Starkville, MS (Sports Network) - The 18th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs open up their 98th season of basketball this evening, as they welcome the Rider Broncs to Starkville.

It was a banner year for Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs, who went 23-13 overall, won the SEC Tournament and earned the school's 10th NCAA Tournament bid. With a majority of the team back in the fold, MSU is once again a favorite to win the SEC West.

Tommy Dempsey led the Broncs to a 19-13 record in his third season at the helm in 2008-09, finishing third in the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 12-6 league record. Like the Bulldogs, the Broncs also return a solid core to once again be a contender in the MAAC.

These two teams have met just one prior time, with MSU posting a 72-64 victory in the 1979-80 Senior Bowl Tournament at South Alabama.

Dempsey has 58 victories in his first three years as the official head coach of the program, the most for any Rider coach during a three-year stretch, but there is still a sense of unfinished business. This year the team will highlight senior Ryan Thompson, who is the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. The younger brother of NBA first-round pick and former Rider standout Jason Thompson, Ryan was second in the MAAC in scoring (18.0 ppg). To get to the next level however, Rider will need to find support for Thompson. That's where Mike Ringgold and Novar Gadson come into the picture. Ringgold shot 51.8 percent from the floor en route to 11.4 ppg and led the team with his 6.8 rpg. Gadson (10.8 ppg) is another strong interior player.

Stansbury welcomes back all five starters and some key reserves from last year's team. None more crucial to MSU's success than Jarvis Varnado. An absolute monster in the low post, Varnado gets it done despite checking in at only 6-9 and 210 pounds. The senior has blocked 394 shots in his collegiate career, placing him 18 shy of Shaquille O'Neal's SEC record and 142 short of the all-time NCAA mark. Much more than just a shot-blocker, Varnado contributed 12.9 ppg a year ago. Barry Stewart is another key contributor who netted 12.4 ppg a year ago. Dee Bost will run the floor once again, and he has a chance to improve on his 10.9 ppg and 4.3 apg. Ravern Johnson is a 6-7 swingman who scored 12.1 ppg. The rich get richer with the addition of prized recruit Renardo Sidney (6-10, 270), who is considered one of the league's truly elite newcomers.