MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2002 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Gordon, Little, Smith, Jackson, Moffatt, Harvey, Thames, Walls, Carmichael, Hyde-Smith, Dearing, Williamson, Chaney, Johnson (19th), Canon, Posey, Stogner, Browning, Burton, Mettetal, Robertson, Minor, Scoper
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOG BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE SEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR SETTING A SCHOOL RECORD FOR SEASON VICTORIES.
WHEREAS, the Mississippi State University Mens Basketball Team won the SEC Tournament Championship; and
WHEREAS, the Bulldogs set a new all-time single-season school standard with 27 wins during the 2001-2002 campaign, breaking the previous mark of 26 victories set by MSU's 1995-1996 Final Four Team; and
WHEREAS, MSU's 27 wins and 77.1 winning percentage tied with SEC Champion Alabama for the best marks among all Southeastern Conference teams this season; and
WHEREAS, MSU earned its eighth postseason tournament appearance since 1990 with this year's second-round showing in the NCAA Tournament; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi State has now advanced beyond the first round of the NCAA Tournament during each of the team's last three tournament appearances; and
WHEREAS, the Bulldogs established new single-season school standards for most points scored (2,582), most rebounds (1,359), most assists (566) and most steals (294); and
WHEREAS, after claiming the school's second SEC Tournament Championship with wins over nationally ranked Florida and Alabama, as well as LSU, the Bulldogs earned their highest seeding ever (No. 3 seed in the Midwest Regional bracket) in NCAA Tournament play; and
WHEREAS, the Bulldogs led the Southeastern Conference in team field-goal percentage (48.0%) and rebounding margin (+6.5 rpg), while ranking second among the league leaders in assists (16.2 apg) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (30.1%); and
WHEREAS, Mississippi State matched the current all-time school standard by opening the 2001-2002 season with 11 consecutive victories, equaling the school's all-time record of 11 straight wins to open a basketball season previously set by the 1957-1958 MSU squad; and
WHEREAS, the Bulldogs were led by Coach Rick Stansbury, who became the second Bulldog basketball coach in school history to take more than one State team to postseason tournament play; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi to commend the noteworthy accomplishments of the student athletes of this state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That
we do hereby commend the Mississippi State University Men's Basketball Team for winning the SEC Tournament Championship and for setting a school record for single season victories.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the MSU Bulldog Basketball Team and Coach Rick Stansbury.