Hogs, 'Dogs prep for SEC West showdown
Matt Jones
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Sports
"We love playing at home, but we also know that guarantees us nothing," Pelphrey said.
Pelphrey was especially worried with the Bulldogs' inside presence of 6-foot-9 sophomore Jarvis Varnado.
"Mississippi State has a really good competitive nature," Pelphrey said. "Varnado is chasing shots and Charles Rhodes is a competitive guy. I like their makeup."
Varnado is averaging 7.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and is leading the SEC with 97 blocked shots. Pelphrey said Varnado's presence in the paint can correct some wrongs in the Bulldog defense.
"He's unique," Pelphrey said. "He's as good as anybody in the country (at blocking shots). He has a God-given gift. He doesn't need to flex his knees to leave the floor. He can erase a lot of mistakes defensively and make it look easy. Blocking shots is timing, size and athleticism. He is a force. He's a really, really good player."
Another good player for the Bulldogs is point guard Jamont Gordon, who was named earlier this week as one of 30 players to the Wooden Award watch list for the best player in America.
"He's not a conventional point guard," Pelphrey said. "You can't take it from him, he's a terrific passer, he's shooting 42 percent on threes and he doesn't look like any other guard in the league."
The game will tip-off at 7:05 p.m., and will be televised by Raycom Sports.
Pelphrey was especially worried with the Bulldogs' inside presence of 6-foot-9 sophomore Jarvis Varnado.
"Mississippi State has a really good competitive nature," Pelphrey said. "Varnado is chasing shots and Charles Rhodes is a competitive guy. I like their makeup."
Varnado is averaging 7.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and is leading the SEC with 97 blocked shots. Pelphrey said Varnado's presence in the paint can correct some wrongs in the Bulldog defense.
"He's unique," Pelphrey said. "He's as good as anybody in the country (at blocking shots). He has a God-given gift. He doesn't need to flex his knees to leave the floor. He can erase a lot of mistakes defensively and make it look easy. Blocking shots is timing, size and athleticism. He is a force. He's a really, really good player."
Another good player for the Bulldogs is point guard Jamont Gordon, who was named earlier this week as one of 30 players to the Wooden Award watch list for the best player in America.
"He's not a conventional point guard," Pelphrey said. "You can't take it from him, he's a terrific passer, he's shooting 42 percent on threes and he doesn't look like any other guard in the league."
The game will tip-off at 7:05 p.m., and will be televised by Raycom Sports.
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