Mississippi State at Western Kentucky (+2) - 5:00pm Pacific

The Hilltoppers will be sky high for this game tonight.  They are coming off back to back tough losses on the road, they get a rare opportunity to play an SEC opponent on their home floor, it is the home debut of first year coach Darrin Horn, and they will be looking to extend the nations longest home winning streak which currently sits at 39 games.  Tip off was moved from 5:00pm EST to 8:00pm EST and night games usually mean rowdier crowds.

 

The Hilltoppers did lose four starters from last years team but have plenty of returning and newcomer talent on hand.  Currently four players are averaging double figures in scoring.  The backcourt is led by returning starter senior Mike Wells who averaged double figures last season.  He is an explosive scorer who has shot poorly from 3-point range (2-for-14) in first two regular season games on the road but is capable of much better.  He should enjoy return to home court as much as anyone.  Also returning is guard Anthony Winchester who earned Sun Belt freshman of the year coming off the bench last season.  He is a superb shooter and has added more of an all around game for his second go around.  He has averaged 13.5ppg & 8.5rpg in first two contests.  6-9 senior forward Todor Pandov is a fine skilled big man who missed all but one game last season due to injury.  6-11 center Nigel Dixon (transfer from Florida State) has looked good.  Dixon is definitely in better shape since his FSU days and currently leads the team with a 14.5ppg average.  That would be higher if not for foul trouble vs Auburn in game one.  JC transfer Antonio Haynes (8.5ppg, 4.5apg) has looked good at point guard providing a nice spark off the bench.  It will not be long before he finds himself in the starting lineup.  Freshman forward Ryan Lambert has also played well off the bench.

 

Mississippi State lost three starters to graduation including two NBA second round draft picks.  A fourth starter, forward Ontario Harper, was lost for the season to an offseason injury.  That leaves the Bulldogs without four of their top five scorers and all top four rebounders from last season.  They still have good talent.  Baylor transfer forward Lawrence Roberts is a good one, senior guard Timmy Bowers does everything well, Iowa State transfer Shane Power is now eligible, freshman guard Gary Ervin comes well touted, and reserve returnees Marcus Campbell and Branden Vincent are adequate players.  However, with four new starters it is going to take this team some time before they play their best basketball.  They hosted another Sun Belt team, South Alabama in last game and won by 9 but trailed by 3 midway through the second half.  It is asking a lot of this team to take on a quality opponent in such a hostile environment this early in the season.

 

Western Kentucky opened the season with two tough assignments.  They visited Auburn and then VCU.  Both Auburn & VCU were looking to avenge losses to Western Kentucky last season.  The Hilltoppers fought hard in both games.  The game at Auburn was tight until the final 8 or 9 minutes.  The game at VCU was tied with 4 minutes left.  Western Kentucky, like Auburn is breaking in new players and will definitely improve off their first two games but the real key is returning home to E.A. Diddle Arena where they are clearly a different team as evidenced by their 39 game home win streak.  The Hilltoppers rarely get any big name opponents on their home schedule.  Last year they ran Auburn out of the gym by 19 and the year prior they beat Creighton by 34.  This is a tough place for any team to play.  Mississippi State has had their share of road struggles in recent years.  The Bulldogs are 20-4 in home SEC games the past three seasons but only 6-18 on the road.  Huge difference.  Hilltoppers in a mild upset.

 

Western Kentucky   1 UNIT