Why we need to give Ray a few years to get this thing going

[Eric Nies Grind Time]

I've heard several folks talk about how its so easy to turn around a basketball program in one or two seasons because all it takes is one or two blue chip recruits. Well, I'm gonna call BS on this. Outside of being able to land an NBA lottery pick(s), this simply isn't true. For all the hoopla that Stans got about being a great recruiter, how many lottery picks was he able to actually get on campus? Zero...

The way we're going to get back to the upper echelon in the SEC is by following the other MSU's model - get solid college players that stay for 4 or 5 years. A team made up of solid college players that play physical, team basketball - and are well coached - will be regulars in the Big Dance. Once you get to that point, it sure is a heck of a lot easier to recruit NBA type talent, and the cycle feeds itself.

I think we're going to see an improved team this year, but one that still has a long ways to go. By year four, I expect us to be in the top 4 or 5 in the SEC consistently again - along with UK, UT, UF, and Mizzou. If by Ray's fourth year we're not there, then I'll be off the bandwagon (because while it takes more than a year or two to build a basketball program, it's certainly "easier" than football). Until then, I'm sold on this guy. I think he's doing a hell of a job.

Year 4 he needs to make the tournament or get fired.