Wilson Proud To See Bulldog Basketball Booming
February 16, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Super D soaks in a return to The Hump.
STARKVILLE – Sitting in section 115 of Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday night, he looked like any other fan. He was a middle-aged Bulldog supporter doing his part by wearing an appropriately-colored Mississippi State pullover that helped create a sea of white that added to an electric Stark Vegas scene.
But this wasn't just any ordinary fan. In fact, many longtime members of the Bulldog family would say this fan was Super.
Darryl "Super D" Wilson was on the scene for State's most recent home tilt against the Kentucky Wildcats. The MSU sports Hall of Famer was soaking up being back in the building where he starred from 1994 through 1996.
"This is home," Wilson shared. "Coming back here is awesome. It's an awesome experience for me. Being from Alabama originally and coming here and being here and being accepted and taken in, it's just always been amazing."
It's not completely uncommon these days for Wilson to show up at The Hump when he can. However, basketball season remains a busy time of year for Wilson as he serves as the head hoops coach at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi.
Wednesday was Wilson's second Bulldog game to attend this year and he was relishing the feeling of being amongst close to 10,000 of his Maroon-and-White-loving kin. So much so, he offered the highest of praise for the atmosphere as he compared it to the environment back when State made its 1996 Final Four run.
"This might be even better," Wilson said as he looked around the arena. "This is awesome. The atmosphere is awesome. All the things they're doing to The Hump [with the renovation] is awesome…Honestly, I wish I could still play. This is special."
If anyone knows special, it'd be Wilson, because that's exactly what he was.
Wilson was one of the sharpest shooting Bulldogs to ever step foot on the Hump floor. The multi-time All-Southeastern Conference Team selection has the third-most 3-pointers all-time at MSU. He's also third in career 3-point field goal percentage for MSU players that have made at least 70 treys.
All the long-range makes are a huge part of the reason Wilson sits at No. 8 on the school's all-time scoring chart. However, beyond all his individual success, he's best remembered for being a part of that 1995-96 bunch whose banner remains prominently featured as it hangs from rafters at The Hump.
The work that went into that magical season, the roots that Wilson grew at State leading up to it and the reception he gets when he's back around helps him feel just as much a part of things at MSU as he was about three decades ago.
"I've been invested here; what more can you say?" Wilson said. "I'm not bragging or anything like that, but we worked our tails off and we really put all we had in it [back in 1996 and the years prior]. We put all we had in ourselves, in this university, to the fans and the Starkville community. [Former MSU head coach Richard Williams] said we'd never really know what we did until time passed. Being almost 50 years old now and coming here and people still give love and respect, it shows you how you really find out what that true love is over time. That's what it is every time I'm here."
Now, there's a new generation of Bulldogs earning adoration and Wilson is happy to give it to them. Tolu Smith, Cameron Matthews, Shakeel Moore, D.J. Jeffries, Dashawn Davis and the rest are red hot and making a run for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
One of the folks most happy to see it all unfold is Wilson. He knows what it takes to get Bulldog basketball to great heights, and he's confident MSU is quickly climbing once again.
"[Head coach Chris Jans] has really turned the volume up," Wilson said. "You see it by the crowd here. The guys have been winning. All these people in Starkville want you to do is win. And if you win, they're coming. Right now, the guys are winning. They're playing good. That speaks for itself."
With Wilson having so much fun enjoying Mississippi State basketball's resurgence, odds are it won't be long until Super D pops up in The Hump again.
"It's a Bulldog thing," Wilson said. "It's a family bond and it's awesome."
