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Thunder & Lightning

T&L Exclusive: Coach Ben Howland Wants His Team Back in the Big Dance

Thunder & Lightning

SuperTalk Mississippi Media

News, Sports, Sports News

4.81.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2021

⏱️ 11 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Mississippi State men's basketball has a buzz around it Bulldog fans haven't experienced in many years, and Coach Ben Howland knows the expectations are high for his squad this upcoming season. Brian Hadad catches up with the Bulldog head coach to get his thoughts on the transfer portal and how it benefitted his team, his roster, and the expectations to return to the NCAA Tournament. Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics

Transcript

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0:00.0

A Super Talk Mississippi Media Production.

0:04.9

This is a Thunder and Lightning exclusive here on Super Talk, Mississippi.

0:07.8

Brian A-Dad, joined by Coach Ben Hallin, Mississippi State basketball.

0:11.7

We're not too far out from one of the more highly anticipated seasons of your career here at Mississippi State.

0:17.6

But before we get into that, Roy William, he's retired.

0:21.9

Coach Kay, he's retiring at the end of this season. Are you, are you the biggest dog left

0:28.2

in the game at this point? Are you the, are the dean of college basketball? Well, you know what?

0:33.1

I'm not even close because those guys are, I think, Coach K is 75.

0:40.0

Roy was, I think, in his 70s.

0:42.4

I'm a young, 64-year-old.

0:43.9

Still feeling good.

0:44.3

Okay.

0:45.4

Way behind.

0:50.5

I don't think any team in the country had a more successful recruiting class last year in terms of the transfer portal than you did.

0:55.9

You hit on not only key players that you need it from a positional standpoint, but talented

1:01.2

players, good players, big time players.

1:05.2

Is this going to, does this signal sort of a shift, maybe not just for you, but for all of

1:09.6

college basketball that when it comes to recruiting, is it going to be portal first, high school player second, or do you have to keep that balance based on who you can get your hands on?

1:19.9

Yeah, I think it'll still be a combination. I mean, I think, you know, it's a ever-changing landscape in college athletics, period.

1:29.9

You know, now with the transfer portal where people can come in as a freshman,

1:34.7

a transfer would be immediately eligible sophomore.

1:38.0

There's a lot more kids that are going to transfer that wouldn't have in the past.

...

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