We are live from inside Rupp Arena – thank heaven, because the white stuff’s still coming down – where Mississippi State will take on Kentucky. The Wildcats are tied for first in the SEC Eastern Division, having dropped two straight. MSU is second in the West, having lost two of its last three.
Personal note: I am loving the UK dance team’s outfits. I’m just talking about the outfits, now. Anyway, the breakdown:
TV: Raycom.
XM: Channel 199.
Series: Kentucky leads 84-19.
Last year: MSU, 69-64 in Starkville.
Coaches: MSU – Rick Stansbury (222-122, 11th year); Kentucky – Billy Gillispie (134-77, seventh year; 34-19, second year at Kentucky).
Notes: Rupp Arena is the only SEC venue where Stansbury hasn’t won a game. … MSU’s last win at Rupp was 1995. … MSU leads the nation in blocked shots per game, with 7.9. Kentucky (7.4) is tied for second. … State’s Jarvis Varnado leads the nation with 4.7 blocks per game.
Probable starters
Mississippi State (14-7, 4-2 SEC)
C – Jarvis Varnado 6-9 Jr. 12.7 ppg
G – Phil Turner 6-3 So. 7.6 ppg
G – Dee Bost 6-2 Fr. 9.8 ppg
G – Barry Stewart 6-3 Jr. 10.5 ppg
G – Ravern Johnson 6-7 So. 12.8 ppg
Top reserves: F Romero Osby, G Twany Beckham, G Riley Benock.
Kentucky (16-6, 5-2 SEC)
G – Ramon Harris 6-7 Jr. 5.6 ppg
G – Michael Porter 6-3 Jr. 3.4 ppg
G – Jodie Meeks 6-4 Jr. 25.5 ppg
F – Perry Stevenson 6-9 Jr. 8.0 ppg
C – Patrick Patterson 6-9 So. 18.5 ppg
Top reserves: F Darius Miller, G DeAndre Liggins.
Inside Mississippi State Sports with Brad Locke 
February 3, 2009 at 6:13 pm |
At 14:40/1st half, MSU up 8-0. We’ve seen these fast starts before (Ole Miss). But, Bulldogs are doing a good job trapping in the post and denying clean looks from 3. Basically, good defense all-around.
February 3, 2009 at 6:20 pm |
Six points for Phil Turner, five for Barry Stewart. MSU leads 11-6 at 11:51/1st half. Neither Meeks nor Patterson have scored for UK.
February 3, 2009 at 6:30 pm |
Meeks and Patterson finally scored for UK, and MSU had a nearly 5-minute scoring drought. But the Bulldogs lead 16-12 at 7:20/1st half.
February 3, 2009 at 6:39 pm |
Varnado’s on the bench with two fouls, but MSU leads 23-16 at 3:57/1st half. Turner and Stewart have 8 points each.
February 3, 2009 at 6:39 pm |
I think Barry saw where I was calling him out this week, BUT I picked him to surprise tonight 🙂
February 3, 2009 at 6:45 pm |
At :52.4/1st half, Turner has 13 points and State leads 31-24. Dogs are 7-14 from deep.
February 3, 2009 at 6:50 pm |
Ravern Johnson hits a 3-pointer with :06 left to give MSU a 37-24 halftime lead. The Wildcats left the floor to a chorus of boos. Stats for State:
• Turner: 13 points (3-6 from deep)
• Johnson: 11 points (3-5 from deep)
• MSU is 13-28 from the floor, 9-16 from 3-point
For UK:
• MIller has 7, Meeks 6, Patterson 4
• UK is 9-27 from floor, 1-7 from deep
Rebounds: UK 18, MSU 17
Blocks: MSU 5 (2 by Varnado), UK 1
February 3, 2009 at 6:51 pm |
Oh, and Turner leads MSU with 6 boards.
February 3, 2009 at 6:58 pm |
Is this game on Comcast Cable? It says it’s on Fox Sports South but my Fox Sports South is showing some Boxing Retrospective…!?!?!
February 3, 2009 at 7:11 pm |
MSU still holds a 13-point edge, 41-28 at 15:54/2nd half. Five combined turnovers, still a ragged game.
February 3, 2009 at 7:11 pm |
can’t find it on comcast. unless you have espn college basketball pay per view
February 3, 2009 at 7:12 pm |
Raycom, so whoever picks that up. No telling.
February 3, 2009 at 7:18 pm |
Bulldogs take a timeout after a Meeks jumper. He’s got 10, but State is up 43-34 at 13:18/2nd half.
February 3, 2009 at 7:21 pm |
hang on dawgs!
February 3, 2009 at 7:25 pm |
Well, UK’s gotten within 43-40. Meeks just threw down a two-hander. State hasn’t scored in nearly 4 minutes.
February 3, 2009 at 7:27 pm |
Like I said, Stanz can’t put a game away…this is more on our players for suckin’ it up at the moment, but we have to fix this crap. This is the most frustrating bball team I have ever watched
February 3, 2009 at 7:27 pm |
no inside presence offensively is killing us!
February 3, 2009 at 7:30 pm |
live by the 3 die by the 3
February 3, 2009 at 7:31 pm |
wow, we have ballz after all, Barry has been huge
February 3, 2009 at 7:32 pm |
At 6:58, it’s 50-45 State. Bost had a sweet dish to Varnado for a dunk to make it 47-42.
February 3, 2009 at 7:33 pm |
FOUL! Good call!
February 3, 2009 at 7:36 pm |
Up 10!
February 3, 2009 at 7:40 pm |
ITS A BLOCK PARTY!!!!
February 3, 2009 at 7:41 pm |
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH Baby! Do it Dawgs! Stanz’s kids ran on the court when UK called the timeout 😀
February 3, 2009 at 7:43 pm |
With 2:18 left, MSU is up 61-48. It was 61-45 before a Meeks 3-pointer. Bost has been big, plus Turner and Johnson hit huge 3-pointers. Turner has a game-high 18 points and 8 boards. He’s 4-9 from deep.
February 3, 2009 at 7:43 pm |
How can Gillespie smile when he’s getting waxed at home?
February 3, 2009 at 7:44 pm |
It’s looking like it was worth it for me to stay up till 4 am local time to stare at the livestats and this blog!!!
February 3, 2009 at 7:45 pm |
ukrainedog is dedicated, we need more like him.
February 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
fo sho’
February 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
Its RAINING @ Rupp!!!
February 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
I was under the impression that the halftime boos were because the clock never stopped after Ravern’s 3-pointer. Kentucky lost about 3 or 4 seconds off the game clock before they could inbound it. Kinda crappy fans if they boo their own players, though.
February 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
How long has it been since Kentucky lost 2 straight at home? 😀
February 3, 2009 at 7:50 pm |
Billy G is an idiot…that’s why he is smiling…thats why he won’t have a job in 2 years
February 3, 2009 at 7:52 pm |
Final: MSU 66, UK 57. Nicely done.
February 3, 2009 at 7:52 pm |
Oh yeah, first win at Rupp for MSU in 14 years.
February 3, 2009 at 7:53 pm |
Big road win coming off the loss at home. Go State!
February 3, 2009 at 8:07 pm |
Everyone has figured out what it takes to beat Kentucky at home or on the road. Stop Meeks and you got it.
February 3, 2009 at 8:10 pm |
Hey Brad, did you see Ashley Judd?
February 3, 2009 at 8:13 pm |
Yup…..looks like we live by the 3’s tonight. 🙂
February 3, 2009 at 8:14 pm |
Congrat State and fans.
February 3, 2009 at 8:15 pm |
great win by the dogs. this takes away a little of the sting from saturday’s loss.
February 3, 2009 at 8:22 pm |
I was lucky tonight I’ve got Metrocast. How ironic I got to watch the game on a Comcast sponsored station on Metrocast. Threes are fun to watch when your hitting them. Not trying to make anybody mad but my Brother in law has Comcast 15 miles from my house he had to watch boxing.
February 3, 2009 at 8:35 pm |
comcast sucks. big win. this time the three ball kept us alive. at least there’s hope that we could get in the tourney and catch fire for a few games. maybe we’ll make the sweet 16 for the first time under stans…
February 3, 2009 at 8:52 pm |
For us to make that kinda of run, we better hit much better than 50% from the arc. Brian Johnson, or Elgin Bailey are going to lhave to step up and become a bigger presence in the middle and take some pressure off of Vernardo. Great win, need to start a streak and keep it alive.
February 3, 2009 at 9:03 pm |
Looks like we’re an all or nothing team. We’re either hot from long range or cold. Living and dying by the 3. It’s nice when they go in. Frustrating that we have no other offensive consistent threat.
February 3, 2009 at 9:16 pm |
Congratulations Bulldogs. Nice win. Those were some long 3’s. Got to watch the game here in Ripley on Raycom out of Memphis. If WCBI in Columbus is not going to broadcast the week-night games, they should not be able to carry the Raycom games on Saturdays, IMO. Anyway, nice Win.
February 3, 2009 at 9:29 pm |
Thats true buzzard, Someone has got to step up and take charge. Its at this time last year when we could count on Charles Rhodes to take over a game. We got to have someone on the inside who is going to dominate!