Any word on Holman?

[BeardoMSU]

Just curious about his injury, and if anyone has heard anything.

[MCsMGs]

Supposed to do a MRI today according to Howland at post game presser.

[Bulldog1]

MRI came back negative. Good news!

[Dawg61]

Yup reported negative MRI, he'll be fine just stiff and sore for a bit.

[msstate7]

MRI negative is good news, but what is immediate status?

[RougeDawg]

MRI negative is good news, but what is immediate status?

We desperately need him, but I wouldn’t risk remainder of season bringing him back too soon. If he can be close to 100% next weekend, I hold him out Tuesday. Tough game either way and don?t need him reaggravatinf or making it worse before it gets better.

[Bulldog1]

MRI negative is good news, but what is immediate status?

I saw where he is good to go, but not positive

[Dawg61]

MRI negative is good news, but what is immediate status?

https://twitter.com/HailStateMBK/status/965346512548098050

[Bulldog1]

Howland just said Aric’s issue is his calf, not his knee and that he’d see how he was in the morning.

[Dawg61]

Howland just said Aric’s issue is his calf, not his knee and that he’d see how he was in the morning.

Ouch calf strain's are painful

[msbulldog]

CL story says Holman may be doubtful.

[msbulldog]

CL story says Holman may be doubtful.

STARKVILLE — Here’s some important news that wouldn’t have mattered much a year ago at this time yet could end up being troubling for Mississippi State: Aric Holman may not play Tuesday.

Holman, Mississippi State’s starting power forward, ran on a weight-supported machine and did some shooting on Monday, Ben Howland said, but whether or not Holman plays depends on how Holman feels Tuesday morning. He left Saturday’s game against Ole Miss with a knee injury and then experienced calf pain, but his MRI came back clean.

"It's still up in the air," Holman said. "But I feel confident. It's still sore, but once I get it to the point where I can tolerate the pain, I'll be fine."

Holman’s health matters, because Mississippi State (19-8, 7-7 SEC) visits Texas A&M (17-10, 6-8) and its imposing front court Tuesday (6 p.m., SEC Network), needing to win this kind of game to significantly strengthen its case for inclusion in the NCAA Tournament.

The situation also underscores Holman’s growth.

More: Mississippi State's drubbing over Ole Miss was exactly what Bulldogs needed

Holman was a solid player last year, but he has developed into a steady and significant contributor this year on both ends of the floor. Holman’s 3-point shooting has dipped in conference play (he is 10 for 36 on 3-pointers against SEC teams), but his numbers are still better than they were last year. Holman shot 50 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range last season. He is at 59 percent and 43 percent, respectively, this season.


Holman is much more of an offensive threat this season with a solid mid-range game, too, but that development hasn’t compromised his defense, either. Holman is still a solid shot-blocker. He isn’t getting whistled for goaltending as much as he did last year.

“He’s improved in most every way,” Howland said.

This would be bad timing for Holman to miss a game — and not just because MSU likely needs to win out to dance. Texas A&M is one of the best rebounding teams in the country — its 34.8 offensive rebounding percentage is No. 20 in the nation. Without Holman, MSU would be forced to play a smaller lineup for a much longer period of time than it usually does, if not the whole game.

“That’s the real issue,” Howland said.

Tyler Davis (6-foot-10) has 95 offensive rebounds, Robert Williams (6-foot-10) has 58 and Tonny Trocha-Morelos (6-foot-10) — who can also stretch the floor and hit 3s — has 44. To put those numbers in context, Abdul Ado leads MSU with 75 and Holman has 55.

More: 4 days with Mississippi State basketball: an all-access look at a team on the NCAA bubble

This is not to say MSU can’t win without Holman. Xavian Stapleton would likely start if Holman can’t play, and Stapleton is a matchup problem for most power forwards because he stretches the floor. What’s more, Stapleton has been physical on defense and is usually solid at making the right switches and communicating. An issue is Stapleton is 6-foot-6.

Holman not playing would mean more minutes for freshman KeyShawn Feazell. At 6-foot-8, Feazell is actually better at blocking out and is more physical than Holman, in Howland’s view. But Feazell has only played three minutes this month because he is still raw and inexperienced.

MSU would still be capable of an upset without Holman, but one less body — and a consistent one at that — in an already-thin front court is less than ideal right now for the Bulldogs.

Contact Will Sammon at wsammon@gannett.com.