Most head coaches at a Division-I school would be happy to get maybe one quality transfer every couple of years. But Bulldog basketball head coach Rick Stansbury has the unique privilege of getting two in the same season.
Shane Power transferred to the Bulldogs from Iowa State prior to last season. A former co-captain for Cyclones, Power knows what it means to be in a leadership position. He is also ready to make the transition from one power conference to the next.
“The two conferences are similar in some ways and different in others,” said Power. “The Big-12 is more of a physical, grind it out conference, whereas the SEC is more of an up-and-down game with more athleticism.”
Power was forced to sit and watch last season while serving the mandatory one-year waiting period for incoming transfers. Like most of the Bulldog faithful who wanted to see him on the court, Power was anxious to showcase his ability. But a knee injury has slowed him a little.
“The hardest part of coming back from knee surgery is that I don’t have any control over it,” said Power. “This was not the way I hoped to start my career at Mississippi State, but all I can do is keep working hard and push on through.”
Power may not be fully recovered from the surgery, so his complete talent hasn’t had a chance to shine. But, he feels once he is healthy he will be able to add another facet to the team.
“I think I can use the game that I was successful with in the Big 12 and bring it to the SEC,” said Power. “We have such quick guards and some good big men, but I feel that myself and Branden Vincent can really add some muscle to the team’s perimeter game.”
As coach Stansbury explains, Shane will be a force once he gets back to full-speed.
“It has been a gradual progression with Shane,” said Stansbury. “But once he is back to full health, he will really bring his toughness and ability as a defender to our team.”
Joining Power as a newcomer from the Big 12 is former Baylor big man Lawrence Roberts. Roberts is a pre-season All-American who was granted immediate eligibility because of the investigations occuring at Baylor.
A player of his caliber could have transferred to any school and made an impact. But Roberts explains that becoming a Bulldog was merely a matter of finding the right fit.
“It was just the best place for me to go,” said Roberts. “Not only because of the school and the coaching staff, but also because of the fact that I had family in Biloxi. So they can come see me play all the time.”
Like Power, Roberts brings not only a great deal of ability, but also the experience that comes from having already played at such a high level.
“The experience really makes a difference,” said Roberts. “Having already played in another power conference for two years, I knew what it meant to play hard night in and night out.”
Stansbury said it took some adjustments on both sides once Roberts came to Starkville.
“It has been a learning process, Lawrence being such a recent addition to the team,” said Stansbury. “But he has such a great attitude that it makes the transition much smoother.”
Both Power and Roberts will have the chance to showcase their skills against SEC competition in January. The Bulldogs play host to both Kentucky and Auburn on ESPN nationally televised games. The team begins its regular season at 7 p.m. Saturday against UT-Martin at Humphrey Coliseum.