Bringing The Fight In Nashville
March 15, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
At the SEC Tournament, Dawgs have been unwilling to settle for just likely locking down a bid to the big dance.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Inside a victorious Mississippi State locker room at Bridgestone Arena on Friday afternoon, the scene was wild. It was rowdy. It was loud. It was really, really loud.
And why not?
The Bulldogs had just knocked off top-seeded Tennessee 73-56 at the Southeastern Conference Tournament and advanced to the event's semifinals for the first time in 14 years. Not only that, the Dawgs just punched the Volunteers in the mouth all day long, dominating the contest from the opening tip, never trailing all game and playing the entirety of the second half with a double-digit lead.
"You took the fight to them," head coach Chris Jans said as he addressed his team postgame. "Now we get to do this again [Saturday]."
Yes, the Dawgs do. MSU will now take on Auburn Saturday at noon CT with the winner advancing to the SEC Tourney championship game. Outside the State locker room, it's a spot very few predicted the Bulldogs would be in.
College basketball experts and its bracketologists had a consistent thought on State headed into this week: the Dawgs simply needed to beat LSU and all but assure themselves an invite to the NCAA Tournament.
Maybe that was enough for some, but it was nowhere near enough for the Dawgs. They'll dance when it's time to dance.
Right now, it's all about making music in The Music City. That's absolutely all that matters.
"We're hungry," D.J. Jeffries said. "None of us in here have won an SEC Championship. And this is my last go-around, so for me, I want to end it with a bang. If it takes me breaking a leg…whatever it takes, I'm going to go out there and do it."
Jeffries' teammates have expressed similar thoughts ever since the team landed in Nashville back on Tuesday.
It's not just talk either. The Bulldogs' actions are proving their burning desire to lift a trophy come Sunday.
Just ask Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes, who seemed almost taken aback at the storm his own team had to endure Friday.
"[Mississippi State] dominated the game in any way they wanted to," Barnes said.
The Dawgs absolutely did. Offensively, State controlled the post, outscoring Tennessee 42-14 in the paint. Overall, the Bulldogs shot 55.3 percent as a team, including a 61.5 percent mark in a first half where MSU was able to take a commanding 38-19 advantage after the first 20 minutes of play.
Defensively, the Dawgs held Tennessee to a 30.6 team field goal percentage. Vols star and SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht managed only 14 points – more than seven below his season average. Knecht shot just 4-of-17 from the field, seemingly frustrated by MSU's tenacity.
Mississippi State was just absolutely relentless, obviously motivated and every Bulldog was on the same page. This State group just wouldn't be denied.
"I felt like we did a great job for 40 minutes," Jeffries said. "We stayed together from the start. We just dictated. We didn't allow [Tennessee] to get into their stuff. They were just fighting from behind the whole time. We did a good job for 40 minutes."
As a result, State gets at least 40 more minutes of SEC Tourney action on Saturday. Beat Auburn and there could be a lot more to celebrate on Selection Sunday than just an NCAA at-large berth.
"I hope you all packed enough stuff," Jans told his team after Friday's win.
Don't worry, coach. They all insist they did.
"I got enough clothes, of course," Matthews said. "I have enough for the whole weekend."
Added Jeffries: "Yeah, I packed enough clothes. You know I'm always ready."
Maybe no one else expected the Bulldogs to be in this spot, but they did. Now here they are, playing into the weekend in Nashville.
Everyone who does such would be wise not to put any ceilings on what this group can ultimately accomplish either. Limit them at your own risk.
Their Maroon and White hearts have come into March burning red-hot, and they're chomping at the bit to prove their supporters right and their doubters wrong.
"We get after it," Matthews said. "Please, please, keep counting us out. Please keep giving us a chip on our shoulder. Gives fuel to the fire. Just keep doing that."
