Mississippi State looks to shoot down Wildcats, doubters

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Posted 8:57AM on Friday, January 4, 2002

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - Two weeks ago, Mississippi State had its first big test of the season against nationally ranked Cincinnati in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs failed miserably. Mississippi State gets another chance to prove its 13-1 start is more than a byproduct of a weak schedule Saturday when it takes on No. 6 Kentucky at Humphrey Coliseum. ``This will let us know where our team stands,'' forward Michael Gholar said. The Bulldogs won 10 straight against mid-major opponents to begin the season. Then they met Cincinnati on Dec. 22 in the Las Vegas Classic trying to match the best start in school history and earn a little respect. ``We looked at the Cincinnati game as a statement game,'' second-leading scorer Marckell Patterson said. ``It didn't turn out like we wanted it to.'' The Bulldogs proved the skeptics right by getting blasted by the Bearcats 90-56. Mississippi State, picked last in the SEC in the preseason, has won three straight since the Cincinnati debacle, including a 77-66 road victory over Tulane. ``I'm not really as surprised with them (the Bulldogs) as I am impressed,'' Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. ``They are really good.'' But the Bulldogs haven't faced anything like the Wildcats, with their seemingly endless depth and versatility. ``They do a lot of good things,'' Mississippi State point guard Derrick Zimmerman said. ``They've got size. They shoot the basketball well. They have the reigning SEC player of the year in Tayshaun Prince.'' They also have a five-game winning streak against Mississippi State that includes three straight double-digit victories. Prince, a 6-foot-9 forward who can play inside and out, scored 18 points in Kentucky's 76-57 victory over the Bulldogs in Lexington last year. He leads the SEC in scoring at 18.6 per game and is getting lots of help from a talented supporting cast that includes Keith Bogans, Jules Camara, Gerald Fitch and Cliff Hawkins. ``Different players are stepping up each night to carry their part of the load and it's translating into wins and good team basketball for us,'' Hawkins said. ``That's important heading into the SEC schedule.'' Mississippi State as has become the norm under fourth-year coach Rick Stansbury is one of the top rebounding teams in the SEC, ranking third overall (41.6 rpg) and second in rebounding margin (plus-9.5). Center Mario Austin, much improved in his sophomore season, is the Bulldogs' leading scorer (14.8) and rebounder (7.9). But the Bulldogs can't count on owning the glass against Kentucky. The Wildcats lead the nation with a 12.1 rebound margin. The last time Mississippi State beat Kentucky was in the finals of the 1996 SEC tournament in New Orleans. The Bulldogs went to the Final Four that season. The Bulldogs' last regular-season win over Kentucky was 1995 in Lexington. The last time they beat the Wildcats in Starkville was 1991.