Just a Bulldog Minute: Vanderbilt at Mississippi State Basketball Preview
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After a 1-3 start in SEC play this season, Mississippi State basketball has an opportunity at home on Saturday against the Vanderbilt Commodores to get back on track.
Entering this matchup, Vanderbilt sits at just 5-12 and winless in the SEC. Guard Ezra Manjon leads the way for the Commodores with 16 points per game and 3.2 assists.
On the defensive end, the last place SEC team has struggled, allowing over 72 points per game and averaging just 6.5 steals per game.
For the Bulldogs, seniors Tolu Smith and Dashawn Davis lead the way in points and assists with 18.6 and 3.3.
Smith, who transferred to Mississippi State following his freshman season as Western Kentucky, has been excellent for the Bulldogs since his return this year. He not only leads the team in points, but is also one of State's most efficient shooters, hitting over 62% of his shots.
Davis, another former transfer, has been the team's top facilitators this year, creating opportunities for the Bulldogs offense.
State got off to a slow start last season as well, opening SEC play 1-7 through the first eight games, but finished with eight wins over the last eleven.
If head coach Chris Jans and the Bulldogs can stop the bleeding now ahead of a tough matchup with Florida next week, the team may be able to build as it moves into the middle of the SEC slate.
As of now, Mississippi State has faced off against three of the league's top four teams, coming out victorious against the then-fifth ranked Tennessee Volunteers in its lone conference win.
