STARKVILLE — Unfortunately, the start of Rick Ray’s third season as Mississippi State men’s basketball coach looks familiar.
On the eve of MSU’s exhibition opener against Delta State, Ray announced another critical injury for the Bulldogs as sophomore I.J. Ready, expected to be MSU’s starting point guard, will miss four-to-six weeks after undergoing back surgery last Friday. It’s already MSU’s third significant injury – starting guard Craig Sword will miss tonight’s exhibition and at least MSU’s season opener with the same injury, while forward Johnny Zuppardo is out for the season with an ACL tear.
Still, after his first two seasons were marred my injuries and inexperience, Ray is optimistic as the Bulldogs prepare to give fans their first glimpse of the 2014-15 team tonight. Tipoff against Delta State is set for 6 p.m. at Humphrey Coliseum.
“I know our guys are just ready to play somebody else,” Ray said. “They’ve been going up against each other in practice every day and to be battling someone else will be refreshing.”
Despite the injuries, the prognosis isn’t all bad for Ray and the Bulldogs. Looking to improve from a 24-41 start in Ray’s first two seasons, the third-year head coach said he believes the Bulldogs with get Sword “Back soon. With the back injury, it’s all about how you feel after you work, the next day usually. The doctors will probably have him cleared for the first game, but we will likely hold him out. Maybe he’ll be ready for game two, game three…We’ll see where he’s at.”
Ready, meanwhile, a 5-foot-11 sophomore from Little Rock, Arkansas, is expected back for the Bulldogs around mid-December. With Sword expected to see action at point guard this season, the Bulldogs will host Delta State tonight and its season opener against Western Carolina on Nov. 14 without two of its three options at the point, leaving the burden to senior Trivante Bloodman.
“With our lack of depth in the past couple years, Trivante would go out and play 35 minutes at the point guard spot,” said Ray. “I’m really not as concerned about that.”
Junior Fred Thomas, MSU’s starting shooting guard, will likely spend time spelling Bloodman tonight.
“My role will change tremendously,” Thomas said. “I’ve gotta provide a spark when I’m playing the point guard spot.”
MSU returns five starters from last year’s squad that increased its win total by three games from the previous season, but two of those starters – Ready and Sword – will miss tonight’s exhibition game. Junior Gavin Ware led MSU in rebounding last season with 7.2 boards per game while also averaging 10.0 points an outing, good for second on the team.
Delta State returns seven players from a team that finished 26-7 at the NCAA Division II level a year ago. Jack Schmidt led the Statesmen with 4.2 assists per game last season to go along with 15.1 points an outing.
Mississippi State holds a 15-1 advantage in the all-time series against Delta State. The last meeting came in 1987, as the Bulldogs earned a 68-56 win in Starkville.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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