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Mississippi State basketball: No. 7 Bulldogs to face Arkansas to start 2019

By Ethan Lee

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 31: Gabby Williams #15 of the Connecticut Huskies drives against Teaira McCowan #15 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs in the third quarter during the semifinal round of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 31: Gabby Williams #15 of the Connecticut Huskies drives against Teaira McCowan #15 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs in the third quarter during the semifinal round of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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The first Mississippi State basketball game of the new year will be on the road against the Arkansas Razorbacks. It’s time to get ready for MSU’s road trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Vic Schaefer and the No. 7 Mississippi State basketball team are set to head on over to Fayetteville, Arkansas as the Bulldogs get the new year started off with a game against the Razorbacks.

Mississippi State wrapped up 2018 after beating the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns back home in Starkville, Mississippi. Unfortunately, MSU won’t get the opportunity to take on what could actually be an arduous challenge in facing the Arkansas Razorbacks in Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks have seen some early success in the non-conference portion of the 2018-2019 college basketball season as they jumped out to an 11-3 start. This comes after the Razorbacks won 13 total games during Mike Neighbors’ first season as their head coach.

That’s a pretty good amount of improvement so far.

But, Arkansas had a decent amount of early success last season too. The Razorbacks went 10-5 during their non-conference slate a year ago. Once Neighbors’ team hit SEC play, things fell apart and the Razorbacks went 3-13 against conference foes. There’s a good chance that Arkansas could see a similar sort of decline once they get into conference play this season.

It doesn’t help the Razorbacks’ case given that, in their first SEC game of the season, they get to face a team that in back-to-back seasons finished the year by competing for the national championship.

And also MSU won the SEC last season.

The Bulldogs could very well have their work cut out for them in this game. Arkansas could be notably improved from where it was a season ago. Or, well, it could just be early season success that vanishes once conference play starts.

Next. Joe Moorhead underachieved in his first year in Starkville. dark

Either way, the Mississippi State basketball team better be prepared for this game. Playing away from home could make this contest more difficult than it would be had it been played in Starkville.

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