Nothing like a punch to the groin to wake you up. Just ask Dee Bost, who last night scored 15 of his 18 points after taking a cheap shot to his nether regions from Jackson State’s Phillip Williams. That guy was summarily ejected and earned a technical foul on his way out the door. It proved to be a turning point in MSU’s 81-67 first-round NIT win. It was only a 39-33 Bulldog lead when that happened, but the incident sparked a MSU big run.

As my esteemed colleague, Paul Jones, notes in his game story, the Bulldogs overcame a sluggish start to earn a second-round matchup with North Carolina (17-16), the defending NCAA national champs. Game time is 11 a.m. Saturday at Humphrey Coliseum (ESPN).

It’ll be the Tar Heels’ first trip to Starkville, so it will be a special night. I know it’s spring break, but hopefully the fans will pack it out. I’ll have more on the matchup later in the week.

• QUALITY LOSSES? Mike Herndon has a column that asks a pertinent question: Should “quality losses” be considered when assembling the 65-team NCAA tournament field? His example: Mississippi State, which as you know lost twice to No. 2-ranked Kentucky (in overtime), including in the SEC Tournament final on Sunday. By the way, I’ll have a column on the Bulldogs for tomorrow’s Daily Journal.

• VARIOUS & SUNDRY ITEMS: I never did hear back from the SEC concerning MSU coach Rick Stansbury‘s criticism of the officiating late in Sunday’s loss. So I guess we’ll hear of a punishment when they get ready to announce it. … Just got off a teleconference with several SEC women’s coaches, including MSU’s Sharon Fanning-Otis, whose Lady Bulldogs take on Middle Tennessee State on Sunday in the first round of the NCAA tourney. More on them in a few days. … The MSU baseball team plays host to Mississippi Valley State tonight, then opens SEC play this weekend at Florida.