Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball

{{Infobox CBB Team

|name = Mississippi State Bulldogs
men's basketball

|current = 2024–25 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team

|logo = Mississippi State Bulldogs script logo.svg

|logo_size = 200

|university = Mississippi State University

|firstseason = 1908

|record = {{Winning percentage|1,506|1,267|record=y}}

|athletic_director = Zac Selmon

|coach = Chris Jans

|tenure = 3rd

|conference = Southeastern Conference

|location = Starkville, Mississippi

|arena = Humphrey Coliseum

|capacity = 10,575

|nickname = Bulldogs

|NCAAfinalfour = 1996

|NCAAeliteeight = 1996

|NCAAsweetsixteen= 1963, 1995, 1996

|NCAAroundof32 = 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008

|NCAAtourneys=1963, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025

|conference_tournament = 1923, 1996, 2002, 2009

|conference_season = 1913, 1914, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1991, 2004

|division_season = 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010

|h_body=5D1725

|h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite

|h_shorts=5D1725

|h_pattern_s=_thinsidesonwhite

|a_body=5D1725

|a_pattern_b=_thinwhitesides

|a_shorts=5D1725

|a_pattern_s=_whitesides

|3_body=000000

|3_pattern_b=_thinwhitesides

|3_shorts=000000

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}}

The Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball program represents Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, in men's NCAA Division I basketball. The Bulldogs play in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has qualified for the NCAA tournament 13 times and most recently in 2024. The Bulldogs best finish in the NCAA tournament came in 1996 when they advanced to the Final Four. On March 20, 2022, Mississippi State named former New Mexico State head coach Chris Jans as its 21st head basketball coach.

History

The Bulldogs have been to the NCAA Tournament eleven times, the first time in 1963 and the most recent being 2024. Mississippi State chose not to accept previous bids because state officials viewed African-Americans as inferior and would not allow Ole Miss or Mississippi State to play against teams with African-American players. The 1963 team, however, famously snuck out of the state in the dead of night to play in what has since been dubbed the "Game of Change".

Six of the ten NCAA appearances have been earned in the past 10 seasons under former MSU Head Basketball Coach, Rick Stansbury. They have won 8 conference championships, two under coach Earl C. Hayes as a member of the now-dissolved Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1913 and 1914 in addition to six SEC titles in 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1991, and 2004. The Bulldogs have won four conference tournament championships, one as a member of the Southern Conference in 1923 and three SEC tournament titles in 1996, 2002, and 2009. Mississippi State has several notable alumni including Erick Dampier, Bailey Howell, and Jarvis Varnado.

Rivals

As in all sports, Mississippi State's rival is Ole Miss. Mississippi State leads the series over Ole Miss 142–112. Former MSU Head Coach Rick Stansbury is 21–8 vs the Rebels.{{cite web|url=http://www.hailstate.com//fls/16800/pdf/mbk/mbk_postgame_020912.pdf?ATCLID=205374231&SPSID=90865&SPID=10994&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=16800|title=Ole Miss at Mississippi State Postgame Notes February 9 2012|website=hailstate.com}} Former head coach Ben Howland, was 6–9 against the Rebels.

Mississippi State and Alabama are considered rivals on the court, with only 90 miles separating the two programs. The Crimson Tide lead the all-time series 120–74.{{cite web|url=http://static.hailstate.com/custompages/pdf/mbk/mbk_1617mg.pdf |title=Team media guide |publisher=static.hailstate.com |access-date=2020-06-10}}

Former players

=All-Americans=

class="wikitable" style="background:white; min-width:70%"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs|Player|Position|Year(s)|Selectors}}

style="text-align:center;"

| Jim Ashmore

| Guard

| 1956–57

| Converse, Associated Press, UPI, Helms Athletic Foundation

style="text-align:center;"

| Bailey Howell (2)

| Forward

| 1957–58, 1958–59

| Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, USBWA/Look Magazine, NABC, UPI, NEA

style="text-align:center;"

| Red Stroud (2)

| Guard

| 1961–62, 1962–63

| Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, NABC, Associated Press

style="text-align:center;"

| Leland Mitchell

| Guard

| 1962–63

| Converse

style="text-align:center;"

| Rickey Brown

| Forward

| 1979–80

| Citizen Saving Athletic Foundation, Associated Press

style="text-align:center;"

| Jeff Malone

| Guard

| 1982–83

| The Sporting News, Basketball Times, NABC

style="text-align:center;"

| Greg Carter

| Forward

| 1990–91

| Associated Press

style="text-align:center;"

| Chuck Evans

| Guard

| 1991–92

| UPI

style="text-align:center;"

| Eric Dampier (2)

| Center

| 1994–95, 1995–96

| Associated Press

style="text-align:center;"

| Mario Austin

| Forward

| 2002–03

| Associated Press, Foxsports.com

style="text-align:center;"

| Lawrence Roberts (2)

| Forward

| 2003–04, 2004–05

| Associated Press, USBWA, NABC, The Sporting News

style="text-align:center;"

| Jamont Gordon (2)

| Guard

| 2006–07, 2007–08

| Foxsports.com, Rivals, ESPN, Associated Press

style="text-align:center;"

| Jarvis Varnado (2)

| Forward

| 2008–09, 2009–10

| Associated Press, College Basketball Insider

style="text-align:center;"

| Dee Bost

| Guard

| 2008–09

| CollegeHoops.net

style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=4 | Source:MSU Media Guide {{cite web | url=http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/16800/pdf/mbk/mbk_1415mg.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=16800 | title=Mississippi State All-Americas | publisher=Mississippi State | access-date=2015-01-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111203823/http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/16800/pdf/mbk/mbk_1415mg.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=16800 | archive-date=2015-01-11 | url-status=dead }}

Notable basketball players who attended and played at Mississippi State University.

Arnett Moultrie, 1st round, 2012 NBA draft.
Jarvis Varnado, 2nd round, 2010 NBA draft. NCAA career record holder with 564 blocked shots. One of only two college players to have at least 1000 points, 1000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots, the other being David Robinson.
Lawrence Roberts, 2nd round, 2005 NBA draft.
Timmy Bowers, 2006 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
Malik Newman (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Derrick Zimmerman, 2nd round, 2003 NBA draft.
Tyrone Washington, 2nd round, 1999 NBA draft.
Dontae' Jones, 1st round, 1996 NBA draft.
Erick Dampier, 1st round, 1996 NBA draft.
Jeff Malone, 1st round, 1983 NBA draft. Two time NBA All-Star.
Rickey Brown, 1st round, 1980 NBA draft.
Wiley Peck, 1st round, 1979 NBA draft.
Bailey Howell, 1st round, 1959 NBA draft. Six time NBA All-Star. Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

SEC West Division titles

The years the Bulldogs won were as follows: 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010

Postseason

=NCAA tournament results=

The Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times. Their combined record is 11–14.

The Bulldogs qualified for the 1959 tournament but university president Benjamin F. Hilbun would not permit the team to participate in the tournament where they would face African-American players.{{cite news |date=March 1, 1959|title=Mississippi State Can't Go To Tourney |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |location=Sarasota, Florida|page=13}}

file:Mississippi State team 1963 portrait.jpg

class="wikitable"; style="text-align:center;" {{CollegePrimaryHeader\|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs\|Year\|Seed\|Round\|Opponent\|Result}}
1963		Sweet Sixteen Regional 3rd Place Game	Loyola–Chicago Bowling Green	L 51–61 W 65–60
1991	#5	Round of 64	#12 Eastern Michigan	L 56–76
1995	#5	Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen	#12 Santa Clara #4 Utah #1 UCLA	W 75–67 W 78–64 L 67–86
1996	#5	Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four	#12 VCU #13 Princeton #1 Connecticut #2 Cincinnati #4 Syracuse	W 58–51 W 63–41 W 60–55 W 73–63 L 69–77
2002	#3	Round of 64 Round of 32	#14 McNeese State #6 Texas	W 70–58 L 64–68
2003	#5	Round of 64	#12 Butler	L 46–47
2004	#2	Round of 64 Round of 32	#15 Monmouth #7 Xavier	W 85–52 L 74–89
2005	#9	Round of 64 Round of 32	#8 Stanford #1 Duke	W 93–70 L 55–63
2008	#8	Round of 64 Round of 32	#9 Oregon #1 Memphis	W 76–69 L 74–77
2009	#13	Round of 64	#4 Washington	L 58–71
2019	#5	Round of 64	#12 Liberty	L 76–80
2023	#11	First Four	#11 Pittsburgh	L 59–60
2024	#8	Round of 64	#9 Michigan State	L 51–69
2025	#8	Round of 64	#9 Baylor	L 72–75

=NIT results=

The Bulldogs have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times. Their combined record is 13–11.

class="wikitable" {{CollegePrimaryHeader\|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs\|Year\|Round\|Opponent\|Result}}
style="text-align:center;" \| 1979	First Round	Alcorn State	L 78–80
style="text-align:center;" \| 1990	First Round Second Round	Baylor New Orleans	W 84–75 L 60–65
style="text-align:center;" \| 1994	First Round	Kansas State	L 69–78
style="text-align:center;" \| 1999	First Round	Colorado State	L 56–69
style="text-align:center;" \| 2001	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Southern Miss Pittsburgh Tulsa	W 75–68 W 66–61 L 75–77
style="text-align:center;" \| 2007	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Mississippi Valley State Bradley Florida State West Virginia	W 82–63 W 101–72 W 86–71 L 62–63
style="text-align:center;" \| 2010	First Round Second Round	Jackson State North Carolina	W 81–67 L 74–76
style="text-align:center;" \| 2012	First Round	Massachusetts	L 96–101 ^2OT
style="text-align:center;" \| 2018	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Nebraska Baylor Louisville Penn State	W 66–59 W 78–77 W 79–56 L 60–75
style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals	Saint Louis Richmond Louisiana Tech Memphis	W 74–68 W 68–67 W 84–61 L 64–77
style="text-align:center;" \| 2022	First Round	Virginia	L 57–60

Awards

=NCAA Defensive Player of the Year=

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs|Player|Year}}

align="center"

| Jarvis Varnado

| 2010

=SEC Coach of the Year=

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs|Coach|Year}}

Babe McCarthy

| 1961, 1962, 1963

Kermit Davis Sr

| 1971

Ron Greene

| 1978

Bob Boyd

| 1985

Richard Williams

| 1991, 1995

Rick Stansbury

| 2004

=SEC Player of the Year=

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs|Player|Year}}

| 1957

| 1958, 1959

| 1962

| 1983

| 2004

=SEC Defensive Player of the Year=

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs|Player|Year}}

Jarvis Varnado

| 2008, 2009, 2010

=[[Howell Trophy|Howell Trophy Award winners]]=

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs|Player|Year}}

| 2005

| 2008

| 2009, 2010

| 2012

Quinndary Weatherspoon

| 2018, 2019

| 2020

| 2022

| 2023

| 2024, 2025

=Retired numbers=

Mississippi State has retired one jersey number for Bailey Howell, doing so on February 7, 2009 at the Coliseum.{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/bailey-howell/ |title=Bailey Howell |work=Seattle Times |date=February 8, 2009 |accessdate=April 10, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410141859/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/bailey-howell/ |archive-date=April 10, 2022}} Mississippi State has also honored two others with honorary banners.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" \| colspan=6 style= "{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Mississippi State Bulldogs\|border=0}}" \| Mississippi State Bulldogs retired numbers
width=40px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Mississippi State Bulldogs\|border=0}}" \| No. ! width=150px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Mississippi State Bulldogs\|border=0}}" \|Player ! width= px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Mississippi State Bulldogs\|border=0}}" \|Pos. ! width=100px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Mississippi State Bulldogs\|border=0}}" \|Career ! width= px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Mississippi State Bulldogs\|border=0}}" \|No. ret. ! width= px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Mississippi State Bulldogs\|border=0}}" \|Ref.
{{center\|52}}	Bailey Howell	SF / PF	1957–1959	2009	[https://msfame.com/bailey-howell-will-be-celebrated-saturday/ Bailey Howell will be celebrated Saturday] - Jan 23, 2015

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

| colspan=6 style= "{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Mississippi State Bulldogs|border=0}}" | Mississippi State Bulldogs retired numbers

width=40px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Mississippi State Bulldogs|border=0}}" | No.

! width=150px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Mississippi State Bulldogs|border=0}}" |Player

! width= px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Mississippi State Bulldogs|border=0}}" |Pos.

! width=100px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Mississippi State Bulldogs|border=0}}" |Career

! width= px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Mississippi State Bulldogs|border=0}}" |No. ret.

! width= px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Mississippi State Bulldogs|border=0}}" |Ref.

Bailey Howell

SF / PF

1957–1959

2009

[https://msfame.com/bailey-howell-will-be-celebrated-saturday/ Bailey Howell will be celebrated Saturday] - Jan 23, 2015

=Honored jerseys=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team= Mississippi State Bulldogs| Player | Pos. | Tenure}}

Babe McCarthy

Head coach

1955–1965

Jack Cristil

Voice of the Bulldogs

1953–2011

References

External links

{{Official website}}

Category:1908 establishments in Mississippi

Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball

History

Rivals

Former players

=All-Americans=

SEC West Division titles

Postseason

=NCAA tournament results=

=NIT results=

Awards

=NCAA Defensive Player of the Year=

=SEC Coach of the Year=

=SEC Player of the Year=

=SEC Defensive Player of the Year=

=[[Howell Trophy|Howell Trophy Award winners]]=

=Retired numbers=

=Honored jerseys=

See also

References

External links