Insight and analysis on Ole Miss and MSU sports from Daily Journal beat reporters

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Double Coverage

Double Coverage

#103: MSU women lose heartbreaker; Rebels building RB depth – 04/05/18

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Mississippi State’s women came oh so close to winning the national championship.

On this episode, Logan looks back at the Bulldogs’ last-second loss to Notre Dame in the title game (3:52). He and Parrish discuss the big non-call that didn’t go MSU’s way in the final seconds, and then the game-winning shot that followed. Also, Logan takes a peek at how next year’s team might look after losing four seniors.

The Ole Miss women are looking to get stronger with the hiring of a new coach, Yolett McPhee-McCuin (8:50). She spent the last five years rebuilding the Jacksonville program, with one NCAA tournament appearance. McPhee-McCuin is young and energetic, but will that translate into more wins for the Rebels?

Spring football is in full swing for both schools, with the Grove Bowl coming up Saturday for Ole Miss. Parrish examines the running back position (16:09), which has built some depth this spring with Scottie Phillips and Isaiah Woullard. One big question is whether D’Vaughn Pennamon can establish himself as the lead back now that Jordan Wilkins is gone.

MSU is a few practices in and will hold its first scrimmage on Saturday (21:15). Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who badly injured his ankle in the Egg Bowl, looks to be well on the road to recovery, as he’s been running all the plays and moving well in practice.

On the baseball diamond, Ole Miss and MSU meet this weekend. Parrish says this Ole Miss team looks very similar to the 2014 Omaha squad (25:09), and the offense has taken a definite step forward this season. As for the Bulldogs, their biggest struggle continues to be on offense (27:57).

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#102: Bulldogs still hooping; Rebels introduce Davis – 03/23/18

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The basketball season is still going strong for both of Mississippi State’s squads.

On this episode, Logan and Parrish look at the MSU women advancing to the Sweet 16 for the third-straight year (3:34). The Bulldogs struggled a bit against Oklahoma State in the second round, but it was a good test for them heading into the next game with No. 4 seed N.C. State.

State’s men are headed to the NIT Final Four in New York (20:25), where they will face Penn State. If the Bulldogs win, they could face former MSU coach Rick Stansbury and his Western Kentucky team in the final.

As for Ole Miss hoops, new men’s coach Kermit Davis was introduced on Monday (9:44). He got a little blowback for some comments he made about his team respecting the flag and National Anthem, but he also talked about having respect for the game. While not a splashy hire, it seems to be a rather popular one among Ole Miss fans. The challenge now for Davis is to build a roster to his liking, with a focus on high school signees.

On the baseball diamond, MSU is coming off a sweep at the hands of Vanderbilt and will try to get back on track this weekend at Missouri (23:50). Ole Miss, ranked No. 5 in the country, continues to show offensive improvement and won its series opener against Texas A&M on Thursday (26:19).

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#101: Basketball talk – 03/15/18

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We’ve got a lot of basketball to discuss on today’s episode.

Ole Miss officially named Kermit Davis Jr. as its head men’s basketball coach on Thursday (2:24). Parrish and Logan discuss Davis and say that he’s a good hire for Ole Miss. They also note Davis’ past ties to Mississippi State and question how Ole Miss fans will respond to that.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi State men’s basketball team (8:32) advanced through the NIT with a first-round win over Nebraska on Wednesday. Up next, they’ll play at top-seeded Baylor on Sunday. Logan notes that the postseason run is a good sign for a program that hadn’t been to the postseason since 2012.

The Mississippi State women (13:30) were named a top-seed in the Kansas City Regional. Logan notes they got a relatively favorable draw in that they wouldn’t meet many of the “blue bloods” of women’s college basketball before the Final Four. This weekend, they will host Nicholls State, Syracuse and Oklahoma State in first- and second-round action.

And it’s also the beginning of SEC baseball play.

Ole Miss (16:58) enters this weekend’s series against Tennessee on a nine-game winning streak. Parrish said the Rebels’ pitching has been dominant, as expected, but they’ve also seen dramatic offensive improvement.

Mississippi State (20:42) hosts Vanderbilt in the first SEC action for the renovated Dudy Noble Field. Logan notes the Bulldogs have been inconsistent this year, especially on offense.

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#100: Live from St. Louis – 03/08/18

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This week, Logan and Parrish are on location in St. Louis, site of this week’s SEC men’s basketball tournament.

Parrish talks first about the Ole Miss men’s basketball team (2:31), whose season came to an end with an 85-84 loss to South Carolina in Wednesday’s opening round. Parrish notes that interim coach Tony Madlock went 1-4, but he did get the team to play hard at the end. Now, the attention turns to the coaching search (8:55). Although the Rebels are expected to make a run at Florida coach Mike White, Parrish and Logan said it is hard to imagine him coming to Oxford. Instead, signs seem to be pointing to Middle Tennessee State’s Kermit Davis.

Mississippi State (12:10) takes on LSU tonight, and Logan said the Bulldogs will need to get better production from their big men. Logan also notes that the Bulldogs really hurt their NCAA Tournament chances last week and would need a deep run this week if they’re to overcome that hole.

This is the final weekend of baseball before next weekend’s conference openers. Mississippi State (16:37) is playing better under interim coach Gary Henderson. Ole Miss (22:30) is ranked ninth nationally, but Parrish said the Rebels need to hit better against elite pitching.

Parrish and Logan also talk about the new baseball stadium at Mississippi State and what it will mean for Mississippi to have two of the finest college baseball facilities in the nation.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi State women’s basketball team (23:58) suffered its first loss of the season in Sunday’s SEC Tournament championship against South Carolina. Now, the Bulldogs await the announcement of the NCAA Tournament field, where they’re still expected to be a top seed.

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#99: MSU Women begin postseason; Rebels start spring football – 03/01/18

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It’s that time of the year when three sports overlap, and Parrish and Logan talk basketball, baseball and football today.

Up first, its the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament (1:40). Ole Miss snapped a long losing streak by beating Florida on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mississippi State begins what is expected to be a deep postseason run.

The guys talk about who the Bulldogs’ primary competition is in the SEC Tournament and then look ahead to the NCAAs, including a possible rematch with UConn.

Parrish talks about the Ole Miss men’s team (7:05), which is racing toward the end of its season. The Rebels’ coaching search (9:53) is heating up with the addition of a new name, former Ohio State coach Thad Matta.

The Mississippi State men’s basketball team (12:22) missed a huge opportunity to bolster its NCAA chances when it lost to Tennessee this week. The Bulldogs appear headed to the NIT, but Logan notes that would still be a step in the right direction for the program.

The Ole Miss baseball team (18:02) hopes to keep its momentum going with a road trip to Long Beach State, and MSU (21:10) tries to break out of its struggles as it prepares to end a 16-day road trip.

Spring football has started at Ole Miss (25:25). One key storyline for the Rebels will be the move of Armani Linton, a formerly highly touted safety out of Walnut, to running back. MSU (27:46) doesn’t start spring football for a couple more weeks, but Logan discusses the impressive coaching staff the Bulldogs have put together.

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#98: Cannizaro, Kennedy are out – 02/22/18

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Coaching news has dominated the headlines in Oxford and Starkville of late.

On this episode, Logan examines the abrupt resignation of MSU baseball coach Andy Cannizaro (1:23), who had just started his second season leading the program. Off-the-field issues derailed a promising young career, and now the Bulldogs turn to veteran coach Gary Henderson for the remainder of the season (8:58).

Then there is Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy, who announced he would resign at season’s end but then stepped down after two more losses (16:10). He made the NCAA tournament just twice in 12 seasons, but Kennedy will likely be employed again soon, either as a coach or TV analyst. Parrish says one big problem with the Rebels this year was a lack of chemistry between Kennedy and the players.

MSU’s men are playing better (14:41), although it might be too little, too late in regards to the NCAA tournament. The women, meanwhile, keep rolling along, having recently captured their first SEC regular-season title (12:30).

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#97: Kennedy resigning; MSU’s bubble bursts – 02/15/18

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Andy Kennedy’s 12th season as Ole Miss basketball coach will be his last.

On this episode, Parrish examines Kennedy’s decision to step down after this season (1:43) – although had he waited a bit longer, the decision would have been made for him. Athletics director Ross Bjork has clearly stated what he expects of the program, and for the last three years the goals haven’t been met. Who will replace Kennedy? Parrish tosses out a few names (18:26), including a couple with Mississippi State connections: Rick Stansbury and Kermit Davis Jr.

Speaking of MSU, its men’s basketball team saw its NCAA bubble burst with a pair of tough losses this past week (12:10). First game an overtime loss at Missouri, followed by a last-second defeat at Vanderbilt. Still, Logan says the Bulldogs are headed in the right direction under coach Ben Howland.

The Rebels and Bulldogs will meet on Saturday in Starkville (17:37).

And let’s not forget that baseball starts this weekend. MSU and Southern Miss square off in a big series (22:58), and the Bulldogs have their pitching rotation set. Ole Miss will start the season versus Winthrop (26:42), with lefty ace Ryan Rolison drawing the opening day start.

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#96: Signing day rather quiet; MSU women keep winning – 02/08/18

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National Signing Day was Wednesday, but it was a lot quieter than it used to be. With an early signing period now in effect, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State already had their 2018 classes largely in place.

But there were still some important signings Wednesday. Parrish looks at the Rebels’ class (7:55), which was solid, all things considered. A late addition to the mix was Pearl’s Tylan Knight, a small but dynamic playmaker. Coach Matt Luke called him a “steal.”

For MSU, new coach Joe Moorhead wound up signing 15 players from Mississippi’s high school and junior college ranks, including the top six players in the state (11:53). That included a talented duo from Olive Branch.

The guys also discuss plenty of basketball. MSU’s women drew the largest crowd in Humphrey Coliseum history on Monday for a big win over South Carolina (16:26). The trick for the undefeated Bulldogs now is to maintain their focus against lesser opponents.

The MSU men are playing well, too, having won four in a row (23:22). Logan says freshmen Abdul Ado and Nick Weatherspoon have matured as players.

Not much good can be said about Ole Miss hoops (20:20), as the men have lost seven of their last eight and the women continue to struggle. Could both programs see changes at head coach after the season?

Plus, the guys look at House Bill 1083 concerning concealed carry of a weapon in places like sports venues (2:13). SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has expressed concern at the possible new law, saying it could affect scheduling for Ole Miss and MSU.

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#95: Bulldogs finally get road win; Rebels still seeking one – 02/01/18

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The Mississippi State men finally picked up an SEC road win on Wednesday, defeating South Carolina in a hard-fought battle (1:45). Logan discusses that game, in which the Bulldogs had trouble closing it out until Aric Holman sealed it. MSU now has back-to-back SEC wins and a little momentum heading into a meeting with Georgia.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, lost at home to Auburn (5:57). There remain RPI opportunities for the Rebels, but Parrish says there is nothing he’s seen to indicate they can actually make anything of those opportunities.

On the women’s side, No. 2 MSU has a big rematch with No. 7 South Carolina coming Monday (11:10), but first up is a trip tonight to No. 15 Missouri. The Bulldogs had a blowout win last week at Ole Miss, although coach Vic Schaefer wasn’t happy with his team’s mental toughness after building an early lead.

Ole Miss continues to struggle at 1-7 in the SEC and faces another struggling team, Vanderbilt, tonight (20:20).

The guys also hit on baseball. MSU will open the season soon at Southern Miss (22:09), which it eliminated from the NCAA tournament last year. Ole Miss will open against Winthrop (26:01), and Parrish is interested to see if the offense can take a step forward this season.

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#94: Freeze speaks; MSU women keep winning – 01/25/18

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Hugh Freeze is back in the news.

On this episode, Parrish talks about the former Ole Miss football coach’s recent visit to Liberty University (3:06), where he spoke for the first time to a live public gathering since being fired on July 20. During his talk, Freeze admitted to his personal misconduct and said he was “broken.” Parrish and Logan discuss how much privacy Freeze should have in this situation, and what might be next for him in his career.

On the hoops front, the Ole Miss women continue to struggle, but the MSU women keep rolling (14:30). The Bulldogs are 20-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country after beating Tennessee on Sunday. On the men’s side, MSU’s road woes continue (10:01), with recent losses to Alabama and Kentucky. As for Ole Miss, it has a chance to pick up a much-needed road win Saturday at Texas (17:19). The Rebels are coming off a win over Alabama, and Terence Davis has been playing better of late.

The guys also talk some baseball. Ole Miss is getting a lot of preseason love despite missing the NCAA tournament last season (20:37). The Rebels are counting on last year’s top-rated signing class and a deep pitching staff to get back on track. MSU is also in the preseason rankings (22:39), but there is some uncertainty on offense with Brent Rooker gone, and the weekend pitching rotation is still up in the air. Logan also provides an update on the Dudy Noble Field renovations.

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