"Doctor" on SPS says Ready is injured, and Bloodman is too.

[CadaverDawg]

And on top of all of that....I just feel like we've still got an interim coach. He speaks and acts like he is an assistant trying to play the role of head coach IMO. I remember people comparing him to Cuonzo Martin, but in my opinion Cuonzo carried himself more like a Head man than Ray has early on. I guess I just see a lack of confidence, and too many excuses so far...and it reminds me of Croom a little.

Hopefully a deeper roster and a little better talent will bring more confidence and better results this year. I would love nothing more than to be dead wrong about Ray. I'll pull for him like hell this year, and we'll see what happens. But I also won't sugarcoat things if they're bad, just like none of us sugarcoat things in other sports when they're bad either. Excuse train needs to pull out of town in year 3

[quickstrike2]

I don't think anyone is saying anyone is stupid for wondering if he can get it done. Its the same song and dance from both sides for going on 3 years now: Pro-Ray folks get upset because the other side has never given the guy a chance. Anti-Ray folks are upset that Ray is here at all, for whatever reason. Bottom line: At this very moment and time, there are no more excuses. He either wins or he doesn't and we will move on. It's that simple and I haven't seen anyone that is saying anything different than that.

Yep, year 3. Like him or dislike him the grace period has passed. No excuses.

[engie]

I'm sure Mississippi College is well coached, but they aren't going to beat SEC, ACC, Pac12 teams. Win. Until he wins, all this other shit about injuries, needing more talent, so and so looks great in the practice videos, etc...is simply window dressing. You can only hide behind all that stuff for so long when you're a D1 coach making millions.

And until he wins, why are people stupid for wondering if he can? He has never proven he can win. Hell, he really wasn't even an assistant on any great teams. So not only has HE never proven he can win....he hasn't even really been around a program that has proven it either. Yet people want to bash people for having doubts? Garbage.

Why can't we as a cumulative fanbase actually give him that opportunity before flipping out at every opportunity? I guess me flipping out on people for flipping out isn't productive either -- so I'm guilty.

"Having doubts" is different from "having your mind made up and bashing him nonstop". No one is complaining about "doubts" that we all have on some level -- it's the next 2 step that some have been taking since before day 1 that is the problem IMO. That's why there is no glaring opposition to you/Hack's approach on Ray -- because your approach at least makes sense and is reasonable even if there is still disagreement from some of us at this time.

This year is a clean slate that's going to show us one way or another. For one, I either hope he overachieves or drastically underachieves, and the "experiment/argument" ends this season. I just want a clear answer to get at least an 80/20 split in prevailing thought. Worst case scenario is a 15-16 win year which is virtually no improvement, followed by getting Newman, followed by an extension, followed by more arguing and division among a fanbase that badly needs to be united -- as the "other" team in the state that's been our basketball bitches for 50 years get ready to open a brand new basketball arena and have continually improved in little increments to the point they can actually challenge us longterm in the sport. We have to unite if we are going to beat them back into basketball submission...

I don't care what happens with Ray either way. I'm not vested in him personally. I want to see him succeed because he's our coach -- and because it basically makes our AD a genius with huge cahunas instead of the inverse for going out on the limb with the hire. I've seen enough from gameplanning, preparation, adjustments, etc to KNOW that he is a very good floor coach/basketball mind. One of the best in the conference in that regard. Time will tell if Ray has enough Stansbury in him to get the players needed to actually make a run. This year goes a long way for that. The honeymoon is over -- time to show us something.

I expect to be in the NIT conversation this year. If we aren't, I'll be ready to go another direction. NIT contention is still not what I would consider successful. He's had enough time to get us back to Stansbury standards -- and that's my expectation going forward. It will not change for Ray.

[CadaverDawg]

Why can't we as a cumulative fanbase actually give him that opportunity before flipping out at every opportunity? I guess me flipping out on people for flipping out isn't productive either -- so I'm guilty.

"Having doubts" is different from "having your mind made up and bashing him nonstop". No one is complaining about "doubts" that we all have on some level -- it's the next 2 step that some have been taking since before day 1 that is the problem IMO. That's why there is no glaring opposition to you/Hack's approach on Ray -- because your approach at least makes sense and is reasonable even if there is still disagreement from some of us at this time.

This year is a clean slate that's going to show us one way or another. For one, I either hope he overachieves or drastically underachieves, and the "experiment/argument" ends this season. I just want a clear answer to get at least an 80/20 split in prevailing thought. Worst case scenario is a 15-16 win year which is virtually no improvement, followed by getting Newman, followed by an extension, followed by more arguing and division among a fanbase that badly needs to be united -- as the "other" team in the state that's been our basketball bitches for 50 years get ready to open a brand new basketball arena and have continually improved in little increments to the point they can actually challenge us longterm in the sport. We have to unite if we are going to beat them back into basketball submission...

I don't care what happens with Ray either way. I'm not vested in him personally. I want to see him succeed because he's our coach -- and because it basically makes our AD a genius with huge cahunas instead of the inverse for going out on the limb with the hire. I've seen enough from gameplanning, preparation, adjustments, etc to KNOW that he is a very good floor coach/basketball mind. One of the best in the conference in that regard. Time will tell if Ray has enough Stansbury in him to get the players needed to actually make a run. This year goes a long way for that. The honeymoon is over -- time to show us something.

I expect to be in the NIT conversation this year. If we aren't, I'll be ready to go another direction. NIT contention is still not what I would consider successful. He's had enough time to get us back to Stansbury standards -- and that's my expectation going forward. It will not change for Ray.

I can agree with that. I just think there is very, very, few that have the "mind made up and bashing him constantly" mindset. I think those that do are just frustrated, and in all likelihood, are just huge bball fans that are depressed because our program has taken such a spiral. Wins can cure all though, no doubt. I agree

[engie]

And "playing with heart" isn't the same thing as "being well coached" in the proper techniques of basketball.

Oh...you mean that part where we shoot FT's, rebound, box out, advance the ball, set screens, hit 3's, etc.?

FT - Improved slightly from year 1 to year 2.
Rebounding - Same from year 1 to year 2. Wanna lay odds on this being drastically improved this year simply based on size/bodies?
Boxing out - Size matters. 6'2 can "box out" 6'6 all it wants and still lose battles. Especially when 6'2 is playing on dead legs for the 4th week in a row and 6'6 is fresh. Comes back to #2.
Advance the ball - Turnover rate improved drastically from year 1 to year 2. If we see the same improvement again, we're top 50 in the country in this regard.
Hit 3's - Improved drastically from year 1 to year 2.

Looking past win/loss at the actual stats -- there was improvement across the board from year 1 to year 2. Formidable improvement in most metrics. Enough that IF we see the same amount of improvement again, we're right where we need to be...

[TimberBeast]

...I feel like there is this strong "need" within our fan base to defend Rick Ray since our fans were so instrumental in the forcing out of Stansbury.

This is really all you needed to say. With many of our "fans" there isn't much more to it than that.

[Coach34]

FT - Improved slightly from year 1 to year 2.
Rebounding - Same from year 1 to year 2. Wanna lay odds on this being drastically improved this year simply based on size/bodies?
Boxing out - Size matters. 6'2 can "box out" 6'6 all it wants and still lose battles. Especially when 6'2 is playing on dead legs for the 4th week in a row and 6'6 is fresh. Comes back to #2.
Advance the ball - Turnover rate improved drastically from year 1 to year 2. If we see the same improvement again, we're top 50 in the country in this regard.
Hit 3's - Improved drastically from year 1 to year 2.

Looking past win/loss at the actual stats -- there was improvement across the board from year 1 to year 2. Formidable improvement in most metrics. Enough that IF we see the same amount of improvement again, we're right where we need to be...

Engie- there you go with those facts again

[Goat Holder]

Stanz was our Houston Nutt. After 10 years or whatever he wore out his welcome although he was above average. Difference is, Arkansas hired Petrino and we hired Croom.

And f*ck everyone who says I make that comparison because of race. I make the comparison because it's a good one. Neither were true head coaching candidates, and both were hired to clean up a program, with the off chance they might win a few games. Until proven otherwise, the comparison is 100% accurate.

That's about as objective as you can get.

[Political Hack]

win and all is cured.

[tcdog70]

That's the problem with the Ray opposition:

To anybody that knows basketball, we look well coached. We have a plan on offense and defense and it's easy to see. Our problem has been the lack of players and talent. Yes, Ray is responsible for that as well- and this season there are no more passes

He doesn't know how to attack a 1-3-1--. Is that his Plan? We don't look well coached. He set a record for losing, in what you called a Shitty SEC. So wake the **** up and see the Truth.

[Spider-Man]

Postseason or bust for me. No more 10+ losing streaks please.

[thf24]

He doesn't know how to attack a 1-3-1--.

I thought you had moved past this asinine party line. Of course he knows how to attack a 1-3-1. Google can tell you how to attack a 1-3-1. You can know everything there is to know about a 1-3-1, or any other zone defense, and still look helpless against it if you don't have consistent shooters (somewhat remedied this year) or enough size to match up down low (fully remedied this year). Criticize him for the lack of depth in regards to this subject if you must, but you can't knock his coaching when he didn't have the pieces necessary to apply it.

[Coach34]

I thought you had moved past this asinine party line. Of course he knows how to attack a 1-3-1. Google can tell you how to attack a 1-3-1. You can know everything there is to know about a 1-3-1, or any other zone defense, and still look helpless against it if you don't have consistent shooters (somewhat remedied this year) or enough size to match up down low (fully remedied this year). Criticize him for the lack of depth in regards to this subject if you must, but you can't knock his coaching when he didn't have the pieces necessary to apply it.

Thank you for spelling it our for him...bless his heart

[tcdog70]

well shit, somebody needs to show Rick how to goggle. How do you know our shitty shooting is remedied? they have not shot yet. i'm so stupid for not seeing the greatness of Rick Ray. it is mighty funny that the media and the other coaches voted his "MUCH IMPROVED" team last in a Coach proclaimed shitty SEC. keep on drinking the Koolaid.

[Coach34]

The SEC is much improved over 5 years ago

[BeardoMSU]

FT - Improved slightly from year 1 to year 2.
Rebounding - Same from year 1 to year 2. Wanna lay odds on this being drastically improved this year simply based on size/bodies?
Boxing out - Size matters. 6'2 can "box out" 6'6 all it wants and still lose battles. Especially when 6'2 is playing on dead legs for the 4th week in a row and 6'6 is fresh. Comes back to #2.
Advance the ball - Turnover rate improved drastically from year 1 to year 2. If we see the same improvement again, we're top 50 in the country in this regard.
Hit 3's - Improved drastically from year 1 to year 2.

Looking past win/loss at the actual stats -- there was improvement across the board from year 1 to year 2. Formidable improvement in most metrics. Enough that IF we see the same amount of improvement again, we're right where we need to be...

FT% - 66% (2013), 66% (2014)...thats a push
FG% - 40% (2013), 44% (2014)....slight improvement
Ass./TO - minus 7 per game (2013), minus 2 per game (2014)....I don't think I'd call that drastic improvement, but is better
3pt% - 28% (2013), 31% (2014).....slight improvement
Made 3's - 151 (2013), 154 (2014).....yeah, an extra 3 made trey's...."drastic improvement" alright....
Rebounds - 33 per game (2013), 33 per game (2014)....push

Also worth noting, is the point guards we're talking about (Bloodman, Ready), averaged 2.5 and 2.7 assists a game, respectively.
The motion in our "motion offense" is abysmal. Aren't PG's supposed to make their teammates better by getting them the ball? Finding them open shots? I'm sure their numbers are just skewed because our spot-up shooters missed all their shots******



Reference sited:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bask...pi-st-bulldogs

[tcdog70]

The SEC is much improved over 5 years ago

based on what?--cause you said so, and some of your minions backed you up. get Engie to do some obscure stats and thf24 to say yeah-what Coach said. That will make you feel better.--Bless Your heart

[Goat Holder]

LOLZZZ what a troll

[BeardoMSU]

The SEC is much improved over 5 years ago

KY and FL are the cream. Mizzu and TN (don't know what TN will be like without Conzo, tho) are next. Bruce will have AUB in the NCAA within 2 years.

The rest of the SEC is absolutely horrid. I'd rather watch hockey than SEC b-ball, and I hate 17'n hockey, and love 17'n basketball...go figure....

[BeardoMSU]

LOLZZZ what a troll

Goat, I liked your Senior Esteban Vihaio avatar; why'd you change it?