About to tip off at Humphrey Coliseum. Here are the basics:
TV: Raycom.
XM: Channel 199.
Series: Arkansas leads 26-20.
Last meeting: MSU, 70-56 on Jan. 10 in Fayetteville.
Coaches: Arkansas – John Pelphrey (116-86, seventh year; 36-19, second year at Arkansas); MSU – Rick Stansbury (223-122, 11th year).
Notes: MSU is 15-5 against Arkansas at home and has won eight straight at Humphrey Coliseum against the Hogs. … State’s Ravern Johnson leads the nation in 3-point percentage (49.2). … MSU is second in the SEC in defensive rebounds per game (27.4) but 12th in offensive boards (10.2).
Probable starters
Arkansas (13-7, 1-6 SEC)
G – Courtney Fortson 5-11 Fr. 14.6 ppg
G – Stefan Welch 6-3 Jr. 12.5 ppg
G – Rotnei Clarke 6-0 Fr. 10.8 ppg
F – Michael Washington 6-9 Jr. 17.2 ppg
F – Jason Henry 6-6 Fr. 7.4 ppg
Top reserves: G Marcus Britt, F Michael Sanchez.
Mississippi State (15-7, 5-2 SEC)
C – Jarvis Varnado 6-9 Jr. 12.4 ppg
G – Phil Turner 6-3 So. 8.0 ppg
G – Dee Bost 6-2 Fr. 9.8 ppg
G – Barry Stewart 6-3 Jr. 10.6 ppg
G – Ravern Johnson 6-7 So. 13.0 ppg
Top reserves: Romero Osby, Twany Beckham, Riley Benock.
Inside Mississippi State Sports with Brad Locke 
February 7, 2009 at 2:02 pm |
Somehow I’m not surprised to see that we’re last in offensive rebounds. I am surprised that we have over 10 a game, though. Oh well.
Go Dawgs!
February 7, 2009 at 2:19 pm |
Like Pelphrey said, sometimes it’s just that simple: MSU isn’t hitting its shots, trails 20-9.
February 7, 2009 at 2:23 pm |
It takes just one 3-pointer to get a rally started, though. Go Dawgs!
February 7, 2009 at 2:24 pm |
Nothing like your point guard getting things going. Bost has scored State’s last 8 points, and it’s 22-17 Arky, 10:53/1st half.
February 7, 2009 at 2:25 pm |
Thank you Dee for pulling up and shooting a 15 footer…. we have to stop thinking 3 every trip when behind!!!!
February 7, 2009 at 2:36 pm |
Well, Arkansas keeps hittin’ ’em, and MSU can’t catch up. It’s 35-24 Arky at 6:19/1st half.
February 7, 2009 at 2:44 pm |
Some big 3-pointers by Phil Turner to cut into that 15-point deficit, but MSU’s defense right now is just not very good. It’s 43-34 Arky at 2:59/1st half.
February 7, 2009 at 2:44 pm |
FYI: Miami just Duke into overtime. (!)
February 7, 2009 at 2:45 pm |
Geez, high-scoring first half. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many 3s. It’s hard to beat a team that’s shooting 61%, though, especially if you’re only hitting 42%.
C’mon, Dawgs!
February 7, 2009 at 2:45 pm |
Gotta hope the stinking swine cool off! Hard to make up ground against a team shootin like that.
February 7, 2009 at 2:52 pm |
Halftime: Arkansas 51, MSU 36. On a positive note, Bailey Howell is about to have his number retired.
February 7, 2009 at 2:54 pm |
Maybe Howell could suit up and play some defense for MSU, because nobody else is.
February 7, 2009 at 2:55 pm |
I’m sure Stans can coach ’em to a victory…..
…..oh, crap.
February 7, 2009 at 2:57 pm |
Do they still have the air balloon that used to fly around the inside of the Hump, or do they just use Gregg Ellis’ head now?
February 7, 2009 at 2:58 pm |
Zing! I’ll pass that little gem along, tgl.
February 7, 2009 at 3:00 pm |
Maybe it’s just me, but I look at every single game and think that the West hangs in the balance. If we win every remaining game, we’ll finish the regular season tied with LSU (assuming they also win all of their remaining games except for ours). I guess in that case, LSU would win it with a better overall record, but at least we’ll be there.
I think losing any games for the rest of the season pretty much guarantees that we do not win the West, and that includes today.
More importantly… Arkansas? Seriously?
February 7, 2009 at 3:02 pm |
How many blocked shots does Varnardo have so far?
February 7, 2009 at 3:03 pm |
Halftime stats, starting with MSU scoring leaders:
• Phil Turner 16 points
• Dee Bost 13 points
• Jarvis Varnado 6 points
• Barry Stewart 1 point
• Ravern Johnson 0 points
Arkansas, which is shooting 62.1% from the field, 66.7% from 3-point range:
• Courtney Fortson 15 points
• Michael Washington 11 points
• Rotnei Clarke 9 points
February 7, 2009 at 3:03 pm |
Varnado has 1 block.
February 7, 2009 at 3:08 pm |
Varnado would have 2 if not for a bad foul call!
February 7, 2009 at 3:09 pm |
Agreed, benza. That was a terrible call.
February 7, 2009 at 3:14 pm |
MSU within 53-46, and Pelphrey calls timeout just to argue with the officials about not calling a foul when Rotnei Clarke drove the lane.
February 7, 2009 at 3:15 pm |
Keep it rollin’ Dawgs!
February 7, 2009 at 3:19 pm |
Jarvis is now credited with 4 blocks. Almost up to average.
And 11 3s for the team already, 4 just in this half!
February 7, 2009 at 3:19 pm |
I think Bost is feeding off of the competition/smack with Convict Fortson. Keep fillin’ it up baby!!!!
February 7, 2009 at 3:19 pm |
It’s down to 56-52, as Dee Bost has made three 3-pointers this half. But Varnado just picked up his third foul at 15:04/2nd half.
February 7, 2009 at 3:21 pm |
Oh, my bad. I’m told his first name is Courtney, they just called him convict in juvie.
February 7, 2009 at 3:23 pm |
By the way, Ravern Johnson is still scoreless on five shots. Now it’s 61-52 Arky after a Clarke 3.
February 7, 2009 at 3:30 pm |
TERRIBLE CALL!!!!!!!
February 7, 2009 at 3:36 pm |
Who needs Varnado. Brian Johnson ties it at 66, and Riley Benock just hit a 3 for the lead.
February 7, 2009 at 3:38 pm |
Quite a reversal of shooting percentages from 1st to 2nd half so far… I’ll sleep happier tonight if the Dogs can go ahead and finish this one!
February 7, 2009 at 3:38 pm |
And who needs Ravern Johnson? Nation’s top 3-point shooter is still scoreless.
February 7, 2009 at 3:42 pm |
Riley Benock calls for the ball, eventually gets it, knocks down a school-record 15th 3-pointer. It’s 74-67 State, 6:46.
February 7, 2009 at 3:42 pm |
How sweet it is! Let’s keep this lead coachj
February 7, 2009 at 3:42 pm |
15 3’s and counting…that breaks the record doesn’t it?
February 7, 2009 at 3:48 pm |
Varnado’s back, makes his seventh block, MSU up 80-75 with 3:37 left.
February 7, 2009 at 3:56 pm |
Barry Stewart’s driving layup gives State an 84-77 lead with 1:08 left.
February 7, 2009 at 4:01 pm |
That’s it: MSU 86, Arkansas 77. What a comeback, and Bailey Howell himself was next to me joining in the standing ovation.
February 7, 2009 at 4:02 pm |
Howell has now gone to midcourt for a picture with the current Bulldogs.
February 7, 2009 at 4:09 pm |
How about dem dang Dawgs!!! Showed some Onions today
February 7, 2009 at 4:10 pm |
Wow, we out-rebounded them too!
February 7, 2009 at 4:14 pm |
Dawg eat hawg today. Thats good.
February 7, 2009 at 4:15 pm |
Who’s that talking about beating them dog’s nobody. At lest not to day Dammit
Lets Go Dog’s!!!!!!!!!!
February 7, 2009 at 4:20 pm |
And Ole Miss lost, right? Nice day for Basketball!
February 7, 2009 at 5:13 pm |
ukrainedog, glad that you had a nice day. If Ole Miss losing gave you a happy day, you should be a very happy individual.
Now to Mississippi State. State should be in a very good position to make it to the West title. It appears that the only team standing in the way could be the Vols. Dawgs play other contenders at Starkville.
February 7, 2009 at 5:24 pm |
Thanks JB- Considering that I usually have to wake up in the wee hours or stay up late to catch a live game…yeah, it’s nice when we win…and considering the recent drubbings State’s endured at the hands of Ole Miss, nah, I’m not gonna cry when they lose.
February 7, 2009 at 5:27 pm |
hey, thingreenline: Whatcha think of Stans coaching now? Perhaps your silence says it al.
February 7, 2009 at 5:41 pm |
ukrainedog wishing you a great day, enjoy. Keep up the support your dawg. JB
February 7, 2009 at 5:44 pm |
Great shooting coupled with Stans’ second half adjustments made for a great day of basketball!!! Got some dawgs in the house!!!!!!!!
February 7, 2009 at 6:01 pm |
man did we need some adjustments! We were getting torched
February 7, 2009 at 6:02 pm |
Holla back at me during tourney time, arizonaslim.
February 7, 2009 at 6:58 pm |
thingreenline: What is that supposed to mean? I asked a simple question and this is the response i get? When State was down big, you seemed to be suggesting that State couldn’t win because Stans couldn’t make the adjustments necessary. Well, they managed a 24-point turn-around in the second half, which begs the question: What do you make of Stans’ coaching in light of that? If you call someone out and they deliver, you should at least be man enough to acknowledge it rather than saying, in effect, “let’s see what happens at some later point in time.” That’s just not fair. How about giving credit where it’s due, huh?
February 7, 2009 at 8:36 pm |
Hey, no need to act like a little girl about it.
Everyone knows his track record come tournament time. It’s a great win, but excuse me if I’m not peeing my pants in excitement.
Most people know Stans can get consistantly out-coached by church league personnel.
Thank God for hot shooting.
February 7, 2009 at 9:06 pm |
both have points…simma boys! 🙂
February 7, 2009 at 11:10 pm |
Let me see if I have this right. Unless State, with no seniors in the starting lineup and just two returning starters from last year, wins the SEC Tournament, Stans is a poor coach. That rational is utterly ridiculous. I suppose another coach would have won several national championships at State by now, huh? Silly, silly, silly boy!
February 7, 2009 at 11:10 pm |
oops! should be “rationale”
February 8, 2009 at 1:00 am |
I don’t remember saying anything close to that, arizonaslim.
If you had been around this message board last year, you would have heard the same stuff. It’s not like this is coming out of thin air.
We can go back and forth all day long, but the bottom line is: Stans can take a young team to the Big Dance or a veteran one that has potential to go far, but neither will last long.
He’s a great recruiter, but a poor game coach. Oh well, can’t wait for baseball season to start.
TGL = rain on your parade
February 8, 2009 at 5:01 am |
TGL, you are not a true Bulldog. Because a coach doesn’t take teams deep in the tourney does not mean they are not capable coachs. The job our coach does with the recruits we are able to get is amazing. We get kids that pretty much come a dime a dozen and he turns them into winners as baketball players and men. The ones that can’t cut the mustard as men are those that leave before their time is up. Get real, there are many great coaches out there who don’t even make the dance and many that make it a few times but only go one or two rounds at the most.
When you look at our recent tourney trips we couldn’t have had worse draws and have played some great teams to the wire and there is no coach who could have done any better with the teams we have had.
February 8, 2009 at 11:54 am |
Bullsh*t, rwriffe. Bullsh*t.
I’m sorry if I’m not drinking your Maroon Cranberry Kool-Aid.
Like I said last year, I’m not saying we should get rid of the guy, b/c someone else might not can get the same recruits. I’m just saying I don’t expect us to be in any Sweet 16 anytime soon under him. Or ever, unless we get a lucky draw.
February 8, 2009 at 12:29 pm |
so, if he were to take this or next years team to the sweet 16 it would only be because of a lucky draw? That bullsh#t you speak of is between your ears.
February 8, 2009 at 1:24 pm |
Yes, that’s exactly right.
February 8, 2009 at 1:24 pm |
The lucky draw part, that is.
February 8, 2009 at 1:32 pm |
I’m actually just hoping to pull off a good stretch to get in the Tourney. If we do get in, Stans will get a chance to play against alot of zone defenses with a very strong shooting team. I can see TGL’s point but maybe this type of team is what Stans needs to get through the 2nd round more often.