PORTLAND, Ore. | Mississippi State is in the midst of its 40-minute walk-through practice in front of an estimated 200 or so people here at the Rose Garden, and the Bulldogs seem spirited and quick.
Which is a question, at least, considering the SEC Tournament run the Bulldogs made, the one day of rest and the nearly five-hour flight to get here last night.
"I feel great," junior guard Barry Stewart said. "Ask me that a couple of days ago, I probably couldn't tell you that. I had a good night's sleep. I feel pretty good and ready to go."
In the background, State is practicing. In the foreground, media relations guru Gregg Ellis is briefing the CBS crew.
MSU coach Rick Stansbury joked with reporters that he's hoping to get at least some sort of fan support from Oregon fans, who are robust in their hatred toward U-Dub. (Gov. Rick Cleveland, who is combing the stands as we speak interviewing Duck fans, steadfastly concurs.)
Stansbury asked a reporter from the Oregonian, who had just asked a question, to do him a favor. "I expect to see the headline, "Bulldogs love Ducks." It's all on you," he said, smiling. "I understand Oregon folks don't like you Washington folks."
What else did we learn?
• MSU trainer Scotty Johnson is on the bench. He's wearing socks right now, but he will not tomorrow. Johnson, you'll recall, forgot matching dress socks for the first day of the SEC Tournament. State won, and he decided not to wear socks the rest of the time. As for Portland? "Didn't even pack any," he said.
• Sophomore forward Elgin Bailey is sitting on State's bench, shouting encouragement. Bailey was lost for the season with a severe ankle dislocation suffered on March 4. Bailey was driving back from Louisiana during the second half of State's SEC Tournament title win Sunday, receiving texts from friends the whole way.
• Stansbury, asked about the seeding, the quick turnaround, etc.: "Again, we are happy to be here. We had to get in it the hard way, winning four games. Once you do that, the last thing you're concerned about is where you're going and who you're playing."
• And an out-of-left-field note: Bracky Brett, MSU's associate athletic director for compliance, says Mississippi State has not received any correspondence from the NCAA regarding this story. Arkansas has been quizzed by the NCAA involving unidentified prospects from Mississippi.
Original Story:
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