STARKVILLE — Following the most disappointing performance of the 2011-12 season, Mississippi State Rick Stansbury knew exactly where to turn to steady the locker room.
The 14-year head coach went straight to his senior point guard that happens to be a co-captain on this Bulldogs squad in Dee Bost.
“Dee being a senior guard and being through it means he’s definitely the guy that’s the head of that snake always,” Stansbury said. “He’s a guy you depend on so much but everybody has to bounce back.”
After suffering a 70-68 upset home loss to Georgia, MSU (19-6, 6-4 in Southeastern Conference) now finds themselves heading on the road for a pair of critical games starting with LSU (14-10, 4-6) tonight (8 p.m., ESPNU)
Stansbury joked Monday during the SEC media teleconference that it’s the opponent that forces his squad into extra preparation on the road and not the outside distractions or atmosphere changes that will bother his team.
“It’s simple — if that opponent we were playing wasn’t very good then that crowd wouldn’t be a factor,” Stansbury said. “The one consistency when you go on the road (is) everybody is good. There’s no margin for error.”
One of the recent errors by MSU has been perimeter defense that has allowed consistent drives into the paint for dunks and layups or allowing opponents to shoot 43 percent from the field, which ranks 11th in the league.
“It all starts on the defensive end and especially on the road it’s going to take a lot of intensity on the floor to play hard,” Bost said Monday.
Unlike year’s past with MSU All-Century team member Jarvis Varnado near the rim, the Bulldogs are without a shot blocking presence despite the interior defense involving both junior forwards Renardo Sidney and Arnett Moultrie. The current frontcourt duo in Starkville averages less than two blocks per game and have allowed 10 straight opponents to shoot over 40 percent from the field.
“We got to do a good job on that ball screen because it’s very obvious (LSU) is going to screen a lot,” Stansbury said. “We have to do a better job job keeping them out of the lane. That’s our challenge and a challenge for us every game.”
LSU is led in scoring by junior forward Justin Hamilton and sophomore guard Andre Stringer at 13.7 and 10.2 points, respectively. Earlier this year at the Hump, Stringer accounted for 17 points in a 76-71 victory at Humphrey Coliseum.
“(MSU) is really balanced with a 7-8 man rotation that’s as good as anybody in our league,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said. “They’re a team that’s scary and can obviously go deep into the NCAA Tournament.”
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