Good morning! The wait is almost over as Bulldog men’s basketball gets ready for Magnolia Madness in Jackson, Miss., tonight when the team faces Central Michigan. Get tickets now and make the trek to support the Dawgs!

What else did we throw into today’s Bulldog Brew?

🏀 A pair of basketball previews
⚽️ Building a brick wall
🐶 And much, much more!

🎙️ DEAR OL’ STATE

Dear Ol’ State. Catch up on the latest episodes of the Dear Ol’ State podcast with hosts Joel Coleman and Logan Lowery as they meet with some of State’s best and brightest coaches, student-athletes and alumni.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Magnolia Madness. Bulldog men's basketball wraps up its non-conference tour across the Magnolia State as the Bulldogs square off with Central Michigan tonight at Mississippi Coliseum. Entering the matchup at 9-1, State has piled up 84.2 points per game which is the sixth-highest mark in program history through 10 games and the program's highest mark going back to 1990-91. The Maroon and White have also canned 88 triples which is third-most in program history after 10 games.

📚️ Read the full men’s basketball preview

🔼 On The Road Again. Bulldog women's basketball begins its two-game road trip today in Monroe, Louisiana as the team gets ready to take on the ULM Warhawks. State is riding in on a two-game win streak against the Warhawks for the eighth time in program history, with the Bulldogs having seven wins. MSU has won 17 of its last 19 non-conference games, excluding the SEC Tournament, dating back to the 2023-24 season, and under head coach Sam Purcell, Mississippi State is 38-7 in the non-conference games.

🏀 See the full women’s basketball preview

🔼 Brick Wall. Bulldog soccer assistant coach Kat Stratton will return to the team for the 2025 team, and with it, a stellar defense that led to the team’s historic season. Producing 16 shutouts, three defensive All-Americans and allowing just two goals during SEC play this past year, Stratton and first-year head coach Nick Zimmerman have proven they know what it takes to build a brick wall in the back half.

On October 5, 1991, sixteen-year-old Robbie Sullivan suffered a life-changing accident while bow hunting alone on family land. After dislocating his shoulder on an old ten-foot deer stand, Robbie passed out from the pain and fell to the ground, crushing his spine around the T-6 vertebrae and leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Reflecting on the incident, Robbie emphasizes the importance of safe hunting practices, advocating for measures like never hunting alone, wearing a safety harness, using hunter’s orange, and ensuring stands are secure. He regrets not using a safety harness that day, which could have prevented the fall. Despite his injury, Robbie continues to hunt with organizations like Hope Outdoors, which assists individuals with disabilities in enjoying outdoor activities and credits his family for their unwavering support in helping him rebuild his life. “Just keep living, that’s all you can do,” states Robbie.

Now the Chief Financial Officer and Sports Coordinator for the Metro Area Community Empowerment (MACE), Robbie leads programs that promote physical fitness and recreational opportunities for individuals with spinal cord injuries through wheelchair sports. MACE, a grant recipient of the Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund facilitated by the Office of Special Disabilities Programs under The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS), helps people overcome physical limitations and embrace new opportunities in sports, careers, and social life. Robbie encourages others with similar life-altering injuries to seek support, stay active, and remain hopeful. MDRS has also provided Robbie with vehicle modifications to maintain his independence, enabling him to continue his many extracurricular activities. “I know a lot of people think, especially after they get hurt, that it’s the end of their world. It’s not. If you try to get in touch with anybody, get in touch with MDRS. They have connections with organizations whether it’s jobs, sports, or hunting related. They can connect you with others who have lived through life-altering events and would love to talk with you,” Robbie adds. To learn more about MDRS services, visit www.mdrs.ms.gov or call 1-800-443-1000.

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

Ranked Dawgs. Today’s trivia question…who was the last Bulldog men’s basketball head coach to lead their team into the AP Top 25 in the first three seasons?

Think you got it? Scroll to the bottom of the Bulldog Brew to see if you know your stuff!

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📆 THE WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday, December 17
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. ULM @ 5 p.m. in Monroe, LA | Listen
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Central Michigan @ 6:30 p.m. in Jackson, MS | Tickets | SECN+ | Listen

Wednesday, December 18
No scheduled events

Thursday, December 19
No scheduled events

🐶 Click here to see the full Mississippi State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Rick Stansbury!

At some point, the Bulldogs have been ranked inside the AP Top 25 during each of Coach Jans' first three seasons. The last time State achieved that feat was back in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 under Rick Stansbury.

🐶 Have a great Tuesday, y'all!