Photo by: Ole Miss Athletics
Take 5 – Get the big takeaways in Mississippi sports with our weekly ‘Take Five’ series. Five minutes, five takes, all the insight and information you need to stay plugged in.
By Jon Wiener and “Insider” Joe Simeone
1. Big Presence in the Big Dance
Mississippi basketball is coming out strong. Now can we stay around? For the first time since 2002, both State and Ole Miss are in the NCAA tournament together. The 5th seeded Bulldogs will face off against No.12 Liberty on Friday in San Jose (6:27 pm Tru TV). This is State’s first bid since 2009 and their first in the Ben Howland era. Make no mistake: these Bulldogs have belonged here for most of the season and have the talent to beat some people. But we all know the history of the 5-12 matchup: the Bulldogs themselves were bounced as a 5-seed by Butler in 2003. Of course, the famous Final Four run in 1996 came as a 5-seed. It’s likely somewhere in between this time around.
Meanwhile, the selection committee continued its streak of never leaving a 20 – 10 win SEC team out of the tournament and rewarded Ole Miss with an eight seed. The Rebels will face the 9th-seed Oklahoma Sooners on Friday in Columbia (11:40 AM Tru Tv). House money for Ole Miss? The Rebels were projected DFL in the league this year in Kermit Davis Jr.’s first season. He laughed at that, and would probably do the same towards the notion the Rebels are on a honeymoon here. Davis knows as well as anyone that you have to make it count in the NCAA Tournament because it’s far from a birthright to be there. Expect senior swingman Terrance Davis (15.1 ppg) to step up against the Sooners’ experienced group, but the Rebels need junior star, PG Breein Tyree, to be his best to advance.
2. Good and Bad for MSU Women
The Lady Bulldogs probably should have gotten the travel news early anyway: as Tom Hagen reminds producer Jack Woltz in The Godfather Two, the boss wants to hear bad news immediately. So with ESPNU accidentally leaking pictures of the bracket on-air hours before the scheduled selection show, Vic Schaefer (#PTLGD) and his ladies learned they had earned the No.1 seed but would have to travel out to Portland, where Pac 12 champ Oregon (29-4, 16-2) is seeded No.2 and would play a de facto home game should they meet in the regional finals. There are no easy draws that deep in the bracket, but for example, would they just as soon be the No.2 seed in Greensboro and take a shot at Baylor again? We know one thing: Schaefer, Teaira McCowan, and the nails-tough Lady Dogs won’t scare either way.
3. Our State, Murray State?
The miraculous Ja Morant isn’t the only reason for Mississipi to make Murray State its third team this March. The Racers have four different Mississippi guys on their roster — a fourth of the team. Three play significant minutes, led by Madison Central product Shaq Buchanan (13.0 ppg, 4.3 rebs) and 6’9 freshman forward K.J. Williams (7.6 ppg, 4.6 rebs), the former Cleveland Central star quarterback. MRA’s Devon Gilmore contributes minutes down low — not to be confused with Callaway product Terron Gilmore, who played at Murray St. in 2015-16. All this from the school where Biloxi great Isaiah Canaan (2010-13) became an All-American. Could be why coach Matt McMahon keeps returning to Mississippi recruiting soil. We’re all aboard the Racer train in return (and for Morant) this March!
4. Jones Back But Never Gone
Mike Jones is returning to the sidelines. If you’re thinking, “Who? Mike Jones” (:-0) just look on the court at Mississippi College that bears his name. Now Jones is literally coming down from the rafters to coach the Choctaws for the third time: he’s been the school’s AD the last fifteen years. The 2018 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame inductee had a record of 324-110 with five conference titles and three Sweet Sixteen appearances over two different stints. Jones, 65 years old and himself an MC alum, is one of the most beloved figures in small college basketball — and royalty in Clinton. Good for so many to see him back on the sidelines once more, and it’s our bet he’ll win, as always.
5. Mississippi’s Greatest A Great Contest
We did a fun thing and ranked all of Mississippi’s greatest people and put them in a March Madness style bracket for you to vote and enjoy on Twitter. It’s fun, lively, challenging, humorous, occasionally #madonline, and it’s happening now. Mostly the bracket contest celebrates what a remarkable state Mississippi is “that has such people in it.” The depth of the field and the people left on the bubble entirely could be its own who’s who list. We may not have gotten them all right, but that’s so much of the fun. Jump in and vote now!
Tweet of the Week: March Madness Edition
Ranking Mississippi’s best — and leaving others out entirely — was a tough task. The committee struggled with some heated debates on who would land at what seed. They were not the only ones:
Archie vs Willie Morris has me stymied. Two of my favorites.
— Dilly Dilly Fanclub CEO (@blaylocksteve) March 18, 2019
Mississippi has produced kings, queens, and icons in the world’s most important fields. The bracket showcased how tough it can be to choose your favorite.
This is too good not to share again. #Mississippi produces some talent. #VisitMS https://t.co/ucTsRU3aix
— Visit Mississippi (@visitms) March 19, 2019
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