Howland and the Dawgs

[StarkVegasSteve]

A BIG 5 game stretch coming up for us. We need to sweep the 3 home games and then figure out a way to split the 2 road games. @UT and @Bama will be tough but those are the games you have to win to be a tournament team. Going 4-1 through this stretch would give us a lot of momentum going down the home stretch and we'd also be sitting at 12-5 and 7-2 in the conference. We probably need 12-13 conference wins to feel good about our tourney chances. That would also get us the all important double bye in the SEC tournament.

[msstate7]

At tenn and Bama will be really tough tests. That's the best 2 teams in sec. Bama does depend on the 3 a lot, so hopefully they're off

[Captain Falcon]

A&M tonight is a must-win game. You can't lose home games to teams with NET rankings in the 100s. Then you have two opportunities for decent wins against Florida and Ole Miss, both teams I think we are better than. We'll worry about Bama and Tennessee when we get there, the first task is taking care of business at home.

I would also like to point out how strange our conference schedule is this year. We are currently in the middle of a stretch where we play 5 of 6 games at home, then immediately after that we have four straight conference road games (Iowa State game at home in the middle of that, but still). Never seen us have home and away splits that are so unbalanced in terms of timing.

[Big4Dawg]

A&M tonight is a must-win game. You can't lose home games to teams with NET rankings in the 100s. Then you have two opportunities for decent wins against Florida and Ole Miss, both teams I think we are better than. We'll worry about Bama and Tennessee when we get there, the first task is taking care of business at home.

I would also like to point out how strange our conference schedule is this year. We are currently in the middle of a stretch where we play 5 of 6 games at home, then immediately after that we have four straight conference road games (Iowa State game at home in the middle of that, but still). Never seen us have home and away splits that are so unbalanced in terms of timing.

Only team in the SEC this year to have 4 straight away games. Thankfully we have the Iowa State game at home

[trob115]

I think we match up well with Florida and A&M.

I think at Bama is winnable, just have to run them off the 3pt line. Hopefully we don't sag the middle and utilize Ado in the paint for defense.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I think we match up well with Florida and A&M.

I think at Bama is winnable, just have to run them off the 3pt line. Hopefully we don't sag the middle and utilize Ado in the paint for defense.

We just never play well in Coleman Coliseum. I think we've only won there like 3 times this century and one of those times took possibly the greatest comeback in Mississippi State history to pull it off.

[PGHBulldogBG]

We absolutely need to win these next 3 home games. Dropping 1 or more would be detrimental. After this stretch, I only see us being favored in 3 more conference games. Realistically, if we do win these next 3 I think we have a good shot at 11-7 maybe 12-6, but the back half of the schedule is a lot more difficult

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

We just never play well in Coleman Coliseum. I think we've only won there like 3 times this century and one of those times took possibly the greatest comeback in Mississippi State history to pull it off.

They had 2 starters injured vs Kentucky and they will probably still beat us at CC.

[thf24]

Wait wait wait, we're talking about the possibility of this team making the postseason, for what would have been the fourth consecutive year? Can't be, we were told in November that we suck worse than ever and Howland needs to be fired.

[Ari Gold]

3-2 will be really good over the next 5

[StarkVegasSteve]

Wait wait wait, we're talking about the possibility of this team making the postseason, for what would have been the fourth consecutive year? Can't be, we were told in November that we suck worse than ever and Howland needs to be fired.

I don't think most could've predicted the jump that Iverson has made. We're at worse 9-3 if he plays the first 2 games and I think we're probably 10-2.

[StarkVegasSteve]

3-2 will be really good over the next 5

3-2 is good. But 4-1 is needed for the tournament. Either UT or Bama would be a great Q1 win.

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

"making the post season for a 4th consecutive year" is nothing to hang your hat on, when you get there and fall flat on your face. Howland is still a bad coach and will continue to fail to put forth a consistent team. I am tired of these "Wonder what team will show up tonight" games.

[Ari Gold]

No one knows what the post season will look like, they will give all the blue bloods the benefit of the doubt with records, covid issues , ect....
The best chance we will have to make tourney IMO will be a run in the sec tourney , may not have to win it but making the finals may have to be done..

The SEC is as strong in hoops top to bottom this year than any I can remember .. Texas AM is game we have to win for sure but they aren’t a bad team.. will be one of the best coached teams In the league

But this also one of the grittiest teams That CBH has had here..

[Ari Gold]

3-2 is good. But 4-1 is needed for the tournament. Either UT or Bama would be a great Q1 win.


Need 10 SEC wins .. and no bad losses.. that prob won’t get us in but it will put us In the conversation..
the worse loss we could have is Liberty , who will prob win their conference and we didn’t have Iverson...
Clemson is a tourney team , Dayton will prob win their conference as well
The UK loss won’t hurt because it’s UK

We already have 2 road wins
Handle our business at home . Pick up 2 more road wins somewhere and sweep home games that gets us to 12 ..
12-6 in this league this year should be a no brainer.. but for some reason words Miss State doesn’t sound good to that selection committee .. never really has..

[Ari Gold]

"making the post season for a 4th consecutive year" is nothing to hang your hat on, when you get there and fall flat on your face. Howland is still a bad coach and will continue to fail to put forth a consistent team. I am tired of these "Wonder what team will show up tonight" games.


The ignorance of basketball shows up again...

[trob115]

I disagree. I think we make the ncaa if we finish top 6 in the SEC. SEC is more than likely a 7 bid league.

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

The ignorance of basketball shows up again...

Yes! That is exactly what I was thinking!! Glad you see it too. Hanging your hat on postseason "appearances" is ridiculous especially if that postseason includes the NIT.

[msstate7]

Yes! That is exactly what I was thinking!! Glad you see it too. Hanging your hat on postseason "appearances" is ridiculous especially if that postseason includes the NIT.

What's acceptable standards here?

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

What's acceptable standards here?

So...each year a coach at Mississippi State should tell his team. "Guys we got to work hard to make that appearance in the postseason!! We got to work to make that NIT!!! Should that be the expectations for MSU fans? We are just Mississippi State and this is all we can achieve? Howland has had his chance. He is washed up and it is time to retire.

[msstate7]

So...each year a coach at Mississippi State should tell his team. "Guys we got to work hard to make that appearance in the postseason!! We got to work to make that NIT!!! Should that be the expectations for MSU fans? We are just Mississippi State and this is all we can achieve? Howland has had his chance. He is washed up and it is time to retire.

The last postseason, we were in the ncaa

[thf24]

I don't think most could've predicted the jump that Iverson has made. We're at worse 9-3 if he plays the first 2 games and I think we're probably 10-2.

Valid point but even then, it was idiotic to try to draw strong conclusions from the early performance of our team of mostly newcomers starting the season against multiple quality opponents after not getting nearly the normal amount of preseason practice and scrimmage.


What's acceptable standards here?

Doesn't matter, the goalposts will always be one notch further for those who don't know anything about basketball other than thinking we're supposed to be a perennial contender due to the 10-25 years ago out of our mostly putrid basketball history during which we enjoyed some sporadic success.

[msstate7]

Valid point but even then, it was idiotic to try to draw strong conclusions from the early performance of our team of mostly newcomers starting the season against multiple quality opponents after not getting nearly the normal amount of preseason practice and scrimmage.



Doesn't matter, the goalposts will always be one notch further for those who don't know anything about basketball other than thinking we're supposed to be a perennial contender due to the 10-15 years ago out of our mostly putrid basketball history during which we enjoyed some sporadic success.

It really is strange that some of our fans think we're some sort of sleeping giant at basketball.

[Ari Gold]

The last postseason, we were in the ncaa

Unless you want a back and forth of 2 pages worth of ridiculous takes don’t waste your time.. He has already embarrassed himself enough with the previous few posts..

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yes! That is exactly what I was thinking!! Glad you see it too. Hanging your hat on postseason "appearances" is ridiculous especially if that postseason includes the NIT.

So the exact same thing we did under Stansbury is considered ridiculous by you. Stans only won 4 tourney games and only won 1 against a team from a power conference. You're acting like we're some college basketball blue blood. WE ARE NOT. We've made one Final 4 in our history and only made it out of the first weekend a handful of times. So hell yes a postseason appearance, especially a NCAA tourney appearance, should be celebrated. If you're so upset with our team and coach then go support the women. I think they have plenty of room on the bandwagon at the moment. You can even get a FRESH AS HAIL shirt!!

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

Unless you want a back and forth of 2 pages worth of ridiculous takes don’t waste your time.. He has already embarrassed himself enough with the previous few posts..

no Ari(Fools) Gold I haven't embarrassed myself at all. I guess I just ain't like the rest of you that are content with being mediocre. That is what is embarrassing.

[BB30]

"making the post season for a 4th consecutive year" is nothing to hang your hat on, when you get there and fall flat on your face. Howland is still a bad coach and will continue to fail to put forth a consistent team. I am tired of these "Wonder what team will show up tonight" games.

So I assume you were ready to fire Stans then seeing as he was terrible in the Tourney with teams that should have gone deep.

[BB30]

no Ari(Fools) Gold I haven't embarrassed myself at all. I guess I just ain't like the rest of you that are content with being mediocre. That is what is embarrassing.

Eh it's one thing to not be content with being mediocre it is another to live in la la land.

You apparently haven't followed basketball all that much until recently as we have never been a NC contender. We now have a top 15 coach and some talent. The guy took over possibly the worst Power 5 program in the country and in what 5 years had us competitive and making tournaments.

In my mind that is a hell of a turn around and I can't wait to see the improvement we make over the next 5

Lets start with this: Were you in favor of firing stans? If not, than your argument is dead in the water right there because he never achieved any more than Howland has.

[thf24]

Eh it's one thing to not be content with being mediocre it is another to live in la la land.

You apparently haven't followed basketball all that much until recently as we have never been a NC contender. We now have a top 15 coach and some talent. The guy took over possibly the worst Power 5 program in the country and in what 5 years had us competitive and making tournaments.

In my mind that is a hell of a turn around and I can't wait to see the improvement we make over the next 5

Lets start with this: Were you in favor of firing stans? If not, than your argument is dead in the water right there because he never achieved any more than Howland has.

I don't think it's even necessary to bring Stans into it specifically. For a relatively brief period in somewhat recent history, we made the tournament more years than most, and didn't do much once we got there outside of one fairy tale season. Big whoop; a ton of programs can claim that. Prior to that, we have very little to write home about. Yet all of a sudden, we shouldn't be satisfied with anything short of deep tournament runs most years and looking consistently great doing it? It's absurd. It's akin to the OM fanbase's delusion that they're an elite football program ever due to regain their former glory because they won some "national championships" prior to integration and not jack else.

[KentuckyDawg13]

Have you even watched the team this season? Your comments suggest you have not.

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

A BIG 5 game stretch coming up for us. We need to sweep the 3 home games and then figure out a way to split the 2 road games. @UT and @Bama will be tough but those are the games you have to win to be a tournament team. Going 4-1 through this stretch would give us a lot of momentum going down the home stretch and we'd also be sitting at 12-5 and 7-2 in the conference. We probably need 12-13 conference wins to feel good about our tourney chances. That would also get us the all important double bye in the SEC tournament.
You?re asking for us to be consistent. That won?t happen with a Howland coached team. See last nights game. But according to the ?ignorant? here this is our normal and we should accept it.

[BrunswickDawg]

It really is strange that some of our fans think we're some sort of sleeping giant at basketball.

I think that group mostly made up of fans who were lucky enough to have been on campus for the '95 & '96 seasons or the '02-'04 runs. I was there Fall '91-Dec. '94, and got to see us go 15-13, 13-16, 18-11, and missed '94-'95 because only 1 game took place before I graduated. I went to a pretty empty Hump for 3 years to see some less than mediocre ball. My friends who were there in '95 and '96 have a much higher expectation for MSU basketball than I do.

[klong-dog]

Hate to say it but yeah last night did us in. That was a must win. Terrible loss.

[smootness]

I'll let everyone in on a little secret - remove your expectations and simply enjoy success when it comes. I'm not saying it's the way to build a great program but it is absolutely the way to enjoy being a fan.

If you're pissed off at where our program is right now, then years like 2004 will be less enjoyable for you than for everyone else and the rest of the time you're going to be miserable.

[thf24]

I'll let everyone in on a little secret - remove your expectations and simply enjoy success when it comes. I'm not saying it's the way to build a great program but it is absolutely the way to enjoy being a fan.

If you're pissed off at where our program is right now, then years like 2004 will be less enjoyable for you than for everyone else and the rest of the time you're going to be miserable.

Words to live by.

If the only way you can derive any satisfaction from a recreational pastime like sports fandom is taking a consistently and aggressively pessimistic outlook (and projecting it onto others), you're probably better off tuning out and spending that time and mental energy elsewhere.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Hate to say it but yeah last night did us in. That was a must win. Terrible loss.

Not of you run off 5 or 6 wins in a row. Either way, we once again 17ed ourselves early on games we shoukd have won by 18 and lose cause we cannot
1. Reboubd
2. Break a press
3. Refuse to run a play coming off of a timeout we called
4. Not even getting a shot off.
5. Can't shoot free throws
6. Just allow the other team dictate both ends of the floor for 20 minutes.

Just take a pick. Same thing over and over again.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Not of you run off 5 or 6 wins in a row. Either way, we once again 17ed ourselves early on games we shoukd have won by 18 and lose cause we cannot
1. Reboubd
2. Break a press
3. Refuse to run a play coming off of a timeout we called
4. Not even getting a shot off.
5. Can't shoot free throws
6. Just allow the other team dictate both ends of the floor for 20 minutes.

Just take a pick. Same thing over and over again.

This is the one consistent knock I have against Howland. We're in Year 6 of this thing and we still look like a Jr. High Girls team trying to break a zone press. Which is odd because our press, the few times we use it, is pretty elite. We consistently get TO's out of it. I just don't understand how you can press as well as we can, yet we have no idea how to break one year after year. And the really sad thing is that none of the presses we face are very good. It just makes me think that Howland never really taught how to break it and once we had Lamar he just relied on him to break everything, which he did more times than not.