Mississippi State Bulldogs News: Basketball on the Bubble and Baseball Stays Hot
It was another big weekend of Mississippi State bulldogs sports. Here's a look back at all the action and news.
There's plenty happening around Mississippi State bulldogs athletics. Men's basketball closed out the regular season and is off to the SEC Tournament. Women's basketball awaits their postseason fates. Baseball picked up another sweep. Softball opened SEC play. And we even have news regarding former football stars in the NFL.
Here's a look at all the most recent Mississippi State bulldogs news...
Mississippi State basketball loses fourth-straight entering SEC Tournament
Just when Mississippi State basketball looked poised to make a run into March, the Bulldogs faltered down the stretch. State lost it's regular-season finale to South Carolina 93-89 in overtime. It was the fourth-straight loss for MSU men's hoops.
With that loss, Mississippi State basketball enters into the SEC Tournament with work to do if they want to reach the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs are squarely on the bubble, and they almost certainly have to win their first SEC Tournament game if they want to return to the Big Dance.
Mississippi State women's basketball awaits postseason fate
Mississippi State women's basketball also struggled down the stretch. The Bulldogs suffered a five-game losing skid late in the year before seemingly getting back on track with a win over Missouri to close out the regular season. But any momentum gained in that win did not carry over to the SEC Women's Tournament.
Texas A&M dominated State 72-56 in Greenville, leaving MSU's NCAA Tournament hopes solely in the hands of the Selection Committee. Their overall resume is ok with a decent collection of wins against a SEC schedule, but they own some bad losses to go along with uninspiring play late in the season.
Right now ESPN has Mississippi State women's basketball as the very last team in the field for the NCAA Tournament. Will they be on the right side of the cutline on Sunday? We have to wait and see.
Mississippi State basketball stars earn All-SEC, state of Mississippi awards
Despite the recent struggles on the hardwood, Mississippi State basketball saw multiple players honored for their outstanding play on the season. Tolu Smith, Josh Hubbard, and Cameron Matthews were each named to All-SEC teams.
In the state of Mississippi, the Bulldogs swept the awards for the state's best basketball players. Josh Hubbard took home the 2024 Howell trophy, and Jessika Carter took home the 2024 Gillom Trophy. It was the first time Mississippi State won both since 2020.
Mississippi State baseball gets another sweep
After a slow start to a crucial season, Mississippi State baseball has gotten hot. The Diamond Dawgs picked up another sweep this weekend, winning all three games against Evansville. State's revamped pitching staff continued to shine, and the bats are starting to come along as well. Dakota Jordan had a massive weekend with a homer in all three games.
State has now won 9-straight. They head down to Biloxi for midweek action before opening SEC play with defending national champion LSU in Starkville.
Mississippi State softball takes series from Ole Miss
No team on campus is hotter than Mississippi State softball. The Bulldogs blazed through their non-conference slate and kept up that momentum in their opening SEC series against rival Ole Miss. State took 2/3 from the Rebels in Oxford, winning on Friday and Saturday.
Paige Cook and Madisyn Kennedy had big weekends at the plate, and Aspen Wesley threw her first career no-hitter on Saturday. An extra-inning walk-off homer by Ole Miss on Sunday was the only thing standing between State and a sweep. The Bulldogs are now 19-4 on the year.
Big news for former Mississippi State football defensive lineman in the NFL
A pair of former Mississippi State football defensive lineman made NFL headlines over the weekend. Fletcher Cox announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons. The former 1st Round pick spent his entire career with the Eagles, winning the Super Bowl in 2018 and putting up Hall of Fame numbers along the way.
Chris Jones re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a massive new deal. The former Bulldog and 3x Super Bowl champion will earn $95 million in guaranteed money over the next three years in what was a record-setting contract for a defensive tackle. Jones continues to carry the torch for Mississippi State football as "D-Line U."