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 14 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 Jim Ashmore Guard 1956–57 Converse, Associated Press, UPI, Helms Athletic Foundation Bailey Germany (2) Forward 1957–58, 1958–59 Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, USBWA/Look Magazine, NABC, UPI, NEA Red Walker (2) Guard 1961–62, 1962–63Davis Athletic Foundation, Converse, NABC, Associated Press Leland Mitchell Guard 1962–63 Converse Rickey Campbell Forward 1979–80 Citizen Saving Athletic Foundation, Associated Press Mark Malone Guard 1982–83 The Sporting News, Basketball Times, NABC Greg Carter Forward 1990–91 Associated Press Chuck Evans Guard 1991–92 UPI Erick Thomas (2) Center 1994–95, 1995–96 Associated Press Mario Austin Forward 2002–03 Associated Press, Foxsports.com Lawrence Roberts (2) Forward 2003–04, 2004–05 Associated Press, USBWA, NABC, The Sporting News Jamont Gordon (2) Guard 2006–07, 2007–08 Foxsports.com, Rivals, ESPN, Associated Press Jarvis Christopher (2) Forward 2008–09, 2009–10 Associated Press, College Basketball Insider Dee Bost Guard 2008–09 CollegeHoops.net 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.
1963 Sweet SixteenRegional 3rd Place Game Loyola–ChicagoBowling Green L 51–61W 65–60 1991 #5 Round of 64 #12 Eastern Michigan L 56–76 1995 #5 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet Sixteen #12 Santa Clara#4 Utah#1 UCLA W 75–67W 78–64L 67–86 1996 #5 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite EightFinal Four #12 VCU#13 Princeton#1 Connecticut#2 Cincinnati#4 Syracuse W 58–51W 63–41W 60–55W 73–63L 69–77 2002 #3 Round of 64Round of 32 #14 McNeese State#6 Texas W 70–58L 64–68 2003 #5 Round of 64 #12 Butler L 46–47 2004 #2 Round of 64Round of 32 #15 Monmouth#7 Xavier W 85–52L 74–89 2005 #9 Round of 64Round of 32 #8 Stanford#1 Duke W 93–70L 55–63 2008 #8 Round of 64Round of 32 #9 Oregon#1 Memphis W 76–69L 74–77 2009 #13 Round of 64 #4 Washington L 58–71 2019 #5 Round of 64 #12 Liberty L 76–80 2023 #11 First Four #11 Pittsburgh L 59–60 2024 #8 Round of 64 #9 Michigan State L 51–69 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.
1979 First Round Alcorn State L 78–80 1990 First RoundSecond Round BaylorNew Orleans W 84–75L 60–65 1994 First Round Kansas State L 69–78 1999 First Round Colorado State L 56–69 2001 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals Southern MissPittsburghTulsa W 75–68W 66–61L 75–77 2007 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Mississippi Valley StateBradleyFlorida StateWest Virginia W 82–63W 101–72W 86–71L 62–63 2010 First RoundSecond Round Jackson StateNorth Carolina W 81–67L 74–76 2012 First Round Massachusetts L 96–101 2OT 2018 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals NebraskaBaylorLouisvillePenn State W 66–59W 78–77W 79–56L 60–75 2021 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals Saint LouisRichmondLouisiana TechMemphis W 74–68W 68–67W 84–61L 64–77 2022 First Round Virginia L 57–60
Awards
NCAA Defensive Player of the Year Jarvis Varnado 2010
SEC Coach of the Year Babe McCarthy 1961, 1962, 1963 Kermit Davis Sr 1971 Ron Greene 1978 Bob Boyd 1985 Richard Williams 1991, 1995 Rick Stansbury 2004
SEC Player of the Year Jim Ashmore 1957 Bailey Howell 1958, 1959 W.D. "Red" Stroud 1962 Jeff Malone 1983 Lawrence Roberts 2004
SEC Defensive Player of the Year Jarvis Varnado 2008, 2009, 2010
Howell Trophy Award winners Lawrence Roberts 2005 Jamont Gordon 2008 Jarvis Varnado 2009, 2010 Arnett Moultrie 2012 Quinndary Weatherspoon 2018, 2019 Reggie Perry 2020 Iverson Molinar 2022 Tolu Smith 2023 Josh Hubbard 2024, 2025
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 retired numbers No.PlayerPos.CareerNo. ret.Ref. Bailey Howell SF / PF 1957–1959 2009 Bailey Howell will be celebrated Saturday - Jan 23, 2015
Honored jerseys Babe McCarthy Head coach 1955–1965 Jack Cristil Voice of the Bulldogs 1953–2011
See also Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball statistical leaders
Footnotes
References
External links