Bulldogs set for big Saturday test against Belmont in Tupelo
It’s already been nearly one month since Mississippi State’s women’s basketball team last played a home game inside Humphrey Coliseum and the team won’t return for another two weeks.
Even so, being back in the state of Mississippi for a ball game this week feels good to Sam Purcell and his team. The Bulldogs won’t be inside the friendly confines of the Hump on Saturday, but there will be plenty of maroon in the stands just an hour down the road at Tupelo’s Cadence Bank Arena.
Saturday at 2 p.m., State will take on a tough Belmont Bruins team in what will be a doubleheader with the men’s team.
“This is huge,” Purcell said. “Shoutout to our administration for having men and women’s basketball in Tupelo. This is what UConn does in Stoors. I think it’s great for our fanbase and something new and we’re going to need that energy.”
Bruins pack a punch for non-conference play
The 9-1 Bulldogs are off to a great start and looking for the first 10-1 kickoff to the season since 2018-19. To do that, they’ll have to beat always-tough Belmont.
The Bruins (5-4) have taken some lumps in the early going, but those losses are coming to top 20 teams. Three of the losses have come to No. 9 Duke (79-47), No. 11 Ohio State (67-63), No. 13 Kansas State (82-56) and No. 20 Michigan (68-58).
Purcell personally knows just how tough this Belmont team because the Bulldogs had their own scare with Bart Brooks’ team last year when the Bulldogs slipped out with a 63-62 win on the road.
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“Bart has been there and there’s a culture about them. They’re winners and share the ball,” Purcell said of the Bruins. “What makes them so tough is their five players can really shoot the ball so they’re going to test us with matchups. I’m challenging our fans to show up and show up loud because we’re going to need y’all for all four quarters.”
State brings to the game one of the nation’s best defenses as the Bulldogs are surrendering just 48.7 points and 29.6 % shooting per game. MSU has also been tested to this point with the Bulldogs playing two true road games and three neutral site victories.
The biggest win to this point came against a Utah team that knocked off No. 8 Notre Dame in the Cayman Islands. The lone loss was a 78-75 game at No. 25 and undefeated Georgia Tech. Purcell has already learned a lot about his team and there are more lessons to be learned in the coming games.
“They’re tough. Even the Georgia Tech loss – what a game. We knew it would be a war going into the game,” Purcell said. “You go to Chicago State and how do you respond after a loss? I saw a team that was determined to get after it and I think you saw in the first two quarters; they were locked in on the defensive and the offensive end. I’m excited where we’re going right now.”
Fans can still get tickets to Saturday’s showdown for the men and the women from the Cadence Bank Arena box office or through the athletic department. For those watching at home, the game will be broadcasted on SEC Network+.
