STARKVILLE – Highs and lows. Ups and downs. A basketball season is long and filled with peaks and valleys.
For Mississippi State, the last three games have illustrated how adversity is virtually inevitable as the schedule rolls along. MSU began the season with 11 straight wins. The Dawgs have since dropped three in a row.
That leaves State incredibly hungry to get back on the winning track starting with Saturday’s 1 p.m. matchup against instate rival Ole Miss at Humphrey Coliseum.
“I know everyone’s disappointed with our last few games,” MSU head coach Chris Jans said. “Nobody is more disappointed than our locker room. These kids are upset, and they aren’t happy. Certainly, we’re not happy either [as a coaching staff]. Not just in the results, but more importantly for me, our quality of play hasn’t been up to snuff and to the standard of expectation we have. Saturday is a great opportunity to try and fix some things.”
That’s the thing about long seasons. Every game is a new opportunity. Sure, it’s been tough sledding for State of late against three outstanding opponents – two of which are currently Top-10 teams – but it wasn’t all that long ago MSU was a Top-15 squad itself. Saturday presents the chance to get back closer to the style of play that led to this year’s prior success.
And if opportunity alone wasn’t enough motivation, the opposition ramps it up a notch. It’s always intense when the Bulldogs and Rebels get together and this time should be no different.
“It’s one of those situations where I don’t think you have to say that much [to players] about who we’re playing,” Jans said. “Everyone in the area knows. Certainly, quote unquote, ‘Business as usual’ is what you’d like to say, but we all know how important this game is for each fanbase and for the state of Mississippi in general. You want to win those games. You want people to be excited and feel good about beating their rival.”
Ramping up Saturday’s importance is the fact Ole Miss is in a similar spot as State. The Rebels, too, have dropped three games in a row.
“We’re both in a situation where we’re starving for a win,” Jans said. “So, I’d imagine the intensity of the game will be as high as it can get.”
As Jans gets his guys ready for the battle, he’s hoping he’ll have thousands of members of the Bulldog family behind MSU to give the Dawgs an extra push come Saturday.
“I’m very hopeful that our fanbase will continue to support these young men and to continue to appreciate their work and how they’ve been competing on the floor,” Jans said.
It’s an opportunity for State fans to shine on a nationally-televised CBS stage. It’s an opportunity for the Bulldogs on the court to reestablish momentum.
It’s also a chance for Jans to do the one thing he says he’s been told about this particular game from fans, players and MSU administration since he was hired back in March. And what’s that directive?
“Beat Ole Miss,” Jans said.
source: hailstate