Mississippi

Mississippi State prepares for defensive slugfest against Rutgers

Published

9 months ago

December 20, 2023

Mississippi State prepares for defensive slugfest against Rutgers

After dispatching one team that leads its conference in scoring defense, Mississippi State will face another on Saturday, this time nearly 1,000 miles from home instead of less than 100.

The Bulldogs (9-2) picked things up after a slow start Sunday in Tupelo to defeat North Texas, one of just seven teams in Division I men’s college basketball allowing fewer than 60 points per game. Rutgers (7-3) is not one of those seven, but the Scarlet Knights are yielding just 60.9 points per contest, the best mark in the Big Ten and the 11th-best in the country, heading into their game against MSU in Newark, N.J.

“I love North Texas and their program and coach (Ross) Hodge and their staff, but … (Rutgers) is going to be bigger, stronger, faster,” Bulldogs head coach Chris Jans said. “It’s going to be a different version of that, but it’s similar in terms of how they want to win. They want to get you into rock fights; they want to get you into some half-court games as best as possible; they want to control the tempo to their favor. They just want to impose their will on you.”

The Scarlet Knights are last in the Big Ten in scoring offense, but their defense has kept them in most games. Clifford Omoruyi leads Rutgers with 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, and his 3.7 blocks per game are by far the most in the Big Ten and second nationally.

Last year’s Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Caleb McConnell, is gone, but Mawot Mag returned earlier this month after missing the final month of last season and the beginning of this season with a torn ACL. Mag finished with 10 points, three assists and two blocks last Saturday in Rutgers’ win over Long Island.

“They’ve got a toughness about them. They play together; they’ve got a core group of guys who have been there and done that for them,” Jans said. “They’ve got great size, they protect the rim at an elite level, they have some dynamic scoring to go along with it, and they’re getting healthy.”

MSU has played the Scarlet Knights just once in program history — a 74-69 loss in November 1999 at a tournament in St. Charles, Mo. The Bulldogs are 2-3 all-time in the state of New Jersey, including a loss to Syracuse in their lone Final Four appearance in 1996.

After Saturday’s game, MSU will take three days off for the players and staff to go their separate ways for Christmas before reconvening on Dec. 27 to prepare for their final non-conference game against Bethune-Cookman on New Year’s Eve.

“We still have a chance to have a nice break, which I’m a big proponent of,” Jans said. “They need to be with their families celebrating Christmas, and equally important from a basketball perspective is just to get away from it a little bit. Get off their legs, rest their bodies and their minds and enjoy the holiday with their families.”

Just eight players saw action for the Bulldogs against the Mean Green as transfer guards Trey Fort and Andrew Taylor and center Gai Chol did not play. Jans said the smaller rotation was not by design, but rather based on the way the game was going, and he substitutes based on feel and suggestions.

Star post player Tolu Smith was cleared to practice with contact last Friday, but still has plenty of work to do before he can take the court in a game for the first time this season. Jans initially prognosticated a mid-January return for Smith, although that timeline could be accelerated considering he is now practicing again.

“I’ve got a target date — today. But unfortunately, I don’t have a vote,” Jans said. “It’s entirely up to the trainers and the doctors and Tolu himself. He’s got a progression that he has to go through. It’s still going to be a while. He’s got a lot of things he has to do. He just got in the shallow end the past couple days prior to the North Texas game. We’ll reconvene today for physical practice… and see where he’s at. There’s no date that I’ve been told yet.”

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Mississippi

Vote for Mississippi boys high school athlete of the week Sept. 2-7

Published

43 mins ago

September 9, 2024

Press Room

Vote for Mississippi boys high school athlete of the week Sept. 2-7

There were several top performers across the state in boys high school sports, but only one can be voted athlete of the week for Sept. 2-7.

Fans may vote in the poll BELOW one time per hour per device. The poll closes at noon on Friday.

To nominate a future athlete of the week, email mchavez@gannett.com or message him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.

To submit high school scores, statistics, records, leaders and other items at any time, email mchavez@gannett.com.

Nominations

Kendetryon Backstrom, Kemper County: Backstrom had 247 passing yards, going 13-of-16 on completions for with two touchdowns and had six carries for 45 yards and three touchdowns in Kemper County’s 46-8 win over Noxapater.

Ronde Baker, Terry: Baker produced 171 rushing yards on 12 carries with four touchdowns in Terry’s 57-6 win over Pure Academy.

Wyatt Bond, Lamar School: Bond recorded 320 passing yards, going 24-of-37 with three touchdowns, and had 43 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Lamar’s 35-34 loss to Winston Academy.

Coby King, Greene County: King was 24-of-35 passing for 418 yards with a touchdown and had 11 carries for 137 rushing yards with four touchdowns in Greene County’s 51-36 loss to George County.

Tray Kinkle, Holly Springs: Kinkle produced 10 carries for 300 yards and four touchdowns in Holly Springs’ 33-0 win over Byers.

Tyshun Willis, Velma Jackson: Willis had 15 carries for 203 rushing yards with a touchdown, four receptions with 59 receiving yards, and a touchdown. On defense, he recorded four sacks, 8.5 tackles and three tackles for loss in Velma Jackson’s 24-22 win over Yazoo County.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.

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Mississippi

Mississippi woman killed in two-vehicle crash in Grenada County

Published

8 hours ago

September 9, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi woman killed in two-vehicle crash in Grenada County

GRENADA COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – A Mississippi woman was killed during a two-vehicle crash in Grenada County.

Officials with the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) said the crash occurred on Highway 7 just after 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 7.

Mississippi woman killed in head-on crash in Louisiana

According to MHP, a 2002 Toyota Sequoia was traveling north on the highway when the vehicle collided with a Mercedes van that was also traveling north.

The driver of the Mercedes, 53-year-old Loretta Hopkins, of Winona, died at the scene.

This crash remains under investigation by MHP.

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Mississippi

Mississippi State’s Loss Doesn’t Stop SEC from Owning Week Two in AP Top 25

Published

15 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi State’s Loss Doesn’t Stop SEC from Owning Week Two in AP Top 25

Outside of Mississippi State, Arkansas and Auburn, the SEC had a very successful Week Two of the college football season. The latest AP Top 25 poll reflects the strength of the SEC with 6 of the top 7 spots belonging to SEC teams.

Here’s a recap of how the ranked SEC teams fared in the second full week of the college football season:

Click here for a recap of the unranked SEC teams.

Scenes from the game between the Georgia Bulldogs against Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Sanford Stadium. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

With the exception of giving up three points, this was probably exactly how Georgia expected this game to go. Carson Beck threw five touchdowns and the defense held Tennessee Tech to less than 150 yards of total offense. Anything less would be a surprise.

Matthew McConaughey looks on from the sideline during the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Texas Longhorns at Michigan Stadium. The Academy Award-winning actor had a lot be happy about in Saturday’s game. / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

More than 100,000 people saw Texas come into Ann Arbor, Mich. and leave with a huge win. The Longhorns looked like the better team from the first drive of the game where they easily marched down the field. That Oct. 19 game in Austin against Georgia is looking better and better.

Alabama fans hold up a sign reading “Hollywood” for Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. / William McLelland-Imagn Images

It was a lot closer than Alabama would’ve liked, but it’s a win that will fend off the “Nick Saban is gone, we’re doomed” crowd. At the same time, though, there were some things that crowd could point to at a later time.

Juice Kiffin makes his way down the Walk of Champions prior to the game between Ole Miss and the Middle Tennessee.

Juice Kiffin makes his way down the Walk of Champions prior to the game between the Mississippi Rebels and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Two games against inferior competition and Ole Miss has outscored its opponents 129-3. They’ll take a slight step up in competition next week against Wake Forest, but the Rebels are still about a month away from playing a team that will truly test them.

Missouri Tigers fans apply body paint against the Buffalo Bulls prior to a game Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Missouri’s schedule just took an unexpected bump in its level of difficulty with No. 24 Boston College joining the top 25. Bill O’Brien is brilliant at game planning and calling plays (not so much with making trades, but that hasn’t reached the college ranks yet). Missouri needs to be on upset alert (and ready to stop the run).

Tennessee Volunteers mascots the Volunteer and Smoky celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the NC State.

Tennessee Volunteers mascots the Volunteer and Smoky celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at the Dukes Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

This happens every year. Tennessee looks really good to start the season and by the end Volunteer fans are saying next year is their year. But maybe this year is their year with the way Nico Iamaleava has been playing.

Oklahoma fans watch during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Of the two SEC newcomers, Texas is getting most of the attention which makes sense based on the current teams. But folks, don’t sleep on the Sooners. They ruined many of my own childhood memories growing up in Texas. This week’s way-too close game doesn’t help that argument, but think long term.

LSU Tigers student section fans paint their chest Back In the Bayou during pregame before the game against the Nicholls State Colonels at Tiger Stadium. / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

LSU was one of three SEC teams to play FCS schools after playing top 25 teams last week. The Tigers and Texas A&M both lost, while Georgia won. So, it’s not surprising to see each of them play FCS teams and neither were any of the results.

SEC Week 2 Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Contenders or Pretenders?

WATCH: Mississippi State’s Bowl Hopes Take a Hit with Arizona State Defeat

Mississippi State Crumbles in the Trenches: What Went Wrong Against Arizona State?

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