SEC tourney preview
Mississippi State is the only team playing Thursday that seems to have any chance of surviving a four-games-in-four-days gauntlet. The Bulldogs won the regular-season title in 2004 and might have made another run at the championship this season if not for a string of injuries.
“We’re a little disappointed because we’re used to competing for championships,” Stansbury said. “But if we take a deep breath and see what we were still able to accomplish, we can be very proud of this team.”
The Bulldogs are led by senior forward Lawrence Roberts, a unanimous selection to the All-SEC team. He averaged 17.3 points a game and led the SEC in rebounding (11.1).
Winsome Frazier also made it back on the court after breaking a foot in early January. At first feared lost for the season, the senior guard made a quicker-than-expected recovery, though he’s still not at 100 percent.
“He’s probably 75 to 80 percent,” Stansbury said. “But having his experience and having his toughness, that helps us.”
Mississippi State has the advantage of opening against Georgia, which managed only two conference wins - its lowest total since 1974 - while still dealing with the mess left by former coach Jim Harrick.
Georgia has only seven scholarship players and not much hope of extending its season, having already lost at home to Mississippi State 76-62.
