Gameday: Five Things to Know about MSU-Kentucky

Thursday, March 11

Nashville, Tenn. (Bridgestone Arena)

11:00 AM

Mississippi State

Kentucky

Photo by: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Gameday: Five Things to Know about MSU-Kentucky

March 09, 2021 | Men's Basketball

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by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – After winning three of its last five to close the regular season, the Mississippi State men's basketball team meets Kentucky during Thursday's SEC Tournament Second Round at Bridgestone Arena in the Music City.

The Bulldogs (14-13, 8-10 SEC) will be in pursuit of the program's fourth SEC Tournament crown, the last coming in 2009 when State won four games over four days in Tampa, Florida.

The Maroon and White have held its opposition to 55.2 points per game and a collective 32.9 shooting percentage over their last five wins. State also limited the SEC regular season champion Alabama to SEC lows of 64 points and a 32.3 percent shooting clip (02/27).

A balanced offensive attack has been a successful formula for State in 2020-21 as the Bulldogs has won eight of their 10 games in 2020-21 record when four players or more reach double figures.

Mississippi State has won the battle of boards against 21 of its 27 opponents in 2020-21, highlighted by a +10 rebounding margin in nine games.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season ranked inside the SEC's top three in opponent field goal percentage (39.9 – 1st), rebounding margin (+6.8 – 1st), offensive rebounding percentage (35.7 – 1st), opponent rebounds (32.1 – 2nd), opponent points per game (65.7 – 3rd) and defensive rebounding percentage (72.5 – 3rd).

Mississippi State is 6-2 when committing 12 turnovers or less and has won eight of its nine outings when knocking down at least eight three-pointers this season. The Bulldogs are third among SEC teams in paint points (884).

MSU-KENTUCKY HARDWOOD SERIES
Kentucky holds a 99-20 series advantage over the Bulldogs on the strength of 15 consecutive victories under John Calipari dating back to 2009-10 season.

The two programs have split their last four SEC Tournament meetings. State claimed its first SEC Tournament title courtesy of an 84-73 win over then No. 1 Kentucky in 1996. Dontae' Jones and Darryl Wilson led the way with 28 and 22 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs knocked off the Wildcats, 84-82 in overtime, during the 2007 quarterfinal round. Jamont Gordon fueled four players in double figures with 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals. He knocked down the game-tying triple to force overtime and found Barry Stewart for the go-ahead layup with 26 seconds left in the extra session.

Earlier this season, Kentucky emerged with a 78-73 double overtime decision. Dantaie Allen provided 23 points aided by seven three-pointers followed by 14 points and 12 rebounds from Olivier Sarr. D.J. Stewart Jr. and Iverson Molinar combined for 36 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals to pace the Maroon and White.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (14-13, 8-10 SEC) vs. Kentucky (9-15, 8-9 SEC)
Where: Nashville, Tennessee – Bridgestone Arena
When: Thursday, March 11, 11:00 a.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/MBKLiveStats)

TV: SEC Network
Talent: Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes, Marty Smith
DirecTV: Ch. 611, Dish: Ch. 404/408, AT&T U-Verse: Ch. 1607, MaxxSouth: Ch. 1026, C Spire: Ch. 220
Online: Watch ESPN app & Watch ESPN online (Cable Subscription Required)
(http://hailst.at/MSUvsUK031121)

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield IMG College
Talent: Neil Price
Affiliates: WKBB-FM 100.9 Starkville/West Point (Full List: https://hailst.at/MBKAffiliates)
Free Online Audio: Hail State Plus (https://hailst.at/MBKListen); Tune-In Radio App (https://hailst.at/MBKTuneIn)
Sirius/XM: Ch. TBD (Sirius/XM), Ch. TBD (Internet)

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
1. Mississippi State has garnered 20+ overall wins in three straight seasons and captured 10+ SEC victories during back-to-back campaigns under sixth-year coach Ben Howland. The Bulldogs have amassed 82 victories since the start of the 2017-18 season which is tied for the fifth-most with Arkansas in the SEC and only behind Auburn (94), Tennessee (91), Kentucky (90) and LSU (83).

Howland along with assistant coaches George Brooks, Korey McCray and Ernie Zeigler are in their sixth season together in Starkville during the 2020-21 season. The Bulldogs coaching quartet of head coach and three assistants is one of eight staffs in the country to remain together at the same school for the last six seasons. The other staffs include Michigan State (11th) led by Tom Izzo, West Virginia (9th) led by Bob Huggins, UAlbany (9th) led by Will Brown, Kansas (7th) led by Bill Self, Oregon (7th) led by Dana Altman, Vermont (7th) led by John Becker and Bradley (6th) led by Brian Wardle.

2. Iverson Molinar, Tolu Smith and D.J. Stewart Jr. are etching their names among the notable freshmen-to-sophomore jumps at Mississippi State, under Ben Howland and in the SEC over the last decade.
The trio has piled up 62 games in double figures, headed by 15 outings of 20-plus points. The Bulldogs are 10-2 when each member of the trio scores at least 10 points this season.

Molinar, Smith and Stewart Jr. have racked up 45.6 points per game, which is second-most in the SEC only behind LSU's Cameron Thomas, Trendan Watford and Javonte Smart. It also marks the highest MSU scoring trio since Ravern Johnson, Dee Bost and Renardo Sidney piled up 47.1 points per game during the 2010-11 season.

Stewart Jr. (16.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.4 SPG), an All-SEC Second-Team performer, has captured 10 of his top 11 career scoring performances in 2020-21. He pumped home a SEC career-high 29 points and added three steals at South Carolina (02/06). Stewart Jr. exploded for a career-best 32 points on 13-of-22 shooting versus Dayton (12/12). The Bulldogs have posted a 25-12 record over the last two seasons when he scores 10-plus points.

The Grace, Mississippi, native has surpassed his 2019-20 total with 23 games in double figures, highlighted by a 12 consecutive games to start the season. He piled up 24 points during the second half of State's 78-63 win over No. 13 Missouri (01/05). Stewart Jr.'s 16.5 points per game are fifth, his 43.0 percent shooting clip is 10th, his 79.6 free throw percentage is 12th and his 1.4 steals is 14th among SEC leaders. He and Molinar are two of 12 SEC players to have at least six games of 20-plus points this season.

Molinar (16.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG) has notched double figures in 21 of his 24 outings and during 25 of his 32 career starts. He secured a 20-point outing, his sixth of the season, versus Iowa State (01/30). MSU has racked up a 17-9 record when Molinar provides 10-plus points in his career. His 16.4 points are sixth, his 46.9 field goal percentage is fifth and his 81.0 percent free throw percentage is ninth on the SEC leaderboard. Molinar amassed career-highs with 24 points at Vanderbilt (01/09) and at Georgia (12/30). The Panama native has piled up 10 of his top 11 career scoring efforts this season.

Molinar's 10.5 points per game improvement from his freshmen to his sophomore season is second among SEC players only behind Auburn's Allen Flanigan this season and the eighth-highest in the SEC over the last decade. Current Toronto Raptors and former Ole Miss guard Terence Davis from the 2015-16 to 2016-17 season holds the decade's top spot at a 13.1 points per game improvement.

Smith (12.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.2 APG) has collected 18 games in double figures during his first season with the Maroon and White. Prior to his time at MSU, his previous career-high was nine points against West Virginia (11/16/2018) while at Western Kentucky.

Smith is tied for first in the SEC with seven double-doubles on the season, most recently with 12 points and 13 rebounds versus No. 6 Alabama (02/27). He has rattled off two 20-10 performances in 2020-21 headlined by career-bests 27 points and 14 rebounds came against Florida (01/16). Smith tallied 17 of his 27 points, eight of his 14 rebounds and hit on all six of his shot attempts. He turned 20 points, nine rebounds and two steals at Auburn (03/06) last time out.

Smith's 8.6 rebounds and 3.4 offensive rebounds per contest headline the SEC. He is looking to give State the SEC's rebounding champion in back-to-back seasons, Reggie Perry was the SEC's top rebounding in 2019-20. His nine games of 10-plus boards also are first, while his 5.2 defensive rebounds per game is fourth in the SEC. Smith has provided a 85-of-139 shooting clip (61.1 percent) over his last 17 outings.

3. Abdul Ado (5.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.0 BPG), the SEC's active leader in blocks and rebounds, is scheduled to make his 125th career start during Thursday's Kentucky game. The 125 starts are a program record, the previous mark was 122 career starts by Dee Bost (2009-10-11-12). He ranks first among Power five players and third overall among NCAA active players in blocks followed by a 10th place showing among active Power 5 players in rebounds.

Ado, one of five players to earn a spot on the All-SEC Defensive Team in 2020-21, has ranked among the SEC's top 10 in blocks shots during all four seasons and his 2.0 blocks per game is third this season. Overall, Ado has piled up 236 career blocks, which ranks third in program history. His 1.89 career blocks per game also is third in program history, only behind NCAA all-time leader Jarvis Varnado and Erick Dampier. The Nigeria native has amassed 68 career games with multiple rejections.

Ado tops Mississippi State's all-time field goal percentage leader heading into the Kentucky contest among players with at least 275 baskets made. He came away with a SEC season's best with 11 points against Florida (01/16) and hauled down a season-high 12 rebounds at No. 18 Tennessee (01/26). Ado's 750 career rebounds sit 11th on MSU's all-time list and is four rebounds away from passing Jack Houston (1952-53-54-55).

4. Mississippi State's roster features a talented group of newcomers. The freshmen class is ignited by Deivon Smith (5.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.1 APG), Derek Fountain (4.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG) and Cameron Matthews (2.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.8 SPG). Smith and Matthews became the first true freshmen tandem to start a MSU season opener since Tyson Carter and Mario Kegler during the 2016-17 season.

Smith, the eighth ESPN top 100 signee to play with the Bulldogs under Howland, exploded for a career-best 13 points. He also handed out three assists and added two steals in his home state at Georgia (12/30). Smith has tallied five-plus points in 12 of his 18 SEC games and dished out three or more assists in 12 of his 18 SEC outings. He has distributed 53 of his 83 assists (63.9 percent) over his last 14 appearances since the Florida game (01/16) and set a new career-high with nine dimes versus Iowa State (01/30).

Fountain fired in season's best 20 points and seven rebounds versus LSU (02/10) off the bench. He has started four of the team's last six games and seen 176 of his 199 minutes over the team's last eight outings. The 20-point game put Fountain in elite company with 1,000-point scorers Tyson Carter (2018-19-20-21), Lamar Peters (2017-18-19) and Quinndary Weatherspoon (2016-17-18-19) as the only four freshmen to secure 20-plus points coming off the bench during the Howland era. In fact, Fountain is one of seven MSU freshmen since 1988-89 to score 20-plus points during a SEC game off the bench.

Matthews has impacted the game on the defensive end with steals in 14 appearances and registered multiple steals on six occasions. He secured the game-clinching steal on Vanderbilt's Scotty Pippen Jr. during the closing seconds in Nashville (01/09). Matthews came away with a SEC season's best of six points and a career-high seven rebounds at No. 18 Alabama (01/23).

MSU's freshmen class also features Keondre Montgomery, who coupled with Fountain and Matthews, are the state of Mississippi's top three prospects for the Class of 2020.

5. The Bulldogs also have received solid contributions from Jalen Johnson (5.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG), Javian Davis (2.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG) and Quinten Post (2.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG).

Johnson has piled up 1,186 points and 536 rebounds over 123 career games with his previous stops being at Saint Louis and Louisiana-Lafayette. He has amassed 58 career outings of 10-plus points and 11 outings of 20-plus points. Johnson has knocked down at least one trey in 15 of his 24 appearances and multiple three's in six outings during the 2020-21 campaign.

Davis posted 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over his 31 appearances as a redshirt freshmen at Alabama in 2019-20. His top Bama performance was a 20-point, 10-rebound effort against South Carolina (02/29/2020). Davis chipped in SEC season-high of five points, seven rebounds and two assists versus Kentucky (01/02) and returned to the rotation after a four-game absence against Ole Miss (01/19).

Post fired in a career-best 10 points versus Mississippi Valley State (12/21) to claim his first career game in double figures. He came away with a SEC season's best six points at Arkansas (02/02) and at Texas A&M (03/03). Post also collected a career-best 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals at No. 18 Tennessee (01/26). The Netherlands native has scored in 19 of his 33 career appearances at Mississippi State.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
The Wildcats come into the SEC Tournament off one of their best performances of the season, a 92-64 rout of South Carolina, last Saturday. Kentucky has won four of its last six games, highlighted by 70-55 victory at then No. 19 Tennessee (02/20).

Brandon Boston Jr. (12.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG) headlines a four-player attack in double figures. He pumped in a season's best 21 points fueled by six three-pointers during the South Carolina game (03/06). Boston Jr. has reached 10-plus points on a team-leading 17 occasions, which includes five of his last seven outings. He has complied one double-double which was a 20-point, 10-rebound performance versus Richmond (11/29).

Davion Mintz (11.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.0 SPG), a transfer from Creighton, has ripped off double-digit points in five consecutive games. He also has dished out 15 assists against three turnovers since moving over to the point guard spot in UK's last two games. Mintz amassed a season's best 21 points versus Florida (02/27) and piled up 20 points coupled with seven assists and five rebounds against South Carolina (03/06).

Olivier Sarr (10.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.3 BPG) and Isaiah Jackson (8.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.6 BPG) anchor the interior for Kentucky. Jackson is an All-SEC Freshman and All-SEC Defensive Team recipient. He has collected 10-plus rebounds in six games ignited by a pair of double-doubles during SEC action. Jackson tallied 18 points and 11 rebounds versus Auburn (02/13) followed by 13 points and 10 rebounds against South Carolina (03/06) last time out.

Sarr tucked away a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds during the first matchup with Mississippi State (01/02). He has notched 10-plus points in six of his last eight outings highlighted by consecutive 15-point outings during the Ole Miss (03/02) and South Carolina (03/06) games.

Keion Brooks Jr. (10.3 PPG) returned to the Kentucky rotation in mid-January and been the top option off the bench. He provided 10-plus points in 10 of his 15 outings. Brooks Jr. fired in 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against then No. 11 Tennessee (02/06).

Devin Askew (6.8 PPG, 3.0 APG), Jacob Toppin (5.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG) and Dontaie Allen (4.5 PPG) have made solid contributions throughout the season. Allen dialed up 23 points aided by seven triples versus Mississippi State (01/02).

UP NEXT
The winner of Mississippi State-Kentucky advances to face top-seed and fifth-ranked Alabama during Friday's quarterfinal round. Tip time is slated for 12 p.m. CT from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, televised by ESPN and available online courtesy of the Watch ESPN app.

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.