NET #45

[msstate7]

Down 8 spots

Sec...
LSU #3
Auburn #6
Tenn #11
Kentucky #16
Bama #22
Us #45
Florida #50
aTm #65
Vandy #81
Ark #93
SC #98
OM #111
Missouri #201
Georgia #226

[parabrave]

Im surprised Arky is that high and OM is that low.

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Ole Miss 82 MSU 72 is all that is relevant right now.

[Cooterpoot]

When are you guys going to realize that Howland is washed up? I keep hearing about all the great talent we bring in and I keep seeing us lose. Well, that's coaching. He's Stans 2.1. Just doesn't have the disciplinary issues etc.
Question is, who can we get that will do a better job? I'd say that's a question for Adidas if they want to keep our business.

[BrunswickDawg]

When are you guys going to realize that Howland is washed up? I keep hearing about all the great talent we bring in and I keep seeing us lose. Well, that's coaching. He's Stans 2.1. Just doesn't have the disciplinary issues etc.
Question is, who can we get that will do a better job? I'd say that's a question for Adidas if they want to keep our business.

Odds are we can't bring in better - which is why you see threads about people wanting Andy Kennedy, who is just the Dollar General version of Rick Stansbury.

[Cooterpoot]

Odds are we can't bring in better - which is why you see threads about people wanting Andy Kennedy, who is just the Dollar General version of Rick Stansbury.

Then tell Adidas to kick rocks. They're who sold us Howland. They need to get involved and find someone. Their products suck. They need a reason to be kept around anyway.

[OLJWales]

Odds are we can't bring in better - which is why you see threads about people wanting Andy Kennedy, who is just the Dollar General version of Rick Stansbury.

The Hell we Can't get Better. After 7 years of Low Energy Ben, it's obvious he ain't gonna improve. We need to forget about his last name and prior successes and focus more on his tenure thus far at STATE. How anybody could be concerned or the slightest bit interested this morning about NET confuses me.

[BrunswickDawg]

The Hell we Can't get Better. After 7 years of Low Energy Ben, it's obvious he ain't gonna improve. We need to forget about his last name and prior successes and focus more on his tenure thus far at STATE. How anybody could be concerned or the slightest bit interested this morning about NET confuses me.

We. Aren't. A. Basketball. School.
Mississippi. Is. Not. A. Player producing state.
We are not a program that is or will be attractive to hot mid-major coaches. It's just facts.

Being a bubble team is about as good as it will get. We periodically should be able to put together seasons good enough to make the NCAA's but likely not with any consistency. Basketball really isn't any different than football in the sense that outside of a fluke season, or a murder scandal bringing us a great player, being competitive and winning more than losing is going to be the end result.

[msstate7]

We. Aren't. A. Basketball. School.
Mississippi. Is. Not. A. Player producing state.
We are not a program that is or will be attractive to hot mid-major coaches. It's just facts.

Being a bubble team is about as good as it will get. We periodically should be able to put together seasons good enough to make the NCAA's but likely not with any consistency. Basketball really isn't any different than football in the sense that outside of a fluke season, or a murder scandal bringing us a great player, being competitive and winning more than losing is going to be the end result.

We made the final 4 25 years ago, brah. We are Duke lite.

[basedog]

We. Aren't. A. Basketball. School.
Mississippi. Is. Not. A. Player producing state.
We are not a program that is or will be attractive to hot mid-major coaches. It's just facts.

Being a bubble team is about as good as it will get. We periodically should be able to put together seasons good enough to make the NCAA's but likely not with any consistency. Basketball really isn't any different than football in the sense that outside of a fluke season, or a murder scandal bringing us a great player, being competitive and winning more than losing is going to be the end result.

Many of us Msu fans are delusional, fact is none of the schools in Mississippi have much of a history with successful basketball history. Yes, we can win occasionally, but don't bet your house on the success. History just doesn't lie!

[BrunswickDawg]

We made the final 4 25 years ago, brah. We are Duke lite.

And Stans won all those West titles!!!

Don't mistake any of this as a ringing endorsement of Howland either. It's more about our status in general. I think most adequate coaches could come to State and have us in the 18-22 win range every year. Williams, Stans, and Howland prove that. But a young Rick Pitino (nor an old one) is gonna walk through the doors and take up coaching us to glory - because in todays game we don't offer anything that a mid-major doesn't. A mid-major coach won't take a risky move just to be in the SEC like they will in football. Thinking we can get better than adequate is how we got Rick Ray.

[msstate7]

And Stans won all those West titles!!!

Don't mistake any of this as a ringing endorsement of Howland either. It's more about our status in general. I think most adequate coaches could come to State and have us in the 18-22 win range every year. Williams, Stans, and Howland prove that. But a young Rick Pitino (nor an old one) is gonna walk through the doors and take up coaching us to glory - because in todays game we don't offer anything that a mid-major doesn't. A mid-major coach won't take a risky move just to be in the SEC like they will in football. Thinking we can get better than adequate is how we got Rick Ray.

I still think our best case is us stay the course with howland. Hopefully he gets us in the tourney a couple years in a row, and then he retires. Our opening would be much more attractive that way than firing a coach that's winning

[msugolf]

And Stans won all those West titles!!!

Don't mistake any of this as a ringing endorsement of Howland either. It's more about our status in general. I think most adequate coaches could come to State and have us in the 18-22 win range every year. Williams, Stans, and Howland prove that. But a young Rick Pitino (nor an old one) is gonna walk through the doors and take up coaching us to glory - because in todays game we don't offer anything that a mid-major doesn't. A mid-major coach won't take a risky move just to be in the SEC like they will in football. Thinking we can get better than adequate is how we got Rick Ray.

Not true at all. Chris Jans at NMSU makes 250,000/yr. Howland makes 2.5 million. That's not a risky move...Its a smart one.

[Quaoarsking]

Sounds like we had a tough road loss in the conference without one of our best players, but we're still in line to be a Tournament team, like we optimistically expected going into the season.

[SteelCurtain74]

When this season began there was discussion if we would make the NCAA tournament and what it would take to make it. As I recall, most said we would not make it or be a bubble team. I was one that thought bubble team and still do.

We lost yesterday on the road and we have people ready to jump off a damn cliff. How dare a bubble team do what bubble teams do.

Road teams in the SEC are 5-12 so far this year. We a middle of the conference team just like Ole Miss, Florida, Texas A & M and possibly Missouri.

Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee are the guaranteed tournament teams. Vandy, Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgia are bringing up the rear.

Three of our next 4 are at home with the road game being Florida. Let's see what Howland and Co. do in that stretch before we start claiming the sky is falling.

[msugolf]

We. Aren't. A. Basketball. School.
Mississippi. Is. Not. A. Player producing state.
We are not a program that is or will be attractive to hot mid-major coaches. It's just facts.

Being a bubble team is about as good as it will get. We periodically should be able to put together seasons good enough to make the NCAA's but likely not with any consistency. Basketball really isn't any different than football in the sense that outside of a fluke season, or a murder scandal bringing us a great player, being competitive and winning more than losing is going to be the end result.

It doesn't matter if your state produces top talent or not. There isn't a team out there that has a majority of their players from within their state. Maybe lucky if you have 2 or 3 even. Go look at LSU, Bama, TN, heck every team. Its a giant mix of everywhere and internationals.

[RiverCityDawg]

When are you guys going to realize that Howland is washed up? I keep hearing about all the great talent we bring in and I keep seeing us lose. Well, that's coaching. He's Stans 2.1. Just doesn't have the disciplinary issues etc.
Question is, who can we get that will do a better job? I'd say that's a question for Adidas if they want to keep our business.

Aside from a few turds at the end, at least Stans had us playing hard defensively. If it's one thing I think turns State fans off the most, it's not appearing to be giving it 100%. Our guys often look disinterested on defense. And the troubling part is toughness and defense is supposed to be Howland's calling card.

Getting really good talent and losing by looking disinterested or poorly coached is far worse to me than playing hard and smart but just not having enough talent.

[MoreCowbell]

Down 8 spots

Sec...
LSU #3
Auburn #6
Tenn #11
Kentucky #16
Bama #22
Us #45
Florida #50
aTm #65
Vandy #81
Ark #93
SC #98
OM #111
Missouri #201
Georgia #226

What makes the NET the go-to for NCAAT now? What makes it better than RPI? Genuine question

[Quaoarsking]

What makes the NET the go-to for NCAAT now? What makes it better than RPI? Genuine question

It's what the Selection Committee uses to choose and seed teams now instead of RPI.

Is it better than the RPI? Both are pretty bad from a mathematical perspective, but at least the NET allows margin of victory to count for something. It's a contrived made up formula though, not one that really represents which teams are actually better and worse like the KenPom does.

[MoreCowbell]

We. Aren't. A. Basketball. School.
Mississippi. Is. Not. A. Player producing state.
We are not a program that is or will be attractive to hot mid-major coaches. It's just facts.

Being a bubble team is about as good as it will get. We periodically should be able to put together seasons good enough to make the NCAA's but likely not with any consistency. Basketball really isn't any different than football in the sense that outside of a fluke season, or a murder scandal bringing us a great player, being competitive and winning more than losing is going to be the end result.

You are correct. We might not be able to do better than Howland but there is no fire in the program. Our team and the style of play he coaches is boring and hard to watch. I would rather take a chance and end up sucking than just already knowing we suck. A change will at least breathe a little fire and energy into the program. At this point I don’t even know why Howland wants to be here anymore. Would not surprise me if he hangs it up after this year, I mean he has to know the game has passed him by at this point.

[OLJWales]

Quasar's Chart Proves Stans > Howland.

[HoopsDawg]

I still think our best case is us stay the course with howland. Hopefully he gets us in the tourney a couple years in a row, and then he retires. Our opening would be much more attractive that way than firing a coach that's winning

this is 100% correct

[Cowbell]

Some of you guys attitude shows why we will continue to suck at basketball. I remember, even with some of those inconsistent Stan's teams, the house was packed and it was a good product. I remember when womens basketball here was a joke. We hire a guy that knows how to put a good product on the floor and what do you get - full houses and fan support. And it was like that before the title runs. If I would have told you guys 20 years ago that our girls team would come closer to winning a title than our baseball team before 2020 you would have accused me of drinking magic coffee. Get out of here with this we will never be anything bull crap. At this point, it ain't about talent, making the tournament, etc. We need to hire someone to get fans excited about our basketball program again. Heck, the girls team may already have done that. We got nothing to lose at this point. What do we lose if we fire Howland and the next guy doesn't work out? Tell me? Because we are out the bottom of the barrel in terms of support and excitement around this team long-term.

[OLJWales]

Some of you guys attitude shows why we will continue to suck at basketball. I remember, even with some of those inconsistent Stan's teams, the house was packed and it was a good product. I remember when womens basketball here was a joke. We hire a guy that knows how to put a good product on the floor and what do you get - full houses and fan support. And it was like that before the title runs. If I would have told you guys 20 years ago that our girls team would come closer to winning a title than our baseball team before 2020 you would have accused me of drinking magic coffee. Get out of here with this we will never be anything bull crap. At this point, it ain't about talent, making the tournament, etc. We need to hire someone to get fans excited about our basketball program again. Heck, the girls team may already have done that. We got nothing to lose at this point. What do we lose if we fire Howland and the next guy doesn't work out? Tell me? Because we are out the bottom of the barrel in terms of support and excitement around this team long-term.

Truth. Well don't OWE Howland anything anymore; he owes US a no buyout retirement.

[PGHBulldogBG]

Aside from a few turds at the end, at least Stans had us playing hard defensively. If it's one thing I think turns State fans off the most, it's not appearing to be giving it 100%. Our guys often look disinterested on defense. And the troubling part is toughness and defense is supposed to be Howland's calling card.

Getting really good talent and losing by looking disinterested or poorly coached is far worse to me than playing hard and smart but just not having enough talent.

This is basically Kermit vs Howland and why the results over the 4 years have been the same for both programs. Kermits teams are less talented because he is not a good recruiter, but they win at the same rate because he demands 100 percent effort. This is a major problem I had with Stansbury and Howland. Ironically, I think Rick Rays teams actually played really hard they just had no talent and Ray was a terrible floor coach.

[Tater]

Regardless of sport, Mississippi State fans expect toughness, grit, want, and intensity. It's not an expectation of success. We expect to be a tough game. We expect to be the team no one wants to play.

That's why Moorhead didn't work and didn't energize the fanbase but Leach is starting to energize us. You see the dedication. You see the heart. Vic created a winner that played with tons of heart. That's why the women had such great support. Ray and Howland have given us products that have none of that. Hell our volleyball team plays with more displayable heart.

If you're gonna suck (read not make the tournament consistently), at least be entertaining and give me something I can root for. We're not even an enjoyable underdog to root for in basketball for neutral fans.

[confucius say]

When are you guys going to realize that Howland is washed up? I keep hearing about all the great talent we bring in and I keep seeing us lose. Well, that's coaching. He's Stans 2.1. Just doesn't have the disciplinary issues etc.
Question is, who can we get that will do a better job? I'd say that's a question for Adidas if they want to keep our business.

Stans went to the ncaa tournament 6 times in 14 seasons.
Ben's time here is nowhere close to Stans's time here.

[Quaoarsking]

Stans went to the ncaa tournament 6 times in 14 seasons.
Ben's time here is nowhere close to Stans's time here.

It's similar to the late half of Stansbury's tenure (though without the off the court drama), but as we all know, nothing like the early half.

[Catfish]

Regardless of sport, Mississippi State fans expect toughness, grit, want, and intensity. It's not an expectation of success. We expect to be a tough game. We expect to be the team no one wants to play.

That's why Moorhead didn't work and didn't energize the fanbase but Leach is starting to energize us. You see the dedication. You see the heart. Vic created a winner that played with tons of heart. That's why the women had such great support. Ray and Howland have given us products that have none of that. Hell our volleyball team plays with more displayable heart.

If you're gonna suck (read not make the tournament consistently), at least be entertaining and give me something I can root for. We're not even an enjoyable underdog to root for in basketball for neutral fans.

Good post!

[OLJWales]

Stans went to the ncaa tournament 6 times in 14 seasons.
Ben's time here is nowhere close to Stans's time here.

Care to look at percentages? One 17ing ASSHOLE Player derailed Stans who had and maybe still does have 10 X the passion and love for his job than Howland. Stans knows how to win in Oxfart; even with WKU Talent.

[CaptainObvious]

Sounds like we had a tough road loss in the conference without one of our best players, but we're still in line to be a Tournament team, like we optimistically expected going into the season.

And Ole Miss had a 10 point home win without their best player. Who?s points was Tolu going to replace? How much defense was he going to apply to Murrell who went for 30 points on 10-11 shooting, 5-6 from 3? If their best has played GM he probably gets some of Murrell?s points. If ours had, he definitely would have got all of Davis and some of Brooks. And he might have stopped their Brooks more inside.

With regards to instate Mississippi players, it is the same as it always has been. The best of the best are either in JPS(struggle academically, Meridian(same situation) or obscure 2A and 3A schools in rural areas. Ruffin was the State?s top player last year as a 5?9? point guard at a JPS school. He signed with Ole Miss. Raymond has an excellent young basketball coach that honed his skills at Meridian before getting the job and then won a State title and played for 2 more in his first 3 seasons. Raymond is on pace to play for another one this year. But they are a great collection of good players, no significant height, who work hard for the name on the front. Not D1 prospects. Who are this years top 3 players in state?

[Quaoarsking]

Care to look at percentages? One 17ing ASSHOLE Player derailed Stans who had and maybe still does have 10 X the passion and love for his job than Howland. Stans knows how to win in Oxfart; even with WKU Talent.

That's a complete rewrite of history to blame the entirety of Stansbury's downfall of Renardo Sidney (assuming that's who you're referring to). There were about a dozen headcases and locker room cancers who brought him down over the last 7 years. Lots of suspensions, drug uses, class cutting, stupid behavior, fights, various disciplinary issues, etc.

[R2Dawg]

Many of us Msu fans are delusional, fact is none of the schools in Mississippi have much of a history with successful basketball history. Yes, we can win occasionally, but don't bet your house on the success. History just doesn't lie!

That may be true to a point but we have produced Chris Jackson, Monta Ellis, Travis Outlaw, Jonathan Bender, and many more. There has been some basketball talent in Miss. I played against two SEC freshman POY players in late 80s in just one section of the state.

[CadaverDawg]

https://youtu.be/lrrMJqjgsIM

[Pancho]

And Ole Miss had a 10 point home win without their best player. Who?s points was Tolu going to replace? How much defense was he going to apply to Murrell who went for 30 points on 10-11 shooting, 5-6 from 3? If their best has played GM he probably gets some of Murrell?s points. If ours had, he definitely would have got all of Davis and some of Brooks. And he might have stopped their Brooks more inside.

With regards to instate Mississippi players, it is the same as it always has been. The best of the best are either in JPS(struggle academically, Meridian(same situation) or obscure 2A and 3A schools in rural areas. Ruffin was the State?s top player last year as a 5?9? point guard at a JPS school. He signed with Ole Miss. Raymond has an excellent young basketball coach that honed his skills at Meridian before getting the job and then won a State title and played for 2 more in his first 3 seasons. Raymond is on pace to play for another one this year. But they are a great collection of good players, no significant height, who work hard for the name on the front. Not D1 prospects. Who are this years top 3 players in state?

Kimani Hamilton 6-9 from Clinton. Sam Murray 6-9 Harrison Central. George Marshall 6-3 Forest Hill. I think all these will get D1 looks.

[Pancho]

Hamilton is former MSU dog, Tang Hamiltons son and is a state commit

[Pancho]

devin Ree 6-8 from Terry MS is an LSU commit and is ranked higher than Hamilton

[basedog]

That may be true to a point but we have produced Chris Jackson, Monta Ellis, Travis Outlaw, Jonathan Bender, and many more. There has been some basketball talent in Miss. I played against two SEC freshman POY players in late 80s in just one section of the state.

I was talking bout university and colleges with basketball history. Overall it’s not much. Yes there are stars every year in high schools in Mississippi.