Bulldogs ready for a battle

By By Danny P. Smith/special to The Star
February 8, 2003
STARKVILLE The Arkansas Razorbacks have already taken down one team ranked in the top 25 this week and they would like nothing better than to do it again Saturday.
After beating Alabama 81-70 Wednesday, Arkansas sets its sights on Mississippi State in a 4 p.m. matchup at Humphrey Coliseum. The Tide entered the week ranked No. 22 by The Associated Press, while the Bulldogs are next at No. 23.
Even though the Razorbacks are only 7-11 overall and 2-5 in the Southeastern Conference, Mississippi State senior point guard says it is important to take Arkansas seriously after what it achieved against Alabama.
It will be as athletic a matchup as any in the SEC when the two teams showcase its talents on FOX SportSouth.
It's a game that Zimmerman and fellow guard Timmy Bowers look forward to because of their athletic ability.
Bowers and Zimmerman are ranked in the SEC's top 10 in steals and they showed how high they could leap by getting one block each in Wednesday's 82-60 win for the Bulldogs over Vanderbilt.
Zimmerman has 74 career blocked shots which is sixth all-time at Mississippi State. Not bad for a player who is only 6-3, 195 pounds.
Two of the reasons the Bulldogs have established records of 14-5 overall and 4-4 in the conference has been the play of Zimmerman and Bowers.
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury says he must do a better job of getting more rest for his playmakers.
Mario Austin, the leading scorer and rebounder for the Bulldogs, knows that his game is made so much better by the play of Zimmerman and Bowers.
Austin averages 16.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while Bowers scores 14.7 points per outing and Michal Ignerski gets 10.3 points per game. Zimmerman is bordering the double-digit mark at 9.5 points per outing.