As Blake Hinson strides confidently from the Humphrey Coliseum floor, fresh off of hanging a career-high 26 points on Mississippi State, the freshman forward looked to a camera, repeatedly stating: “Whose state? Our state!”
Hinson’s proclamation—the result of an emotionally-charged victory over a bitter in-state rival—wasn’t conjecture. The Rebels have defeated Mississippi State in nine of their past eleven contests, despite the Bulldogs dominating the Magnolia State in recruiting. However, after opening SEC play by dispatching their first three conference foes, perhaps Hinson should be asking another question: “Who’s conference?” While Tennessee is unquestionably the class of the Southeastern Conference (they sit at No.