FAYETTEVILLE -- Mississippi State's hot run has national analysts paying attention.
Coach Ben Howland's Bulldogs have won five SEC games in a row, including an 86-73 victory over Tennessee on Saturday in which they shot 69% in the second half while scoring 58 points.
A one-point road loss at Oklahoma in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Jan. 25 is Mississippi State's only blemish since falling 60-59 at LSU on Jan. 11.
The challenge level goes up for the Bulldogs this week as they take on Kentucky at Rupp Arena on ESPN tonight at 8.
The Bulldogs opened SEC play with consecutive losses to Auburn (80-68) in Starkville, Miss.