Mississippi State's baseball team returns home this weekend for a three-game series against Auburn (link), with Game 1 set for 6:30 p.m. today. The Bulldogs (15-13, 3-6) are in last place in the SEC Western Division, which is where they finished last year. They do not want to finish there again, but they're bolstered by what they think coach John Cohen can bring in the future.

Senior outfielder Grant Hogue said it's a bittersweet time for him. "I kind of do look at the time and wish I was a freshman now, because those guys have a very bright future for sure," he said. How bright? Said Hogue, "It’s going to be special before he leaves here. It may take a few years, but he’s going to bring championships here for sure."

Of immediate concern is getting on track this season. MSU lost five straight SEC games before salvaging Game 3 against Arkansas on Sunday. The Bulldogs then lost to Louisiana-Monroe, 7-1, on Wednesday. State's pitching has been up and down, and its hitting almost non-existent.

"You look at LSU last year, LSU was right with us early in the year and got hot, won five or six SEC series in a row," Hogue said (it was actually three series). "There’s time left for sure. As a team, we’ve gone through too much to let up. We’ve worked too hard to write if off."

In football news, we of course had the Anthony Johnson thing (link) that I reported on. And the team practiced yesterday and will do so again today (3:30 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m.). I plan on reporting from both sessions.

To hoops: As I reported here yesterday, Jarvis Varnado is seeking feedback from the NBA on his draft status. Also, Georgia has finally found a new basketball coach – Mark Fox. Who? Yeah, here is the link.