MSU/Texas A&M

[RocketDawg]

Surprised there's not a game thread already.

MSU up 25-13 with about 6:30 left in the first half. We're making a few 3's.

[Dawgcap]

Looking good. Lots of good play from starters and bench. Solid team

[Lord McBuckethead]

Looking good. Lots of good play from starters and bench. Solid team

We need to keep moving the ball. their soft trap they have been running is slowing us down too much. need to push the tempo when we cross the half court line.

[Lord McBuckethead]

we have entered that point in the first half where we go through 3 minutes without a quality offensive possession. Need to light a fire.

[Lord McBuckethead]

molinar just says, give it and get out of the way.

[msstate7]

Freshmen have gave us good mins tonight

[R2Dawg]

molinar just says, give it and get out of the way.

He may be best guard in SEC. I ain't seen one better.

[Lord McBuckethead]

good defensive stop, now time to get an open look for DJ on the three. Just screen and kick it to him. Let's go.

[msstate7]

Don't like a set play for post there

[Lord McBuckethead]

He may be best guard in SEC. I ain't seen one better.

Agreed. He has really had some consistant play so far this season.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Again. coming out of timeout, terrible set.

[Lord McBuckethead]

why even call a timeout.

[msstate7]

Again. coming out of timeout, terrible set.

It was set up perfect. The problem is howland set it up for wrong guy

[Lord McBuckethead]

up 10 at half. left a few out there on the floor, but good solid half. Keep them pumped Howland.

[Lord McBuckethead]

It was set up perfect. The problem is howland set it up for wrong guy

I wouldn't say it was perfect, but yes it was for the guy that missed the rim by 3 feet on his last shot and it was guarded very easily by the zone they switched to. No ball movement for the first 12 seconds of the clock.

All of that, we were up 10 and we definitely did not want to give them quality clock to work with off a miss.

[Dawgcap]

I agree. When we are starting that set at 10 I knew we were playing for a 3. I?d rather attack the basket and look for a basket or a foul on one of their bigs. Defenders seem to play for the block late in a half. Up 10 hurt them with a foul.
That?s nitpicking on my part. Was a very good half overall. This team has potential to be nasty. We are pretty deep and the the chemistry is so much better than last several years

[Irondawg]

Man I finally started watching and now we can’t stop them from scoring and after a good first few offensive possessions we’ve looked bad - maybe it’s time to turn the channel

[R2Dawg]

We need to work on the press. Has given us a little trouble several times this year.

[R2Dawg]

We can't hit anything now either.

[R2Dawg]

Mathews getting too many minutes now.

[msstate7]

They're killing us on boards after we killed them in 1st half.

[PGHBulldogBG]

Personally, I don?t think we are playing that great tonight. This 2nd half has been a disappointment. We just need to try and get out of here with a win. I don?t see us beating this team in college station

[Bully78]

We are letting them control the tempo of the game.

[chef dixon]

A couple frustrating things in this half: one we can't grab a defensive rebound and two we should be getting some easy buckets against that press. Still winning though at least

[BayouDawg]

The are the first ones on the floor for loose balls this half. Getting out worked right now.

[Irondawg]

Yeah there is way to much space in their press for us to not be attacking the basket more. We’ve missed two layups and every lose ball is going their way

[Dawgcap]

Watch the run we make after they get it to 2.

[Irondawg]

Tamu getting every break right now, we keep missing layups and I think they are shooting about 80% this half

[Irondawg]

This D has us confused on how we want to attack it

[R2Dawg]

We just seem to let teams back in it. We can't lose this game.

[BayouDawg]

Matthews at least hustles but it sure gets sideways quick when he takes more than 2 dribbles.

[RLM38654]

Lackadaisical. Get the ball to Molinar . Why is Smith running the offense??

[R2Dawg]

Feels like UK game all over again. We controlled that game all night till very end. Agree TAMU is getting all the bounces right now.

[parabrave]

Dam can we get all 3 of out starters to be hot at the same time. DJ is not having a good game.

[R2Dawg]

TAMU D execution has been excellent.

[Irondawg]

Tamu D is impressive

[R2Dawg]

DJ not having his best game

[R2Dawg]

Matthews does get after it. He can be Brandon V 2.0

[PGHBulldogBG]

Please do not take this as a ?fahr Howland? post, but if we don?t win tonight I don?t see Howland beating Williams much more. Buzz is a great coach and gets the most out of his talent. They will be a handful in the SEC after this year.

[Irondawg]

We aren’t getting any calls either

[Thick]

Howland can recruit, but he cannot coach. We turn into passive pansies when we see a weak as press designed to slow us down. Once we get it across mid court we continue to play into our opponents hands. It baffles the crap out of me, that we aren?t attacking the rim vs their press to get them out of the press! Jesus I get pissed just typing this!

[R2Dawg]

We aren’t getting any calls either

True the hack on our end is no call. On other end it is foul on us. Over and over.

[R2Dawg]

TAMU has one foul playing a press?

[R2Dawg]

We have no sense of shot clock tonight, horrible.

[BeardoMSU]

I've seen DJ pump fake on several open 3's now. Take the damn shot.

[R2Dawg]

Can we hang on for an ugly win. DJ can't hit broad side of barn

[R2Dawg]

If we can get to 55 we win

[Irondawg]

We are missing how to attack this press.

When they double a guard we are throwing a long cross court lateral pass. We have to make that pass toward the goal so the other guard receives on the run and we go 4 on 3.

Instead we are constantly letting them reset their D and making it difficult for us to get shots because we don’t move the ball quick enough

[R2Dawg]

Please do not take this as a ?fahr Howland? post, but if we don?t win tonight I don?t see Howland beating Williams much more. Buzz is a great coach and gets the most out of his talent. They will be a handful in the SEC after this year.

Buzz does appear to be a good coach but can he get the talent?

[R2Dawg]

That was not 10 sec

[R2Dawg]

Not a foul either.

[TimberBeast]

If we can get to 55 we win

We have 5 minutes to get those 5 points. I?m not seeing that happen.

[Irondawg]

Boy we are getting abused on both ends right now.

Once again you should just zone A&M because they can’t shoot but we are just playing right into their hands allowing ourselves to get best on penetration and then giving up a ton of offensive rebounds.

But this has been Howland basketball for a while now

[Dawgcap]

That was a block. Time to capitalize

[R2Dawg]

We finally get a call. That was block on Smith but I'll take it after a host of calls going against us.

[PGHBulldogBG]

[QUOTE=R2Dawg;1302747]Buzz does appear to be a good coach but can he get the talent?[/QUOTE

I think so. With his track record at Marquette and VT I think he can. If he gets a couple 4 stars and a good class or two, coaches like Howland, Calipari and White will have issues dealing with it. Frank Martin and Buzz Williams are probably the best X and O coaches in this conference, they just don?t have the players. Martin showed what he can do when he gets decent talent (a final 4).

[R2Dawg]

Sloppy the entire second half.

[Irondawg]

Our guards can’t handle this defensive pressure

[R2Dawg]

BS call on Iverson

[RocketDawg]

Just lost the lead with 2 minutes to go.

[Irondawg]

This is a textbook schooling of a less talented team that is fundamentally sound being a more athletic team that is sloppy and undisciplined

[msstate7]

Maybe we should take DJ out. He's killing us

[R2Dawg]

No business losing this game just like UK

[PGHBulldogBG]

Anyone who didn?t see this coming was blind

[R2Dawg]

Game over

[Irondawg]

Howland has done it to me again. I hated watching us play early in the season but since we were supposedly playing better I sat down to watch the 2nd half and I just don’t see much improvement against solid teams.

Granted am simply can’t miss this half but we’ve looked poor

[R2Dawg]

Anyone who didn?t see this coming was blind

I had a bad feeling but didn't want to believe it.

[TimberBeast]

I remember one time when I was at State many years ago I went to a buffet, I think it was Barnhills. I basically ate a ton of pot roast, gravy, potatoes, carrots and all. I went straight to the tennis courts afterwards to play. I could literally feel and hear the food swishing around in my stomach. It was miserable and I lasted about ten minutes. That?s what I think about when I watch our team move on the court.

[LC Dawg]

Damn. Stewart is struggling.

[parabrave]

Well someone went into the lockerroom and made great adjustments and someone didn't.

[BayouDawg]

Losing a game due to lack of effort is frustrating. It seems we have several of these each year.

[R2Dawg]

TAMU is a bottom third SEC team, post season just got pushed to SECT.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Wow. Doesn't look like we are going to ever attack the press with any sense of urgency. Might as well do what we keep doing. No one move until we have 7 sec on the shot clock.

[Irondawg]

Stewart 3-16 with 5 turnovers - rough day. He seems
to struggle with guys that put a lot of effort defensively against him. Molinar hasn’t been able to beat any of these guys off the dribble either

[parabrave]

Damn. Stewart is struggling.

Him and Johnson.

[msstate7]

Damn. Stewart is struggling.

3/14 shooting

[Irondawg]

I haven’t seen lack of effort tonight - just a poor plan of attack and execution

[BayouDawg]

I haven’t seen lack of effort tonight - just a poor plan of attack and execution

Lack of focus maybe would be a better way for me to put it.

[Irondawg]

We just might get bailed out by a stupid play by them if we can convert

[Lord McBuckethead]

Look guys, we have the players. I have no idea why we cannot keep the energy up. Why we cannot learn how to attack stuff like a soft press and a zone defense. List goes on and on.

At the end of the day, we need someone on this team to step up and take charge verbally on the floor.

[RocketDawg]

We have a chance here with the flagrant, so let's take advantage of it. Can go ahead possibly by 3.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Ole Miss 1-3-1 is going to turn us over.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Alright. 1 of 2. Need a clean look. We have 2 possessions left.

[Lord McBuckethead]

No one crashing the boards.

[RocketDawg]

Huge chance here. All we have to do is score.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Oh shit. We are going to take a timeout. I wonder if we can draw up a look for the first time this year?

[R2Dawg]

We played with no urgency. The press lulled us to sleep. Got to be coached out of that.

[PGHBulldogBG]

Ole Miss 1-3-1 is going to turn us over.

Kermit would be our coach had Stricklin not chosen Rick Ray over him. I?m not saying Kermit is some great savior, but he gets the most out of his players and I think we would?ve made a sweet 16 with him between 2012 and now

[Irondawg]

Of course if we hit a late ft we at least have ot but we messed that up.

Let’s see what we come up with on the last play

[Lord McBuckethead]

Got to go with a drive to the basket, like we should have been doing for the last 10 minutes. Draw the foul. Lets go.

[parabrave]

Well who gets our last shot>

[msstate7]

Stewart was mugged

[Irondawg]

Fantastic and the refs missed the travel

[Lord McBuckethead]

Another 17n loss. Didn't even get a shot off.

[R2Dawg]

Didn't even get a shot off. Why have DJ instead of Iverrson?

[parabrave]

Worst 2nd half

[Irondawg]

DJ can’t dribble against the press and why the hell wouldn’t you give the ball to Molinar.

Awful coaching by Howland

[msstate7]

Stewart was f'n mugged. Bs

[RocketDawg]

I think that meets the definition of a "bad loss".

[Lord McBuckethead]

That was embarrassing.

[R2Dawg]

And back to the bottom we go like lead in water. We can't get out of our own way.

[BayouDawg]

Howland may draw up the worst end of game plays I have ever seen

[PGHBulldogBG]

I think that meets the definition of a "bad loss".

So does Liberty and Dayton

[mparkerfd20]

Horrific loss. Forget postseason for these clowns

[CJDAWG85]

Howland continues to show how bad of a coach he really is... he and Stewart are to blame. A better coach with a lesser talented team completely out coached our overpaid loser coach

[R2Dawg]

DJ can’t dribble against the press and why the hell wouldn’t you give the ball to Molinar.

Awful coaching by Howland

DJ is too long an tall to handle ball on press. Molinar or Smith. Just bad coaching.

[Irondawg]

And I’m back to not wasting my time with men’s basketball. I want to like it but we are so putrid tactically and fundamentally I can’t stand it.

We play fine against teams coaches as well as us but any teams that put true effort on defense and pass well on offense give us fits and we lose 80% of those game regardless of talent advantage

[msstate7]

Fantastic and the refs missed the travel

2 guys got em with the body. He didn't travel... he got knocked around

[Joebob]

It's just a shame that we've got these kind of players but Howland can't figure out a way to win these kind of games.

[LC Dawg]

Stewart was mugged
I backed it up and rewatched it and it didn't look as bad as live. I think Stewart was begging for a foul because his confidence was shot.

[Irondawg]

DJ is too long an tall to handle ball on press. Molinar or Smith. Just bad coaching.

He’s no bigger than most nba guards so he should be fine. He’s just a mediocre ball handler

[State82]

This program is a complete shitshow.

[MoreCowbell]

This game was easy money to bet on if you have followed Howland teams here. If we have any sort of momentum you can almost guarantee a loss even in the most winnable games. It is baffling.

[LC Dawg]

As a Mississippi State fan I would like to personally thank the state of MS for never shutting down liquor stores this year.

[HoopsDawg]

Howland may draw up the worst end of game plays I have ever seen

He did the same at the end of the first half as well.

[maroonmania]

Howland continues to show how bad of a coach he really is... he and Stewart are to blame. A better coach with a lesser talented team completely out coached our overpaid loser coach

I said before we inbounded the ball that we would never even get a shot off. Howland's teams are terrible in close games because Howland is a pathetic offensive coach. Guess its fitting we lose off a missed free throw with our best FT shooter at the line.

[HoopsDawg]

DJ can?t dribble against the press and why the hell wouldn?t you give the ball to Molinar.

Awful coaching by Howland

Switch coaches for this game and we win by 15. Awful job by Howland tonight. And DJ might have pulled a Tony from Blue Chips.

[PGHBulldogBG]

This game was easy money to bet on if you have followed Howland teams here. If we have any sort of momentum you can almost guarantee a loss even in the most winnable games. It is baffling.

Yes I agree. I hate betting against us but this was an obvious loss or last possession win. I appreciate Howland making us competitive again, but it?s time to move on. Mississippi State is successful when we get coaches that do more with less. We don?t do well with good recruiters and bad to ok game X and O coaches

[CJDAWG85]

I’ve said it for years... Howland is horrible. We hired a recruiter who runs zero form of offense.

[TimberBeast]

Yes I agree. I hate betting against us but this was an obvious loss or last possession win. I appreciate Howland making us competitive again, but it?s time to move on. Mississippi State is successful when we get coaches that do more with less. We don?t do well with good recruiters and bad to ok game X and O coaches

Competitive at what?

[msstate7]

Switch coaches for this game and we win by 15. Awful job by Howland tonight. And DJ might have pulled a Tony from Blue Chips.

Howland drew up some bad plays, but Stewart was flat out horrible tonight. We can't win sec games with him playing like shit. Check his shooting in both of our sec losses.

[Percho]

We lost the game from the get go because we would not attack the trap.

We helped the other coach play his game.

[PGHBulldogBG]

Competitive at what?

I mean compared to Ray where we won like 3 or 4 conference games a year, but I get your point

[Percho]

Should have won by + 25.

[Bothrops]

Don't get emotionally invested with MSU MBK. There's no consistency, ever.

[PGHBulldogBG]

Tonight is the exact reasons fans don?t show up in non covid years. It?s the same thing over and over

[HoopsDawg]

Howland drew up some bad plays, but Stewart was flat out horrible tonight. We can't win sec games with him playing like shit. Check his shooting in both of our sec losses.

it wasn't just the end of the half and end of the game plays. we should be pushing the ball after every miss. we are horrible in the half court. he should have instructed Molinar to attack more. We should have been getting easy buckets off their trap defense. we played exactly the way A&M wanted us to play and that was literally their only chance to win. And he probably should have pulled DJ. DJ was passing up open shooters to brick mid-range jumpers.

[Irondawg]

All of what hoops said is correct , especially the tempo. Every year he talks about how he wants to run and then we never do it.

There was a little luck as for the first 10 min of the second half every loose ball bounced their way and we missed 3-4 wide open layups but the last 10 minutes our offense was flat garbage

[parabrave]

2 things that killed us in the 2nd half - rebounding and Turnovers.

[Cooterpoot]

You guys will learn one day

[msstate7]

2 things that killed us in the 2nd half - rebounding and Turnovers.

We dominated in 1st half in rebounding. The 2nd half really favored them, but I swear they were getting some just crazy bounces esp to start the 2nd half.

[Dawgcap]

I?ve seen it many times before but like hoops said we had no play calls and DJ should of sat last 5 minutes. That?s a straight easy 7 point win playing mediocre.

[BeardoMSU]

Tonight is the exact reasons fans don?t show up in non covid years. It?s the same thing over and over

I agree it's been hard to get the fans back after Rick Ray nuked our program, but this whole excuse of not showing up because Ben's teams are inconsistent is rich...

Stans lost a **** load of games just like this, in worse ways, and in moments that sent us from the bubble straight to the NIT....with oodles of talent and experience, no less. Not to mention, these "golden years" of MSU basketball so many of us cling to actually had plenty of fans in the stands to give us/Stans a decent home court advantage (which the lack there of recently/during covid can't be overstated). In a semi-filled Hump, we likely win this game. Fans absolutely have an impact on the game.

Btw, PGH, this rant isn't directed at you, per se, just the overall ideas behind lack of fan buy in.

This team is still super young with, outside of Ado, a severe lack of big time game experience. The talent is there, but they're working through it. One thing I feel good about is the lack of drama/headcases on this squad (i.e., a Lamar Peters type). I just hope everyone comes back for another year.

[msstate7]

I agree it's been hard to get the fans back after Rick Ray nuked our program, but this whole excuse of not showing up because Ben's teams are inconsistent is rich...

Stans lost a **** load of games just like this, in worse ways, and in moments that sent us from the bubble straight to the NIT....with oodles of talent and experience, no less. Not to mention, these "golden years" of MSU basketball so many of us cling to actually had plenty of fans in the stands to give us/Stans a decent home court advantage (which the lack there of recently/during covid can't be overstated). In a semi-filled Hump, we likely win this game. Fans absolutely have an impact on the game.

Btw, PGH, this rant isn't directed at you, per se, just the overall ideas behind lack of fan buy in.

This team is still super young with, outside of Ado, a severe lack of big time game experience. The talent is there, but they're working through it. One thing I feel good about is the lack of drama/headcases on this squad (i.e., a Lamar Peters type). I just hope everyone comes back for another year.

Well games like tonight are good for us keeping Molinar and Stewart together 1 more year haha

[TimberBeast]

I agree it's been hard to get the fans back after Rick Ray nuked our program, but this whole excuse of not showing up because Ben's teams are inconsistent is rich...

Stans lost a **** load of games just like this, in worse ways, and in moments that sent us from the bubble straight to the NIT....with oodles of talent and experience, no less. Not to mention, these "golden years" of MSU basketball so many of us cling to actually had plenty of fans in the stands to give us/Stans a decent home court advantage (which the lack there of recently/during covid can't be overstated). In a semi-filled Hump, we likely win this game. Fans absolutely have an impact on the game.

Btw, PGH, this rant isn't directed at you, per se, just the overall ideas behind lack of fan buy in.

This team is still super young with, outside of Ado, a severe lack of big time game experience. The talent is there, but they're working through it. One thing I feel good about is the lack of drama/headcases on this squad (i.e., a Lamar Peters type). I just hope everyone comes back for another year.

That?s way too much to type about a bad team losing a bad game. We had a couple good games, sucked us fools back in, and then this. Same shit different day.

[BeardoMSU]

Well games like tonight are good for us keeping Molinar and Stewart together 1 more year haha

The plan is coming together, lol.

[BeardoMSU]

That?s way too much to type about a bad team losing a bad game. We had a couple good games, sucked us fools back in, and then this. Same shit different day.

I'm just saying that outside of 1996 and few seasons in the 60's, this has pretty much been who we are.

[BeardoMSU]

That?s way too much to type about a bad team losing a bad game. We had a couple good games, sucked us fools back in, and then this. Same shit different day.

But I agree, we could've and should've won this game a dozen different ways.

[msstate7]

I'm just saying that outside of 1996 and few seasons in the 60's, this has pretty much been who we are.

We're a young, bubble type team. This is what young, bubble type teams do... they play well and beat teams they probably shouldn't like mizzou, and then play bad and lose to teams they probably shouldn't like aTm. Tonight was a bad loss, but it shouldn't be too unexpected if we genuinely realize what type of team we are.

[BeardoMSU]

We're a young, bubble type team. This is what young, bubble type teams do... they play well and beat teams they probably shouldn't like mizzou, and then play bad and lose to teams they probably shouldn't like aTm. Tonight was a bad loss, but it shouldn't be too unexpected if we genuinely realize what type of team we are.

Exactly.

[msstate7]

On to Florida. This will be a tough, but winnable game. I expect Stewart to be much better coming off a terrible game, which should give us a good shot.

[TimberBeast]

We're a young, bubble type team. This is what young, bubble type teams do... they play well and beat teams they probably shouldn't like mizzou, and then play bad and lose to teams they probably shouldn't like aTm. Tonight was a bad loss, but it shouldn't be too unexpected if we genuinely realize what type of team we are.

That?s called a college basketball team. When are we going to not be that?

[msstate7]

That?s called a college basketball team. When are we going to not be that?

If Molinar, t. Smith, and Stewart are all here next season, we should be more than a bubble type team. Get those guys back, and there shouldn't be hiccups like this.

[Captain Falcon]

We're a young, bubble type team. This is what young, bubble type teams do... they play well and beat teams they probably shouldn't like mizzou, and then play bad and lose to teams they probably shouldn't like aTm. Tonight was a bad loss, but it shouldn't be too unexpected if we genuinely realize what type of team we are.

I think this is a very good point, and I did not have high expectations for this team before the year. Frankly we are still better than I expected.

The issue is that it seems like a continuation of the last several years for many of our fans. A night like tonight is nothing new under Howland. Maybe it’s not fair to blame this specific team for the sins of teams that came before them. But the common thread is the coach and that’s where a lot of the frustrations lie.

The trend of us totally lacking the ability to sustain momentum for several years running is maddening as heck to our fans who so badly want this to be like the good ole days. I don’t think most people care that this is an inexperienced team, there has been a stigma attached to this program for years and a loss like this one justifies many of those pre-conceived notions.

[BeardoMSU]

That?s called a college basketball team. When are we going to not be that?

Also, our best player went 3-14 from the field. That alone can kill even great teams in a single game.

[TimberBeast]

If Molinar, t. Smith, and Stewart are all here next season, we should be more than a bubble type team. Get those guys back, and there shouldn't be hiccups like this.

They will be here, and it will not make a damn bit of difference. We have issues.

[Percho]

it wasn't just the end of the half and end of the game plays. we should be pushing the ball after every miss. we are horrible in the half court. he should have instructed Molinar to attack more. We should have been getting easy buckets off their trap defense. we played exactly the way A&M wanted us to play and that was literally their only chance to win. And he probably should have pulled DJ. DJ was passing up open shooters to brick mid-range jumpers.

Exactly what I was implying in my two post. Should have blown them off the floor.

[99jc]

guys as a former ranter and raver over every MSU loss there is one thing i have learned this past year....in the stream of time sports are nothing to get really upset about. HAIL STATE!

[Extendedcab]

Exactly what I was implying in my two post. Should have blown them off the floor.


What a disappointing game! Hard to watch us blow a 12-15 point lead!

[Cooterpoot]

I gave up on basketball when the wheels fell off for Stans and Ray crashed the bus. Got excited about Howland, but he's not changing anything and has been totally inconsistent. But who really thought we would be good this year? I didn't. We've shown flashes but that's been the norm since Howland arrived.

[Ari Gold]

Tough and bad loss .. needed that game , let’s soo how this young team bounces back
Have to pick up one on the road now to off set that
I knew Texas AM game would be ugly, all of their games are like that.. ugly

[MoreCowbell]

I'm just saying that outside of 1996 and few seasons in the 60's, this has pretty much been who we are.

We were a top 3/4 SEC program 2000-2010

[R2Dawg]

We were a top 3/4 SEC program 2000-2010

Won SEC in 91 too. Yes we aren't UK or UF but we have been a very good program for a lot of years.

[R2Dawg]

Also, our best player went 3-14 from the field. That alone can kill even great teams in a single game.

DJ hits one of those missed layups or an easy jumper he missed we win and no one thinks anything. It was a terrible loss just like UK.

I hope DJ doesn't go mental after last night. I could see him overthinking his shooting late in second. Never a good thing having played competitive basketball a lot in my younger years. You have to shoot with confidence, be loose, and not thinking. He was thinking as he was shooting late in 2nd half.

[BeardoMSU]

We were a top 3/4 SEC program 2000-2010

Hmm...many of those "Western Division" championships sorta gloss over the fact we were extremely mediocre during that stretch, so not sure the "top 3 or 4" really holds up factually. For example, for that stretch only the 01-02, 03-04, and 07-08 seasons did we finish with double digit conference wins. A whole bunch of 9-7 records....Good enough to "win" in the historically bad SEC West during that stretch, but it doesn't mean we were great. Consistent, perhaps.

[BeardoMSU]

Won SEC in 91 too. Yes we aren't UK or UF but we have been a very good program for a lot of years.

And Howland has won at least 20 games 3 years in a row, and had us in position last year to make the dance two years in a row had it not been for COVID.

[thf24]

We were a top 3/4 SEC program 2000-2010

Playing a schedule weighted by an incredibly weak division during that period that no longer exists.


Won SEC in 91 too. Yes we aren't UK or UF but we have been a very good program for a lot of years.

We did, which was only good for a 5 seed in the NCAA, and we got blown out in the first round.

Being one of the better teams in the SEC hasn't meant a whole lot historically nearly as often as it has for football. All time, per Wikipedia, we rank tied for 97th in NCAA tournament appearances and tied for 80th for tournament wins. That's better than many in the grand scheme of things (though keep in mind how diluted the bottom of the list is by those who weren't or haven't been in the running nearly as long), but not exactly what I'd call "very good" or worthy of high expectations year in and year out that some seem to believe we're entitled to.

[BeardoMSU]

Playing a schedule weighted by an incredibly weak division during that period that no longer exists.



We did, which was only good for a 5 seed in the NCAA, and we got blown out in the first round.

Being one of the better teams in the SEC hasn't meant a whole lot historically nearly as often as it has for football. All time, per Wikipedia, we rank tied for 97th in NCAA tournament appearances and tied for 80th for tournament wins. That's better than many in the grand scheme of things (though keep in mind how diluted the bottom of the list is by those who weren't or haven't been in the running nearly as long), but not exactly what I'd call "very good" or worthy of high expectations year in and year out that some seem to believe we're entitled to.

This.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/PiQwIm7Ro981DZHpC3/giphy.gif