Rick Ray expectations

[DudyDawg]

Okay, gun to your head, where do you see us going with him. It's been through the destruction and rebuild years, it's time to start winning. I think it's clear this team has gotten better, but I want more.

I think Ray is a really solid defense coach and seems to be a pretty decent recruiter (Malik pending obviously). For me tho, the jury is still out on the offensive end. We have no continuity offense to speak of. We either try to win the race up the floor, call a play, or stand too much and force a bad shot. He's got to improve there. Obviously personnel helps, but simple things like reading a defense and deciding how to come off a screen seem to be lacking, and that's on him. I certainly haven't been to all the games, but I also haven't seen much in the way of drawing up an offensive play to get a good shot late in the clock.

All that being said, gun to my head, I would have to lean towards saying he won't get us where we want to go. Maybe he can. I still want him to get this and next year to show improvement. I'm certainly on the fence, and trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Your opinions?

[Political Hack]

Malik is his lifeline. That's it for me.

[HoopsDawg]

I'm still undecided. There's an old saying in basketball that everything is better when you are knocking down shots. We simply can't make shots. And Ware is the only player who can score in the post and even Ware is trying to play more of a face up game this year.

If Ray's recruiting was on the same level as his first 2 1/2 classes then I would say it's time to move on. But recruiting is trending up. I like this 2015 class and definitely like the first 2 commits for 2016. Problem is, it's going to be a while before we enjoy the fruits of his labor. Will we be patient? I think Stricklin is going to give him another year. Ray will have to make the NIT next year to keep his job.

[1bigdawg]

I think Stricklin will give him another year. But we should make the NIT this year. If we don't, the extra year will be based on the opportunity to get Malik in April.

I believe Malik is willing to come to State if we are good enough to make the NIT this year. Otherwise, I believe he moves on to a UK or Duke.

[MadDawg]

I just want to feel excited about MSU basketball again. I started to get that feeling after watching us beat St. Louis. But then the last two games have tempered that.

[Political Hack]

when's baseball season start?

[Miss. Stake]

Ray will have a full fair evaluation by administration after 5 years. Rick Ray will get 5 years guaranteed and we'll see where we are unless we total bombshell out

[Goat from MSU]

I am with Engie on this as far and wait and see at end of season , but Hack is right Newman is his lifeline . If we only have 14 or 15 wins and he loses out on Newman ,there is no 5 year plan he is gone.

Malik is his lifeline. That's it for me.

[engie]

He's on the clock now. I'm not going to be "happy" until we are a tournament team again. At some point, the ascent process has to speed up.

I expect to contend for the NIT this year. That's not "good enough" longterm, but would be sufficient for our current reality. The fact that Malik is even considering MSU given our current reality and empty Hump is a testament to how hard Ray is recruiting him.

The kicker is -- according to Warren Nolan predicts, which aren't "accurate" yet persay, but are mathematically valid, we finish at 17-13(8-10) is only good enough for a #136 RPI. That's not going to get us into the CBI, much less NIT. We better hope we beat some people we're not supposed to and the teams we play are better than the currently project...

[maroonmania]

Ray will have a full fair evaluation by administration after 5 years. Rick Ray will get 5 years guaranteed and we'll see where we are unless we total bombshell out

He will get 4 years guaranteed but that's it. If we make no post-season play this year and none again next year there is no way he is around for a 5th year nor should he be.

[HailState39110]

My goals this year were to at a minimum have a winning record (above .500) and be in discussion for the NIT. I also had expectations to win at a minimum 7 conference games (7-9 or better in the SEC) . That would more than double our win total in a weak league the past two years combined.

I must confess back when we had Croom and Polk 2 basketball was far and away my favorite MSU sport. Like some have said, Apathy has really set in for me concerning MSU basketball that I really just don't care anymore. I got excited after the St Louis win but that has diminished after our last two games . Something big needs to happen ( sign Malik, beat Kentucky, an upset win at Arkansas, win vs Florida St, etc) for me to get back into caring again. Otherwise, I'm ready to move on to baseball season

[jumbo]

make the NIT this year. get Newman. make the big tourney next year. if these things don't happen, send him on his way

[Dawg61]

make the NIT this year. get Newman. make the big tourney next year. if these things don't happen, send him on his way

Either sign shooters or hire someone that can improve shooting. Till then we are dead in the water. I said this shit two years ago. Ray hasn't filled his roster and he hasn't upgraded the back of it with positive turnover. He has the same assistants and not a one of them can improve this team offensively including Ray. Ray has improved the program drastically in other areas though so thanks is in order for that. But we thank him every other week with a $50,000 paycheck. This team scares nobody offensively. We are flat out boring to watch. When our main offensive strategy is to try to draw fouls you know you've got issues on offense. Watching free throws for two hours is boring. No wonder the Hump stays empty. The women's team will double the men in attendance this year.

[mparkerfd20]

Used to be a huge College Basketball fan. Now, I've already given up on Ray and couldn't care less about basketball anymore. Don't see that changing in the next 2-3 years unfortunately.

[Coach34]

Im excited about basketball again. Can't wait to watch us play tomorrow. We look like a basketball team again. Ray certainly needs to start winning games now. Excuse time is over. He's going to get a 4th year- and hopefully he gets this team where it needs to be- around the 17-18 win mark

[maroonmania]

We look like a basketball team again.

Well, we seemed to be heading there until the Tulane game. Ray hasn't won a true road game since the opening conference game his first year (Georgia). He's got to figure out a way to get his team to play with more mental toughness on the road. Of course it also is a big issue on the road that we have little to no perimeter shooting. The primary reason we did win that Georgia game on the road was Jalen Steele and since we lost Steele we really haven't had a dependable outside shooter. Folks just pack the inside on us and our offense is dead in the water.

[shannondawg]

Well whoop dee doo for you.

Im excited about basketball again. Can't wait to watch us play tomorrow. We look like a basketball team again. Ray certainly needs to start winning games now. Excuse time is over. He's going to get a 4th year- and hopefully he gets this team where it needs to be- around the 17-18 win mark

[bobcat91]

We are hard to watch. We are a terrible offensive club and I don't believe that we are going anywhere this year. Recruiting is improving and I have no doubt that Stricklin will give him 5 full years since this was his first major hire and he has taken a lot of heat over it. He is going to do everything he can to let Rick be successful before going in a different direction. It's up to Ray to make it work, but I'm not hopeful that he can.

[trob115]

I personally want to see us make the NIT and sign Malik. Recruiting is slowly picking up, but we lack a guard that can consistently take over the game and knock down the 3. Don't tell me Thomas is that guy. I've seen enough to say that Thomas is a solid defender, but streaky at best from outside. We need someone with a killer instinct. If we land Malik, I think we finish top 2 or 3 in the SEC next year.

[HoopsDawg]

I personally want to see us make the NIT and sign Malik. Recruiting is slowly picking up, but we lack a guard that can consistently take over the game and knock down the 3. Don't tell me Thomas is that guy. I've seen enough to say that Thomas is a solid defender, but streaky at best from outside. We need someone with a killer instinct. If we land Malik, I think we finish top 2 or 3 in the SEC next year.

The NIT and landing Malik would be the best case scenario for the next 6 months, but I think both are long shots.