/Bulldog coach, players regret not having chance to finish what they started

Bulldog coach, players regret not having chance to finish what they started

Howand stated Monday that the first meeting of Pittsburgh’s 2001 team after 9/11 was very emotional. “We had assistant coaches and players who had lost their families and friends. It was really difficult for us all.” The Pittsburgh team finished with a record of 29-6, reached the NCAA’s Sweet 16 as well as being a Top 10 team. Howland and his Bulldogs found out the hard way that they may have gone, which made last Thursday’s meeting so special. Howland stated, “We were playing our best basketball.” “We had played ourselves into the situation of having a double-bye in the SEC Tournament. To win the tournament, we only needed to win three games. “Honestly, I felt we had a good chance to win that tournament.” State won 11 out of 15 SEC games, and ended the season with a record of 20-11. State was 11-7 in SEC after losing three consecutive games to begin the conference season. Although we won’t know the outcome, it is likely that the Bulldogs needed to win at least one game to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Howland stated, “I really, really felt great about it.” “Our practices leading to the tournament were fantastic. “I think to a man we felt good about the chances.” The team was on their way to Nashville for one last practice when Howland got a call from his cell phone advising him that the SEC Tournament had been cancelled and that the season was over. His task was to inform his team. Howland stated, “I will never forget that, having guys like Reggie Perry and Tyson Carter in the eyes and tell ’em it’s over. Seeing the pain in their faces.” It was both emotional for them and for me. This is what you strive for all year. This is what you talk all year about. It was heart-wrenching and devastating for our players.” Perry is a sophomore All SEC forward and will likely be drafted by NBA. He will never again wear MSU’s maroon or white. “Reggie is a professional. Howland stated that he is ready to play in the NBA. “I believe it’s 100 per cent that he has played his last college basketball.” Tyson Carter is a senior who was a significant four-year contributor to State. His Bulldog years saw him gain 22 pounds of muscle. Carter stated, “It was one of the most disappointing events in my life not being able to finish this season and see how far we can go.” “Getting to play for Mississippi State was a realization of a long-held dream. But, not being able to complete my senior season is very disappointing. March is what you have been working towards all summer and fall. This is not how it should end. “We believed we could win in Nashville. We were confident. We were confident. Howland stated that Tyson will continue to play basketball for at least 10 more years. “I have never coached a better pure shot. In four years, he never missed a game. He was probably the most strong and durable player on our team, pound for pound. He’ll make a living playing this sport.” Bailey Howell, the former State basketball great, is now 83 years of age. His biggest regret in life is not being able to participate in the NCAA Tournament. Because Mississippi teams were not permitted to play against racially-integrated teams, Howell’s MSU team was not allowed to participate in the NCAA Tournament. Howell stated that “we never got a chance” to see how great we were. It still hurts.”