The Bulldogs have a great couple of players and it was up to Coach McCarthy to fill in the holes with a solid supporting cast.  It is much easier to recruit when you are not limited to what kind or color of kid you can bring in.    

Senior forward Bailey Howell is the best player ever to play not only for the Bulldogs but in the state of Mississippi.  He is a legend here.  He may be the best outside shooting big man in the SEC but can also bang with the big boys.  One coach called him the best offensive rebounder in the country and no truer statement was ever said.  He can play either power forward or center as he plays tough when needed but can also take you to the perimeter and destroy you.  He is heady and tough but knows that when the Bulldogs needed a basket he is the man.  Howell has been sensational for three years but is hoping to save his best for last.  He was named First Team All-SEC and honorable mention All-American last year but one goal has escaped him.  Playing in the Big Dance.  He has been on teams that have earned that right and were turned away and more than anything Howell wants to be a champion.  The scoring and rebounding records are nice as are the accolades but this 6’7 210 pound kid from Middleton Tennessee wants to play in big games in front of big crowds and win titles. And he has made it clear that is the only reason he is coming back for his senior year. 

Sophomore Jeff Malone had a great first season in Starkville. Malone is a great second fiddle to Howell and complements his inside dominance perfectly.  He puts the shooting in the two guard position.  Malone is a great perimeter shooter who can elevate to get his shot off against anyone.  He knows how to use screens and can get open.  He also knows how to use his size to his advantage and has a great jump shot.  Malone will be number two again this season for Coach McCarthy but he will get by far the most set plays for him.  Malone is adept at coming off screens and rising up and hitting 18 footers off a nice pass from a teammate.  His incredible game winning fallaway from almost 30 feet beat Auburn and somehow got over the backboard from the corner and may have been the best shot of the year in the SEC.  Malone does not have three-point range yet but he does not push it either.  He knows his bread is buttered on those curls and with Howell around to take attention away he has some snuck under the radar.  He averaged over 15 a game in his first yar which was top ten in the country for freshmen and he will only get better.

Senior Jim Ashmore had a big transition last year from the two guard to the point with Malone in town.  Ashmore was the number two guy for two years next to Howell and becoming the set-up guy was difficult.  Ashmore likes to score and he still averaged over ten a game but his assists did not even make 4 a game which is not much for a point guard.  Ashmore is only 6’0 165 and he was not getting by on the defensive end at the two.  He was getting physically dominated and that will not happen with the 6’4 205 pound Malone. Still, as much as he loves Ashmore, McCarthy has given a few others some healthy minutes at the point. Juniors Al Perry, Jack Bouldin and Rich Knarr have all got their fair share of minutes over the last two years with Bouldin getting over ten starts.  The 5’11 kid can score and pass equally well and has had some big games but does have some issues on defense.  Knarr was huge on the JV but not as good on varsity and Perry is a pass first guy with not much scoring.  This not the strongest position on the team and McCarthy has got a few studs coming in including a muscular kid from Nashville and even some Juco kids which is not the norm around here. 

Seniors Doug Hutton and Red Stroud took their roles as backups well in a program where they used to be contributors.  They are both capable shooters who can fill it up but nowhere near the level of Malone though both hit big shots for this team on many occasions off the bench in the past.   Freshman Ray White is another scorer who gave McCarthy way too many options at the two spot.  White is a gamer and kept pushing for time to the point that McCarthy had to get him on the court.  He did not disappoint.  His ability to board and pass made Malone better and he was also a solid defender who was guarding some threes.  He could start next to Malone next year in a double wing as this worked well this year. 

The biggest recruits McCarthy is bringing in this year is center because you can’t win in college basketball without a true big man. McCarthy has three or four true centers coming in to try to take some heat off Bailey.  There are some big time kids coming in including a 5 star and all are huge men.  McCarthy has some size returning but nowhere near these kids who will almost assuredly take over the center position.  Senior Dave Williams goes 6’8 but has regressed since a good freshman year.  6’9 230 pound Kalpatrick Wells is a physical specimen and can block out the sun but is still developing as a player.  Juniors Larry Fry, Wiley Peck and especially Ricky Brown split some time up front next to Howell last year.  Brown was solid as has the most size at 6’10 but is a svelte 215.  Peck is a physical beast but only goes 6’7 but a bigger 220.  Howell had to move up to five when either Peck of the 6’5 Frey were in and that is not is optimum.  Brown is an Old School player who is better with his back to the basket and is great at doing the little things that help a team win.  He is a solid board guy and can score when needed but is really good at screening for Malone and Howell to get free for jumpers.  He also played center and let Howell be a four.  

The last starter should be junior Jerry Jenkins on at the three unless White moves past him. Jenkins is a strong 6’7 who can score and board and also is a terrific passer.  White actually grew up in Gulfport emulating Jenkins who was a year ahead of him in school.  Jenkins and Frey were actually the first two black basketball players in Starkville and have done well.  Jenkins is not a great shooter which could help White’s chances. Seniors Leland Mitchell and Joe Don Gold are also in the mix but neither is the athlete of Jenkins or White. Mitchell can flat defend and board and started half of the games last year.  Don’t count him out as he is a gamer. 

Coach Babe McCarthy is a legend in Starkville Mississippi.  The ‘Magnolia Mouth’ as he is called is a charismatic figure pacing the sidelines for his beloved Bulldogs.  But that is not what makes him a legend.  He is a legend because he has the courage to do the right thing.  Even when some of the people making the decisions do not know what the right thing is he did.  And now the Bulldogs are starting to put together a pretty good team and have the opportunity to play anyone, anywhere, anytime.  And this program is getting there. Now it is up to them to put it all together because if they do who knows how far this program can go?  After all they have been there before, they just never had a chance to play.  Let them play!!!