Bulldogs won't hang their heads
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
March 23, 2004
ORLANDO, Fla. For the third straight year, Mississippi State University's basketball season ended in the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.
Xavier (25-10), the seventh seed in the Atlanta Regional, bombarded the No. 2-seeded Bulldogs (26-4) with 13 three-pointers to eliminate MSU in the second round on Sunday in Orlando, Fla.
MSU was scratched out of the tournament last year by the Cinderella Butler Bulldogs in the opening round, and the Bulldogs lost to Texas in the second round of the 2002 tournament.
Though the Bulldogs were disappointed with their 89-74 loss to the Musketeers, who MSU defeated 82-70 in December, they were not ready to label the season a disappointment as a whole.
MSU compiled an impressive list of team and individual accomplishments during the 2003-04 season.
The Bulldogs won their first outright regular-season Southeastern Conference championship since 1963, and they won a second straight Western Division crown.
MSU's 26 wins came up one short of the school's all-time wins mark of 27, set in 2001-02.
The Bulldogs put together a perfect 12-0 road record in the regular season, and their No. 2 seed in the tournament was the school's highest ever.
But still, the players and coaches are aware that seasons are often judged by postseason play, where MSU went 1-2. The Bulldogs lost their opening game in the SEC tournament against Vanderbilt, and their only postseason win came in the first round of the NCAA against lowly-regarded Monmouth.
When MSU returns to the basketball court in seven months, it could come back as a favorite to repeat the feats the team accomplished this year and be a serious contender for the national title.
The Bulldogs lose four seniors from this year's team.
Starters Timmy Bowers, the program's all-time winningest player (92) and Branden Vincent, the team's second leading rebounder (7.6), both leave. Rarely used Errol Bennett and Lincoln Smith also graduate.
MSU looks to return three starters for the 2004-05 season, headlined by SEC Player of the Year Lawrence Roberts, who led the team in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (10.1).
Guard Winsome Frazier, the team's third-leading scorer (13.1), is expected back for his senior season, as is Powers, who scored 9.7 points per game this season.
Freshman Gary Ervin is expected to take over the point guard position left vacant by Bowers. The 5-11 guard was groomed this season as Bowers' backup, averaging 5.4 points in 18.8 minutes a game.
MSU should also have the services of forward Ontario Harper back next season. Harper sat out this season recovering from knee surgery, after averaging 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 2003.
Stansbury is weary when it comes to talking bout the talent he believes will be returning to his team next season.
The sixth-year Bulldog coach's reluctance to speculate about his roster for next season is understandable.
Mario Austin, who led MSU is scoring and rebounding in 2003, departed for the NBA draft after being expected to return for his senior season, and high school signee Travis Outlaw skipped college all together to enter the pro ranks.
Roberts is the team's biggest question mark this year entering the offseason.
The 6-foot-9 transfer will have to decide by May 10, the deadline to declare himself eligible for the NBA, if he wishes to test the professional waters. He would have until June 17 to withdraw his name from the draft.
The transfer from Baylor remained quiet about his future basketball plans following Sunday's game.
Stansbury said he didn't know what Roberts' thoughts were about skipping his final year of college to enter the NBA.
