The Mississippi State basketball team was back at the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi this Saturday to face off against the Nicholls State Colonels. The Bulldogs defeated the Colonels, 68-66.
Here are my early post-game thoughts:
Mississippi State Basketball needs to improve offensively.
It is starting to look rough on the offensive side of the ball for Mississippi State. Not being able to come up with a basket will cost the Bulldogs this season, and I have said it before, but dry shooting spells kill the Bulldogs’ defensive momentum.
Mississippi State’s offense must feed Tolu Smith early and often.
Tolu Smith finished the game with 8 rebounds, 0 assists, and 15 points. Smith was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer into today’s game vs. the Nicholls State Colonels, but he was not fed down low until early in the second half. That cannot happen if the Mississippi State Bulldogs want to win games down the stretch. Tolu Smith is key to the Bulldogs winning in SEC play.
This team is 11-0. Why is that so important?
Of course, it is great that the 2022-2023 Mississippi State basketball team is 11-0, but why is that so important? It is important because of post-season play. Winning most, maybe all, of your non-conference games is something that will be held in high regard when it comes to Mississippi State’s basketball resume at the end of this regular season. 11-0 is important because these 11 games could push Mississippi State into the NCAA tournament come February.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs have one more non-conference game before starting SEC play. The Bulldogs will face off against the Drake Bulldogs next Tuesday, December 20th in their final non-conference game (excluding TCU in the Big 12/SEC Challenge). The Mississippi State basketball team will begin SEC play on Wednesday, December 28th vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide. That game will be played at the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi.