Special to The Real Story
Only once with Rick Stansbury at the helm has Mississippi State hosted a top-ranked team – Florida, in 2007. But, on Tuesday, that all changes, when No. 1 Kentucky visits Humphrey Coliseum.
The Super Tuesday ESPN showdown tips at 8 p.m., with Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes and Shannon Spakes handling the broadcast.
Kentucky has won three straight in this series, but the two have split their last six games. In the last seven games, overall, the outcome has been decided by nine points or less, with the average margin of victory being 4.9 points.
“When you’re playing Kentucky, you have to hit on all cylinders,” said Stansbury, who is 4-12 against the Wildcats during his time at the helm. “You’ve got to do some things better than you’re capable of doing, and darn sure better than you’ve done them, to have any kind of chance at all. And, then you hope Kentucky doesn’t play their best. If Kentucky plays their best, I’m not so sure there’s anyone, anywhere who has a chance against them.”
MSU (19-8, 6-6) enters the game looking to snap a three-game slide, following its 65-55 setback at Auburn on Saturday, a loss that dropped them out of the Top 25. Kentucky, winners of 18 straight, is 26-1 overall, 12-0 in SEC play.
Defensively, UK is holding opponents to just 36.2 percent shooting from the floor, lowest in the NCAA.
“I’ve seen a lot of Kentucky teams in my time, and this may be one of the best teams I’ve seen,” Stansbury added. “And (Rick) Pitino had some good teams.”
Freshman forward Anthony Davis, a national defensive player-of-the-year candidate, leads the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding at 13.9 points and 9.7 boards, respectively. He’s also tops nationally, with 131 blocked shots.
“He’s the one guy that can affect the game without ever shooting the basketball,” Stansbury said.
Junior forward Arnett Moultrie continues to lead MSU in scoring (16.5), while his 10.8 rebounds and 15 double-doubles are tops. Against Auburn, on Saturday, he had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
After Tuesday, the Bulldogs return to action at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Alabama, in a game televised by ESPN. Earlier this year, MSU upended the Crimson Tide at the Hump, 56-52.
February 21, 2012 at 8:06 am
Its unfortunate that the competitiveness of years past in college basketball has passed. There was a time when their were elite programs in every region of the country, it is apparent that those former powers are good in name only. This year there are only two elite programs, Syracuse & Kentucky and whats left is the mediocre 23 in no special order. Kentucky and Syracuse will continue to impress and show their dominance, hopefully the NCAA selection committee won’t screw up have them meet in the FINAL FOUR and not the National Championship
February 22, 2012 at 8:52 am
Is there any plans for articles on sports at Ole Miss and Alabama?
February 22, 2012 at 11:56 am
We are working on it as we speak!!!
JBS