STARKVILLE — Mississippi State basketball team spokesman Gregg Ellis confirmed Saturday morning that sophomore backup point guard Twany Beckham plans to have hip surgery and will be out for the season.
“He”s got bone spurs in both hips and will have surgery in a couple of weeks,” Ellis said.
Beckham, who was experiencing chronic pain because of the condition, will have surgery on one side, then undergo several months of rehabilitation before having the same procedure done on the other side.
The surgery became necessary after Beckham met with a specialist in Nashville, Tenn.
As a backup to Dee Bost last season, Beckham, of Louisville, Ky., saw action in 33 of 36 games for the Bulldogs. He averaged 1.6 points per game.
MSU basketball coach Rick Stansbury didn”t return messages left on his phone Saturday, but Ellis said the plan is to move senior guard Barry Stewart to point guard when Bost needs a breather.
n Alabama releases schedule: At Tuscaloosa, Ala., the University of Alabama 2009-10 men”s basketball schedule features 30 contests, including 17 dates at Coleman Coliseum as announced Saturday by first-year head coach Anthony Grant.
In addition to the 16-game Southeastern Conference slate, Grant”s first schedule at Alabama begins with 14 non-conference games and a trip to Orlando, Fla. to compete in the Old Spice Classic Nov. 26-29. Ten of the Crimson Tide”s games are currently scheduled for national television broadcasts.
Alabama”s scheduled non-conference foes made six postseason appearances last year and averaged 17 wins with four recording 20 or more victories. The SEC schedule features six opponents that advanced to postseason play a season ago.
After a pair of home exhibition contests against Montevallo and Augusta State on Nov. 4 and 10, respectively, the Tide opens the season in earnest on Nov. 14 when defending Ivy League champion Cornell visits Tuscaloosa. On Nov. 20 the Tide will welcome Providence to Coleman Coliseum.
On Jan. 9 the Tide jumps straight into SEC play, going to Baton Rouge, La. to face defending SEC Champion LSU. Last season, Alabama was one of just three teams to defeat the Tigers in league play.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.