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Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball
College basketball team
College basketball team
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Mississippi State Bulldogs |
| men's basketball | |
| current | 2025–26 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team |
| logo | Mississippi State Bulldogs script logo.svg |
| logo_size | 200 |
| university | Mississippi State University |
| firstseason | 1908 |
| record | |
| athletic_director | Zac Selmon |
| coach | Chris Jans |
| tenure | 4th |
| conference | Southeastern Conference |
| location | Mississippi State, Mississippi |
| arena | Humphrey Coliseum |
| capacity | 10,575 |
| nickname | Bulldogs |
| bestfinish | 4 |
| NCAAfinalfour | 1996 |
| NCAAeliteeight | 1996 |
| NCAAsweetsixteen | 1963, 1995, 1996 |
| NCAAroundof32 | 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008 |
| NCAAtourneys | 1963, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| conference_tournament | 1923, 1996, 2002, 2009 |
| conference_season | 1913, 1914, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1991, 2004 |
| division_season | 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 |
| h_body | 5D1725 |
| h_pattern_b | _thinsidesonwhite |
| h_shorts | 5D1725 |
| h_pattern_s | _thinsidesonwhite |
| a_body | 5D1725 |
| a_pattern_b | _thinwhitesides |
| a_shorts | 5D1725 |
| a_pattern_s | _whitesides |
| 3_body | 000000 |
| 3_pattern_b | _thinwhitesides |
| 3_shorts | 000000 |
| 3_pattern_s | _whitesides |
men's basketball The Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball program represents Mississippi State University near Starkville, Mississippi in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The Bulldogs play in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has qualified for the NCAA tournament 13 times and most recently in 2024. The Bulldogs best finish in the NCAA tournament came in 1996 when they advanced to the Final Four. On March 20, 2022, Mississippi State named former New Mexico State head coach Chris Jans as its 21st head basketball coach.
History
The Bulldogs have been to the NCAA Tournament eleven times, the first time in 1963 and the most recent being 2024. Mississippi State chose not to accept previous bids because state officials viewed African-Americans as inferior and would not allow Ole Miss or Mississippi State to play against teams with African-American players. The 1963 team, however, famously snuck out of the state in the dead of night to play in what has since been dubbed the "Game of Change".
Six of the ten NCAA appearances have been earned in the past 10 seasons under former MSU Head Basketball Coach, Rick Stansbury. They have won 8 conference championships, two under coach Earl C. Hayes as a member of the now-dissolved Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1913 and 1914 in addition to six SEC titles in 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1991, and 2004. The Bulldogs have won four conference tournament championships, one as a member of the Southern Conference in 1923 and three SEC tournament titles in 1996, 2002, and 2009. Mississippi State has several notable alumni including Erick Dampier, Bailey Howell, and Jarvis Varnado.
Rivals
As in all sports, Mississippi State's rival is Ole Miss. Mississippi State leads the series over Ole Miss 142–112. Former MSU Head Coach Rick Stansbury is 21–8 vs the Rebels. Former head coach Ben Howland, was 6–9 against the Rebels.
Mississippi State and Alabama are considered rivals on the court, with only 90 miles separating the two programs. The Crimson Tide lead the all-time series 120–74.
Former players
All-Americans
| Source:MSU Media Guide |
|---|
Notable basketball players who attended and played at Mississippi State University.
- Arnett Moultrie, 1st round, 2012 NBA draft.
- Jarvis Varnado, 2nd round, 2010 NBA draft. NCAA career record holder with 564 blocked shots. One of only two college players to have at least 1000 points, 1000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots, the other being David Robinson.
- Lawrence Roberts, 2nd round, 2005 NBA draft.
- Timmy Bowers, 2006 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
- Malik Newman (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Derrick Zimmerman, 2nd round, 2003 NBA draft.
- Tyrone Washington, 2nd round, 1999 NBA draft.
- Dontae' Jones, 1st round, 1996 NBA draft.
- Erick Dampier, 1st round, 1996 NBA draft.
- Jeff Malone, 1st round, 1983 NBA draft. Two time NBA All-Star.
- Rickey Brown, 1st round, 1980 NBA draft.
- Wiley Peck, 1st round, 1979 NBA draft.
- Bailey Howell, 1st round, 1959 NBA draft. Six time NBA All-Star. Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.
SEC West Division titles
The years the Bulldogs won were as follows: 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010
Postseason
NCAA tournament results
The Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times. Their combined record is 11–14.
The Bulldogs qualified for the 1959 tournament but university president Benjamin F. Hilbun would not permit the team to participate in the tournament where they would face African-American players.
thumb|The 1963 team
| 2025 | #8 | Round of 64 | #9 Baylor | L 72–75 |
|---|
NIT results
The Bulldogs have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times. Their combined record is 13–11.
| 2022 | First Round | Virginia | L 57–60 |
|---|
Awards
NCAA Defensive Player of the Year
| Jarvis Varnado | 2010 |
|---|
SEC Coach of the Year
| Rick Stansbury | 2004 |
|---|
SEC Player of the Year
| Lawrence Roberts | 2004 |
|---|
SEC Defensive Player of the Year
| Jarvis Varnado | 2008, 2009, 2010 |
|---|
[[Howell Trophy|Howell Trophy Award winners]]
| Josh Hubbard | 2024, 2025 |
|---|
Retired numbers
Main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers
Mississippi State has retired one jersey number for Bailey Howell, doing so on February 7, 2009 at the Coliseum. Mississippi State has also honored two others with honorary banners.
| Mississippi State Bulldogs | border=0}}" | No. | Mississippi State Bulldogs | border=0}}" | Player | Mississippi State Bulldogs | border=0}}" | Pos. | Mississippi State Bulldogs | border=0}}" | Career | Mississippi State Bulldogs | border=0}}" | No. ret. | Mississippi State Bulldogs | border=0}}" | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey Howell | SF / PF | 1957–1959 | 2009 |
Honored jerseys
| Jack Cristil | Voice of the Bulldogs | 1953–2011 |
|---|
Footnotes
References
References
- "Ole Miss at Mississippi State Postgame Notes February 9 2012".
- "Team media guide". static.hailstate.com.
- "Mississippi State All-Americas". Mississippi State.
- (March 1, 1959). "Mississippi State Can't Go To Tourney". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- (February 8, 2009). "Bailey Howell". [[Seattle Times]].
- [https://msfame.com/bailey-howell-will-be-celebrated-saturday/ Bailey Howell will be celebrated Saturday] - Jan 23, 2015
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