No. 18 Mississippi State will look to build off its season-opening win when it hosts Hartford on Sunday afternoon.
The Bulldogs scored a 95-67 victory over Austin Peay, which saw five Mississippi State players score in double figures.
Meanwhile, Hartford has yet to find the win column after losses to Central Connecticut (75-68) and Utah State (100-73).
Let’s run through what to look for this matchup.
Game Details
- Hartford (0-2) at No. 18 Mississippi State (1-0)
- Location: Humphrey Coliseum – Starkville, MS
- Game Date: Nov. 11
- Game Time: 5 p.m. EST
- Watch: SEC Network
Players to Watch
Nick Weatherspoon (Mississippi State)
The younger of the Weatherspoon brothers scored 19 points and shot 6 of 10 from the field in the win over Austin Peay.
He and Quinndary combined to score 40 points, and they create such an impactful backcourt duo while also getting contributions from Lamar Peters (6 pts, 7 asts in opener).
Weatherspoon had a great freshman season and appears to have improved his outside shooting skills after going 3 for 6 from long range in game one.
Aric Holman (Mississippi State)
The 6-10 senior has such a versatile skill set that he’s able to be a difference maker on both offense and defense.
Holman earned a double-double in the opener by scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while also providing three blocks.
His ability to step out and knock down 3-pointers at an effective rate will also be invaluable, as Holman made 35 3-pointers and shot 42.7 percent from deep last season.
George Blagojevic (Hartford)
Blagojevic is already showing signs of improvement early in his senior season, as he’s averaging 16.5 6.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks through the first two games.
He averaged just 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds last year, and if he can continue to play at a high level, it will take some pressure off the team’s top player maker in 6-8 forward John Carroll.
Mississippi State is going to have a huge size advantage in this one, so John Gallagher needs Blagojevic to play well.
Key Stats
According to KenPom, Hartford is the most experienced team in all of college basketball.
That makes sense when you consider that the Hawks entire rotation is made up of seniors and grad transfers.
However, it’s going to take more than experience to take down a loaded Mississippi State squad, and that’s where potential issues come into play.
Hartford has allowed 29 offensive rebounds through two games, and with the Bulldogs’ length and athleticism, that could be major trouble.
Game Outlook
- Spread: Mississippi State -23
- Over/Under: 147
- KenPom Projection: Mississippi State, 97 percent chance to win
- ESPN BPI Projection: Mississippi State, 95.7 percent chance to win
Ben Howland’s squad may be a legitimate SEC title contender this season due to the depth and playmakers on the roster.
There just aren’t many teams that will be able to match up with them from a size standpoint, so the Hawks best bet will be to force Mississippi State to shoot from outside. If that happens, it’ll close the gap a bit.
However, the Bulldogs are the better team and should take care of business.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 19-3
Game Prediction: Mississippi State 85, Hartford 60
For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.