Seth Cannon, Dennis Buse and Errol Bennett’s role on Mississippi State University’s nationally-ranked basketball team does not consist of scoring a lot of points or collecting a lot of rebounds during games.
The three native Mississippian walk-ons have played 20 minutes collectively this season, but their lack of playing time does not affect their work ethic on the practice court or their attitudes on the sidelines. They know they make vital contributions to the team in other ways.
“Those walk-ons are something we put a lot of pride in,” head coach Rick Stansbury said. “They’re very vital to our team. It doesn’t show up in the box scores during the games. It’s not about the points and rebounds. It’s all those other things they do on the practice floors and in the locker rooms that help make our team successful.”
Stansbury said the walk-ons have a difficult job, since they work relentlessly without expecting to obtain substantial playing time. “It takes a lot of dedication and sacrifice,” Stansbury said about the job requirements of a walk-on. “You have to want to be a part of this more than anything.”
Stansbury knew Seth Cannon had an insatiable desire to play basketball for MSU when he found him sleeping outside Humphrey Coliseum in the rain one night, waiting for a chance to talk to him about playing. Cannon’s persistency paid off when Stansbury agreed to let him join the team.
“It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, letting him become a part of our program,” Stansbury said. “He’s the ultimate walk-on.”
Cannon quickly earned the coaches’ respect for his determination, positive attitude and strong work ethic.
“I do everything the best I can,” Cannon said sincerely. “I take whatever I can get and make the best of it.”
Cannon’s optimistic outlook enables him to succeed when others might fail. Many people would complain if they were in Cannon’s shoes and rarely played, but Cannon knows not to take anything for granted.
“I always get the bad hand, but in good situations,” Cannon said. “I don’t complain about it. When we sleep in hotels, I have to sleep on the cot while the other guys get the bed. But it doesn’t bother me, because I’d rather be sleeping on that cot in that hotel than in my dorm room.”
MSU’s mechanical engineering program drew Cannon to State, and he chose to pursue his dream to play basketball only after he had picked the best academic environment. The Rankin County native came to MSU following a successful junior college basketball career at Hinds Community College in Utica.
During his sophomore campaign, Cannon led the HCC Bulldogs with a 36 percent three-point field goal percentage, shot 74 percent from the free-throw line and averaged four rebounds and almost 12 points per game. The 6-foot guard described his playing style as “traditional.” “It’s never been a flashy game,” Cannon said. “I try to master the basics.”
At MSU, encouraging his teammates is one of Cannon’s basic roles on the team. “I have to encourage the other guys,” Cannon said. “Whoever’s ahead of me, I always cheer for them. I try to make them better in practice.”
Junior guard Timmy Bowers said the encouragement of Cannon and all of the walk-ons pushes the rest of the team to work harder. “I think it makes us better going into the game,” Bowers said. Bowers added that the team chemistry would not be the same without the walk-ons.
Cannon said the team chemistry compares to the relationship among family members.
“We’re like brothers,” Cannon said with a smile. “We depend on each other.”
In addition to pushing his teammates to improve, Cannon said he constantly strives to improve his own game. He named Michael Jordan as a role model, noting that although Jordan did not make his high school varsity basketball team his sophomore year, he never gave up and eventually became arguably the greatest basketball player.
“He’s the greatest,” Cannon said. “He still made it in spite of. That’s what I’m going for. My turn will come.”
Tupelo native Dennis Buse’s opportunity to play basketball at MSU came after he played for Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, Itawamba Community College in Fulton and Mississippi College in Clinton. Following a short playing career at SHSU in 1999-2000, Buse played for ICC the following season and averaged 10.1 points, 3.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. He transferred to MC in the fall of 2001, but suffered ankle injuries and received a medical redshirt. Buse enrolled at MSU for the 2002 spring semester to major in marketing.
Although Buse, nicknamed “Denny Ray” since he was young, said he was brought up an Ole Miss fan, he decided Starkville’s laid-back atmosphere suits him better.
“When I decided I was going to play here, Daddy said he was an Ole Miss fan, but he said he could bark with best of them,” Buse said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Buffee,” [pronounced boo-fee] as Buse’s teammates call him since many cannot easily pronounce his last name, said he relishes being a part of MSU’s successful basketball program.
“Basketball here is a step above everything I’ve ever played,” Buse said. “The athletes here are so much quicker, stronger, everything. They can jump higher; every one of them is two to three inches taller.”
A love of basketball runs in the Buse family, and family exerts a heavy influence over Denny Ray.
“I’m a mama’s boy,” Buse said unabashedly. “But my parents are equal in my eyes. As long as I’m doing anything that makes me happy, they’re going to be happy and support me.”
Buse’s mom, Connie, played basketball in junior college and Buse’s dad Dennis is an avid basketball fan. Buse said he emulates his dad and learned a valuable philosophy from him: “As long as you’re a good person and you work hard, good things will come to you.”
Buse’s goal to work hard shines through on the court and has won the attention of the coaches.
“Buse brings a good tough attitude and a great work ethic,” Stansbury said.
“I get out there and try to do my best,” Buse said modestly. “I’m mostly a shooter. Up here, it’s hard to be a creator.”
Buse does not live far from his parents, but his teammates have become his family away from home. “All the guys seem just like a family right now,” Buse said. “All the guys get along so well.”
The untouchable team chemistry has gotten MSU’s basketball team far this season, and Buse said the outlook for the future looks bright.
“Everything’s flowing and mesh-like,” Buse said. “We could beat anybody in the country. Our starting five could be the best in the nation. We never lose pace when we’re playing well; subs come in and it stays the same.”
Buse’s happy-go-lucky temperament also stays calm and steady. “I love to smile and be happy,” Buse said. “It’s very hard to upset me. I try to face everything with a smile.”
Errol Bennett, affectionately called “Bubbee,” possesses a similar optimistic attitude. “I’m easygoing and positive,” Bennett said. “I always look for the good things. I try to be humble. I never want to say anything bad to anyone.”
Bennett transferred to MSU from Loyola University in New Orleans, where he played basketball during the 1999-2000 season. Bennett played eight minutes his freshman season in New Orleans, tallying three points and a rebound in one four-minute outing. “I’m more of a penetrator,” Bennett said about his playing style. “I really like to try to get to the basket.”
Bennett wanted to transfer to MSU to play a higher level of basketball.
“It was always a dream of mine to play Division I basketball,” Bennett said. “That’s the main reason I came to Mississippi State.”
Bennett joined MSU’s basketball team as a walk-on, thanks to recommendations from Derrick Zimmerman and Timmy Bowers to coach Stansbury. Stansbury said he had not seen Bennett play when he offered him a chance to walk-on.
“I took him on what Timmy and Z told me,” Stansbury said.
Stansbury said Bennett has proved himself on the court. “He does those little things we ask,” Stansbury said.
Bennett happily does whatever it takes to contribute to the team’s success.
“My role on the team is basically to try to keep everyone motivated by talking and going hard in all the drills,” Bennett said. “That’s a walk-on’s role: to keep everyone motivated, be enthusiastic, don’t have a bad attitude and hustle.”
Executing a walk-on’s key duties does not faze Bennett, whose attitude impels him to doggedly pursue his dreams. “I just want to be successful,” Bennett said with conviction. “That’s my driving force. My worst fear is to fail.”
Bennett is writing his own success story. He is the first collegiate athlete in his family, and he will be the first male from his family to graduate college. He said his parents’ support of him spurs his success.
“My parents are the biggest influence on me,” Bennett said. “My mom and dad are my heroes. They taught me so much. They always told me to play like I’m playing for God and give him the glory for everything that I do.”
Bennett’s second family consists of his basketball teammates. He said all of the players are on equal ground and encourage each other. “There are no egos,” Bennett said.
The free flowing support among teammates pushes Bennett to work harder to improve his skills.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Bennett said. “I feel like I could improve in every area, not just one. I’m always looking to get better.”
Cannon, Buse and Bennett agreed that they must remain positive, humble and encouraging to succeed as walk-ons at MSU. “All three have great attitudes and that’s the most important thing,” Stansbury said.
Bowers said the walk-ons’ positive, hard-working attitudes invaluably affect the morale and upbeat tempo of the team.
“They come out and motivate us everyday in practice,” Bowers said. “The season can get long and you get tired, but those are the guys that pick us up. When we’re down, they pick us up.”