MSU 58 Arkansas 78

That was ugly! Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. I'm glad that one was over. It makes me sick to talk of it anymore. Lets move on and rebound against the Vols on Saturday. Go Dawgs!!!

MSU vs Arkansas

Not enough time to research the matchup in depth, but wanted everybody's comment on the game. For stats and more click here: http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/teams/page/AR

Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

According to Veazy's Blog

Charles Thomas has been suspended for the MSU game on Wednesday. This should be a hit to ARK's lineup and will be interesting. Thomas has done a good job in the past of defending Charles. Thomas has been contributing 10.5 pts and 5.1 rbs on the season.

www.clarionledger.com

In at #25

We come in at #25 in the coaches, #26 in the AP. Looks like the media is back in love with Florida again.
http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings

Report Card is Back!

OLE MISS REPORT CARD
What a game to grade. We finally put it all together in the same game. A 20 point blow out of the #15 team in the nation. We played great offense, great defense, sharp, crisp passes and as a team, good free throw shooting. I feel that the greatest compliment Charles Rhodes has ever gotten came from Andy Kennedy when he said, “Charles Rhodes told us what he was going to do and he did it.” But Charles wasn’t the only one that did great. The no look, back of the head pass to Rhodes from Gordon was a thing of beauty and brought everyone in the house to their feet yelling. I even think a few of the Ole Miss fans may have applauded that basket. We’ll share more on others below.
OFFENSE A
This is the game where just about everyone on the bench made some type of contribution. Everybody that dressed out got to play. TF Benock coming off the bench for 21 minutes made up for the lost production of Ben Hansbrough (out with mono) hitting 4 of 5 from behind the arc. Bailey and Johnson both getting 11 minutes while resting our starters played well. Combined they pulled down 6 rebounds and scored 10 points. In fact, Bailey took a sharp pass near the floor, caught it and stuffed it for two. Before hand, I would have sworn he could never make that play. This turned out be a game where the starters didn’t really have to play the whole game for us to win. Stewart was the only starter that played more than 30 minutes and that was for 33. In this game, our bench players outscored the Rebels 25 to 16. I feel there were so many superlatives by our team in this game that it would take several pages pointing them all out.
DEFENSE A
As a team, our guys turned in a stellar performance. Gordon’s harassment of Chris Warren held him to 5 of 20 shooting, which included on 2 of 10 from behind the arc. We were able to get Ole Miss’s big men in foul trouble which also limited their scoring and rebounding production. Because of our defense, the Rebs had to play 3 of their starters for over 30 minutes including Warren playing for 35 minutes. The way our defense chased him around, he probably needed that 5 minutes of breathing time. Shot blocking also came into play in this game with our blocking 8 shots to the Rebs 5. “Swat” Varnado had 4. Bailey had 2 blocks, Gordon and Augustus picking up the other two.
ASSIST TO TURNOVER RATIO A
On average this was our best of the year. We ended the game with 15 assists and 11 turnovers. Gordon ended the game with 6 assists to 1 turnover. In fact, it this area, our bench players did well also with 5 assists and 2 turnovers. I sincerely hope this is a continuing trend. As a comparison, Ole Miss had 8 assists and 6 turnovers.
REBOUNDING A
Again, we out rebounded our opponent 40 to 39. Curtis was a hoss for the Rebs with 11 rebounds. However Curtis and Williams (starters) combined for 14 rebounds. But, Varnado and Rhodes teamed up for 14 also. Surprisingly, Phil Turner pulled down 6 rebounds in this contest. We could probably have done just a tad better on offensive rebounds, but that’ll come as the season goes on.
3 POINT SHOOTING A
Although we were only 7 of 19 from behind the line, they were timely and help knock the wind out of the Rebels. TF Benock was 4 of 5 from behind the line. Overall, we 36.8% from behind the line. But in the second half of the game, we were 4 of 8 for 50%. I think Rhodes has found his scoring zone because he didn’t attempt the first 3 pointer in this game.
FREE THROW SHOOTING A
In some respects, I suppose we will always criticize this area of the game until they are consistently hitting 100%. In this game we were 7 of 10 in the first half for 70%. In the second half, we were 6 of 9 for 68.4%. But if we could have made just one more of those misses, we would have been 14 of 19 for 73.7% as a team. I think we would all feel more comfortable with us consistently shooting FTs in the 70’s.
OFFICIATING A
I thought the officiating in this game was pretty decent. They may have missed some calls and they allowed the players to play and I don’t feel they showed any bias in their calls. To me, that is all you can ask for.
OVERALL A
What more can be said. I graded out all categories with A’s. They played a complete game against a very good opponent and blew them out. GO DAWGS!!!-001

MSU 88 UM 68

Where do you start with the game. It was the most complete game the dogs have played to this point. They just made play after play. This team lived up to the expectations we had as a fan base going into this season. Our team is scary good when we shoot 57% to go with our defense. Charles was dazzling, why can't you play like that game in and game out Charles!! He talked the talk and back it up, good game Charles. If you continue to play like that, they will pay you to play next year!!! The best thing is that you have to feel like we're catching fire like we did towards the end of last season and its late January and WE ARE 5-0 SEC folks. Great game all around, we are one of the most versatile teams in the land, each time a player goes down, we get better. Good game by all the players, gotta love Elgin's play. We took their game and turned it up a notch and turned it on them. One more thing, the behind the back pass to Charles from Jamont has to be one of the 10 best plays I've seen an MSU player make. Good job dogs, if we take care of business in Arkansas, look out SEC!!!!

MSU vs. UM Preview

MSU, Ole Miss. Four PM, Saturday, Humphrey Coliseum. Enough Said. Any Comments?

Signee Update

1/19/2008 Hargrave 100 Averett 83
Dee Bost scored 14 points and had a team high 6 assists.

1/15/2008 Hargrave 115 Patrick Henry CC 74
Dee Bost scored 22 points and had a team high 8 assists.

01/04/08 NE Lauderdale 75 Kemper County 58 Osby 15pts

01/05/08 NE Lauderdale 79 Quitman 66 Osby 35pts

01/08/08 NE Lauderdale 72 Laurel 59 Osby 25pts

01/11/08 NE Lauderdale 61 South Jones 63 Osby 16pts

01/18/08 NE Lauderdale 78 Northeast Jones 53 Osby 27pts

01/21/08 NE Lauderdale 66 St. Jude (AL) 79 Osby 26 pts

_

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

MSU 66 AL 56

Its time for folks to stand up and notice our bulldogs. The SEC season is young, but 4-o is something to stick your chest out a bit. Jarvis found his krytonite in Hendrix today, but still had some key put backs. Great game for Elgin, if he can hold his own against Hendrix he has a bright future ahead of him. Ben did a great job in his first game back. I'm most proud of our team's ability to be so multi dimensional. Its seem like its something different every game and this team continues to answer. Why are we 4-0 in the SEC after being 5-5, one word chemistry. This team's toughness and ability to keep their head above water when they are getting there opponents best punch will carry us a ways this season. Great victory over the tide, its great for to be 4-0 and doesn't hurt making the tide 0-4. Saturday will be where the rubber meets the road when Johnny Reb comes to town. We'll see what prevails, offense or defense? We'll see. Go Dawgs!!!!!

The Big Bad Tide

The big bad tide, well not as big and bad as in years past will play host to our dogs today at 2PM. I like to look at this next week as Jarvis's last hurdle to the supreme post man in the SEC. Hendrix and Curtis will be the last two big men to topple. I think Hendrix will be a load today. The tide are defeated in the SEC and we need to keep it that way. We'll see what dimension of Jamont's game will take down the tide today. Tune in at 2. Go Dawgs!!!!

MSU 69 KY 64

What a game, what a game, WHAT A GAME! The end of the game was spent on the edge of my seat hoping for at least 1 of 2 FT's. Great game for Jamont and Jarvis. Its becoming obvious he has a real shot at the SEC record and looks like the MSU recording could be falling with double digit games left in the season. Jamont seemed to have an answer to keep the lead stretched when we needed it.
Great win for MSU: http://www.mstateathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=16800&ATCLID=1369323
If we can go to AL and win on the road, folks will have to take us serious with two road wins and two wins against SEC east teams. Big game on Saturday and a nail biter tonight. Go Dawgs!!!

Mr. Osby on Showcase

For those of you in the metro area who want a chance to see MSU signee and Mr. Basketball play, here is your chance. Romero will be playing at the Rumble in the South event at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton, MS. Romero will play at 6 p.m, Monday, 01/21/08.: Northeast Lauderdale vs. St. Jude, Alabama. For more info:

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/SPORTS06/801150365/1117

1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

The Cats are Coming to Town!!!!

The cats are coming to town tonight and it should be a good one. For the past two seasons, it seems like there was only one man that could stop Jamont and that was Randolf Morris. Thankfully he's gone and KY will has been thin in this area. The only frontcourt player with any type of experience before this year is 6'9" 190 lb Perry Stevenson. Newcomer Patrick Patterson is the man in the middle for the wildcats. Jarvis should match up well with with Stevenson or Patterson. The cats are a guard dominated lineup with several key players still missing from the rotation. The cats knocked Vandy from the ranks of the unbeaten and should be flying high when they get to the hump. I think its time we took KY down a couple of notches tonight. Its obvious Ben won't be at full strength tonight, could we see Ravern or Riley come into their own t0night. Be their if you can, or catch it on ESPN @ 8PM. Go Dawgs!!!

Need more, find it here: http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/teams/page/KY

3 John 1:3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.

The Quest for the Record

Jarvis has a real shot at the blocks record for a single game and the season. From now own we'll be keeping up with his progress and his quest for the record. If you look at the record and the average that is needed it is within reach. So keep any eye on progress game by game for the record.

“I just block shots and rebound. That is what I do. There is no pressure at all.” -Jarvis Varnado AKA- Mr. Swat

MSU 60 Georgia 49

This was one of the more awkward MSU games I have attended in a while, as far as the refs go, a block and a charge on the same play and a jump ball b/c none of the 3 refs could tell who touched the ball last. It was a physical game, we had some casualties. I anxious to see how long Ben will be out and to see the prognosis on Charles. That has to be a MSU record for Jarvis with 10 blocks in 21 minutes played. Georgia came out of the half and mauled Jarvis not letting him block shots. I hope all had the opportunity to see Jarvis's 3 blocks on one Georgia possession, it was a thing of beauty. Jarvis is the best shot blocker the SEC has seen since Roy Rogers of Alabama. The Dogs couldn't get anything near the paint in the first half. We are playing some excellent defense and Phil Turner is play a big part of that. Look for Benock & Ravern to step up in Ben's absence. Everyone saw the lazy passes and I never seen MSU milk the clock like they did toward the end of the game. I hope is all possible, you will make it to Starkville on Tuesday, the cats will be riding high after knocking Vandy from the ranks of the unbeatens. Any way you spread it, we are 2-0 in the SEC and playing some good defense, will be a good one on Tuesday. Go Dawgs!!!!

Dogs and the Pups

Last season we did not play well in Athens. The Bulldogs are led by Billy Humphrey and Sundiata Gains in the back court which is the strength of this Georgia team. Georgia has a deep front court with size, but no one has stepped up and become a star yet. This is Felton's fifth season, so the pressure is on for an NCAA bid. Another game with Charles, will the success continue to be there as we get deeper into the SEC season. The pups are coming off a close win over Georgia Tech. The pups are 9-4 and looking to get their SEC win. Want some more info check out here:
http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/teams/page/GA

Mark 11:22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

MSU 61 LSU 39

Two things seem to rising to the top with the absence of Charles, Jarvis is being given the opportunity to be the man in the middle and he is taking advantage of it (13pts 17 rbs 7 blks) and we are playing some good defense with this small lineup. The points continue to be spread around. LSU seems to have a long season in front of them. That is some of the worst first half shooting I've seen in awhile for LSU. Jamont came on late, and Ravern continues to look to be some energy off the bench. Our turnovers were horrible in the first half. We need to keep this train rolling , the game on Saturday should be a good one. Dogs and Pups at 1PM.

Swat

If you haven't seen it yet check out Kyle's article on Jarvis, very good:
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/SPORTS030102/801090339/1287/SPORTS&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL

Acts 15:9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

LSU Preview

The first thing that stands out to about this game is that we open and close the season with the bayou bengals. The star of the team is McDonald's AA Anthony Randolf who is second in scoring. Randolf is 6'10 and can play inside and out. They are led by Marcus Thornton in scoring with 17.5 ppg. The tigers are 7-7 and have lost to teams that were expected and some that were not. This is a must win for the dogs and we need to strike while the tigers are down, they could be a totally different team by the time we end the season. Our third game in a row without Charles, lets cross our fingers and hope the small lineup continues to be successful. More info check it out here:

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/teams/page/LSU

Luke 8:25 He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

Game Recap MSU 77 Laf. 53

I don't know if it was the opponent or the facility, but this was not one of the more entertainin MSU games I've attended. The scoring was spread around with Ben making some nice catch and shootsplays. MSU has been know for playing down to its competition and at times this game was no exception. It just felt like the team wasn't pushing the ball down the court like they could. The leopards got alot of loose balls that they had no business getting to. The game was highlighted by two things, a bunch of nonathletic players from Lafeyette coming up about 6 inches shy of dunks on more than one occasion. The leopards have played some folks close, but they were one dimensional and when they couldn't hit their 3's, our lead grew. The other thing that stuck out in the contest was Ravern Johnson, 11 point wasn't much to write home about but he had some nice moves and I he might have shot one 3 the entire game. I still think our offense will run through Ravern in a couple of years. It was a win none the less, but from the time the buzzer sounded to end the game, its time for SEC. Whatever disappointments we've experienced so far this season, it doesn't matter now. Its SEC time and lets take it game by game. It looks to be a weaker conference than years past and still think 10 wins will take the west. 12 wins might take the overall title this season. Well bulldog fans, it time and it all starts Wednesday night. It's a new season, I'm ready, are you?

Lafayette Preveiw

The first thing I had to do is google Lafayette College to figure out just where they are located. They hail from Easton Pennsylvania. They were founded in 1826 and have an enrollment of 2381. The Leopards hail from the Patriot Conference and finished 8th in the conference with a record of 9-21. They return all five starters, they shoot the 3 well, but it will take much more than that to compete with the Bulldogs. They play #13 Pitt a good first half. The injury must be pretty bad if Charles won't play in front of the home crowd. I have to be honest I like the shakeup it has caused and could be what we need heading into SEC. Here is a little more info:
http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/teams/page/LAF

So, that only leaves one question, which player for Lafayette will have a career high, I'm going to say Matt Betley. Just a guess.

Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.