Perhaps State has navigated through the toughest stretch of the season

 Tennessee jumped out to a big first half lead over Mississippi State. The Bulldogs had the chance to cut that advantage down to seven points just before the break, but hit the halftime locker room down down 18. State made a second half push, but could never truly get over the hump. Tennessee matched the Bulldogs most of the way to win 68-56.

The truth of the matter is that State never really threatened Tennessee from the opening tip. It was simply one of those nights. State played poorly and a very talented Volunteer team had a lot to do with the Bulldogs’ quality of play.

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State is now 3-3 in Southeastern Conference play. The Bulldogs have played four ranked opponents in a row posting a 1-3 mark against them. Things ease up just a bit in the weeks ahead, but there are no freebies in SEC play.

Through six league games a season ago, Chris Jans’ squad was 2-4. The season before just 1-5. Both of those seasons, State made the NCAA tournament. This year’s roster is the most capable of any so far in the Jans era. 

Let us be fair about it. No one expected Mississippi State to win or even contend for the SEC regular season title this year. The hope was and is that the Bulldogs can get back to the Big Dance and hopefully get through to the second weekend of the tournament. Those expectations remain possible if not probable. 

State will travel to last place South Carolina (10-8, 0-5 SEC) this Saturday. In the SEC opener for both teams, State walloped the Gamecocks by the score of 85-50. The Bulldogs are expected to win again on Saturday. State needs the W. They should get it.

A very good Alabama team will head to the Hump for the first in a two-game set between the Bulldogs and Tide. That should be a barn burner, but State has the home court advantage. Alabama should be one of the final ranked foes that State sees the rest of the regular season. Florida has proven to be a strong club too, but the Bulldogs have games slated against the bottom six teams in the current SEC standings. 

Simply put, the schedule should afford the Bulldogs to make a real run. Yes, they will see Alabama twice along with Florida and Texas A&M once, but three of those four games will take place in Humphrey Coliseum. The last couple of weeks have gone as well as fans have hoped, but there is plenty of basketball left to be played. There are plenty of opportunities for the Bulldogs to finish in the top half of the league and find their way into another NCAA tourney.