No. 18 Mississippi State will start off the new season at home on Friday night as it takes on OVC foe Austin Peay.
The Bulldogs return the majority of their top scorers from last year’s 25-win squad, so the preseason national ranking is certainly warranted.
As for the Governors, they tipped off their season on Tuesday night by posting a 114-53 victory over Oakland City.
Let’s look at what to watch for entering this matchup.
Game Details
- Austin Peay at Mississippi State
- Location: Humphrey Coliseum – Starkville, MS
- Game Date: Nov. 9
- Game Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Watch: SEC Network+
Players to Watch
Quinndary Weatherspoon (Mississippi State)
Weatherspoon was voted to the All-SEC First Team by the league’s coaches, and he returns as the top scorer on this loaded Mississippi State attack.
The 6-4 senior averaged 14.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game last season while starting all 37 games.
He was efficient overall from the floor in shooting 48.4 percent, but he’ll want to increase his 31.1 percent 3-point percentage in his final season in Starkville.
Aric Holman (Mississippi State)
Speaking of productive seniors, the 6-10 forward is simply a joy to watch due to his contributions in all facets of the game.
Holman is one of the most versatile frontcourt players in the country, as evidenced by his 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game to go along with his 67 total blocks last year.
He also shot 57.3 percent from the floor and proved to be a big matchup problem by knocking down 37-pointers and making 44.0 percent of his outside shots.
Terry Taylor (Austin Peay)
Seven Austin Peay players scored in double figures in the blowout win over Oakland City, but it’s the 6-5 sophomore that will garner the opposition’s attention on most nights.
Taylor was a stud last season in averaging 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds as a freshman, and his overall efficiency from the floor (54.1 percent) was a welcoming sight for head coach Matt Figged.
He’s already off to his productive ways after scoring 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the opener, so he has the confidence to challenge Mississippi State’s experienced squad.
Key Stats
Most questions about the Bulldogs’ potential to win an SEC title and possibly be a sleeper Final Four team have to do with their perimeter shooting.
Ben Howland’s team finished 329th nationally by shooting 31.5 percent from long range last season, and significant improvement in that category will be needed since they may see a lot of zone from teams that can’t come close to matching their size and athleticism.
It’s also worth noting that Mississippi State still managed to win 25 games a season ago despite ranking 325th in the country in overall experience.
Now, with a more veteran group at the top, the Bulldogs should be able to turn that into one of the most successful seasons in recent memory for the program.
Game Outlook
- Spread: Mississippi State -18.5
- Over/Under: 148.5
- KenPom Projection: Mississippi State, 95 percent chance to win
- ESPN BPI Projection: Mississippi State, 88.3 percent chance to win
Mississippi State is a team that has really grown on me because there’s just so much size and athleticism on the roster.
Howland also brings in the No. 16 recruiting class in the country, which is headlined by the 4-star trio of Reggie Perry, Robert Woodard, and DJ Stewart.
There’s just an enormous amount of depth for this staff to work with, and while Austin Peay is talented and should factor into the OVC title race, this is going to be a tough test for the visitors.
Figger will likely try to force the Bulldogs to take a lot of jumpshots, but there’s just too much proven talent to pick against the home team in this spot.
Prediction: Mississippi State 81, Austin Peay 66
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