It’s Crunch Time
February 08, 2022 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Bulldogs enter season’s final stretch with eyes on proving they’re an NCAA Tournament team.
STARKVILLE – Ben Howland didn't run from it this past Saturday night.
It was only moments after Mississippi State's disappointing loss at Arkansas. Yes, the task was daunting against one of the country's hottest teams inside a packed Bud Walton Arena, but a resume-building opportunity had slipped away from the Bulldogs. MSU's leader was still stinging from the defeat when he readily admitted his squad has plenty of work to do if it still wants to achieve its goals this season.
"I think we're an NCAA Tournament team," Howland said. "We have to prove it, though."
On Wednesday night, in an 8 p.m. game against No. 18 Tennessee at Humphrey Coliseum, the Bulldogs have their eyes set on starting the proving. It's a chance to pick up a much-sought-after Quad 1 win for State – a feat that might put MSU on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble with this year's campaign in the home stretch.
Mississippi State is among the first four teams currently out of the field for the Big Dance according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi's Tuesday projections. The Bulldogs sit with a NET ranking of 50 as of Tuesday afternoon.
What that means is this. If today was Selection Sunday, MSU would be sweating a lot.
But it's not Selection Sunday. It's early February. The pressure has picked up, yes, but State's destiny still rests firmly in its own hands.
Oh yes, the Bulldogs know it, too. How could they not? If anyone is familiar with the NCAA postseason process and stresses that come with it, it's Howland – the author of three Final Four teams who is one of only 15 coaches in history to take four different programs dancing in March. You better believe Howland is taking this moment in time seriously.
"The sense of urgency starts with me," Howland said on Tuesday. "It was very clear in our hour-and-10-minute film session [earlier this week] that there was a sense of urgency coming from the head coach – in terms of effort, in terms of execution, in terms of desire. As of [Tuesday], we have 27 days left in the regular season. We have nine games to play in 26 days starting [Wednesday]. So, there's not a lot of practice time left. We've got to clean up and be very efficient at both ends of the floor with the things we're doing…But there's definitely a sense of urgency."
Here's how the stretch run shakes out for State. There are five regular season road games remaining. There are four contests in Starkville.
Every game is vital, but it's especially important for the Bulldogs to defend their home floor. It gives some margin for error on the road – something that's essential to have given the rowdy environments in the Southeastern Conference.
Remember the defeats State suffered at Florida, at Kentucky and at Arkansas? All of those were games MSU had a chance to win but lost late – the end results no doubt impacted by each team's fanbase.
The four home games left on MSU's schedule, starting with Wednesday night's affair, give Bulldog fans the chance to hand their own team a push, much as they did most recently in home wins over No. 24 Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina. Perhaps a rocking Hump makes all the difference in the world in State's ultimate fate.
The stakes are now raised for everyone. For the players, every shot is more important and every rebound more vital.
For the fans, every cheer or bit of applause is more needed.
For the coaches, every decision weighs more heavily.
There's no doubt what time it is for Mississippi State.
"It's crunch time," Howland said.
Game on.
