LIVE FROM TAMPA
Here we are, set for a first-round SEC Tournament game between Mississippi State and Georgia. In last year's tourney, Georgia beat MSU 64-60 in the semifinals en route to the tourney title. State is the Western Division No. 3 seed today, Georgia the East No. 6. The St. Pete Times Forum isn't nearly as full as it was moments ago, but a few Kentucky fans are sticking around. The South Carolina Gamecocks are in the building to see who they'll play in the second round – Georgia-MSU winner gets them tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. Central.
Here are the basics:
TV: Raycom; live streaming on ESPN360.com.
XM: Channel 199.
Series: MSU leads 50-49.
Last meeting: MSU, 67-61 on Jan. 24 in Athens, Ga.
Coaches: Georgia – Pete Herrmann (66-118, seventh year; 3-8, first year at Georgia); MSU – Rick Stansbury (227-127, 11th year).
Notes: This will be Rick Stansbury’s 355th game as MSU head coach, pushing him past Richard Williams into first place on the school’s all-time list for games coached. … MSU is 21-46 all-time in the SEC Tournament. … Georgia is the defending SEC Tournament champ. … Georgia is 8-2 against MSU in the tournament.
Probable starters
Georgia (12-19, 3-13 SEC)
G – Dustin Ware 5-11 Fr. 7.4 ppg
G – Corey Butler 6-3 Sr. 6.7 ppg
G/F – Terrance Woodbury 6-7 Sr. 14.0 ppg
F – Trey Thompkins 6-8 Fr. 12.7 ppg
F/C – Albert Jackson 6-10 Jr. 4.4 ppg
Top reserves: G Zac Swansey, F Chris Barnes, G Ricky McPhee.
Mississippi State (19-12, 9-7 SEC)
C – Jarvis Varnado 6-9 Jr. 13.0 ppg
G – Phil Turner 6-3 So. 8.5 ppg
G – Dee Bost 6-2 Fr. 11.5 ppg
G – Barry Stewart 6-3 Jr. 12.1 ppg
G – Ravern Johnson 6-7 So. 12.5 ppg
Top reserves: F Kodi Augustus, G Riley Benock, G Twany Beckham.













