The Mississippi State basketball team hasn’t faced Rutgers on the hardwood yet this season, but the Mississippi State Bulldogs enter the Gotham Classic already pretty battle tested against some stout competition. Early in this Mississippi State basketball season, coach Chris Jans and the Bulldogs have navigated an intriguing non-conference slate that has at times tested the Bulldogs.
And that has prepared this team full of young contributors and several newcomers with the sort of preparation they theoretically need to be able to thrive against a stout and smothering defensive force like the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
MSU has suffered a couple of odd losses earlier this season, but the Bulldogs have done well to take down a trio of Power 5 opponents. The Mississippi State men’s basketball team has demonstrated some impressive resolve and the ability to win away from the Hump when the Bulldogs beat the Arizona State Sun Devils and Washington State Cougars out of the Pac-12.
Mississippi State basketball: Bulldogs get yet another test against Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Oh, and the Mississippi State men’s basketball team also beat the Northwestern Wildcats out of the Big Ten, a game in which freshman Mississippi State basketball sensation Josh Hubbard thrived.
So, the Bulldogs are heading into this matchup with Rutgers having already been tested on a couple different occasions.
Mississippi State basketball fans can take some comfort in knowing that this isn’t the first time the Bulldogs will have been challenged away from Starkville, but Rutgers’ defense will challenge the Bulldogs in new ways.
Familiar faces like DJ Jeffries and Shakeel Moore have been important to have, but it’s also been exciting to see thrilling performances from breakout stars like the aforementioned Josh Hubbard and also Jimmy Bell Jr.
Against Rutgers, Mississippi State has a chance to get yet another solid victory to further improve an already respectable resume before heading into SEC play.