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Hoops fans to get eyeful of Bulldogs


Mississippi State's basketball schedule features a plethora of possible televised games

By Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com

STARKVILLE — The long-awaited, long-debated Mississippi State men's basketball schedule was released on Monday, and this much is clear:

Expect to see a lot of the Bulldogs on TV.

When reigning SEC player of the year and All-American Lawrence Roberts decided to return to Mississippi State instead of entering the NBA draft, he guaranteed the program would be one to watch.
Combine that with the fact that the Bulldogs won the SEC regular season title outright for the first time since the 1962-63 season, and there is little question as to why as many as 18 games could be on television.

"It shows the recognition people have for this program nationally," said MSU AD Larry Templeton, who added that "without question" this is the most games scheduled to be televised before the season begins.

The Bulldogs finished 26-4 last season and were ranked No. 8 in the season-ending AP poll.

The regular season begins with regional play in the nationally renowned 16-team Coaches vs. Cancer Classic on Nov. 11.

Should State win two games in the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center — including its opener against Fairfield — it will advance to Madison Square Garden in New York City on Nov. 18-19. Each game will be on ESPN2.

While three regionals will have a host school, State's regional will be hosted by the Gazelle Group, the promoter.

The state of Mississippi cannot host a predetermined tournament because its flag has a Confederate emblem.

It was originally thought that Mississippi State would host the tournament in Birmingham anyway, which is not the case now.

Since it is not officially hosting, "we're not financially involved," Templeton said.

The home opener is on Nov. 21 against Nicholls State and the defense of the SEC title begins against Auburn on Jan. 5.

State will also play Arizona, one of the nation's top programs, in the John Wooden Classic on Dec. 5 at Anaheim, Calif. It will play Virginia Tech on Dec. 30 at the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans. After Jan. 5, 12 of State's next 15 games will be televised.

Many of the games had long been decided. But when State replaced the Top of the World Classic in Alaska with the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, it delayed the process.

"We had to get all the contracts redone," Templeton said.