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Tolu Smith makes case for Mississippi State's NCAA Tournament chances

PeterWarrenPhoto2by:Peter Warren•03/12/23•

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(Photo by Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Mississippi State forward Tolu Smith wants to play in the NCAA Tournament. He think his team deserves to be there.

The Bulldogs are right on the bubble as the clock ticks down towards the announcement of the bracket. ESPN Bracketology has Mississippi State has one of the last four teams in the tournament.

The Bulldogs finished the season with a 21-12 record and 8-12 mark in conference play. Their best wins include victories over Texas A&M and TCU.

“I personally say for me I think we have a really good resume,” Smith said. “I think we have some really good wins early in the season, even late in the season. I think we had a well-rounded season.”

Smith is one of the best players in the SEC this season, finishing with a spot on the All-SEC first team. He is the lone player in double figure scoring on the season, averaging 15.8 points per game. The redshirt senior also averages 8.5 rebounds and 57.6% shooting from the field.

He also won the Howell Trophy, which is given to the best college basketball player in the state of Mississippi.

Tolu Smith has never played in the NCAA Tournament

Smith has never played in the NCAA Tournament. He has played twice in the NIT. During the 2021 NIT Tournament, Smith played in the season opener before missing the next three games due to COVID-19 protocols. The Bulldogs made the NIT Final but lost.

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Last year, he had game-highs with 16 points and 11 rebounds but Mississippi State lost to Virginia in the first round of the tournament.

“It’s not for me to decide,” Smith said. “It’s for the guys on the panel. We’re just going to wait till Selection Sunday.”

Bulldogs head coach Chris Jans is also hopeful his team can get into the Big Dance. He knows the experience is critical to growing a program.

“It helps just with the routine of the turnarounds, understanding what’s at stake,” Jans said. “Certainly playing in this tournament with the stage of the SEC Tournament, the lights are a little brighter. I think that helps if you’re chosen to play in the NCAA tournament. You can’t teach experience.”