Bowers Soaks In Watching Dawgs And Legendary Status
March 14, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
State great was honored at halftime of MSU’s Thursday’s SEC Tournament game against LSU.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ask Mississippi State men's basketball great Timmy Bowers to describe MSU and he can sum it up in just two words.
"It's home," Bowers explains succinctly.
Well on Thursday afternoon at the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, for the first time in a long time, Bowers got a true taste of home.
Bowers was honored as an SEC legend at halftime of MSU's 70-60 win over LSU. And for as great as all that was, equally as special was the fact he got to watch the Bulldogs play live and in person for the first time since he donned his own Maroon and White uniform 20 years ago.
"It's a different experience," Bowers said from his seat at Bridgestone Arena before Thursday's affair even tipped off. "I was telling my entire family I've never really been a fan. I've never been in a crowd of anything watching basketball games – especially a Mississippi State game. So, I'm just taking it all in, having a good time, staying in the moment and enjoying it."
Bowers' day of course got even better from there. He was incredibly grateful to have the chance to be among fellow Bulldogs and get to walk out to center court at half and accept his honor.
"It's just appreciation," Bowers said of his emotions. "I'm enjoying seeing the fans again and enjoying seeing people I haven't seen in probably 20 years. To be honored in front of them at the SEC Tournament, it really speaks volumes for what I did and what we were able to do as a team when I was at Mississippi State."
There's no doubt Thursday served to put a giant exclamation point on Bowers' playing career in Starkville. From 2001 through 2004, Bowers' Bulldog teams racked up 92 wins – an average of 23 per season. State made three NCAA Tournament appearances in that span, won the SEC Tournament in 2002 and claimed a regular-season SEC crown in 2004.
Individually, Bowers had multiple All-SEC honors and remains as one of only five players in program history with at least 1,300 points, 300 assists and 150 steals.
Put simply, Bowers could do it all. It's what he prided himself on.
"I always wanted to be known as a basketball player and I didn't want to be put in a box," Bowers said. "Coming out of high school, I was a scorer. But I averaged probably double figures in rebounds, a little over five assists, steals and blocks – different things like that. So, I guess in baseball, they'd call it a five-tool guy – a guy that can do a little of everything.
"So, whatever was needed of me [I wanted to do]. Some games it was going to be scoring. Some games it was going to be defense. Some games it was going to be my leadership. In my younger days, it might have been just cheering the team on. Whatever the team needed me to do, I was able to step up and do it."
It all ultimately led to big things, including his now-SEC legendary status.
Yes, two decades have passed since Bowers has gotten back to his Bulldog roots as he did Thursday. He was incredibly busy with a long overseas professional career and has recently been based in the Houston, Texas area coaching and teaching the game he loves.
But make no mistake, his heart is and will forever be maroon.
"It means the world to me," Bowers said of State. "I haven't been around it in 20 years, but I love it."
