Big week for Ray and the Dawgs coming

[msstate7]

People are probably also angry that Ole Miss is about to make their second ncaa tourney in three years. They are playing really well.

They're playing very well. Don't write them with a pen just yet though. Here's their remaining schedule...

At florida
Ark
At us
Tenn
Georgia
At lsu

That's a tough stretch. The 2 weakest teams (florida and us) are on the road. Arkansas, tenn, georgia, and lsu are fighting for postseason.

[Eric Nies Grind Time]

Yeah it is a tougher stretch. Although tenn is not fighting for anything...they are out. Arkansas is playing for better seeding.

[engie]

Cherry picking out of all the things I've said. How was I supposed to know Daniels was going to disappear when the lights came on? Let me guess -- you don't think he's talented because he isn't performing well in games right now? You probably thought Chris Stratton was a bum that we should cut after his first 2 too huh? Talent level, measureables, and how guys practice doesn't always translate to how guys play in games -- but I already know you aren't going to understand that.

Engie said Sword would develop into a decent shooter -- you talked shit -- now you forgot about it.
Engie said Ready and Thomas would develop into pretty good shooters -- you talked shit -- now you forgot about it.

We can go back through all the other stuff you've gotten wrong -- if you'd like?

[HoopsDawg]

Cherry picking out of all the things I've said. How was I supposed to know Daniels was going to disappear when the lights came on? Let me guess -- you don't think he's talented because he isn't performing well in games right now? You probably thought Chris Stratton was a bum that we should cut after his first 2 too huh? Talent level, measureables, and how guys practice doesn't always translate to how guys play in games -- but I already know you aren't going to understand that.

Engie said Sword would develop into a decent shooter -- you talked shit -- now you forgot about it.
Engie said Ready and Thomas would develop into pretty good shooters -- you talked shit -- now you forgot about it.

We can go back through all the other stuff you've gotten wrong -- if you'd like?

I told you in the preseason that Daniels didn't have the mentality to be a big time player and you disagreed.

[engie]

Why is that so hard for the Ray-bashers, who've never, ever given the man a chance, to admit?

Because the team is getting better -- recruiting has already gotten better -- and they realize if they don't yell loud enough to get him out right now(while literally pulling against us finishing strong like it seems we can) -- they may have to spend the next 10 years wearing it...

[HoopsDawg]

What concerns me about Ray's future more than anything is we aren't playing the style of basketball that kids in this area want to play. We are playing slow it down, Big 10/Purdue, half court offense. We didn't attack Arkansas press to get easy baskets. That's the only way you can compete with them.

People might say, we don't have the talent to play up-tempo ball. While that's true, you have to run your system and then recruit players to that system. They will see your style and want to play in it, if it's a fun style of basketball. Bruce Pearl is running his system at AU and taking his lumps but eventually they will start winning games and going to NCAA tournaments.

[engie]

I told you in the preseason that Daniels didn't have the mentality to be a big time player and you disagreed.

You also told me before the Auburn win that 3 more wins was our best case scenario... I guess I should have started a half dozen threads about it talking shit exactly how you did when we fell apart last year.

Oh -- and link? Because I feel like that's probably bullshit. I don't remember his mentality coming up until he went timid as a mouse after the St Louis drubbing where he dropped 20

[Dawg61]

Ray's offense made two FGs in the entire 1st half yesterday. Guess we're back to the historically bad stats Ray puts up again. 44 free throws 47 points vs UT and now 2 fgs 9 points in a half vs Arky.

[Howboutdemdogs]

Ray can only coach X's and O's. He can not shoot the ball for the players. We could not make a basket at all. That is not the coach's fault. I ride the fence about Stans, half wanted him to stay and the other half wanted him to go. This is probably the biggest argument in our family. It gets heated at times with each side showing their passion.

The way I see it, we all bleed maroon, and we need to support the players that represent our University and State. I can only imagine our these players are feeling about their college experience. I have had season tickets for 15 years. Yes, I am frustrated but still support for the young men who suit up and take the court.

[CadaverDawg]

Ray can only coach X's and O's. He can not shoot the ball for the players. We could not make a basket at all. That is not the coach's fault. I ride the fence about Stans, half wanted him to stay and the other half wanted him to go. This is probably the biggest argument in our family. It gets heated at times with each side showing their passion.

The way I see it, we all bleed maroon, and we need to support the players that represent our University and State. I can only imagine our these players are feeling about their college experience. I have had season tickets for 15 years. Yes, I am frustrated but still support for the young men who suit up and take the court.

Ray recruits the guys that shoot the ball. And Ray is responsible for finding ways for the poor shooters he's got to score points. So he either needs to do better with X's and O's, or start getting better guys to shoot the ball. At the end of the day, it all falls back on the coach. That is just the way it is, and it's the same everywhere. It's not like we can trade another program a good hustler for a great shooter. Ray has to work with what he is bringing in. This is year 3.

I could see the Arkansas loss from a mile away, so I'm not pissed about that. However, scoring 9 in a half is embarrassing. As a fan base our expectations have gotten so low it amazes me, so I fully expect Ray to get another year, and then he'll win just enough with a group of Seniors that he will get another one after that....and then we'll see where we are. Personally, I think we all know what is going to end up happening, but as State fans we like to watch the train wreck even when we know the tracks run out a mile ahead.

Ray shows glimpses of hope every now and then, but if anyone thinks he can get us back to being a regular 20+ win team, you're in for even more disappointment. We'll hang on to him at least a year or two more after this, and then we'll be searching again. But I'll continue to cheer and hope for good outcomes since we won't be proactive.

[Coach34]

We need to have a good week and respond on Tuesday. Winning cures all

[msstate7]

Ray recruits the guys that shoot the ball. And Ray is responsible for finding ways for the poor shooters he's got to score points. So he either needs to do better with X's and O's, or start getting better guys to shoot the ball. At the end of the day, it all falls back on the coach. That is just the way it is, and it's the same everywhere. It's not like we can trade another program a good hustler for a great shooter. Ray has to work with what he is bringing in. This is year 3.

I could see the Arkansas loss from a mile away, so I'm not pissed about that. However, scoring 9 in a half is embarrassing. As a fan base our expectations have gotten so low it amazes me, so I fully expect Ray to get another year, and then he'll win just enough with a group of Seniors that he will get another one after that....and then we'll see where we are. Personally, I think we all know what is going to end up happening, but as State fans we like to watch the train wreck even when we know the tracks run out a mile ahead.

Ray shows glimpses of hope every now and then, but if anyone thinks he can get us back to being a regular 20+ win team, you're in for even more disappointment. We'll hang on to him at least a year or two more after this, and then we'll be searching again. But I'll continue to cheer and hope for good outcomes since we won't be proactive.

No excuses for our first half yesterday. I think it's on our team (coaches and players), not just ray. We outscored arkansas by 1 in the 2nd half (HUGE accomplishment**). Did ray completely change his offensive approach? Nah, the players just executed better particularly Gavin ware.

I find it funny that when we win that we win despite ray. Our players overcome their terrible coach according to most here. If we lose, it's all on ray here. So no matter what happens on the court, ray sucks.

[maroonmania]

No excuses for our first half yesterday. I think it's on our team (coaches and players), not just ray. We outscored arkansas by 1 in the 2nd half (HUGE accomplishment**). Did ray completely change his offensive approach? Nah, the players just executed better particularly Gavin ware.

I find it funny that when we win that we win despite ray. Our players overcome their terrible coach according to most here. If we lose, it's all on ray here. So no matter what happens on the court, ray sucks.

EVERYONE agrees that the first half yesterday was a total cluster and embarrassing. That being said though, the previous 6 games or so we have looked head and shoulders better offensively. We've been in the 70s for most of those games or at least upper 60s. We were a 15 point underdog yesterday for a reason. If we throw up stinkbombs against Bama and Mizzou then I have no problem with being all over Ray again but not for losing a game that was the toughest we had left outside of playing KY. Let's all see what happens Tuesday night.

[mcdawg]

No we don't. Teams that suck don't beat NCAA Tournament teams like LSU and don't go on the road and beat NCAA bubble teams like Tennessee.

We still aren't a particularly good team, but we've sucked the last 2 years and this we we don't suck. Why is that so hard for the Ray-bashers, who've never, ever given the man a chance, to admit?

Yes we do suck. We beat 2 average teams - then score 9 points in a half. If we didn't suck, then people would go watch them play. Our motion offense with no plays is hard to watch. Even after the LSU win, we didn't look good (dumb mistakes, bad shots) - LSU just played bad.

All I know - people don't care about our men's basketball team any more. I know more people that now go up on Sundays to see the women play. I am now one of them - have no desire to waist my time watching our men.