Due to circumstances beyond controlling and quite a few weekend hours spent at the new-management hospital in town, we missed a day in this countdown. So we're a'gonna make up for it…and with the end result that this particular edition includes two slam-dunk choices for our All-Time Team. I have to think they're comfortable sharing the day's stage.
Because our #25 is none other than Erick Dampier, the Dog who defines post play in our modern era. OK, 'modern' is purely personal and our own definition is 1972, when freshmen could play varsity ball, to today. There's been some fine centers since, some darned good ones in fact.
But Big Damp is the Big Dog for his 1994-96 feats. The New Hebron native was a prize sign for Richard Williams back when this state's prep ranks regularly turned out big-time big men. In fact Dampier wasn't the highest rated of his era as there were some uncertainties about his offensive potential.
Turned out Dampier could shoot, he just didn't like to too much. For that matter he arrived when Williams already had some first-class gunners in Marcus Grant and Daryl Wilson. Hence his 11.9 points average as a true freshman with 25 starts. Rebounding? Defending? Oh heck yes.
The sophomore season still didn't blow-up offensively with roughly the same shots-per-game, but his accuracy jumped to 64% which was worth 13.1 point to go with 9.7 rebounds. After a Sweet 16 season expectations were through the '96 roof for the team and for Dampier.
Y'all recall how that worked out, with Dampier asserting himself on offense by taking over 100 more shots. This despite the presence of high-flying Dontae Walker operating on that end, and ultimate grit guy Russell Walters banging bodies at each end. Dampier finished at 14.5 points and topped triple-digits for blocked shots.
Lack of taking shots is why today Dampier is 'only' 27th in MSU career scoring. But he's 7th in career rebounding and tied for second in blocks.
He was drafted 10th overall by Indiana and would play 16 seasons with the Pacers, Golden State, Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta.
Now, moving on to Day #24, is there even the hint of a question? Any listing of Greatest Bulldogs essentially comes down to two, and Bailey Howell's name will show up here plenty times again. The other choice is the one Dog to out-score him over a career's course.
And let's get this on-record immediately: if the three-point shot had existed in his tenure, Jeff Malone would have set unbreakable standards for Bulldog scoring. Even without benefit of the longball, Jeffie's 2,142 points in four winters likely will stand longer than Humphrey Coliseum.
The Macon, Ga., native last played here in 1983 but for we who watched his four seasons the images endure. The one over-arching word is, smooth. Oh sure, Malone could and did play gritty ball as needed, could exploded to the basketball, do anything today's Dogs can…OK, that most can't on his level but the idea holds.
It's just that Malone made it look so smooth and even effortless finding his opening and lofting the classic jumper. And lack of the trey-line was the largest reason why instead of settling for long looks Malone would work for the shorter stuff, and make it.
A three-time All-SEC pick, Malone capped his career scoring 26.8 points as a senior to earn SEC Player of the Year and first-team All-American. He still owns the MSU records for field goals, shots, and minutes, and oh by the way was a 81% free thrower. We who were around recall his pre-game ritual of taking and making the first shot only a step from the bucket, then working his way on out to key-top and beyond. See, Malone took nothing for granted but began every working day with the rock-basics.
This ethic, and the obvious talents, made him also the 10th overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft to begin 13 successful seasons with Washington, Utah, Philadelphia, and Miami. In fact his last professional year ended just as Dampier was being drafted. Malone was All-Rookie the first year and twice All-Star in 1986 and '87.
So hopefully next year when counting down circumstances (all seems trending better today) will allow each of these all-time Dogs their own Days. But if ya gotta put a pair together, it's hard to have a better tandem.