Dogs whip LSU

Mississippi State got off to a good start in the SEC with a 61-39 win at LSU.

Yep. That’s right. LSU scored just 39 points. It was the fewest points MSU allowed since losing to Auburn 38-36 in overtime at the 1982 SEC tournament.

As for a few nuggets . . .
• Jarvis Varnado was a beast with 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds to go along with his seven blocked shots.
• Also in double-digits for MSU were Jamont Gordon with 13 and Barry Stewart with 11.
• State won the battle of the boards, 47-36. At one point, it was 28-all.
• The Bulldogs never trailed.
• MSU hit 24 of its 50 shots, while LSU ws just 14 of 66.
• The key point of the game was a 13-2 run that stretched a 25-22 lead to 38-24.
• Charles Rhodes missed his third-straight game and didn’t make the trip in order to stay back and rehab.
And finally, LSU is terrible. I’ll be surprised if the Tigers win more than three SEC games.

I’m at the Maravich Center . . .

But I’m nearly alone. Let’s just say it won’t be much of a homecourt advantage for the Tigahs.

This is how bad it is. Kyle Veazey (of the Clarion Ledger kind) and myself pulled into the press parking lot and the attendant doesn’t even bother to check our passes. She just waves us through as if to say, “Don’t bother me. It’s raining.”

Well, sprinkling would be more accurate.

As for news, not only is Charles Rhodes not playing, he didn’t even make the trip. That’s a little unusual, and something we’ll ask Stansbury postgame.

Pregame notes . . .
• LSU leads the overall series 101-90 and has won four of the last six. However, the Bulldogs swept last year.
• The Tigers’ dress roster features seven scholarship players and one walk-on.
• During MSU’s four-game winning streak, it’s shooting a collective 51 percent from the field and limiting its opponents to just 35 percent.
• The Bulldogs have opened SEC play on the road under Stansbury only three times.

Four Dogs go under the knife

Yes. I’m in Baton Rouge getting ready for the basketball game in a couple of hours. However, I do have some football news to share.

According to head trainer Paul Mock, four Mississippi State football players have had surgeries in recent days due to injuries from this past season.

Running back Anthony Dixon and defensive back Jasper O’Quinn both had meniscus tears, while Dixon also had a cyst removed. Running back Arnil Stallworth had surgery on his shoulder, and defensive lineman Jimmie Holmes had torn cartilege in his wrist repaired.

Only Stallworth is expecte to miss spring drills, which begin Feb. 26.