This basketball team is a year away

[Coach34]

We are good enough to play with anybody we play. We arent good enough to win all the close games due to youth and FT shooting.

This group really needs to stay together another season. Could really make a run next Spring

[Saltydog]

Yeah but we could very well be missing both guards next year. Not sure if Molinar and Stewart return. They should be we've had a ton of guys leave early what would've benefited from another year.

[PGHBulldogBG]

We are a year away from the NIT

[msugolf]

No chance. Not in this discombobulated offensive system

[BayouDawg]

I was of this line of thinking until the past 2 weeks. We have gotten worse since then. Next year will just be more of the same.we will win a few more games but in the end we will blow some crap games that cost us a spot in the tournament.

[ZedFedder]

What about last year? Last year’s team was way more talented than what next years team will be and they wouldn’t have made the tourney. We need new leadership.

[BayouDawg]

Also when you have this many losses due to missed throws and nothing gets fixed. Not a good sign going forward.

[bobcat91]

Until we ditch Howland and get a guy who doesn't run a 1950s Hoosier offense, we are always going to be a year away. Fire Howland

[tcdog70]

We don’t value possession. Cut out half the turnovers and make 70% of free throws and we win lots of games. Post should play more

[Dawsonmsu]

Our half court offense is something from the dark ages!

[Lord McBuckethead]

What about last year? Last year’s team was way more talented than what next years team will be and they wouldn’t have made the tourney. We need new leadership.

We would have made the tourney last year.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Our half court offense is something from the dark ages!

It is terrible. Really terrible. Ado adds literally nothing to the offense. We don't even run a pick and roll with him or any other big. Mathews has to be shooting less than 8% from the field. I am sure he is 0-18 on 3 pters this season. I believe he also shoots less than 10% from the FT line. Like, I bet I can find the biggest fattest loser in art appreciation that can shoot better than 10% from the line.
. So we need to fully change our entire offensive scheme, system, tactics, and energy.

Defense is pretty good.

[Cooterpoot]

Washed up coach + don't give a shit school = meh

[maroonmania]

Until we ditch Howland and get a guy who doesn't run a 1950s Hoosier offense, we are always going to be a year away. Fire Howland

While I agree with this I'm not asking to fire Howland, I'm just totally apathetic about the situation. Howland is probably an above average recruiter but at this stage of his career he is a terrible game coach. Has no clue on offense, especially if the other team tries that weird thing called a zone. And on the other end we refuse to EVER play that weird thing called a zone ourselves so we never do anything to throw the other team out of rhythm. We have to be one of the easiest teams in the country to prepare for because we just play bare bones basketball and that is all. We also don't press except maybe as a last resort when we are being blown out and we have all sorts of trouble breaking a press or even inbounding the ball against a press. Didn't watch a second of the game tonight because I'm just ready for basketball to be over and don't care anymore. Yes, we will likely be a little better next year just because of experience but we will still underperform just like we did last year when we had 2 NBA draft picks plus 2 experienced guards (NW and Carter) on the team and still were on the wrong side of the NCAA bubble going into the SEC tournament.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Our half court offense is something from the dark ages!

It is terrible. Really terrible. Ado adds literally nothing to the offense. We don't even run a pick and roll with him or any other big. Mathews has to be shooting less than 8% from the field. I am sure he is 0-18 on 3 pters this season. I believe he also shoots less than 10% from the FT line. Like, I bet I can find the biggest fattest loser in art appreciation that can shoot better than 10% from the line.
. So we need to fully change our entire offensive scheme, system, tactics, and energy.

Defense is pretty good. Better the last two games.

[Lord McBuckethead]

And I love all of our players. Just what we are doing is not going to work.

[Cooterpoot]

I'd put Stans kid on the floor before a kid that's 4-22 on the FT line.

[Coach34]

Holy shirts and pants. Many of this crew defended Stands over the years. Wow

Our team is young and inexperienced and that is why it’s makes such dumb mistakes. Veteran college players typically outplay Frshmens. It is what it is

[PGHBulldogBG]

Stans 73 Oats 71 in Tuscaloosa

[Coach34]

Stands hasn’t been in the NCAA’s since a lucky SECTourney run thru a weak SEC in 2009

[Dawgcap]

We are good enough to play with anybody we play. We arent good enough to win all the close games due to youth and FT shooting.

This group really needs to stay together another season. Could really make a run next Spring

Totally agree. We are young in a game where maturity matters. My biggest problem is Howland has to sit guys if they are disengaged. I felt he did that first half sitting guys down 15-4 and bench helped get us back in it.
We are so weak around the 3 point line but when we wanna play D we are nasty. We have to endure the poor free throw shooting, poor decisions due to youth but I saw hope that Howland at least sat guys tonight at key moments for lack of effort.

[Dawgcap]

Totally agree. We are young in a game where maturity matters. My biggest problem is Howland has to sit guys if they are disengaged. I felt he did that first half sitting guys down 15-4 and bench helped get us back in it.
We are so weak around the 3 point line but when we wanna play D we are nasty. We have to endure the poor free throw shooting, poor decisions due to youth but I saw hope that Howland at least sat guys tonight at key moments for lack of effort.
Actually I mean he finally figured out to sit guys when they are disengaged. He does this earlier in the season we don?t see these issues now. We are young but you can be young and battle. This team doesn?t always and has cost us 3 games. Howland is experienced and I?m a bit disappointed he didn?t emphasize this by using his best motivation earlier in the year. Yep the bench for a while

[Cowbell]

Holy shirts and pants. Many of this crew defended Stands over the years. Wow

Our team is young and inexperienced and that is why it?s makes such dumb mistakes. Veteran college players typically outplay Frshmens. It is what it is

What Howland coached team/players make you think we are going to see great improvement from this year to next. I have seen talent increase but not teams progressively get better with experience like they should. Every team he has had here has suffered from lack of discipline on the court and the ability to mature like they should.

[msugolf]

What Howland coached team/players make you think we are going to see great improvement from this year to next. I have seen talent increase but not teams progressively get better with experience like they should. Every team he has had here has suffered from lack of discipline on the court and the ability to mature like they should.

I'll say it again. This coming from former players who've seen us practice. We practice soft and there's no accountability for on court discipline or mistakes.

[Dawgcap]

I'll say it again. This coming from former players who've seen us practice. We practice soft and there's no accountability for on court discipline or mistakes.

By the play on the court I see this but while late I saw a coach sitting guys for being soft tonight. I?m not defending anything but I?m gonna trust he?s adapting to a game that I?ve never seen before. College basketball is at a crossroads for coaches. Big time athletes or ball players with less skills with heart. Look at the Top 25. No dominant teams. The game has changed. I hope Howland sitting a few tonight was a sign to push for players to play the game hard

[Todd4State]

I'll say it again. This coming from former players who've seen us practice. We practice soft and there's no accountability for on court discipline or mistakes.

MSU is the best at finding coaches that allow soft practice and lack player accountability.

It's actually uncanny.

[99jc]

We are good enough to play with anybody we play. We arent good enough to win all the close games due to youth and FT shooting.

This group really needs to stay together another season. Could really make a run next Spring

Really C34......you pumping sunshine on this BB team! Are you saying Stans is coming back?

[msbulldog]

We are good enough to play with anybody we play. We arent good enough to win all the close games due to youth and FT shooting.

This group really needs to stay together another season. Could really make a run next Spring

I agree Coach.

[Ari Gold]

Holy shirts and pants. Many of this crew defended Stands over the years. Wow

Our team is young and inexperienced and that is why it?s makes such dumb mistakes. Veteran college players typically outplay Frshmens. It is what it is

Stands first 5 years SEC 39-41 ... hired coming off a final 4 and sweet 16
Howland first 5 years SEC 43-47 .. hired coming off the worse teams since the Bob Boyd era

Ok lets fire him..
Cohen does the hiring.. and more than likely Smith , Molinar, Stewart are gone.. good luck the next 3-4 years ...
What Big time coach comes to school with ZERO basketball history who just fired a coach that has CBH resume , that won 12 games in the sec the previous year , lost 80% of its scoring , put 2 players in the league and is very competitive in 2020-2021 covid year..
With little or no off the court issues. Basically zero NCAA snooping around..
Still getting nba level talent and developing 3star and 4star talent ( molinar and DJ ) into nba prospects as sophomores.

And we would probably offer lower third of league money to come here.. good luck getting a credible coach..
rick ray 2.0

Case closed.. there is no need to officially lock this thread now.. I just locked it

[bobcat91]

Stands first 5 years SEC 39-41 ... hired coming off a final 4 and sweet 16
Howland first 5 years SEC 43-47 .. hired coming off the worse teams since the Bob Boyd era

Ok lets fire him..
Cohen does the hiring.. and more than likely Smith , Molinar, Stewart are gone.. good luck the next 3-4 years ...
What Big time coach comes to school with ZERO basketball history who just fired a coach that has CBH resume , that won 12 games in the sec the previous year , lost 80% of its scoring , put 2 players in the league and is very competitive in 2020-2021 covid year..
With little or no off the court issues. Basically zero NCAA snooping around..
Still getting nba level talent and developing 3star and 4star talent ( molinar and DJ ) into nba prospects as sophomores.

And we would probably offer lower third of league money to come here.. good luck getting a credible coach..
rick ray 2.0

Case closed.. there is no need to officially lock this thread now.. I just locked it

Then just admit we don't give a damn about basketball and have zero expectations. And Coach keeps talking about Stans who has been gone for years. Stop. This is all about having standards or not. If we don't set making the tourney as a standard just admit it and move on. And from the responses, we mainly have fans who don't care about the tourney and look at this program as 6 year old soccer where results don't matter. I expect more

[Ari Gold]

Then just admit we don't give a damn about basketball and have zero expectations. And Coach keeps talking about Stans who has been gone for years. Stop. This is all about having standards or not. If we don't set making the tourney as a standard just admit it and move on. And from the responses, we mainly have fans who don't care about the tourney and look at this program as 6 year old soccer where results don't matter. I expect more
Went 25-12 in year 3 NIT semis.. 25 and ****ing 12 .. just 3 years after RR.. think about that
Went to the tourney in 2019 year 4 with a 23-11 record
Went 11-7 highest finish since the new format in SEC and still had great chance to go in 2020.. IMO we should have been a lock but we aren’t a blue blood
Was suppose to be a down year and this team is very competitive .. and who’s to say can’t win the sec tourney .. ( that’s the only way we got in one year under Stands)
Next year ( if the core guys stay) is the year if we don’t make a little noise the Fire Ben crew can come out and be loud , I might be in there with them ..

I’m not saying CBH is a top 10 coach and we can’t do better. But if you **** up that hire it’s rick ray 2.0 all over again and I doubt we have Gregg Byrne come to our rescue again to clean it up.

Yes basketball has changed since the early to mid 2000s.. but it also a lot tougher to get in the big dance than it was back then and the SEC isn’t Near as top heavy , much more competitive top to bottom last few years

The NCAA is always and should always be the ultimate goal...
it took the Great One four years to get there
It took Ben four years to get there
It took Richard Williams 5 years to get there and 9 to get to sweet 16

And yes we should be more all in with basketball as a fan base and as an university..
We were when RS was here... and his results mirror then ones now , and CBH is doing it with half the support and tougher competition top to bottom..

[Ari Gold]

Stans 73 Oats 71 in Tuscaloosa

Western Kentucky beats Bama
La tech beats Wky
MSU beats La tech
Ole miss beat MSU
Bama beats Ole miss

I could go on and on...

[Percho]

Holy shirts and pants. Many of this crew defended Stands over the years. Wow

Our team is young and inexperienced and that is why it?s makes such dumb mistakes. Veteran college players typically outplay Frshmens. It is what it is

IMHO that is what is wrong with College basketball and why there is not much interest. It's just about always, inexperienced and is played that way.

[BrunswickDawg]

Went 25-12 in year 3 NIT semis.. 25 and ****ing 12 .. just 3 years after RR.. think about that
Went to the tourney in 2019 year 4 with a 23-11 record
Went 11-7 highest finish since the new format in SEC and still had great chance to go in 2020.. IMO we should have been a lock but we aren’t a blue blood
Was suppose to be a down year and this team is very competitive .. and who’s to say can’t win the sec tourney .. ( that’s the only way we got in one year under Stands)
Next year ( if the core guys stay) is the year if we don’t make a little noise the Fire Ben crew can come out and be loud , I might be in there with them ..

I’m not saying CBH is a top 10 coach and we can’t do better. But if you **** up that hire it’s rick ray 2.0 all over again and I doubt we have Gregg Byrne come to our rescue again to clean it up.

Yes basketball has changed since the early to mid 2000s.. but it also a lot tougher to get in the big dance than it was back then and the SEC isn’t Near as top heavy , much more competitive top to bottom last few years

The NCAA is always and should always be the ultimate goal...
it took the Great One four years to get there
It took Ben four years to get there
It took Richard Williams 5 years to get there and 9 to get to sweet 16

And yes we should be more all in with basketball as a fan base and as an university..
We were when RS was here... and his results mirror then ones now , and CBH is doing it with half the support and tougher competition top to bottom..

Add to this - Williams made ZERO appearances in years 6-8. so, it's not like he was establishing a perennial post season team.

[BiscuitEater]

Could really make a run next Spring

Recall reading the same exact post last year! Wasn't Coach but was on this board. Few thought Woodard would leave when he did.

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

We are good enough to play with anybody we play. We arent good enough to win all the close games due to youth and FT shooting.

This group really needs to stay together another season. Could really make a run next Spring

We've been a year away ever since Howland's been here. smh

[Extendedcab]

Who know, I don't disagree with most of you guys as you are more knowledgeable about the Xs an Os of sports then I am but as a rabid MSU fan, I can not tell you how sick and tired I am of hearing how young we are and that next year is the year. I have heard that about MSU sports teams all my life!

Can we, for the love of GOD, find another excuse for a change!:confused:

[BiscuitEater]

Our team is young and inexperienced and that is why it’s makes such dumb mistakes.

College BB has changed! ALL teams are 'young'! Players that are good leave after one year; two years at best. Players that used to stick around and improve, now hit the portal!

[Ari Gold]

College BB has changed! ALL teams are 'young'! Players that are good leave after one year; two years at best. Players that used to stick around and improve, now hit the portal!


But having those one or 2 upperclassmen , who are both NBA talent is. A huge deal
Example Bama
Herb and Petty both would have gotten drafted last year , but came back
Take those 2 guys off that team it’s a whole different looking Bama team
Leading scorer Petty
Best all around player Herb ( might be sec POY) and prob first rounder

Then mix in a 5 star freshman , and 2 4 star sophomores that don’t have to carry the load every night and your result is a 2 or 3 seed in the ncaa tourney as of now .

Just like this is would have been a different looking state team with Woodard back .. which prob ever one on our staff thought would be here for 3 years when we signed him..
But he isn’t and that’s the hand you are dealt .

So next year with a Jr combo of Iverson and Dj
With Smith and Cameron getting that freshman year out of the way ( look at the improvement DJ and Iverson made after year one )
And Tulo with another year. Post starting to show promise
Maybe pic up a grad transfer ( would love for it to be a knock down shooter or a extend 4 with range) maybe one the freshman this year make that step and get those minutes
Maybe we have a incoming freshman ready for some minutes

Next year could be special if they return.. And this year ain’t over yet .. outside of Bama ( who we played well) There isn’t much separation ... lsu, mizzu, tenn are prob in, a handful of bubble teams, and some that could make a run..


And with your reasoning, what coach could we get to come here that would pull the players CBH and the staff do.. ?
We are finally putting guys in the league..
You keep doing that players will come

[Coach34]

Recall reading the same exact post last year! Wasn't Coach but was on this board. Few thought Woodard would leave when he did.

Wooard leaving was a killer. If he is on this team- we are a much better ballclub that likely closes out these games we have been narrowly dropping

[NWADAWG]

We are good enough to play with anybody we play. We arent good enough to win all the close games due to youth and FT shooting.

This group really needs to stay together another season. Could really make a run next Spring

A year away from me watching again? How did you know?

[Ari Gold]

A year away from me watching again? How did you know?

That’s the beauty of it.. you don’t have to watch...
just make sure you aren’t watching if we make a run and have a good year...

[parabrave]

No chance. Not in this discombobulated offensive system

Ditto. Plus the kids are not getting any better.

[Tripp McNeely]

Ditto. Plus the kids are not getting any better.

I love declarative statements like this that are: 1. Obviously opinions and; 2. Are just flat-out wrong!!

You really don?t think Molinar and Stewart (our best 2 players) really arent MUCH better than they were last year??? Really???

[R2Dawg]

We are good enough to play with anybody we play. We arent good enough to win all the close games due to youth and FT shooting.

This group really needs to stay together another season. Could really make a run next Spring

I tend to agree. Outside of Ado, all our top contributors are fresh or soph and all learning to play together or in different roles. Early season surprised performance gave us all increased expectations. I still like how the team plays, culture, and attitude which we haven't had in a while.

Yes we have room to improve in some execution and coaching areas but so does every team. This group can make a run next year.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Look, Are we fun to watch at times? YES. Are we frustrating to watch at times? ABSOLUTELY. Is our offense concerning at times? YES. Do we play outstanding defense? MOST OF THE TIME. Can we shoot free throws consistently? MOST DEFINITELY NOT. Most said it before the year started that this was a young team and we were going to have some growing pains this year. Right now we are having those growing pains. We tend to play up or down to our competition like most young teams do. I can tell you this though, the talent is there. And look, this team gives consistent effort, which is something we haven't seen from most Howland/Ray/Stans teams. I think as the season continues to progress we will continue to get more consistent.

Bottom Line: This is a team that will make noise next year and has a chance to be one of the best Mississippi State teams ever. Howland deserves to be apart of that. Let him have next year and maybe the year after and he'll be ready to retire and you look a heck of a lot more attractive than you would firing a guy during a pandemic that's coming off back to back 20 win seasons and probably back to back tourney appearances if it wasn't for the tourney being cancelled.

[BiscuitEater]

But having those one or 2 upperclassmen , who are both NBA talent is. A huge deal
Example Bama

Next year could be special if they return..

'IFs' and 'BUTs' Another example. ... MSU, three 'leaders' ... Q, Perry & Woodard LEAVE; a JR and two SOs jump!! I know ... 'if' they return!!

It's always ... next year!

[Ari Gold]

'IFs' and 'BUTs' Another example. ... MSU, three 'leaders' ... Q, Perry & Woodard LEAVE; a JR and two SOs jump!! I know ... 'if' they return!!

It's always ... next year!

Just made a point that Bama had 2 guys come back
And it makes a huge difference
Everyone knew Perry was going Woodard was a little bit I’d a surprise

[Ari Gold]

Ditto. Plus the kids are not getting any better.

This says it all..
so dumb..

[BiscuitEater]

Just made a point that Bama had 2 guys come back
And it makes a huge difference
Everyone knew Perry was going Woodard was a little bit I’d a surprise

So, any bets this team comes back next year? You seem confident they will! Me, not so much.

[BiscuitEater]

Duh.. we had the three best underclass ALL leave last year and two were Sophomores!

[parabrave]

I love declarative statements like this that are: 1. Obviously opinions and; 2. Are just flat-out wrong!!

You really don?t think Molinar and Stewart (our best 2 players) really arent MUCH better than they were last year??? Really???

Of course they're better than last year/ But I'm talking about this year. Look at IM. He is still cold as ice in the 1st half and comes out hot at the beginning of the 2nd/ he is now at 44% . DJ is at 39% FG. Tulu has all but disappeared the last few games getting in early foul trouble.

[maroonmania]

Yes we will be somewhat better next year just because we should have more experience at the guard position. But 80-90% of all college basketball games are decided in the last 5 minutes of a game. I would almost say in fact that, in the majority of games, the first 35 minutes are almost a waste of time unless you let yourself get totally blown out or you blow someone out. So until Howland and staff start doing a WAY better job of coaching their team at the end of games, where in game coaching REALLY counts, especially on the offensive end of the court, we will never live up to our potential under this staff. And this part of Howland's coaching has been pretty rough with every team he has had at MSU. We just win very few games that come down to the very end with this staff because our players don't play smart or understand game situations at the end. Heck, for most end of game situations, the Stansbury stall was actually way more effective than what we get now under Howland. I'm done watching for this year because I know what is going to happen at the end of most every game and don't care to get constantly gut punched game after game. But yes, when the slate gets wiped clean, and we get a bit more experienced with these players, I will be back watching next year to see if we can make some noise. This year is likely gone for any type post-season play anyway, probably even for the NIT. And even in saying all of that, I reiterate that I am not calling for Howland's job because our basketball coaching job is just not very attractive because we, as a fanbase, just don't support basketball very well. Its really our 3rd sport, and with what the women had been doing under Vic, had pretty much slipped to 4th. NMP is taking care of that for us though.

[Ari Gold]

Yes we will be somewhat better next year just because we should have more experience at the guard position. But 80-90% of all college basketball games are decided in the last 5 minutes of a game. I would almost say in fact that, in the majority of games, the first 35 minutes are almost a waste of time unless you let yourself get totally blown out or you blow someone out. So until Howland and staff start doing a WAY better job of coaching their team at the end of games, where in game coaching REALLY counts, especially on the offensive end of the court, we will never live up to our potential under this staff. And this part of Howland's coaching has been pretty rough with every team he has had at MSU. We just win very few games that come down to the very end with this staff because our players don't play smart or understand game situations at the end. Heck, for most end of game situations, the Stansbury stall was actually way more effective than what we get now under Howland. I'm done watching for this year because I know what is going to happen at the end of most every game and don't care to get constantly gut punched game after game. But yes, when the slate gets wiped clean, and we get a bit more experienced with these players, I will be back watching next year to see if we can make some noise. This year is likely gone for any type post-season play anyway, probably even for the NIT. And even in saying all of that, I reiterate that I am not calling for Howland's job because our basketball coaching job is just not very attractive because we, as a fanbase, just don't support basketball very well. Its really our 3rd sport, and with what the women had been doing under Vic, had pretty much slipped to 4th. NMP is taking care of that for us though.

Thanks for your support of MSU athletics.. I guess

[maroonmania]

Thanks for your support of MSU athletics.. I guess

You're welcome. Been supporting MSU athletics as a student and alum for more than 35 years and been a football season ticket holder for most of that time. But MSU sports, like any sports, is entertainment. For any that are still getting entertainment value watching a team continually implode the last few minutes of pretty much every competitive game they play in, then by all means, knock yourself out. Here's hoping next season that will improve with some better coaching.

[BiscuitEater]

This is a team that will make noise next year and has a chance to be one of the best Mississippi State teams ever. Howland deserves to be apart of that.

Woodard left after his SO year. Iverson, DJ, & Tulo are SOs. 'IF' none leave and 'IF' they can add another shooter, this team may be better next year. But ...

[PGHBulldogBG]

As bad as Ray was, his teams did play with effort and gave 100 percent. They just had no talent and Ray didn?t know what he was doing. I wish we could?ve taken that heart and effort and put them into Stans and Howlands past teams, but this team does seem to have that. We just need to hope Howland can improve and adjust offensively

[Liverpooldawg]

It took a decade to get back to something like what we were under Stans. Hopefully we aren't about to do it again.

[confucius say]

It took a decade to get back to something like what we were under Stans. Hopefully we aren't about to do it again.

This is correct. No way we need to run off howland. I believe we will be a tourney team next year. And I expect us to win a few as an underdog down the stretch this year, maybe sneaking in the NIT

[maroonmania]

This is correct. No way we need to run off howland. I believe we will be a tourney team next year. And I expect us to win a few as an underdog down the stretch this year, maybe sneaking in the NIT

Howland desperately, and I mean DESPERATELY, needs to trade out an assistant coach for someone that can help with offensive game planning and execution. Until we get that its going to be hard to ever get past that 'pretty good' level that we were even with 3 NBA future players, in addition to Tyson Carter, Aric Holman and Lamar Peters all on the same team. Howland will likely never have a roster that talented again. But we just have way too many game where we even struggle to break 50 points. You just can't win many basketball games against really good teams like that today just like you can't win many football games 17-14 these days.

[BB30]

Eh you can basically break college basketball down for non blue bloods like us like this.

Get a coach that can coral a lot of talent and wait for the cards to fall just right. Howland can do that and if we don't get dumb and fire him he will luck up over the next couple of years and have a roster that is blended well with upperclassmen and some talented younger guys and they will make a run.

As long as he keeps recruiting at a decent level we shouldn't get rid of him IMO. As others have stated if you fire him now we will be right back where we were before he was here. Let him coach out his last couple of years and ride off into the sunset. it will provide some stability and we will be set up well to make the next hire.

I don't understand how some of yall function day to day as negative as yall always are unless you just use this board to vent and are actually fairly normal the rest of the time. But man, I know I would be miserable if I was always a negative nancy.

[Ari Gold]

Eh you can basically break college basketball down for non blue bloods like us like this.

Get a coach that can coral a lot of talent and wait for the cards to fall just right. Howland can do that and if we don't get dumb and fire him he will luck up over the next couple of years and have a roster that is blended well with upperclassmen and some talented younger guys and they will make a run.

As long as he keeps recruiting at a decent level we shouldn't get rid of him IMO. As others have stated if you fire him now we will be right back where we were before he was here. Let him coach out his last couple of years and ride off into the sunset. it will provide some stability and we will be set up well to make the next hire.

I don't understand how some of yall function day to day as negative as yall always are unless you just use this board to vent and are actually fairly normal the rest of the time. But man, I know I would be miserable if I was always a negative nancy.

Bingo....

[maroonmania]

Anyone who thinks this team is a year away from anything special without some significant coaching changes on the offensive end of the floor is just dreaming.

[msstate7]

Anyone who thinks this team is a year away from anything special without some significant coaching changes on the offensive end of the floor is just dreaming.

This was an awful game. It happens... esp with young teams. Hell, tenn (a good team that just blasted Kansas) made 2 fgs the last 10 mins tonight vs OM. Crap happens. Next year may not be a good season, but it won't be bc we sucked butt tonight. We played 3 really good games in a row before tonight that only resulted in 1 win, but the play was encouraging.

[Bothrops]

Anyone who thinks this team is a year away from anything special without some significant coaching changes on the offensive end of the floor is just dreaming.

Yeah these teams get to the point where you expect a natural progression or improvement, but then it never really happens. I really don't care anymore though.

[mparkerfd20]

1 year away my ass

[ImissCityBagel]

Why are we so bad?

[Cowbell]

This was an awful game. It happens... esp with young teams. Hell, tenn (a good team that just blasted Kansas) made 2 fgs the last 10 mins tonight vs OM. Crap happens. Next year may not be a good season, but it won't be bc we sucked butt tonight. We played 3 really good games in a row before tonight that only resulted in 1 win, but the play was encouraging.

We also beat LSU to start the football season. Quit living in Lala land.

[Cowbell]

Eh you can basically break college basketball down for non blue bloods like us like this.

Get a coach that can coral a lot of talent and wait for the cards to fall just right. Howland can do that and if we don't get dumb and fire him he will luck up over the next couple of years and have a roster that is blended well with upperclassmen and some talented younger guys and they will make a run.

As long as he keeps recruiting at a decent level we shouldn't get rid of him IMO. As others have stated if you fire him now we will be right back where we were before he was here. Let him coach out his last couple of years and ride off into the sunset. it will provide some stability and we will be set up well to make the next hire.

I don't understand how some of yall function day to day as negative as yall always are unless you just use this board to vent and are actually fairly normal the rest of the time. But man, I know I would be miserable if I was always a negative nancy.

Stating the obvious or stating facts doesn't make one a negative Nancy - some of us just live in reality. We aren't making any kind of run with this coaching staff. If you can't see that, I don't know what to tell you.

[Johnson85]

Stating the obvious or stating facts doesn't make one a negative Nancy - some of us just live in reality. We aren't making any kind of run with this coaching staff. If you can't see that, I don't know what to tell you.

Alabama made a run with Mark Gottfried as their coach. LSU made the final 4 with John Brady. Neither were exactly basketball masterminds. If you get talent together consistently enough, you will make a run.

As much as people liked to bitch about Stansbury's tournament performance, it really wasn't that bad. THe results sucked, but it's mainly just luck. He got screwed with the Texas draw; we played fine. We didn't extend the defense against Butler; that was on him. A red hot Xavier team got us one year. He had two teams that were playing really well during the tournament but screwed themselves by underachieving to the 8/9 slot, and one team that only got there because they got hot at the SEC tourney and played their normal, uninspired basketball against Washington. Had one of the high seeded teams played to their ability like the teams that lost to Duke and Memphis, his tournament record looks a lot different.

If Howland coaches long enough putting together talent like he has, he will catch lightning in a bottle too. Not sure if he's got enough years left to do it, but what he is doing now isn't hurting the program.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Look we had a bad night last night, a historically bad night judging by our TOs, but this one game isn't an indictment on Howland. It's like we've said most of the year, WE'RE YOUNG. Everyone needs to just relax a bit. We weren't going to make the tournament this year anyways. This was always about building for next year. Now, like most have said, if everyone comes back next year he MUST make the tournament to feel safe about his job. He's going to have far too much talent as well as experience.