Mississippi State has made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and has one of the game’s top stars in sophomore guard Josh Hubbard. But that wasn’t enough to get the Bulldogs into the preseason Associated Press Top 25 rankings.”I love the fact that there’s nine (Southeastern Conference) teams in the AP 25,” Bulldogs coach Chris Jans said at SEC Media Day. “Obviously we’re not one of them, so it’s great motivation for our players here in the last two, three weeks of practice before we get on the floor.”Jans and Mississippi State will begin their quest to show they’re worthy of a ranking as they open the season against West Georgia on Monday night in Starkville, Miss.The Bulldogs are 2-0 in season openers under Jans, and they will be heavy favorites to knock off a West Georgia team that will make its debut as a Division I basketball program in the Atlantic Sun Conference.Mississippi State finished 21-14 last season (8-10 in the SEC) and lost to Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.Hubbard is the unquestioned go-to player for the Bulldogs and averaged 17.1 points last season. Forward Cameron Matthews is another player to watch as he earned All-SEC Defensive Team honors a year ago.
Mississippi State aims to gain respect in opener vs. West Georgia
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