2017–18 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball team represented Mississippi State University in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by third-year head coach Ben Howland, played their home games at the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi as members of the Southeastern Conference.[1] They finished the season 25–12, 9–9 in SEC play to finish in a tie for seventh place. They defeated LSU in the second round of the SEC tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to Tennessee. They were received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Nebraska, Baylor, and Louisville to advance to the semifinals where they lost to Penn State.

2017–18 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball
NIT, Semifinals
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record25–12 (9–9 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaHumphrey Coliseum
Seasons
2017–18 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 19 Auburn 13 5   .722 26 8   .765
No. 13 Tennessee 13 5   .722 26 9   .743
No. 23 Florida 11 7   .611 21 13   .618
No. 18 Kentucky 10 8   .556 26 11   .703
Missouri 10 8   .556 20 13   .606
Arkansas 10 8   .556 23 12   .657
Mississippi State 9 9   .500 25 12   .676
Texas A&M 9 9   .500 22 13   .629
Alabama 8 10   .444 20 16   .556
LSU 8 10   .444 18 15   .545
Georgia 7 11   .389 18 15   .545
South Carolina 7 11   .389 17 16   .515
Vanderbilt 6 12   .333 12 20   .375
Ole Miss 5 13   .278 12 20   .375
2018 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

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The Bulldogs finished the 2016–17 season 16–16, 6–12 in SEC play to finish in 12th place. They defeated LSU in the SEC tournament before losing in the second round to Alabama.

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Mario Kegler 4 F 6'7" 230 Freshman Jackson, MS Transferred to Baylor
Joe Strugg 5 F 6'9" 196 RS Freshman Montgomery, AL Walk-on; left the team
I. J. Ready 15 G 5'11" 170 Senior Little Rock, AR Graduated
Miles Washington 20 C 6'7" 195 Freshman New Albany, MS Walk-on; left the team

Incoming transfers

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Mitch Storm 5 F 6'6" 195 Sophomore Madison, MS Junior college transferred from East Mississippi CC

2017 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Nick Weatherspoon
#10 PG
Camden, MS Velma Jackson Magnet High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sep 11, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
KeyShawn Feazell
#45 PF
Monticello, MS Lawrence County High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oct 13, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 16   Rivals: 25  247Sports: 23  ESPN: 19
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Mississippi State 2017 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  • "2017 Mississippi State Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 31, 2016.

2018 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Reggie Perry
PF
Thomasville, Georgia Thomasville High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jul 17, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
D. J. Stewart
SF
Benoit, Mississippi Riverside High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jul 24, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A
Robert Woodard II
SF
Columbus, Mississippi Columbus High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Nov 14, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Jethro Tshisumpa
C
Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo San Jacinto College 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 260 lb (120 kg) Feb 18, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports: 
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

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2017–18 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Nick Weatherspoon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Velma Jackson HS Camden, MS
G 1 Lamar Peters 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Landry-Walker HS New Orleans, LA
G 3 Xavian Stapleton 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Jr Madison Central HS
Louisiana Tech
Flora, MS
F 5 Mitch Storm 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 202 lb (92 kg) So Madison Central HS
East Mississippi CC
Madison, MS
G 10 Tate Clayton (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Tupelo HS Tupelo, MS
G 11 Quinndary Weatherspoon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Velma Jackson HS Camden, MS
G 12 Drew Davis (W) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Sr Fort Walton Beach HS Atlanta, GA
G 13 Nick Singleton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Columbia HS
Kennesaw State
Decatur, GA
G 15 T. J. Ready (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Columbus HS Columbus, MS
F 22 KeyShawn Feazell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr Lawrence County HS New Hebron, MS
G 23 Tyson Carter 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 165 lb (75 kg) So Starkville HS Starkville, MS
F 24 Abdul Ado 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) RS Fr Hamilton Heights HS Chattanooga, TN
G 32 Eli Wright 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So IMG Academy Owensboro, KY
C 34 Schnider Hérard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 260 lb (118 kg) So Prestonwood Christian HS Plano, TX
F 35 Aric Holman 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Owensboro HS Owensboro, KY
C 45 E. J. Datcher 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) So Vincent HS Vincent, AL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Oct. 22, 2017*
1:00 pm
Nebraska
Hurricane Irma charity game
L 72–76 
Humphrey Coliseum 
Starkville, MS
Nov 2, 2017*
7:00 pm
West Florida W 87–62 
Humphrey Coliseum (1,711)
Starkville, MS
Non-conference regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
5:30 pm
Alabama State W 96–68  1–0
Humphrey Coliseum (6,811)
Starkville, MS
Nov 18, 2017*
1:00 pm
Florida A&M
Hoops in the Heartland
W 79–48  2–0
Humphrey Coliseum (6,132)
Starkville, MS
Nov 20, 2017*
7:00 pm
Green Bay
Hoops in the Heartland
W 77–68  3-0
Humphrey Coliseum (6,359)
Starkville, MS
Nov 22, 2017*
7:00 pm
Stephen F. Austin
Hoops in the Heartland
W 80–75  4–0
Humphrey Coliseum (7,687)
Starkville, MS
Nov 26, 2017*
4:00 pm
Jacksonville State W 59–56  5–0
Humphrey Coliseum (6,034)
Starkville, MS
Nov 30, 2017*
6:00 pm, SECN
North Dakota State
Hoops in the Heartland
W 83–59  6–0
Humphrey Coliseum (5,831)
Starkville, MS
Dec 3, 2017*
7:00 pm, SECN
Dayton W 61–59  7–0
Humphrey Coliseum (7,539)
Starkville, MS
Dec 9, 2017*
4:00 pm
North Georgia W 95–62  8–0
Humphrey Coliseum (6,613)
Starkville, MS
Dec 12, 2017*
6:00 pm, ESPN2
at No. 25 Cincinnati L 50–65  8–1
BB&T Arena (8,128)
Highland Heights, KY
Dec 16, 2017*
7:00 pm
UT Martin W 92–61  9–1
Humphrey Coliseum (6,709)
Starkville, MS
Dec 20, 2017*
7:00 pm
Little Rock W 64–48  10–1
Humphrey Coliseum (7,156)
Starkville, MS
Dec 23, 2017*
7:00 pm
vs. Southern Miss
Jackson Showcase
W 70–64  11–1
Mississippi Coliseum (4,028)
Jackson, MS
Dec 30, 2017*
3:00 pm, SECN+
North Florida W 109–81  12–1
Humphrey Coliseum (7,764)
Starkville, MS
SEC regular season
Jan 2, 2018
8:00 pm, SECN
No. 22 Arkansas W 78–75  13–1
(1–0)
Humphrey Coliseum (6,324)
Starkville, MS
Jan 6, 2018
3:30 pm, SECN
at Ole Miss L 58–64  13–2
(1–1)
The Pavilion at Ole Miss (8,664)
Oxford, MS
Jan 10, 2018
6:00 pm, SECN
at Florida L 54–71  13–3
(1–2)
O'Connell Center (9,917)
Gainesville, FL
Jan 13, 2018
2:30 pm, SECN
No. 22 Auburn L 68–76  13–4
(1–3)
Humphrey Coliseum (8,443)
Starkville, MS
Jan 16, 2018
6:00 pm, SECN
Vanderbilt W 80–62  14–4
(2–3)
Humphrey Coliseum (6,633)
Starkville, MS
Jan 20, 2018
7:30 pm, SECN
at Alabama L 62–68  14–5
(2–4)
Coleman Coliseum (15,383)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Jan 23, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPN
at Kentucky L 65–78  14–6
(2–5)
Rupp Arena (20,609)
Lexington, KY
Jan 27, 2018
7:30 pm, SECN
Missouri W 74–62  15–6
(3–5)
Humphrey Coliseum (7,169)
Starkville, MS
Jan 31, 2018
7:30 pm, SECN
at South Carolina W 81–76  16–6
(4–5)
Colonial Life Arena (11,042)
Columbia, SC
Feb 3, 2018
5:00 pm, ESPNU
Georgia W 72–57  17–6
(5–5)
Humphrey Coliseum (7,775)
Starkville, MS
Feb 6, 2018
6:00 pm, SECN
Alabama W 67–63  18–6
(6–5)
Humphrey Coliseum (7,095)
Starkville, MS
Feb 10, 2018
1:00 pm, ESPN2
at Missouri L 85–89 OT 18–7
(6–6)
Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Columbia, MO
Feb 14, 2018
6:00 pm, SECN
at Vanderbilt L 80–81  18–8
(6–7)
Memorial Gymnasium (8,592)
Nashville, TN
Feb 17, 2018
7:30 pm, SECN
Ole Miss W 79–62  19–8
(7–7)
Humphrey Coliseum (9,002)
Starkville, MS
Feb 20, 2018
6:00 pm, SECN
at Texas A&M W 93–81  20–8
(8–7)
Reed Arena (8,614)
College Station, TX
Feb 24, 2018
2:30 pm, SECN
South Carolina W 72–68 OT 21–8
(9–7)
Humphrey Coliseum (8,162)
Starkville, MS
Feb 27, 2018
6:00 pm, SECN
No. 16 Tennessee L 54–76  21–9
(9–8)
Humphrey Coliseum (7,548)
Starkville, MS
Mar 3, 2018
12:00 pm, SECN
at LSU L 57–78  21–10
(9–9)
Maravich Center (9,067)
Baton Rouge, LA
SEC tournament
Mar 8, 2018
6:00 pm, SECN
(7) vs. (10) LSU
Second Round
W 80–77  22–10
Scottrade Center (11,752)
St. Louis, MO
Mar 9, 2018
6:00 pm, SECN
(7) vs. (2) No. 13 Tennessee
Quarterfinals
L 59–62  22–11
Scottrade Center (14,596)
St. Louis, MO
NIT
Mar 14, 2018*
8:00 pm, ESPN2
(4) (5) Nebraska
First Round – Baylor Bracket
W 66–59  23–11
Humphrey Coliseum (3,485)
Starkville, MS
Mar 18, 2018*
11:00 am, ESPN
(4) at (1) Baylor
Second Round – Baylor Bracket
W 78–77  24–11
Ferrell Center (2,246)
Waco, TX
Mar 20, 2018*
8:00 pm, ESPN
(4) at (2) Louisville
Quarterfinals – Baylor Bracket
W 79–56  25–11
KFC Yum! Center (10,718)
Louisville, KY
Mar 27, 2018*
6:00 pm, ESPN
(4) vs. (4) Penn State
Semifinals
L 60–75  25–12
Madison Square Garden (7,865)
New York City, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

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