So much for that Joe Dooley momentum the Stands crew

[Jacksondevildog]

We played very well last night and that's encouraging, but Florida gulf coast is a shell of that team they had last year.

[Dawg61]

What we saw last night was drastically better than any other game this year. Let's hope it's a trend and not an accident.

[engie]

We played very well last night and that's encouraging, but Florida gulf coast is a shell of that team they had last year.

4 of 5 starters back = a "shell"?

[PMDawg]

I don't care either way, but I'm going to wait and see how we look when we get to the meat of our schedule before I decide anything. We looked ok against Utah state, but the talent gap was obvious. We looked awful against TCU. We looked good last night. Those are the only 3 games I've been able to watch so I don't have a strong opinion either way yet. Dog fights against Jackson state and a couple other total scrubs has me a bit concerned...thus the wait and see.

[Coach34]

Stans teams defended and rebounded with similar intensity until the debacle.
Neither he or Williams were above average offensive coaches.

Williams teams were coached as well defensively as anybody's. I also agree that he was no offensive genius but he did do a good job of getting the guys setting screens for 00- we used to wear people out that had to chase him around. Walters set some damn good screens in his day.

Stands early teams were not coached as well defensively- but overall were coached pretty well. Offensively, I dont even want to get into.

[Where'sWaldo]

I watched the Utah State game and IJ ready didn't play. He is big part of what we do and how well we played last night.

[Coach34]

I watched the Utah State game and IJ ready didn't play. He is big part of what we do and how well we played last night.

He's a true freshman and will get better. Had a good night last night- but he is going to have some 5-6 turnover nights too. Got something to build on though

[trob115]

Another thing people aren't hitting on enough from last night is Fred being able to knock down some shots. If he starts making shots for us , it will tremendously open up things offensively. We don't have a pure 3 shooter but hopefully he can start being a consistent option for us. I love the hustle out of our team. They are a fun gritty bunch to watch.

[Martianlander]

Liked the effort last night. As long as they keep that up good things should happen. I don't expect them to compete for an SEC title this year-just be competitive in general. With a good recruiting class hopefully we can look for better things.

[Political Hack]

if Fred can make shots, Johnson can rebound, Ware doesn't get in foul trouble, and IJ plays like he did last night we'll do pretty well.

I'd out Johnson in for Colin. He's a better defender and more aggressive down low on both sides of the floor. If Colin isn't expanding the D by making shots, his value diminishes in a hurry.

[smootness]

4 of 5 starters back = a "shell"?

Florida Gulf Coast is not drastically worse than they were last year. But people saw them beat Georgetown and go to the Sweet 16 and assumed they were an awesome team. They were a 15 seed last year; they beat Miami but lost 5 games in an awful conference.

They're a decent team who can be competitive, and it was a very good win. But people always overreact, both positively and negatively, to what happens in the Tournament when in reality, that is one or a few games out of an entire season.

[Political Hack]

Florida Gulf Coast is not drastically worse than they were last year. But people saw them beat Georgetown and go to the Sweet 16 and assumed they were an awesome team. They were a 15 seed last year; they beat Miami but lost 5 games in an awful conference.

They're a decent team who can be competitive, and it was a very good win. But people always overreact, both positively and negatively, to what happens in the Tournament when in reality, that is one or a few games out of an entire season.

yep. good win in that it will give us a little PR bump and give the players some mugh needed confidence gooing into conference play.

If we win the games we should and pull a few upsets, NIT is a real possibility this season.

[maroonmania]

I realized it was time for Stans to go and I am pumped with the effort we are getting now under Ray. However, Stans' teams during the first half of his tenure DID play hard and were some of the best rebounding teams MSU has EVER had historically. Just because we needed to make a change there is no reason to denigrate everything about the way they played.

[smootness]

I realized it was time for Stans to go and I am pumped with the effort we are getting now under Ray. However, Stans' teams during the first half of his tenure DID play hard and were some of the best rebounding teams MSU has EVER had historically. Just because we needed to make a change there is no reason to denigrate everything about the way they played.

I LOVED his early teams, from 02-04 especially. We outrebounded everybody, and we defended really well. We built those teams around Austin and Roberts, then had enforcers like Brandon Vincent and super athletic guards like Zimmerman, Bowers, and Frazier. Really, really fun teams to watch.

[sleepy dawg]

This thread is certainly a change of scenery around here. I support Ray and our team fully right now. I believe there may be good things to come in future seasons if we can keep getting better. However, we are still not a good team this year. I know it's all about improving, and I'm very glad to see us improving, but I hate to get our bipolar fans too much confidence like we did with our 7-0 run in football last year.
We are improving as a team. We can still get better. Our best years are ahead of us, but we will still finish in the bottom of the SEC this year. The SEC is bad, and we will be lucky to finish inside the top 11 in the SEC this year.

[Coach34]

was talking about this earlier with someone- his early recruiting was really good. Those guys had character and played their asses off. From 2006 on, it was very different

[drunkernhelldawg]

I realized it was time for Stans to go and I am pumped with the effort we are getting now under Ray. However, Stans' teams during the first half of his tenure DID play hard and were some of the best rebounding teams MSU has EVER had historically. Just because we needed to make a change there is no reason to denigrate everything about the way they played.

Well said.

[MadDawg]

I realized it was time for Stans to go and I am pumped with the effort we are getting now under Ray. However, Stans' teams during the first half of his tenure DID play hard and were some of the best rebounding teams MSU has EVER had historically. Just because we needed to make a change there is no reason to denigrate everything about the way they played.

That is the MsU way. One day, everything about Ray will be pissed on by the message board heros.

[smootness]

That is the MsU way. One day, everything about Ray will be pissed on by the message board heros.

You're already pretty much taking care of that now.

[MadDawg]

You're already pretty much taking care of that now.

Cute. Stupid as shit, but cute.