Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball

The Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball program represents Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, in men's NCAA Division I basketball. The Bulldogs play in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has qualified for the NCAA tournament 13 times and most recently in 2024. The Bulldogs best finish in the NCAA tournament came in 1996 when they advanced to the Final Four. On March 20, 2022, Mississippi State named former New Mexico State head coach Chris Jans as its 21st head basketball coach.

Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball
2024–25 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team
University	Mississippi State University
First season	1908
All-time record	1,506–1,267 (.543)
Athletic director	Zac Selmon
Head coach	Chris Jans (3rd season)
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Location	Starkville, Mississippi
Arena	Humphrey Coliseum (capacity: 10,575)
Nickname	Bulldogs
Colors	Maroon and white[1]
Uniforms
Home Away Alternate
NCAA tournament Final Four
1996
Other NCAA tournament results Elite Eight 1996 Sweet Sixteen 1963, 1995, 1996 Appearances 1963, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025
Conference tournament champions
1923, 1996, 2002, 2009
Conference regular-season champions
1913, 1914, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1991, 2004
Conference division regular-season champions
1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010

History

The Bulldogs have been to the NCAA Tournament eleven times, the first time in 1963 and the most recent being 2024. Mississippi State chose not to accept previous bids because state officials viewed African-Americans as inferior and would not allow Ole Miss or Mississippi State to play against teams with African-American players. The 1963 team, however, famously snuck out of the state in the dead of night to play in what has since been dubbed the "Game of Change".

Six of the ten NCAA appearances have been earned in the past 10 seasons under former MSU Head Basketball Coach, Rick Stansbury. They have won 8 conference championships, two under coach Earl C. Hayes as a member of the now-dissolved Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1913 and 1914 in addition to six SEC titles in 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1991, and 2004. The Bulldogs have won four conference tournament championships, one as a member of the Southern Conference in 1923 and three SEC tournament titles in 1996, 2002, and 2009. Mississippi State has several notable alumni including Erick Dampier, Bailey Howell, and Jarvis Varnado.

Rivals

As in all sports, Mississippi State's rival is Ole Miss. Mississippi State leads the series over Ole Miss 142–112. Former MSU Head Coach Rick Stansbury is 21–8 vs the Rebels.^[2] Former head coach Ben Howland, was 6–9 against the Rebels.

Mississippi State and Alabama are considered rivals on the court, with only 90 miles separating the two programs. The Crimson Tide lead the all-time series 120–74.^[3]

Former players

All-Americans

Player	Position	Year(s)	Selectors
Jim Ashmore	Guard	1956–57	Converse, Associated Press, UPI, Helms Athletic Foundation
Bailey Howell (2)	Forward	1957–58, 1958–59	Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, USBWA/Look Magazine, NABC, UPI, NEA
Red Stroud (2)	Guard	1961–62, 1962–63	Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, NABC, Associated Press
Leland Mitchell	Guard	1962–63	Converse
Rickey Brown	Forward	1979–80	Citizen Saving Athletic Foundation, Associated Press
Jeff Malone	Guard	1982–83	The Sporting News, Basketball Times, NABC
Greg Carter	Forward	1990–91	Associated Press
Chuck Evans	Guard	1991–92	UPI
Eric Dampier (2)	Center	1994–95, 1995–96	Associated Press
Mario Austin	Forward	2002–03	Associated Press, Foxsports.com
Lawrence Roberts (2)	Forward	2003–04, 2004–05	Associated Press, USBWA, NABC, The Sporting News
Jamont Gordon (2)	Guard	2006–07, 2007–08	Foxsports.com, Rivals, ESPN, Associated Press
Jarvis Varnado (2)	Forward	2008–09, 2009–10	Associated Press, College Basketball Insider
Dee Bost	Guard	2008–09	CollegeHoops.net
Source:MSU Media Guide [4]

Notable basketball players who attended and played at Mississippi State University.

• Arnett Moultrie, 1st round, 2012 NBA draft.
• Jarvis Varnado, 2nd round, 2010 NBA draft. NCAA career record holder with 564 blocked shots. One of only two college players to have at least 1000 points, 1000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots, the other being David Robinson.
• Lawrence Roberts, 2nd round, 2005 NBA draft.
• Timmy Bowers, 2006 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
• Malik Newman (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Derrick Zimmerman, 2nd round, 2003 NBA draft.
• Tyrone Washington, 2nd round, 1999 NBA draft.
• Dontae' Jones, 1st round, 1996 NBA draft.
• Erick Dampier, 1st round, 1996 NBA draft.
• Jeff Malone, 1st round, 1983 NBA draft. Two time NBA All-Star.
• Rickey Brown, 1st round, 1980 NBA draft.
• Wiley Peck, 1st round, 1979 NBA draft.
• Bailey Howell, 1st round, 1959 NBA draft. Six time NBA All-Star. Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

SEC West Division titles

The years the Bulldogs won were as follows: 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times. Their combined record is 11–14.

The Bulldogs qualified for the 1959 tournament but university president Benjamin F. Hilbun would not permit the team to participate in the tournament where they would face African-American players.^[5]

The 1963 team

Year	Seed	Round	Opponent	Result
1963		Sweet Sixteen Regional 3rd Place Game	Loyola–Chicago Bowling Green	L 51–61 W 65–60
1991	#5	Round of 64	#12 Eastern Michigan	L 56–76
1995	#5	Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen	#12 Santa Clara #4 Utah #1 UCLA	W 75–67 W 78–64 L 67–86
1996	#5	Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four	#12 VCU #13 Princeton #1 Connecticut #2 Cincinnati #4 Syracuse	W 58–51 W 63–41 W 60–55 W 73–63 L 69–77
2002	#3	Round of 64 Round of 32	#14 McNeese State #6 Texas	W 70–58 L 64–68
2003	#5	Round of 64	#12 Butler	L 46–47
2004	#2	Round of 64 Round of 32	#15 Monmouth #7 Xavier	W 85–52 L 74–89
2005	#9	Round of 64 Round of 32	#8 Stanford #1 Duke	W 93–70 L 55–63
2008	#8	Round of 64 Round of 32	#9 Oregon #1 Memphis	W 76–69 L 74–77
2009	#13	Round of 64	#4 Washington	L 58–71
2019	#5	Round of 64	#12 Liberty	L 76–80
2023	#11	First Four	#11 Pittsburgh	L 59–60
2024	#8	Round of 64	#9 Michigan State	L 51–69
2025	#8	Round of 64	#9 Baylor	L 72–75

NIT results

The Bulldogs have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times. Their combined record is 13–11.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1979	First Round	Alcorn State	L 78–80
1990	First Round Second Round	Baylor New Orleans	W 84–75 L 60–65
1994	First Round	Kansas State	L 69–78
1999	First Round	Colorado State	L 56–69
2001	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Southern Miss Pittsburgh Tulsa	W 75–68 W 66–61 L 75–77
2007	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Mississippi Valley State Bradley Florida State West Virginia	W 82–63 W 101–72 W 86–71 L 62–63
2010	First Round Second Round	Jackson State North Carolina	W 81–67 L 74–76
2012	First Round	Massachusetts	L 96–101 2OT
2018	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Nebraska Baylor Louisville Penn State	W 66–59 W 78–77 W 79–56 L 60–75
2021	First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals	Saint Louis Richmond Louisiana Tech Memphis	W 74–68 W 68–67 W 84–61 L 64–77
2022	First Round	Virginia	L 57–60

Awards

NCAA Defensive Player of the Year

Player	Year
Jarvis Varnado	2010

SEC Coach of the Year

Coach	Year
Babe McCarthy	1961, 1962, 1963
Kermit Davis Sr	1971
Ron Greene	1978
Bob Boyd	1985
Richard Williams	1991, 1995
Rick Stansbury	2004

SEC Player of the Year

Player	Year
Jim Ashmore	1957
Bailey Howell	1958, 1959
W.D. "Red" Stroud	1962
Jeff Malone	1983
Lawrence Roberts	2004

SEC Defensive Player of the Year

Player	Year
Jarvis Varnado	2008, 2009, 2010

Howell Trophy Award winners

Player	Year
Lawrence Roberts	2005
Jamont Gordon	2008
Jarvis Varnado	2009, 2010
Arnett Moultrie	2012
Quinndary Weatherspoon	2018, 2019
Reggie Perry	2020
Iverson Molinar	2022
Tolu Smith	2023
Josh Hubbard	2024, 2025

Retired numbers

Main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers

Mississippi State has retired one jersey number for Bailey Howell, doing so on February 7, 2009 at the Coliseum.^[6] Mississippi State has also honored two others with honorary banners.

Mississippi State Bulldogs retired numbers
No.	Player	Pos.	Career	No. ret.	Ref.
52	Bailey Howell	SF / PF	1957–1959	2009	[6][7]

Honored jerseys

Player	Pos.	Tenure
Babe McCarthy	Head coach	1955–1965
Jack Cristil	Voice of the Bulldogs	1953–2011

See also

• Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball statistical leaders