STF Super-Awesome Team Previews: #20 Mississippi State

Team: Mississippi State Bulldogs

Conference: SEC

2006 Record and Ending: 21-14 (8-8). The weak showing in-conference doomed MSU to the NIT last season (while 7-9 Arkansas got in - riddle me that?). A last-second shot by West Virginia in MSG took the Mountaineers to the title game over the Bulldogs.

Key Players Returning: Guard Jamont Gordon dominated scoring and playmaking categories for the Bulldogs last season, and surprised by chipping in 7 rebounds per game as well. Senior Forward Charles Rhodes averaged two blocks per game and also shot well.

What's To Love: The Bulldogs have two reliable players in Gordon and Rhodes. While the NIT was not their dream gig last year, it did give them post-season experience, and they took it seriously, which is a testament to coach Rick Stansbury's discipline.

What's Not To Love: The fact that Gordon out-rebounds Rhodes is troubling. In addition, MSU needs one or two other scorers to help Gordon out, or opponents will figure out how to shut him down. Sophomore Guard Ben Hansbrough came on strong at the end of last season, and may be able to fill that role.

Key Player: Gordon feels solid, so I'm going to hang this on Rhodes. If the big man can step up his pace on the offensive boards, and stick some of those back for easy points, he can take this team to the big dance.

Best Case: Gordon plays like Gordon, Rhodes rises to the challenge laid out above, and Hansbrough becomes the All-SEC talent he can be. Jarvis Varnado finds a few points to go with his 1.95 blocks per game and the Bulldogs make the Sweet 16.

Worst Case: A repeat of last year. Going to the NIT once is a decent consolation prize. Going twice puts coach's head on the chopping block. Potential is a great thing to have, but in a big-bucks conference like the SEC, it had better be realized, pronto.

STF Prediction: In my conference preview, I had MSU as the best team in the SEC West, and the third best team in the overall conference standings. They could rise as high as second, or fall as far as fifth, but I like them to play well for Stansbury and stay near the top of the league standings all season long.

The Bulldogs should go 23-5 overall, with all of their losses coming in-conference. The non-con schedule brings Clemson, Missouri, and six lesser foes to Humphrey Coliseum, and has just four easily winnable road games before the conference slate. The 11-5 I've mapped out for them in-conference should give them a good seed in the dance. I see them as a Sweet 16 contender this year.