Mississippi State Coach Is Really Defensive

Mississippi State Coach Richard Williams, who has always been easily peeved by the tiniest of perceived media transgressions, sharpened his answers even further at Saturday’s news conferences.

Williams, who has never advanced this far in the tournament before, didn’t need a particular question to launch into a lecture about a lack of respect for his team.

“For three straight years, we’ve held teams under 40% shooting, and sooner or later, you’d think somebody would give us credit for it,” said Williams, whose team faces Cincinnati today. “It’s always somebody else shooting poorly that night. Isn’t it strange that it’s always the night we play them that they can’t shoot?

“I would think at some point, with as much time as you guys have on your hands, you would look at our stats and give us a little credit for what we do on defense.”

Earlier, asked to respond to Bearcat Coach Bob Huggins’ comment that he didn’t think his Cincinnati team was a physical team, Williams blanched.

“If Bob said that,” Williams said tightly, “he probably was saying it tongue in cheek, and maybe somebody didn’t pick up on it.”

Next question?

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Once again, Cincinnati guard Damon Flint will get the responsibility of defending the opposing team’s best perimeter player.

This time, it’s Mississippi State guard Darryl Wilson, who used Bulldog screens to make seven of 11 three-point attempts and score 27 points against Connecticut.

Friday, the 6-foot-5 Flint harried 6-1 Georgia Tech point guard Stephon Marbury into a four-for-13 shooting night.

“I did a job on Stephon, and I know I’m going to do the job on [Wilson] as well,” Flint said Saturday.