, 4 p.m. CT, ESPNU
LSU at Ole Miss, 4 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
Monday, February 15, 2021
Head Coach Ben Howland
Opening Statement:
BH: "Thanks for joining us. We were not able to practice today because of the weather here in Starkville. It's really unsafe right now to drive around. It was determined by myself along with our administration to make sure no one got hurt. Class was canceled today as it is tomorrow on-campus in person. They do have virtual learning."
"We are going to try and make it work tomorrow to get to practice, safety is our first priority … The roads are slick. The airports are closed all today and tomorrow. The airport runways are frozen. Hopefully we will be able to [travel] by Wednesday and have things start to clear up. It's supposed to get above 32 degrees on Wednesday so that should really help a lot."
Q: Iverson talked about after the game Saturday about staying positive. What is the mood among the players, and where do you feel the team mindset is right now?
BH: "We met yesterday [Sunday] … We lifted as a team. We had a team meeting together for about 45 minutes and really tried to get some feedback from the guys so we can try to finish really strong here in these last five games with our performance, effort, intensity and preparation."
"My whole thing, as a coach and talking with my team, is I just want to know that we're doing everything we can to be the best we can be. If we're doing our very best in our preparation, in our effort, and trying to execute as the best we can on both ends of the floor, that's all I can ask as a coach. That's all we want. And to have fun doing it and really being together."
"Obviously, it was a very disappointing loss on Saturday against Vanderbilt. Give them credit, they played great. I thought [Scotty] Pippin [Jr.] was really good and really ran their team incredibly well. We've got to be able to be tougher than that and not allow a team when it's a tie game at 28 with five minutes to go in the first half to not go on a run the way they did because that really determined the outcome of the game."
"I think our guys are actually going to benefit, to be honest with you, having the last two days off. Some of these guys have played so many minutes. Sometimes, when you get two days off for your legs, it can really help you. I'm hoping that will be the case. Also, just trying to reflect mentally about some of the things that we've talked about as a group yesterday."
Q: What were your thoughts about how Derek Fountain played during his first career start, and your thoughts on the starting lineup moving forward?
BH: "He has obviously done a really good job for us as of late. He's played very few games when you look at him. He had tough stretch there when the game it was actually 31-28, he had three plays in a row. One was a turnover trying to pass to Abdul [Ado] and two were just ill-advised shots at the rim that all turned into baskets [for Vanderbilt]."
"He had a tough game, which is kind of to be expected. He's a freshman who finally played like a freshman for the first time after playing so well in the previous couple of games. He's still going to be a major part of what we're trying to get out of the rest of this year in terms of his playing time because I think he's done a really good job. In terms of who we start moving forward, that will be game-by-game."
Q: How have the leaders of this team been off the court the last week or so?
BH: "We had a meeting yesterday as I mentioned. We had a chance for some guys to get to talk amongst each other. I thought it was really healthy and positive. We have good kids. I think they're very good with each other and very supportive of one another. We've got to regroup here and finish strong in terms of understanding that we're only good as each other. We've got to be all tied together and all understanding of each other."
"We're only going to be successful if everybody is pulling in the same direction and doing the very best they can do. As long as we're doing that, that's all I can demand. As long as we're doing our very best, that's all you want as a coach. That's something I learned from John Wooden [at UCLA]. When he was coaching, it wasn't about trying to win. It was just about trying to play the best they could play, and they let everything else take care of itself. It's kind of what I've been trying to get them to focus on. It's just be the best that we can be, and everything else takes care of itself at both ends."
Q: Obviously, the SEC has a lot of talented guards. Where would you rate Sharife Cooper compared to some of the other guards you've seen this season?
BH: "He's one of the better point guards in our league, for sure. When you look at him as a point, he's a true point. He creates for others and can score himself. He's a really smart player, a very unselfish player. I've been very, very impressed with him."
"When you look throughout the league, I've seen most everybody in our conference. Herb [Jones] is really interesting at Alabama because he's playing the point. He's a very interesting guy to be your point guard and main ball handler. I think [Javonte] Smart at LSU is really special. I think Javonte is about as good as it gets in terms of point guards in our conference. I'm really impressed with him."
Q: What's your general overall thoughts on Auburn, and what you will be looking out for?
BH: "They're a really talented team. I watched their game against Kentucky, 82-80. They played very hard against Kentucky there. I'm impressed with their bigs. I thought that J.T. Thor played great. He knocked down five three's and really stretches the floor well. They're very long, very athletic and very good on the offensive glass."
"Allen Flanigan is one of the best wings in our conference and is really playing good basketball. They play extremely hard. They're very good in terms of trying to pressure the ball and get after you defensively. They're a great offensive rebounding team, and they've got talent. [Sharife] Cooper and J.T. Thor are two of the best freshmen in our league for sure. I was talking about Cooper earlier as one of the best point guards regardless of age in our conference right now. I think he's number one in the country in free throws made per game, and he's leading the conference in assists. That's pretty impressive."
Players Mentioned
F
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