4.5 point favorites WITH Weatherspoon against a directional school?

[PMDawg]

Wow. What the heck?

[msstate7]

We ain't been playing that great lately, maybe

[parabrave]

Well if you have noticed not only our games but other SEC games then yeah thats a decent spread/

[RougeDawg]

When a team is capable of giving up 18-25 made threes a game, it is hard to set a spread.

[PMDawg]

Our best defender is back today. This is not one of the best teams we've played.

[parabrave]

And starting off 0-5.

[MarketingBully]

The refs aren’t calling any fouls at all. NMSU is fouling the crap out of us. They are okay but have been decimated with injuries. I’ve noticed the spreads aren’t that indicative of the teams. For instance, Virginia is only a 10 point favorite on South Carolina.

[MarketingBully]

Up 8-4 at the 12 minute official timeout. Our defense is much better today but our offense isn’t clicking (mostly because of the no call fouls on NMSU). Have to rebound better though.

[chef dixon]

We know how to string together some turnovers

[RocketDawg]

Wow. What the heck?

4.5 might be reasonable. We're down 10-9 after the first 11 minutes of the game.

[MarketingBully]

Why does this team struggle so much against lesser opponents? It’s every ****ing game.

[PMDawg]

Yeah, nevermind. I forgot Perry was totally useless now.

[MarketingBully]

Howland is a washed up has been. He can only recruit. He can’t motivate worth a shit. This is an every game occurrence. Go down big to a lesser team. Whether we come back or not, this can’t be the new normal for this team. 16-10 under 8 minutes to go in first half.

[chef dixon]

Every time one of ours guys gets two hands on a rebound and somehow the other teams gets it might as well be a turnover

[MarketingBully]

And to add salt to the wound. Richard Cross is calling our game and he is giddy.

[RocketDawg]

Why are there three 3-point lines on the floor? Is it high school, women, men?

[KOdawg1]

Every time one of ours guys gets two hands on a rebound and somehow the other teams gets it might as well be a turnover
We can't catch or hold onto the ball to save our lives. These guys are almost as bad as our receivers

[chef dixon]

Why are there three 3-point lines on the floor? Is it high school, women, men?

I think so and it is really bad for optics.

[maroonmania]

Why does this team struggle so much against lesser opponents? It’s every ****ing game.

Since its every game the logical conclusion is we just aren't really that good.

[parabrave]

Qwll to quote Neal "this is an Ugly game"

[cheewgumm]

Perry, if he?s the great player he?s supposed to be, should dominate in games like this.

He doesn?t.

[KOdawg1]

We suck right now and very well may just not be a good team, but Ado has really improved. He's playing with more effort, toughness, and aggressiveness

[chef dixon]

Perry, if he?s the great player he?s supposed to be, should dominate in games like this.

He doesn?t.

Most of our historically best basketball players aren't our big time recruits. Not sure why it never quite translates smoothly.

[MarketingBully]

Got it back to 18-15 from 18-10 because of our defense and we are finally rebounding and fighting for the board instead of letting them take the ball away from us.

[MarketingBully]

And Nick W has 3 fouls...

[chef dixon]

And Nick W has 3 fouls...

He's juiced up and trying to show off with his athleticism today. I get it because he's been out for a year but need him more as a veteran than a highlight reel.

[HoopsDawg]

We are a very talented, long, and athletic team. Just can't get in sync offensively.

[ZedFedder]

We are playing awful. Everyone.

[KOdawg1]

We'll probably come back and win but this shit is getting old. This team is boring, uninspired, and frustrating.

[chef dixon]

When Nick gets back

[MarketingBully]

This team just sucks as far as no identity. Just letting loose balls go to the other team. I bet NMSU has a ton of second chances points too.

[RougeDawg]

Getting out rebounded by a smaller team is inexcusable.

[MarketingBully]

We'll probably come back and win but this shit is getting old. This team is boring, uninspired, and frustrating.

Yep and ultra talented which is the cause of the most frustration. In our starting five, there are 2 five stars and 3 four stars and we get this shit.

[MarketingBully]

Getting out rebounded by a smaller team is inexcusable.

Several of those we had the ball and just let NMSU take it away. I saw that happen to Feazell twice and Perry once.

[maroonmania]

We are a very talented, long, and athletic team. Just can't get in sync offensively.

Well, sometimes its offense sometimes it defense. Played like crap in the first half on defense last game, played like crap on offense in the first half in this game.

[MarketingBully]

And when we come back and win dumb ass Howland will say that we just played a NCAA tourney team which is a lie. He said Radford was a good team. Lol.

[MetEdDawg]

And when we come back and win dumb ass Howland will say that we just played a NCAA tourney team which is a lie. He said Radford was a good team. Lol.

Go back to the post I made about a month ago. New Mexico is almost assuredly an NCAA team. Radford has a great chance too. I said a month ago people would look back on these games and say they were good wins but in the moment we would not be pleased with how we looked in them.

[MarketingBully]

And btw I’m not going to say we are a crappy team because a team with this much talent can’t continue to play like this. Hell we could get a burr up our ass in the second half and beat the shit out of NMSU. We came back on SHSU down 17 because we are ultra talented. It just sucks we are playing horribly. That La Tech loss may hurt us big time especially if you pair it with a loss to another shitty non conference loss. This team is living on the edge definitely though.

[HoopsDawg]

We look a lot like Howland's old teams at Pitt. They won a lot, but were unwatchable.

[parabrave]

So far the difference is FTs. Both Teams suck at shooting/

[MarketingBully]

Go back to the post I made about a month ago. New Mexico is almost assuredly an NCAA team. Radford has a great chance too. I said a month ago people would look back on these games and say they were good wins but in the moment we would not be pleased with how we looked in them.

Radford is 3-7 and if we beat NMSU they will be 7-7. The only way those teams are dancing is if they win their tourneys.

[Matt3467]

Radford is 3-7 and if we beat NMSU they will be 7-7. The only way those teams are dancing is if they win their tourneys.

No way he could be meaning NMSU. Now NM maybe for sure but not NMSU.

[MetEdDawg]

Radford is 3-7 and if we beat NMSU they will be 7-7. The only way those teams are dancing is if they win their tourneys.

Which they were both projected to do preseason. NMSU was like a 70% chance to win their conference and were unanimous coaches selections to win the WAC

But we do look like garbage right now. Offensively we look lost. Very very difficult to watch.

[HoopsDawg]

As a coach when you are struggling on offense, you switch defenses. Something like a 3 quarter court trap. Unfortunately, we don't have that in our toolbox. We are half court man to man and that's it.

[PMDawg]

This is an embarrassing "effort". We pretty much suck.

[PGHBulldogBG]

One thing I’ve learned on this board is that Ben Howland is a better coach than Kermit Lol

[timotheus]

Howland can't make perry stop throwing up 3's and we play no transition D. ugly stuff right here

[MarketingBully]

Howland needs to go imo. Why do the fans want to watch this shit?

[MarketingBully]

DJ Stewart starting the second half was dumb as shit.

[HoopsDawg]

Howland needs to go imo. Why do the fans want to watch this shit?

We wouldn't have these players without Howland.

Also, we look like shit.

[ZedFedder]

This effort is awful. Hope we turn it around. They look like this game is an option. This is where Howland HAS to chew that butt, but he rarely does.

[cheewgumm]

We should press and run. We have superior athletes. Use them.

[HoopsDawg]

We should press and run. We have superior athletes. Use them.

100%. This team is built to run. Not Howland's style and he can't or won't adjust.

[maroonmania]

The whole of this team is way less than the sum of the parts right now. Pitiful.

[cheewgumm]

#FireHowland

[ZedFedder]

Also, and this to me is on Howland, why isn’t Perry getting the ball in the post EVERY time?

[MarketingBully]

We wouldn't have these players without Howland.

Also, we look like shit.

He’s a horrible floor coach. He didn’t used to be. He used to be passionate and would sit your ass if you gave this type of effort. Now he’s a soft has been that can still recruit. That’s about it.

[cheewgumm]

We?re also horrible defending the 3

[OLJWales]

Nice halftime adjustments by Howland musta been a helluva pep talk too. ***

[Dawgology]

This team is a joke! Lmao!!

[ZedFedder]

I’m debating cutting it off and watching Dak.

[RougeDawg]

Good thing the Cowboys game came on to save my eyes from watching this shitshow.

[cheewgumm]

Better start pressing or we?ll lose this game

[HoopsDawg]

sit carter down.

[MarketingBully]

Well, bye bye NCAA tourney.

[maroonmania]

Seriously, are we just out of shape? We don't do anything with any energy, including rebounding.

[HoopsDawg]

The whole of this team is way less than the sum of the parts right now. Pitiful.

well said.

[ZedFedder]

This is completely effort.

[MarketingBully]

How the hell do you let the visiting team go on a 10-0 run to start the second half and how the hell do you not call time out before it’s a 7 point lead? ****ing Howland didn’t do shit until we were down by 12.

[MarketingBully]

This is completely effort.

And now we are playing with effort but I think it’s too little too late. 14 point deficit down to 7. If we gave this effort at the beginning of the second half this is easily a 10 point win.

[MarketingBully]

That was a 3 Nick hit. They need to back and look at it. That asshole ref gave him only 2. Should be a 7 point game.

[parabrave]

Seriously, are we just out of shape? We don't do anything with any energy, including rebounding.

They have 10 more rebounds than we do. Including 12 off rebounds. That's juat plain bad. BTW do we even try to drive to the basket anymore?

[OLJWales]

Yep and ultra talented which is the cause of the most frustration. In our starting five, there are 2 five stars and 3 four stars and we get this shit.

This makes you understand that Howland is simply recruiting off of his name and past accomplishments. He is no longer a final 4 bench coach. Either the game has changed since his heyday and doesn't have the ability to adjust or he no longer has the hunger needed to take a team deep into the tourney.

[OLJWales]

We have THREE points from the bench and they are all Molinar free throws (3-4)

[RocketDawg]

I’m debating cutting it off and watching Dak.

I've already done that but recording the 2nd half of the basketball game just in case.

Dak and the Cowboys are down 9, gonna be 10, to the Eagles though.

[parabrave]

I’m debating cutting it off and watching Dak.

You might want to keep the BB game on.

[MarketingBully]

Great effort and got it to 1 with less then 4 minutes left. I want to win by any number I’ll take a 1 point win right now but if this team gave 40 minutes of effort we’d be a different team. Frustrating that it takes a double digit deficit in order for this team to show up.

[MarketingBully]

Love the no call push off NMSU got away with there.

[MetEdDawg]

This NMSU team has 3 seniors, a junior, and a sophomore. Very similar team that had Auburn beat in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament.

We've played like total crap but if we can pull it out it will be a solid win.

[MarketingBully]

This NMSU team has 3 seniors, a junior, and a sophomore. Very similar team that had Auburn beat in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament.

We've played like total crap but if we can pull it out it will be a solid win.

We aren?t pulling it out.

[MarketingBully]

Can’t turn it on down 14 with 15 minutes to go in the game.

[msstate7]

This was a bad loss. Sugar coat nmsu all you want, we can't lose this game after already losing to la tech and playing like crap the other night. I'm not giving up on this team, but is a bad loss and likely to sting on selection day

[MarketingBully]

This is on Howland. He’s got to get this team ready to play. His lack of motivation just cost us an NCAA bid. This is a bad loss.

[HoopsDawg]

Really bad loss. Really bad.

[RougeDawg]

Color announcer said it best. Give this effort the entire game and you win. Same shit, different season.

[MarketingBully]

This was a bad loss. Sugar coat nmsu all you want, we can't lose this game after already losing to la tech and playing like crap the other night. I'm not giving up on this team, but is a bad loss and likely to sting on selection day

Yep. We are now playing for the NIT.

[timotheus]

Don't worry about the hump being full anytime soon.

[MarketingBully]

Nick W cost us this game as well. His 5 fouls were dumb as shit.

[OLJWales]

This team does not deserve packed house games. They give 1/2 assed effort so they deserve 1/2 packed at the HUMP.

[cheewgumm]

Woof that was horrible.

When is baseball!?!?

[HoopsDawg]

Nick W cost us this game as well. His 5 fouls were dumb as shit.

what was he thinking on that moving screen?!

[OLJWales]

This was a bad loss. Sugar coat nmsu all you want, we can't lose this game after already losing to la tech and playing like crap the other night. I'm not giving up on this team, but is a bad loss and likely to sting on selection day

I'm officially giving up until they show me they give a shit. If they don't give a shit, neither do I.

[RougeDawg]

And that my friends is why the spread was so low. Vegas knows more about this team than Howland does.

[maroonmania]

I'm officially giving up until they show me they give a shit. If they don't give a shit, neither do I.

Yep, we just lost to a program that hadn't beaten an SEC team in 25 years and I don't think our players really care. Why should we?

[timotheus]

Weak unaware D and slow ball movement with too many 1 on 1's on offense. With this effort, this team will lose all SEC road games and several at home.

[MarketingBully]

I think we will be in the 100s in the NET after that shit show of a game. And ****ing Ole Miss hired a former Bulldog to coach their program that actually still has fire left. Well, how many seasons do we give Howland? To me he’s much worse then Moorhead. Howland has a ton of talent on this team. A ton. Much more then our football team does.

[Bothrops]

We get it together and make a deep run in the NIT***

[RougeDawg]

Weak unaware D and slow ball movement with too many 1 on 1's on offense. With this effort, this team will lose all SEC road games and several at home.

Was just thinking this myself. Getting to .500 in sec play is going to be a challenge.

[timotheus]

But the length of the court bomb was so creative.*********

[timotheus]

They play soft and unresponsive. Kinda like the football team.

[Todd4State]

Yep, we just lost to a program that hadn't beaten an SEC team in 25 years and I don't think our players really care. Why should we?

Because they want us to show up and worship them despite pitiful effort and performances on their part?

Just guessing as to what probably goes on in their heads.

[RougeDawg]

Let?s add in that South Carolina just upset Virginia. We have a long season ahead.

[MarketingBully]

what was he thinking on that moving screen?!

I dunno but he led the come back and once he fouled out we were screwed. It’s actually hard for a guard to foul out. He actually had two charges and a moving screen so only 2 of his fouls were defensive.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Can we just not perform?

[OLJWales]

We ****ed up bad not hiring Kermit. REAL Bad.

[PGHBulldogBG]

I think we will be in the 100s in the NET after that shit show of a game. And ****ing Ole Miss hired a former Bulldog to coach their program that actually still has fire left. Well, how many seasons do we give Howland? To me he?s much worse then Moorhead. Howland has a ton of talent on this team. A ton. Much more then our football team does.

He?s not nearly as good of a coach as Howland. I?ve been reprimanded on here for saying that. No excuse to hire a recruiter again after Stansbury. Anyone who watched UCLA the last few years would?ve known this was a bad hire. Regardless of what people say, Kermit is a much better coach than Howland not counting recruiting

[HoopsDawg]

Can we just not perform?

Not enough winning plays. Down the stretch bad shot by Tyson, then a bad drive from Stewart who was 0-6 at the time. That's not who we want with the ball. Too many 1 pass or no pass possessions. Honesty, we did look poorly coached today.

[MarketingBully]

We get it together and make a deep run in the NIT***

This isn’t an NCAA tourney team. Even last year we basically rode the coattails of our early season success and then we gave this same kind of effort to start SEC play and started shittily. I am not impressed with this version of Howland. Not impressed at all.

[maroonmania]

I think we will be in the 100s in the NET after that shit show of a game. And ****ing Ole Miss hired a former Bulldog to coach their program that actually still has fire left. Well, how many seasons do we give Howland? To me he’s much worse then Moorhead. Howland has a ton of talent on this team. A ton. Much more then our football team does.

And this may be the most talent he will ever have at one time at MSU. Perry, Woodard and Weatherspoon are all high end recruits with Carter and Ado being a SR and R-JR respectively. This is as talented a starting 5 as we've had in a long time. If Howland can't get a high NCAA seed with this team I just don't see how he ever will at MSU. Right now I'm not even sure we are a tourney team at all.

[Bothrops]

I think we will be in the 100s in the NET after that shit show of a game. And ****ing Ole Miss hired a former Bulldog to coach their program that actually still has fire left. Well, how many seasons do we give Howland? To me he’s much worse then Moorhead. Howland has a ton of talent on this team. A ton. Much more then our football team does.

I have no idea what basketball talent is based on these days. These guys look like they've haven't played long enough to become decent shooters.

[maroonmania]

Not enough winning plays. Down the stretch bad shot by Tyson, then a bad drive from Stewart who was 0-6 at the time. That's not who we want with the ball. Too many 1 pass or no pass possessions. Honesty, we did look poorly coached today.

And the no look pass turnover by Perry at the end pretty much sealed the game for NMSU.

[MarketingBully]

We ****ed up bad not hiring Kermit. REAL Bad.

Yep, and he would have brought Butch Pierre with him who orchestrated the great recruiting under John Brady at LSU. Should have hired Davis after Stansbury retired. He’d probably be on his sixth or seventh NCAA tourney appearance and 2 or 3 Sweet 16s had we done that. Just absolute shit that we didn’t go in that direction and decided to crater our program with the Rick Ray experience.

[MarketingBully]

And the no look pass turnover by Perry at the end pretty much sealed the game for NMSU.

That was horrible. Stewart is going to be a great player for us but as a redshirt freshman I want no part of him taking the final shot or even being involved at winning time. I want the ball in the hands of Carter, Perry, or Nick W (who disqualified himself way before then). This team has no leadership either. Very disappointing. Where was Carter at at winning time. Why was Stewart bringing the ball down the court? Just plain stupid.

[Coach34]

We are just a bunch of athletes playing basketball- not skilled basketball players working the ball for good shots

[KOdawg1]

We are just a bunch of athletes playing basketball- not skilled basketball players working the ball for good shots

We pass it around until about 5 seconds left and jack it up. That's our offense

[msugolf]

We are just a bunch of athletes playing basketball- not skilled basketball players working the ball for good shots

Was at the game. Could easily tell which team knew how to move without the ball and which team didn't. Could also tell which team was better coached.

[OLJWales]

We are just a bunch of athletes playing basketball- not skilled basketball players working the ball for good shots

Because we have a don't give a shit coach which gives you a don't give a shit team. I don't give a damn what people say, and I know all 5 and 4 star players don't always work out but to have 2 (5) stars and 3 (4) stars and you get this? this is nothing more than a pitifully coached team.

[PMDawg]

Time for a new coach.

[MarketingBully]

We are just a bunch of athletes playing basketball- not skilled basketball players working the ball for good shots

We should go after that NMSU coach imo. He has done more with less then any coach I have ever seen. His team last year was 30-5 and had two 28 win teams and two 23 win teams before that. His teams improve throughout the year. Ours don?t.

[MarketingBully]

Just looked him up Chris Jans. Hell of a coach. Is a Gregg Marshall disciple and was his top assistant at Wichita State. Clearly just stacking talent does not win for us. We need to take a different approach.

[msugolf]

Just looked him up Chris Jans. Hell of a coach. Is a Gregg Marshall disciple and was his top assistant at Wichita State. Clearly just stacking talent does not win for us. We need to take a different approach.

https://twitter.com/jonrothstein/status/1208870687278092289?s=21

[MarketingBully]

https://twitter.com/jonrothstein/status/1208870687278092289?s=21

I’m telling you if we hired him we would be back to where we wanted to be. Howland just isn’t who he was when he was at Pittsburgh and the early days of UCLA. He lost it and is now washed up. Hope he retires soon because I know IB doesn’t have the guts to let him go as seen by keeping Moorhead.

[AROB44]

Well....Bitching Dawgs is in top form today. Calling for a new coach already. This place is so predictable.

[R2Dawg]

This year is a shame. We are talented all over the floor but poor execution, bad decisions, bad effort, etc. Year ain't over yet and I knew it will take a few games to gell with Nick. Perry has to get under basket and dominate. If I am Howland I tell him you can shoot one 3 a game and that is it. 90% of time he needs to dominate under goal.

NMSU shot lights out again from 3 even their big men.

BTW refs screwed us too. They took 4 steps on two baskets resulting in 5 pts for them. If they call correct walk we win in squeeker.

[Dawg2003]

Well....Bitching Dawgs is in top form today. Calling for a new coach already. This place is so predictable.

Already? It's been several years that we've had to watch this mess.

[OLJWales]

Well....Bitching Dawgs is in top form today. Calling for a new coach already. This place is so predictable.

I guess you are a Moorhead fan too. "Already" ? how many years has he had?

[msugolf]

Well....Bitching Dawgs is in top form today. Calling for a new coach already. This place is so predictable.

You're right. There's no such thing as bad coaches. Players just aren't doing what they're told. Coach can't hit the shots for them. I'd rather get hot at the end of the year ...yada yada yada. We should just shut up and support the team and be thankful we have a university at all **

Did I leave anything out for ya?

[PGHBulldogBG]

I’m not sure why anyone is surprised by this outcome. Kent State might beat us too. I predicted 9-4 in non conference not because of talent but because of Howland. I’m starting to think a .500 record in conference will not happen either

[Bothrops]

Howland has looked sick to me for quite some time. I hope nothing is going on there, but it could explain the lack of message delivery to the team. It's concerning.

[Dawgology]

Well....Bitching Dawgs is in top form today. Calling for a new coach already. This place is so predictable.

I want a real answer from you. In your mind is poor performance ever the responsibility of the head coach or is it just the players fault? Or is it never anyone’s fault and we should just blindly support forever regardless of outcome?

[Coach34]

I would be surprised if we fired Howland for not making the NCAA's for the 4th time in 5 years. But would think next year's seat would get a little warm

[PGHBulldogBG]

Howlands recruiting has declined. Unless we get rid of him after this year it’s another bad 3-4 years unless we actually hire a real coach and not a recruiter and I have no confidence Cohen knows how to do that.

[MarketingBully]

I would be surprised if we fired Howland for not making the NCAA's for the 4th time in 5 years. But would think next year's seat would get a little warm

I wish he would retire. He was a great coach but he no longer has it and he’s washed up.

[Goldendawg]

Long as the team can go .500 with 2 of the wins being over Ole Miss we are fine. Shut up, continue to send your $, pound sand, and kick rocks. JoMo and IB approve of this message.

[Cooterpoot]

Welcome aboard the Howland isn't a great coach train! But I wouldn't give up on this team yet.

[HoopsDawg]

definitely can't fire Howland. I think he's only going to coach 1 or 2 more years and then retire to Santa Barbara.

I thought Nick looked good today. It's going to take a few games for him to settle in. Hopefully, he can take control of the offense. We are going to make the NCAAT.

[JNC23]

definitely can't fire Howland. I think he's only going to coach 1 or 2 more years and then retire to Santa Barbara.

I thought Nick looked good today. It's going to take a few games for him to settle in. Hopefully, he can take control of the offense. We are going to make the NCAAT.

This is the correct take. While it is quite true that Howland did a poor job today and has before - the season is far from over. It's going to take some work and some gelling during SEC play to steal a few wins from teams here and there, but a top 4 finish in the SEC is not out of the question.

[Coach34]

Our shooting is going to have to get alot better to make the NCAA Tourney. We don't shoot it well or take good shots.

[msugolf]

This is the correct take. While it is quite true that Howland did a poor job today and has before - the season is far from over. It's going to take some work and some gelling during SEC play to steal a few wins from teams here and there, but a top 4 finish in the SEC is not out of the question.

We don't have the shooters to make the tournament this year and we struggle against active guards who are plus shooters. We'd have to go 11-7 or 12-6 in conf play to make it this year because of our non-conf schedule and losses. Also, it's hard to win on the road in the SEC even when you have a great team. Its damn near impossible when you have an average one. I see 6 losses just in our first 9 SEC games. NIT year fellas

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

I really don't have a lot of optimism going forward.

Under Howland we've ALWAYS won on talent and talent alone. We've never had a good looking O or made good adjustments in game. That's true for every year under Howland, so it's not going to change.

What that means is that under Howland the best we'll ever do is limp into the tourney after a mediocre year and then get bounced quick, because Howland doesn't have another gear of coaching he can kick into like most other tourney coaches have.

BUT, at least we're respectable now. Except that Howlans recruiting seems to be slipping and that means we'll no longer flirt with the tourney and then leave the next coach with not much to work with.

Overall, I find it very hard to find much excitement for the program short to long term as long as Howland is the HC. Hope we get it together though because I'd love to be competitive in the top of the SEC again

[JNC23]

Our shooting is going to have to get alot better to make the NCAA Tourney. We don't shoot it well or take good shots.

FG% before today was 48.1%, ranked 35th among the 350 teams in the NCAA. Today's 41.2% performance knocks it down to 47.47%, which would fall to around 50 in the rankings. We may not be a tourney team come year end, but at this point I don't think that's accurate. Unless you're referring to 3 point %, which we're only ranked 102 in and could be much worse.

IMO, if we miss the tourney it's because we allow teams that we should physically overpower to impose their will on us with their on-ball pressure and take us out of our offensive sets. We're too strong physically to get bullied like we do in the half-court.

[HoopsDawg]

Our shooting is going to have to get alot better to make the NCAA Tourney. We don't shoot it well or take good shots.

15+ turnovers per game is too many. Several are unforced. We get called for more illegal screens than any team in the country.

Tyson is shooting 31% from 3 so that is really hurting us. He needs to be in the 36-38% range.

My main complaint with Howland is his inability to change defenses. NM St clearly wanted to slow this game down and we let them. Should have played some full court or 3/4 court press to change the tempo but it's not in Howland's DNA for whatever reason. Just doesn't have it in his toolbox to teach in practice I guess.

[Coach34]

We shot 41% today
We shot 46% against Radford
We shot 39% against K-State
We shot 47% against La Tech

Thats just not shooting the ball real well. It's not awful- but it's not good. And when the SEC gets here- those percentages arent likely to boost. Hopefully Nick returning will help cut down on the turnovers which hurt when coupled with average shooting. Alot of teams will get better once they get into conference play because of the hard schedules they play OOC- wont be the case for us.

[Dawg2003]

Hell, even Vic has played zone this year.

[chef dixon]

Nick was really bad today. About the polar opposite of what most were hoping his return would bring.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Shooting % seems like a detail that misses the forrest for the trees. We are a below average shooting team and yeah we'd be a better team if we shot better (who wouldn't?).

But the reality is we lack any kind of plan on O, we aren't well coached enough to be quick mentally enough to ever be elite on D, we don't have good gameplans going in and we don't adjust well in game, our energy comes and goes both within games and from game to game, player development is mediocre at best, and we don't play "clean" ball in the sense that we sometimes forget to block out or rotate or get back in transition and that sloppiness costs us 10+ points a game vs well coached teams.

We have so many problems and each one will prevent us from getting to our potential so I don't really see the shooting % as a big deal itself

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Nick was really bad today. About the polar opposite of what most were hoping his return would bring.

Anyone that expected him to immediately click isn't that smart. He'll need a few games to get back in the grove and reestablish chemistry

[maroonmania]

Shooting % seems like a detail that misses the forrest for the trees. We are a below average shooting team and yeah we'd be a better team if we shot better (who wouldn't?).

But the reality is we lack any kind of plan on O, we aren't well coached enough to be quick mentally enough to ever be elite on D, we don't have good gameplans going in and we don't adjust well in game, our energy comes and goes both within games and from game to game, player development is mediocre at best, and we don't play "clean" ball in the sense that we sometimes forget to block out or rotate or get back in transition and that sloppiness costs us 10+ points a game vs well coached teams.

We have so many problems and each one will prevent us from getting to our potential so I don't really see the shooting % as a big deal itself

We can talk about a lot of things but just watching us we don't play with enough energy and effort. Not on defense or rebounding and not of offense to get to the open spots or run down loose balls. Our HC is totally non-energetic with no intensity and our team seems to play the same way.

[chef dixon]

Anyone that expected him to immediately click isn't that smart. He'll need a few games to get back in the grove and reestablish chemistry

It was not really about not clicking for me. His approach was really wild and it hurt the team today in my opinion. Disappointing from one of our most experienced guys.

[Bothrops]

Howlands recruiting has declined.

I don't buy that at all.

[MarketingBully]

To me we were a good team until that long ass lay-off between Coastal Carolina and La Tech. Since coming back from that unnecessary 2 week hiatus between Coastal Carolina and La Tech, we have played like shit, played with no effort, and played down to the competition. I don?t know what Howland did with them in that time period but they have sucked ass since then.

[Cowbell]

You guys can make all the excuses you want, but this team ain't gonna make any kind of noise. You are wasting your time. I hung it up after last year when it comes to devoting time to following this BB team. We have no coaching or leadership. Shocker.... this BB team is the equivalent of our football team last year. And they aren't going to miraculously come out playing fundamentally sound basketball and full of energy.

This is the mirror image of our football issues. Both need new leadership

[Bothrops]

To me we were a good team until that long ass lay-off between Coastal Carolina and La Tech. Since coming back from that unnecessary 2 week hiatus between Coastal Carolina and La Tech, we have played like shit, played with no effort, and played down to the competition. I don?t know what Howland did with them in that time period but they have sucked ass since then.

Good point here. Definitely a regressed team.

[msstate7]

Not giving up yet... I think we respond well vs a decent Kent st team. We need that auburn game at home now

[MarketingBully]

Not giving up yet... I think we respond well vs a decent Kent st team. We need that auburn game at home now

We have a ton of talent so if they ever decide to give a shit it will make a difference in our Ws and Ls and yes we have the talent to beat Auburn in January and give them their first loss. What concerned me the most this year is Howland’s refusal to develop and build our depth. We have a 4 star sitting on the bench collecting dust in Elias King and we have some other freshmen that could have contributed but because Howland wants to play only 7 for some ****ed up reason. That’s going to hurt down the stretch. King and the other freshmen have played well when given the chance. Howland is the same guy who inexplicably didn’t play Woodard last year and when asked about it he questioned himself. He’s washed up and has no idea what he’s doing regarding his bench coaching and his ability to handle timeouts as well as how he handles his bench. He’s continuing to go down hill.

[MarketingBully]

Shit, Howland was idiotic when putting this year’s schedule together. Our next game is the day of the bowl game? Between some of the breaks he put in with this schedule and his lack of understanding when bowl games are, I think the only thing this man does well period is recruit. There will be hundreds at the game against Kent State. Will any MSU media be at the Kent State game?

[shannondawg]

But Nick is back!

[MarketingBully]

Also anyone complaining about the bench not producing should look at the bench minutes. We played 4 players off the bench and the only one who saw significant minutes was DJ Stewart. The other bench players played 12, 6, and 3 minutes. That’s not enough time TO be productive for three of our guys. Nick W fouled out in 18 minutes. That’s ****ing hard to do as a point guard. How do you foul out as a guard much less as a point guard especially when only two of your fouls were defensive fouls. Why is a point guard setting a screen? What dumb ass offense are we running?

[Liverpooldawg]

To me we were a good team until that long ass lay-off between Coastal Carolina and La Tech. Since coming back from that unnecessary 2 week hiatus between Coastal Carolina and La Tech, we have played like shit, played with no effort, and played down to the competition. I don?t know what Howland did with them in that time period but they have sucked ass since then.

We just aren't very good. We miss Q and haven't replaced him at all.

[Bothrops]

Not giving up yet... I think we respond well vs a decent Kent st team. We need that auburn game at home now

Hopefully so. It seems that it always takes a bad loss for the team to get motivated for the next game

[Liverpooldawg]

Shit, Howland was idiotic when putting this year’s schedule together. Our next game is the day of the bowl game? Between some of the breaks he put in with this schedule and his lack of understanding when bowl games are, I think the only thing this man does well period is recruit. There will be hundreds at the game against Kent State. Will any MSU media be at the Kent State game?

How exactly is he supposed to know which bowl we would be playing in when the schedule was finalized WAY before football season? That's just stupid.

[MarketingBully]

How exactly is he supposed to know which bowl we would be playing in when the schedule was finalized WAY before football season? That's just stupid.

SEC bowls are known. He could have picked Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and been in the clear. I’d of paid attention to that or at least someone on the staff should have alerted him to it. It’s not dumb. There will be less then 1k there for the Kent State game.

[RougeDawg]

Also anyone complaining about the bench not producing should look at the bench minutes. We played 4 players off the bench and the only one who saw significant minutes was DJ Stewart. The other bench players played 12, 6, and 3 minutes. That?s not enough time TO be productive for three of our guys. Nick W fouled out in 18 minutes. That?s ****ing hard to do as a point guard. How do you foul out as a guard much less as a point guard especially when only two of your fouls were defensive fouls. Why is a point guard setting a screen? What dumb ass offense are we running?

What offense? I see 5 guys on the court playing a pickup game. Then one of the five tries to be Michael Jordan every possession. The pick and roll with Perry was there all day yesterday, yet he never rolled after setting the pick. Oh well, at least we have good crootin classes.