Current Mississippi State Bulldogs don't have to look too far to find a mentor and hero. Bailey Howell's No. 52 jersey was recently retired at the halftime game against Arkansas in Humphrey Coliseum. The jersey will display the number of years Howell played for the Bulldogs, his name and his number and be permanently hung from the rafters for all to see. Howell scored 2,030 points and made 1,277 rebounds in his career with the Bulldogs. Howell is cited as having been a great player and an even better person by MSU athletics director Greg Byrne.
Pouncing forward to the current group of Bulldogs, the roster is filled by junior Jacquiesce Holcolmbe (1) from College Park Georgia, sophomore Ravern Johnson (2) from Lyon Mississippi, freshman Dee Bost (3) from Concord North Carolina, freshman Twany Beckham (4) from Louisville Kentucky, freshman Romero Osby (5) from Meridian Mississippi, senior Christopher Gay (10) from Hattiesburg Mississippi, sophomore Rod Bryant (14) from Birmingham Alabama, sophomore Riley Benock (15) from Battletown Kentucky, freshman Taylor Luczak (20) from Glen Falls New York, junior Barry Stewart (22) from Shelbyville Tennessee, sophomore Kodi Augustus (24) from Baton Rouge Louisiana, sophomore Phil Turner (25) from Grenada Mississippi, junior Jarvis Varnado (32) from Brownsville Tennessee, sophomore Brandon Bolen (33) from Madison Mississippi, senior Brian Johnson (44) from Laurinburg North Carolina and sophomore Elgin Bailey (45) from New Orleans Louisiana.
With the SEC Tournament just around the corner, the Bulldogs have just a few games left to play before the tournament begins. Fans and opponents can anticipate scheduled games between the Bulldogs and LSU on Wednesday February 11, Auburn on Saturday February 14, South Carolina on Wednesday February 18, Alabama on Saturday February 21, Tennessee on Wednesday February 25, Auburn on Saturday February 28, Florida on Wednesday March 4 and Ole Miss on Saturday March 7.
Coaching the Bulldogs on the way to as many wins as possible are head coach Rick Stansbury, assistant coach Robert Kirby, assistant coach Phil Cunningham, assistant coach Marcus Grant and coordinator of men's basketball operations Talvis Franklin.
For home games, Humphrey Coliseum is the place. The Bulldogs have played 33 seasons since its opening in 1975. Humphrey Coliseum has underwent transformations and renovations over the years and is now considered one of the best facilities in the Southern Conference area. With a playing history recently that is unparalleled, the Bulldogs have set new records for overall home attendance and 12 victories. The attendance-breaking crowd was 139,305. In 1989, the Bulldogs had a portable hard maple basketball floor installed.
The Humphrey Coliseum is 318 feet long, 268 feet wide and stands 84 feet high. George Duke Humphrey was Mississippi State President from 1934-1945 and is who the coliseum is named after. Record crowds have been on hand for other events such as concerts, science fairs, banquets and circuses. Many famous names compile a list of the entertainers who have performed at the Humphrey Coliseum over the years and include the likes of Tina Turner and Garth Brooks.