Rick Ray

[CadaverDawg]

This is exactly why I feared people starting to go to these games. Crowds should be there every game, I agree....but they should have no impact on whether we keep a coach. Otherwise you're saying, "quit coming to games unless u want to keep Ray, because he will get credit for the big crowd."
I agree that we have looked better, but we have to look at body of work, and it is WAY too early to start claiming Ray should get another year. In year 3, is "improvement" still the qualification for another year? At what point does he have to start putting a solid overall record out there in a weak conference?

I'm not saying he can't earn another year, but I'm far from ready to claim he has, just bc we beat Vandy and Auburn,a nd then closed a 12 point UGA lead down to 1 at home before losing by 6. Moral victories are for years 1 and 2....it's time to win.

This was my biggest fear in basketball. We're going to do just enough in the back half of the year to show life, and to erase the front half losses against shit teams....and it will leave our fanbase divided, and we will likely keep Ray.

I may end up wrong, but I think what we will find out is that Ray is a decent coach, that can win enough to get us to the NIt by year 4 or 5. But is that what we hired him for? We forced Stans out because we wanted someone to take us to the next level...."hustle", "improvement", and "maybe we can be better next year", is the type of shit you hire Junior High Coaches to do. I want a winner in here, and as much as I like Ray the person, I do not ever see him getting us to an NCAA Tourney, much less a Sweet 16 or beyond.

Oh well, maybe I'm wrong. I knew this would happen if we won a few games.

[Coach34]

We forced Stans out because we wanted someone to take us to the next level.....

No. We forced Stands out because of the lack of discipline, drug problems, and all the off court drama. He wasnt fired because he only made the NIT

[CadaverDawg]

No. We forced Stands out because of the lack of discipline, drug problems, and all the off court drama. He wasnt fired because he only made the NIT

Ok, so you don't want a coach that can take our program to a higher level? You do realize that his discipline, drug problems, etc were all part of the LEVEL we were at, right? It's all inclusive. In fact, you led the charge about Stans not being able to take us beyond a Sweet 16. So don't act like you didn't want our program at the next level. You did, you said it over and over and over for years.

Either way, you're changing the main point of the discussion. Now that we got rid of the discipline problems, are we satisfied with shitty seasons as long as we play hard and win a few games, and maybe improve a little every other year?

[Coach34]

Ok, so you don't want a coach that can take our program to a higher level? You do realize that his discipline, drug problems, etc were all part of the LEVEL we were at, right? It's all inclusive. In fact, you led the charge about Stans not being able to take us beyond a Sweet 16. So don't act like you didn't want our program at the next level. You did, you said it over and over and over for years.

I'm well aware of what I SAID and what I WANTED. And many of us felt the same way. But the actual reason he was replaced was because he wouldnt agree to the demands made on him by Strick and Keenum. Weight program, holding players accountable, stronger drug measures, etc...thats why he was let go.

[CadaverDawg]

I'm well aware of what I SAID and what I WANTED. And many of us felt the same way. But the actual reason he was replaced was because he wouldnt agree to the demands made on him by Strick and Keenum. Weight program, holding players accountable, stronger drug measures, etc...thats why he was let go.

So if we had made it to the Elite 8 his final year we would have sent him on his way?

[engie]

So if we had made it to the Elite 8 his final year we would have sent him on his way?

No context of what happened that last year would have stayed the same if we had continued to win up to our talent level and made a run in March. Had he Biancod himself into the second weekend, he'd most likely still be here. Or he might have chosen to walk then if given ultimatums as well. Gotta be a lot more delicate in demands when a coach is on top vs a crumbling dumpster Fire with elite talent....

[Bully13]

No. We forced Stands out because of the lack of discipline, drug problems, and all the off court drama. He wasnt fired because he only made the NIT

when you were on the "fire stands" program it was always because he couldn't get us to the next level.

[Coach34]

when you were on the "fire stands" program it was always because he couldn't get us to the next level.

ok- what's your point? (Although I always mentioned his lack of discipline as one of the reasons he'd never make it)

[MadDawg]

No. We forced Stands out because of the lack of discipline, drug problems, and all the off court drama. He wasnt fired because he only made the NIT

This is called "changing the talking points" when the reality sets in that the new coach will probably never reach the level that was unacceptable from the previous coach.

[preachermatt83]

This is exactly why I feared people starting to go to these games. Crowds should be there every game, I agree....but they should have no impact on whether we keep a coach. Otherwise you're saying, "quit coming to games unless u want to keep Ray, because he will get credit for the big crowd."
I agree that we have looked better, but we have to look at body of work, and it is WAY too early to start claiming Ray should get another year. In year 3, is "improvement" still the qualification for another year? At what point does he have to start putting a solid overall record out there in a weak conference?

I'm not saying he can't earn another year, but I'm far from ready to claim he has, just bc we beat Vandy and Auburn,a nd then closed a 12 point UGA lead down to 1 at home before losing by 6. Moral victories are for years 1 and 2....it's time to win.

This was my biggest fear in basketball. We're going to do just enough in the back half of the year to show life, and to erase the front half losses against shit teams....and it will leave our fanbase divided, and we will likely keep Ray.

I may end up wrong, but I think what we will find out is that Ray is a decent coach, that can win enough to get us to the NIt by year 4 or 5. But is that what we hired him for? We forced Stans out because we wanted someone to take us to the next level...."hustle", "improvement", and "maybe we can be better next year", is the type of shit you hire Junior High Coaches to do. I want a winner in here, and as much as I like Ray the person, I do not ever see him getting us to an NCAA Tourney, much less a Sweet 16 or beyond.

Oh well, maybe I'm wrong. I knew this would happen if we won a few games.

hammer... meet nail head!