2014–15 Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball team

2014–15 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record13–19 (6–12 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • George Brooks
  • Wes Flanigan
  • Chris Hollender
Home arenaHumphrey Coliseum
Seasons
2014–15 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 1 Kentucky † 18 – 0   1.000 38 – 1   .974
No. 21 Arkansas 13 – 5   .722 27 – 9   .750
LSU 11 – 7   .611 22 – 11   .667
Georgia 11 – 7   .611 21 – 12   .636
Texas A&M 11 – 7   .611 21 – 12   .636
Ole Miss 11 – 7   .611 21 – 13   .618
Vanderbilt 9 – 9   .500 21 – 14   .600
Alabama 8 – 10   .444 19 – 15   .559
Florida 8 – 10   .444 16 – 17   .485
Tennessee 7 – 11   .389 16 – 16   .500
South Carolina 6 – 12   .333 17 – 16   .515
Mississippi State 6 – 12   .333 13 – 19   .406
Auburn 4 – 14   .222 15 – 20   .429
Missouri 3 – 15   .167 9 – 23   .281
† 2015 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2014–15 Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball team represented Mississippi State University in the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Rick Ray, in his third season at Mississippi State. The team played their home games at the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 13–19, 6–12 in SEC play to finish in a tie for 11th place. They lost in the first round of the SEC tournament to Auburn.

On March 21, head coach Rick Ray was fired.[1] He had a three-year record of 37–60.

Before the season

Departures

The Bulldogs lost eight players from the 2013–14 team.

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Colin Borchert 3 F 6'8" 231 Senior Phoenix, AZ Graduated
Andre Applewhite 2 G 6'5" 217 RS Freshman Memphis, TN Transferred to Toledo during 2013–14 season
Jacoby Davis 11 G 6'1" 191 RS Freshman Charlotte, NC Transferred
De'Runnya Wilson 12 F 6'5" 215 Freshman Birmingham, AL Concentrating on football[2]
Dallas Prater 10 G 6'3" 170 Freshman Jackson, MS Left team (Walk-on)
Tevin Moore 13 G 6'3" 185 Junior Olive Branch, MS Left team (Walk-on)
Tyson Cunningham 24 G 6'3" 197 RS Senior Columbus, MS Graduated (Walk-on)
Kyle Dobbs 33 G 6'6" 160 Freshman Grayson, GA Left team (Walk-on)

Recruits

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Demetrius Houston
SF 		Montgomery, AL Carver 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jul 8, 2013 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Oliver Black
PF 		Jackson, MS Wingfield 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jul 2, 2013 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Elijah Staley
SF 		Marietta, GA Wheeler 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 208 lb (94 kg) Jun 15, 2013 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:3/5 stars
Maurice Dunlap
SG 		Greenwood, MS Amanda Elzy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jun 27, 2012 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Johnny Zuppardo
PF 		Bay St. Louis, MS Jones County JC 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Apr 15, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: Not Ranked   Rivals: Not Ranked  ESPN: Not Ranked
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Mississippi State 2014 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  • "2014 Mississippi State Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  • "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 3, 2014.

The Bulldogs also added two walk-ons, Isaiah Butler and Jeffery Johnson, who will be classified as seniors for the season.

Roster

2014–15 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Maurice Dunlap Injured Current redshirt 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Amanda Elzy Greenville, MS
G 1 Fred Thomas 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 206 lb (93 kg) Jr Jim Hill HS Jackson, MS
F 2 Demetrius Houston 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr G. W. Carver HS Montgomery, AL
G 3 Trivante Bloodman 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Sr Olney Central College Bronx, NY
F 4 Johnny Zuppardo 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jr Jones County JC Bay St. Louis, MS
G 5 Isaiah Butler (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 214 lb (97 kg) Sr Brandon HS Brandon, MS
G 10 Jeffery Johnson (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 172 lb (78 kg) Sr Germantown HS Memphis, TN
G 14 Elijah Staley Injured Current redshirt 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Wheeler Marietta, GA
G 15 I.J. Ready 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Parkview Magnet HS Little Rock, AR
F 20 Gavin Ware 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Jr Starkville HS Starkville, MS
C 22 Fallou Ndoye 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Fr Findlay Prep Senegal
F 23 Travis Daniels 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS Jr Shelton State CC Russellville, AL
F 25 Roquez Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr G. W. Carver HS Montgomery, AL
G 32 Craig Sword 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 194 lb (88 kg) Jr G. W. Carver HS Montgomery, AL
F 33 Oliver Black 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Wingfield Jackson, MS
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

[3]

Date
time, TV 		Opponent Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
11/06/2014*
7:00 pm 		Delta State W 72–51  –
 Humphrey Coliseum 
Starkville, MS
Non-Conference games
11/14/2014*
5:30 pm 		Western Carolina W 66–56  1–0
 Humphrey Coliseum (6,261)
Starkville, MS
11/17/2014*
7:00 pm 		Mississippi Valley State W 89–68  2–0
 Humphrey Coliseum (6,065)
Starkville, MS
11/22/2014*
2:00 pm 		Utah State W 71–63  3–0
 Humphrey Coliseum (7,240)
Starkville, MS
11/24/2014*
7:00 pm 		Clayton State W 59–46  4–0
 Humphrey Coliseum (6,030)
Starkville, MS
11/28/2014*
8:30 pm, CBSSN 		vs. Saint Louis
Corpus Christi Coastal Classic 		W 75–50  5–0
 American Bank Center (2,867)
Corpus Christi, TX
11/29/2014*
5:30 pm, CBSSN 		vs. TCU
Corpus Christi Coastal Classic 		L 52–61  5–1
 American Bank Center (2,867)
Corpus Christi, TX
12/06/2014*
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Tulane L 54–59  5–2
 Devlin Fieldhouse (1,483)
New Orleans, LA
12/13/2014*
3:00 pm, P12N 		at Oregon State L 49–59  5–3
 Gill Coliseum (4,211)
Corvallis, OR
12/17/2014*
6:00 pm, SECN 		Arkansas State L 55–69  5–4
 Humphrey Coliseum (5,390)
Starkville, MS
12/20/2014*
3:00 pm 		vs. USC Upstate
Jackson Showcase 		L 51–53  5–5
 Mississippi Coliseum (1,102)
Jackson, MS
12/23/2014*
7:00 pm 		Jacksonville W 70–47  6–5
 Humphrey Coliseum (5,366)
Starkville, MS
12/30/2014*
7:00 pm 		McNeese State L 47–66  6–6
 Humphrey Coliseum (5,155)
Starkville, MS
01/02/2015*
7:00 pm, ESPNU 		Florida State W 62–55  7–6
 Humphrey Coliseum (5,756)
Starkville, MS
Conference games
01/07/2015
8:00 pm, SECN 		Tennessee L 47–61  7–7 (0–1)
 Humphrey Coliseum (5,704)
Starkville, MS
01/10/2015
6:00 pm, FSN 		at Florida L 47–72  7–8 (0–2)
 O'Connell Center (11,966)
Gainesville, FL
01/13/2015
8:00 pm, SECN 		at Texas A&M L 70–74  7–9 (0–3)
 Reed Arena (4,804)
College Station, TX
01/17/2015
3:00 pm, FSN 		Vanderbilt W 57–54  8–9 (1–3)
 Humphrey Coliseum (6,568)
Starkville, MS
01/21/2015
8:00 pm, SECN 		at Auburn W 78–71  9–9 (2–3)
 Auburn Arena (8,083)
Auburn, AL
01/24/2015
2:00 pm, FSN 		Georgia L 66–72  9–10 (2–4)
 Humphrey Coliseum (7,549)
Starkville, MS
01/28/2015
8:00 pm, SECN 		at Ole Miss L 73–79  9–11 (2–5)
 Tad Smith Coliseum (8,959)
Oxford, MS
01/31/2015
1:00 pm, SECN 		LSU W 73–67  10–11 (3–5)
 Humphrey Coliseum (6,657)
Starkville, MS
02/03/2015
6:00 pm, SECN 		at Tennessee W 71–66  11–11 (4–5)
 Thompson–Boling Arena (13,268)
Knoxville, TN
02/07/2015
3:00 pm, SECN 		at Arkansas L 41–61  11–12 (4–6)
 Bud Walton Arena (17,404)
Fayetteville, AR
02/10/2015
8:00 pm, SECN 		Alabama L 51–55  11–13 (4–7)
 Humphrey Coliseum (6,386)
Starkville, MS
02/14/2015
3:00 pm, ESPNU 		at Missouri W 77–74  12–13 (5–7)
 Mizzou Arena (8,278)
Columbia, MO
02/19/2015
8:00 pm, ESPN2 		Ole Miss L 65–71  12–14 (5–8)
 Humphrey Coliseum (7,873)
Starkville, MS
02/21/2015
3:00 pm, FSN 		No. 18 Arkansas L 61–65  12–15 (5–9)
 Humphrey Coliseum (6,254)
Starkville, MS
02/25/2015
6:00 pm, SECN 		No. 1 Kentucky L 56–74  12–16 (5–10)
 Humphrey Coliseum (6,795)
Starkville, MS
02/28/2015
5:00 pm, SECN 		at South Carolina L 68–81  12–17 (5–11)
 Colonial Life Arena (14,022)
Columbia, SC
03/04/2015
8:00 pm, SECN 		at Vanderbilt L 56–66  12–18 (5–12)
 Memorial Gymnasium (8,685)
Nashville, TN
03/07/2015
5:30 pm, SECN 		Missouri W 52–43  13–18 (6–12)
 Humphrey Coliseum (5,897)
Starkville, MS
SEC tournament
03/11/2015
6:00 pm, SECN 		vs. Auburn
SEC tournament first round 		L 68–74  13–19
 Bridgestone Arena (10,039)
Nashville, TN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

See also

2014–15 Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs basketball team

References

  1. ^ "Mississippi State fires basketball coach Ray". March 21, 2015.
  2. ^ Wilson was listed on the 2014–15 roster, but never appeared in any games or even suited up. Bonner, Michael (January 5, 2015). "Rick Ray's plan for De'Runnya Wilson: to play in the NFL". ClarionLedger.com. The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  3. ^ "Men's Basketball".