Jackson Free Press

Amazing Sports debuts this issue and will be in every issue of the JFP. For daily (more or less) updates, see Doctor S' Amazing Sports Blog.

Jan 13, 2004

Opening Shots

Lucky 13 for Dogs: By the time you read this, we might know whether Mississippi State is a good team or a great team. The No. 22 Bulldogs, who played No. 7 Kentucky on Tuesday night, opened the season with a school-best 13-0 record. The Bulldogs opened Southeastern Conference play by rallying from a 10-point deficit to beat Ole Miss 61-54 at Oxford, and then beat Arkansas 80-62 last Saturday in Starkville.

Kentucky was the best team State has played this season. Their competition up until then didn't look like anybody's projected NCAA bracket.

What's not in question is that the Bulldogs are talented. Post man Lawrence Taylor, a transfer from Baylor, leads the Bulldogs with 16.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He might have had his best game yet against Arkansas, scoring 29 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.

Senior point guard Timmy Bowers, the team's leader, averages 15.8 points per game.

MSU appears to be the class of the SEC West. The next few games will reveal how the Dogs stack up with the East.

Fast start for Tigers: Jackson State sat atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings following last Saturday's 78-71 victory at Alcorn State. But Monday night's game at Southern University figured to be the Tigers' biggest test yet.

It's difficult to judge a SWAC team based on its preconference record. SWAC teams play most of their early season games on the road (it's about money). This season, only one SWAC team, Mississippi Valley State, had a winning record going into SWAC play.

First-year coach Tevester Anderson seems to have revitalized the Tigers, who have been plagued by off-court problems and inconsistent play in recent seasons. Senior guards Ishmael Joyce and K.C. Cavette lead the way with 15.1 ppg and 12.0 ppg, respectively.

Is Green fading? Southern Miss coach James Green is unhappy, and he's not shy about telling people.During a Jackson radio show last week, he griped at length about USM's lack of support for basketball. Then an article in last Saturday's Clarion-Ledger made Green and his boss, athletic director Richard Giannini, sound like a married couple in dire need of counseling.

USM has been losing games and fans in recent seasons. Only 350 showed up for a Sunday afternoon game with New Orleans a couple of weeks ago. A crowd of 3,764 came out to watch the Golden Eagles upset Memphis 66-63 last Saturday. Green's job could hinge on how many of them return this season.

There is some talent, led by Charles Gaines (16.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg) and Jasper Johnson (12.8 ppg), but it won't be enough to cope with a killer Conference USA schedule.
Rebels reeling: Ole Miss came into SEC play on a six-game winning streak (against Grade B competition). Things immediately went sour. The Rebels blew a 10-point lead at home against MSU and were crushed at Auburn, 80-53, last Saturday.

Much like USM, Ole Miss is suffering from a talent shortage. Thank goodness for the Provine Posse of Justin Reed (18.2 ppg) and Aaron Harper (13.8 ppg) or the cupboard would be almost bare.

Coach Rod Barnes' job doesn't appear to be in jeopardy … yet. But this team will be lucky to win three or four SEC games.