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Basketball predictions

Seinfeld

Seinfeld

All-American
Nov 30, 2006
11,177
7,042
113
My thought is that with the schedule we have, we're going to have to win 19-20 games at a minimum in order to make the NIT, and that just isn't happening.

I'm counting about 8-9 non-conference wins at best, and then assuming we accomplished that, we'd then have to win somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 regular season SEC games to even be in the discussion for the NIT. We've won 7 total over the last two years combined.

If Newman signs with Kentucky, Ray may just quit at the end of the year
 
Lettucexxxx

Lettucexxxx

All-Conference
Oct 16, 2012
4,562
1,047
113
Our best player is out until Christmas. I'm high on coach Ray and dont get why these terrible things just keep happening. It's like something "unexplained being" is sabotaging any positive energy our basketball program try's to generate. If Chicken comes back healthy, Ware improves his hands and FTF continues his progression, tho slow.....I see us having an opportunity to win 6-7 conference games, max. We will have better guard play and a little deeper bench but outside of 3 guys, I'm not sure if anyone else should even shoot it. By next season, Ray should have a full and competent team. I would say, if State hasn't turned the corner (7/8 SEC wins or a NIT birth) by next year, he gone.
 
was21

was21

Senior
May 29, 2007
9,943
592
113
Hell no....and at this point in time couldn't care less about basketball
 
G

gymdawg.sixpack

Redshirt
Aug 26, 2012
1,724
0
0
Agreed about the lack of interest, but id add that at least we're playing in the sec. Its a crap league now. So if we're improved id say we got a shot at anything in the west. Sword is supposed to miss 2 games max. We should win thos anyways. Sos will b much better. We win 18-21, nit/bubble team. Much improved.
 
P

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
57,026
26,615
113
My thoughts are that we'd better be an improved team this season. Ray took over a train wreck and by the end of his first season it looked like he was beginning to make some progress. But he took a step backwards in the second half of last season. If we finish last in this bad league, we need to be looking for a new coach come March.
 
M

msstate7

Redshirt
Nov 27, 2008
10,388
10
38
Lettuce said:
Our best player is out until Christmas. I'm high on coach Ray and dont get why these terrible things just keep happening. It's like something "unexplained being" is sabotaging any positive energy our basketball program try's to generate. If Chicken comes back healthy, Ware improves his hands and FTF continues his progression, tho slow.....I see us having an opportunity to win 6-7 conference games, max. We will have better guard play and a little deeper bench but outside of 3 guys, I'm not sure if anyone else should even shoot it. By next season, Ray should have a full and competent team. I would say, if State hasn't turned the corner (7/8 SEC wins or a NIT birth) by next year, he gone.
Click to expand...

Ray said chicken will only miss bout 3 games
 
M

msstate7

Redshirt
Nov 27, 2008
10,388
10
38
Significant improvement. In contention for NIT. We sign Malik and make ncaa next season with a veteran team and young superstar
 
D

dickiedawg

All-Conference
Feb 22, 2008
4,271
1,087
113
Lettuce said:
By next season, Ray should have a full and competent team. I would say, if State hasn't turned the corner (7/8 SEC wins or a NIT birth) by next year, he gone.
Click to expand...

In my mind, Ray has to show us something THIS year. He's got a full team and most of the starters are 3rd-year guys. He has more size, depth and experience than he's had yet- all the excuses are out the window. It's time to defecate or vacate the loo.

That said, I think the team shows vast improvement this year. I expect to be solidly in the NIT at season's end.
 
DirtyDog

DirtyDog

Redshirt
Aug 24, 2012
520
14
18
NIT Bubble at Best

I think we'll be improved but expecting a lot more at this point isn't realistic. Yes, Ray has some of his 3-year players but we've had gaps in recruiting depth that won't allow us to realize significant improvement until 2015-2016. Although we are gaining more depth this year and post players, they are not going to be experienced and few will be able to step in and be team leaders. They will contribute, but we should realize their value next season, not this season IMO.
 
dawgstudent

dawgstudent

Heisman
Apr 15, 2003
39,473
18,963
113
I honestly think he will get another year. This was Stricklin's first big hire and I don't think he would cut the chord after 3 years.
 
S

Shooter McGavin.sixpack

Redshirt
Feb 18, 2014
437
8
18
If this team is in the NIT conversation, it's been a good year. We still don't have enough talent top to bottom. Sword is a good player and if we had any outside shooting he could be an all-sec type player with his ability to drive to the basket. Hopefully someone steps up and can consistently make some 3 pointers.
 
M

msstate7

Redshirt
Nov 27, 2008
10,388
10
38
Fred finished strong last season. Hopefully he picks up where he left off. Optimistic that Dunlap can knock down outside shots
 
E

engie

Freshman
May 29, 2011
10,757
92
48
Contend for the NIT is my expectation, although I'm not "happy" with that overall. It's year 3 and the rebuild is basically over -- time he is held to the same standard as Stansbury was.

I think having depth and size is going to shock people how good we look, especially defensively...
 
J

johnson86-1

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
14,366
4,870
113
dawgstudent said:
I honestly think he will get another year. This was Stricklin's first big hire and I don't think he would cut the chord after 3 years.
Click to expand...

I don't know. If we really finish last in the SEC, that will be pretty bad. Ray came into a bad situation and has had some bad luck, so I think you're right about what Strickland will want to do. But if there's no improvement this year, it's seems pretty unlikely you're going to see it in year 4, which means if Strickland gives him year 4, he'll likely be looking for a coach to take over a roster that without Ware, Chicken, and FTF. If I were him, I'd much rather bite the bullet on Ray and have a solid roster to pitch to a new coach.

If he doesn't bungle the hire, the new coach should show some significant improvement in year one and get some momentum going. If he waits until after Year 4, he's basically starting the new guy off in the same position that Ray started off, meaning it will be four completely wasted years.
 
S

Shooter McGavin.sixpack

Redshirt
Feb 18, 2014
437
8
18
I hope you're right. We need Thomas on the floor. He is a great defender and a better shooter than he showed last year. Paul Jones is really high on Demetrius Houston. Can he shoot any from the perimeter?
 
Lettucexxxx

Lettucexxxx

All-Conference
Oct 16, 2012
4,562
1,047
113
Good. I thought I initially heard 6/8 weeks....then he has to get back into basketball form. So is thanksgiving a better target time?
 
Lettucexxxx

Lettucexxxx

All-Conference
Oct 16, 2012
4,562
1,047
113
Agreed. Ray could **** on center court and retain his job. He will be coaching next year, period.
 
Seinfeld

Seinfeld

All-American
Nov 30, 2006
11,177
7,042
113
It sure seems like it, doesn't it? Haven't we had something like 5 players tear ACLs in the last three years?
 
P

pmack65

Redshirt
Sep 7, 2013
427
0
0
Per Coach Ray: "Chicken may only miss the exhibition game. Way ahead of schedule with his rehab".
 
KentuckyDawg13

KentuckyDawg13

Senior
Aug 15, 2006
1,913
541
113
With the addition of Travis Daniels (6'8" player with guard skills), Oliver Black (6'9"), Fallou Ndoye (6'10") and Demetrius Houston (6'7" with serious hops), this team will be a completely diffierent team from the under-sized team we have seen the past two years. With a now veteran backcourt, I think NIT is a given. NCAA is a possibility. Ray is a good coach, just had to deal with a total crap situation post-Stansbury's meltdown. Chicken will be back sooner than planned.
 
E

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
5,656
0
0
Shooter McGavin said:
I hope you're right. We need Thomas on the floor. He is a great defender and a better shooter than he showed last year. Paul Jones is really high on Demetrius Houston. Can he shoot any from the perimeter?
Click to expand...
We talkin' 'bout practice?

I like Ray and wish him all the best, but without an NIT invite this season and if he also doesn't get Newman, I buy out his contract. It hasn't been entirely his fault, and a lot of people can make the case that he was set up to fail, but regardless I think you've got to let him go. Perception is reality, and even though I think he's a decent coach, the guy who comes in next will get the best out of Ray's players. You hear it every time a school hires a new coach in any sport.

Again, not Ray's fault, but if you hire a new guy you give SOMETHING to students and fans to be optimistic about and hopefully they start showing up and buying in.

Basketball is not a sport we should struggle in. But with A&M playing the Stansbury game and Auburn having BBQ's for recruits now, the script has been flipped.
 
B

BiscuitEater

Redshirt
Aug 29, 2009
4,178
0
36
Quick question ...

KentuckyDawg13 said:
The Bulldogs are picked to finish last in the SEC...I call B.S. Going to be a much improved team this year, middle of the conference with a NIT birth.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Am hoping we are an improved team and Sword's injury came at a bad time but to finish 'middle of the conference' kinda means we should be better than 6 or 7 teams in the league. Name the 6 SEC teams we finish ahead of this year.
 
S

Shooter McGavin.sixpack

Redshirt
Feb 18, 2014
437
8
18
Vandy, Missouri, Tennessee, USCe, and A&M are nothing to be afraid of. Alabama and Mississippi are a bit better but not by much. I'm not saying we will finish ahead of all of those teams but it's not an impossible feat.
 
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