- Last Season: 25-12, Lost in semifinals of NIT
- Notable Losses: Xavian Stapleton
- Notable Additions: Reggie Perry, Robert Woodard
Head coach Ben Howland had his Mississippi State Bulldogs on the cusp of making the 2018 NCAA Tournament last season but ultimately was forced into the NIT where they showed out well, coming just one game short of the championship game. The NIT is not the expectation for the team in the 2018-19 college basketball season, however, as this team should be a factor heading into March Madness.
Experience is where this Mississippi State team should thrive, only losing two transfers in Xavian Stapleton and Eli Wright, who only contributed a combined 9.4 points per game last season. Returning, though, are all five starters from last season, most notably senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon, who averaged 14.4 points and six rebounds per game a season ago.
With the other four returning starters, including Quinndary’s brother Nick Weatherspoon, and a bench player in Tyson Carter that all averaged more than 7.8 points per game, this team is most definitely poised to make some noise in the tough SEC this season. Their experience will indubitably serve them quite well and they have upside on top of that.
Forward Reggie Perry, who comes in as one of the top recruits in the country, could be the missing piece for Howland’s team. He can provide a spark in the frontcourt that the team may otherwise be lacking. Another touted recruit, Robert Woodard, can do the same on the wing, giving the Bulldogs a talented roster that cannot be overlooked.