For the glass is half full crowd....

Pot Liquor · Mar 21, 2009

Man-O-man;

I am starting to think that all the pessimists on here just sit back and wait on a pin to fall and when it does it's "JUMP THE (insert name) VICTIM from behind no matter what the circumstances......

CAN WE ALL BE POSITIVE for CHANGE?

************************************************************

Moving along, didn't Rick's team, players, and our beloved MSU fan base just have a really good 08-09 basketball season. It sure looks that way to me!

We came in 3rd this year (SEC West); won 23 games - how many 20+ games per year has Stansbury gotten us?

I like 20+ wins in a year a lot, don't you?

We won the SEC Tournament Championship....which many a team would give thier freakin eye teeth for right now.....

I sure do like seeing those flags hanging in the rafters...we get one you know?

Even though an outright SEC title and a Tourney Championship are better, can we celebrate what IS, not what could of been?

Now here's my positive comment for the year for MSU Basketball.....if Rick can recruit just (1) guy in here for next year, we could tear some new ******** for folks in the 09-10 Basetball Year!

Anyone remember a Dante' Jones? How bout if we were to land a Travis Outlaw type player, or a Robert Smith?

What if a Robert Odem type player were to fall out of a tree and land on the Sanderson Center roof.....that would free up Vanardo to play a Forward/Center hybrid type position. I think he could score his *** off don't you? This "Odem" player could bang em around and rebound, then pass to Jarvis so's he could slam it home.

We have one hell of a cast right now and the building blocks to be really, really good. One, perhaps two guys would break it wide open....just like 1995-96. One sho nuff, money player and we kick butt and take names next year...get some spirit guys and gals MSU Basketball is in a really good spot......and no, I am not Rick's brother-in-law or something like that. Just a fan.

Oh and if I missed all the wonderful accolades from a few days ago, please forgive. I've been out of town...so Rah, Rah State and dump this thread.

Pot

Pot Liquor · Mar 21, 2009

Man-O-man;

I am starting to think that all the pessimists on here just sit back and wait on a pin to fall and when it does it's "JUMP THE (insert name) VICTIM from behind no matter what the circumstances......

CAN WE ALL BE POSITIVE for CHANGE?

************************************************************

Moving along, didn't Rick's team, players, and our beloved MSU fan base just have a really good 08-09 basketball season. It sure looks that way to me!

We came in 3rd this year (SEC West); won 23 games - how many 20+ games per year has Stansbury gotten us?

I like 20+ wins in a year a lot, don't you?

We won the SEC Tournament Championship....which many a team would give thier freakin eye teeth for right now.....

I sure do like seeing those flags hanging in the rafters...we get one you know?

Even though an outright SEC title and a Tourney Championship are better, can we celebrate what IS, not what could of been?

Now here's my positive comment for the year for MSU Basketball.....if Rick can recruit just (1) guy in here for next year, we could tear some new ******** for folks in the 09-10 Basetball Year!

Anyone remember a Dante' Jones? How bout if we were to land a Travis Outlaw type player, or a Robert Smith?

What if a Robert Odem type player were to fall out of a tree and land on the Sanderson Center roof.....that would free up Vanardo to play a Forward/Center hybrid type position. I think he could score his *** off don't you? This "Odem" player could bang em around and rebound, then pass to Jarvis so's he could slam it home.

We have one hell of a cast right now and the building blocks to be really, really good. One, perhaps two guys would break it wide open....just like 1995-96. One sho nuff, money player and we kick butt and take names next year...get some spirit guys and gals MSU Basketball is in a really good spot......and no, I am not Rick's brother-in-law or something like that. Just a fan.

Oh and if I missed all the wonderful accolades from a few days ago, please forgive. I've been out of town...so Rah, Rah State and dump this thread.

Pot

Hanmudog · Mar 21, 2009

If we base every season off of the last game we play then we are in for alot of heartbreak over the years until we win a national title. This season far surpassed even my own homeristic expectations.

cowbell9 · Mar 21, 2009

BriantheDawg · Mar 21, 2009

Just kidding.

Great post. Couldn't have said it better myself.

dawgstudent · Mar 21, 2009

It's really hard to imagine why I even complain about him considering that stat. As long as he makes the tourney, I am happy.

FlabLoser · Mar 21, 2009

dawgstudent said:
It's really hard to imagine why I even complain about him considering that stat. As long as he makes the tourney, I am happy.

I have to disagree. Can't say you're unhappy. Just sayin.

I don't care if he makes the NCAA tournament every year - if he can't win a game there, its not good enough.

dawgstudent · Mar 21, 2009

we would look like idiots nationally if we fired a coach that makes the tourney.

DawgatAuburn · Mar 21, 2009

And there don't seem to be any "fall out of a tree" recruits out there. The team we took to Portland is our team next year, plus Shaun Smith minus Brian Johnson and any defections.

DawgatAuburn · Mar 21, 2009

Say in the next 10 years we win the west 6 times, the SEC once, the SEC tournament twice, make the NCAAs 6 times, and our record in those six trips is 3-6, and the three wins were all in the first round......you would be satisfied with that for a 20 year career for Stansbury?

I don't think for me it is simply making the tournament. I would be happier if we upgraded our non conference schedule and put ourselves in a position to improve our seeding. If we did that, I think the wins in the NCAAs would come for two reasons. One, we would have a better seed. Two, we would be used to playing teams other than SEC teams who can match us in athleticism and talent. Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. That's what we are doing with our basketball team.

Hanmudog · Mar 21, 2009

Romero Osby could be that person next year if he works at it in the off season and can improve as much as Ravern and Phil from their freshman to sophomore seasons. Another year to mature physically and mentally will make a big difference.

TilloDawg · Mar 21, 2009

next year. And they will all be a year better......

o_rexxx · Mar 21, 2009

DawgatAuburn said:
Say in the next 10 years we win the west 6 times, the SEC once, the SEC tournament twice, make the NCAAs 6 times, and our record in those six trips is 3-6, and the three wins were all in the first round......you would be satisfied with that for a 20 year career for Stansbury?

I would be very happy at that. But that is just me. I would hope for one run in the NCAA but that would satisfy me. Or we could fire Stansberry and become UMiss in basketball. Suck *** 8 out of 10 years but make a sweet 16 run in one of the 2 years you are good. I would much rather keep Stansberry.

Hanmudog · Mar 21, 2009

We have to be realistic too. We are not going to be challenging the Dukes and UConns of the world anytime soon for national titles. I would gladly take all the winning that goes along with winning those SEC titles in place of one good run every 5 or 6 years. Ask Bama fans how that Elite 8 run is helping them right now or Rod Barnes how that Sweet 16 worked out. If it isn't a Final 4 then it just does not have the same meaning. It is easy to take consistency for granted. Don't get me wrong, I would not trade our Final 4 for anything but the William's years were a little frustrating with their inconsistency.

DowntownDawg · Mar 21, 2009

...the question is what would you accept? In other words, do you fire a guy for doing that or is he doing his job to warrant keeping it with those results. Am I "happy" with that scenario? No. Can you fire him for that record? No. It's in between. It's acceptable. That's where we are with basketball.

Edited to add: I agree with the rest of your post, especially about beefing up the nonconf. schedule. The key to winning in the tournament is to be a 6 or higher. So we need to have enough success and play enough people to get a high seed. If we consistently do that, we'll eventually win two in a year. I don't hold the last two seasons' tourney records against Rick. We did what we were supposed to do last year, and we were a freaking 13 this year. However, he's got to do well enough in the regular season to get us a 6 or better seed if we want tourney success. And this year, just making it to the dance is an accomplishment.

MSUCostanza · Mar 21, 2009

DawgatAuburn said:
Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

You mean, like arguing this **** over and over and over and over and over again?

And why is it, when folks keep presenting these scenarios for being unhappy with Stansbury, they involve a series of events over a long time span, usually the same, or slightly worse than we're doing now. Why is it assumed that we will not do better?

DowntownDawg · Mar 21, 2009

....before 10 days ago, we had a decade's worth of evidence to consider and we appeared to be trending downward.

615dawg · Mar 21, 2009

I think so - he is definitely gone.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you were referring to Kodi Augustus.

TilloDawg · Mar 21, 2009

of eligibility when he got back to MSU.

Hanmudog · Mar 21, 2009

I did not know that going 12-4 in the SEC, winning the West again, and advancing to the second round of the NCAA last year was "trending downward". Dang, where were we before then?

DowntownDawg · Mar 21, 2009

[No message]

DesotoCountyDawg · Mar 21, 2009

I don't think for me it is simply making the tournament. I would be happier if we upgraded our non conference schedule and put ourselves in a position to improve our seeding. If we did that, I think the wins in the NCAAs would come for two reasons. One, we would have a better seed. Two, we would be used to playing teams other than SEC teams who can match us in athleticism and talent.

I would like to see an tougher non-conference. Even if you lose to them its still better than losing to San Diego.

DowntownDawg · Mar 21, 2009

...great run from 2001-2005, miss the tourney for two years, make it as an 8 seed last year, and then we appeared to be heading for the NIT again. That would be a downward trend. Didn't happen, so it doesn't matter now. But the question is why do we expect Stansbury to do what he's done or slightly worse, and that is the answer.

DesotoCountyDawg · Mar 21, 2009

Whatever we do next year can determine where we are trending.

Coach34 · Mar 21, 2009

and since he is, he needs to do a couple of things differently- like D@A said...

Upgrading the schedule has got to be the 1st priority. Its a must if we want to take another step forward and move up the ladder of college basketball. Its the first thing Bruce Pearl did at Tennessee, and its paying dividends there. Lets go to UCLA...lets go to Michigan St- we should be able to hang with those guys...and playas love traveling to play big teams

DowntownDawg · Mar 21, 2009

..next year will tell us a lot, but you can't tell me that after 2001-2005, missing the tournament 3 out of 4 years wouldn't have been a downward trend. Since we made it, I, like you, think it's too early, but that's why people were starting to get a bad feeling.

DesotoCountyDawg · Mar 21, 2009

I still had next year as the target because I didn't think we would do anything this year. A pleasant surprise to win the SEC tourney.

DawgatAuburn · Mar 21, 2009

Hanmudog said:
We have to be realistic too. We are not going to be challenging the Dukes and UConns of the world anytime soon for national titles. I would gladly take all the winning that goes along with winning those SEC titles in place of one good run every 5 or 6 years. Ask Bama fans how that Elite 8 run is helping them right now or Rod Barnes how that Sweet 16 worked out. If it isn't a Final 4 then it just does not have the same meaning. It is easy to take consistency for granted. Don't get me wrong, I would not trade our Final 4 for anything but the William's years were a little frustrating with their inconsistency.

Nowhere did I say or even imply that we should be a perennial Final Four team or that I would trade all of that for one good run. Why do people have to take statements to the extreme? Just read it for what it is.

I do think, that based off Scooba's numbers in this thread that it shouldn't be out of the question for us to perform at the rate we have been and also advance to the second weekend once a decade. Plenty of other schools have done it. Beyond the Sweet 16, anything else should be cake.

The next argument that Meo or Desoto will post is that all of this boils down to one game. Fine, if that's the way you want to look at it, but I disagree that it is just that simple. I again go back to the whole schedule. Get a better seed to start with and your chances to advance are better. That means a better non-conference schedule (not doing) and consistently being in the top five in the SEC (doing). I also believe that when it comes down to a Saturday or Sunday game in the NCAAs to move on to the Sweet 16, that's a little more important and challenging than beating a non-conference opponent from a one bid league in December. So it's not "just one game," it's a game against a top 30 team from outside your league on a neutral court. And if you are more used to playing opponents like that, your chances of winning are better.

I do agree about Richard. That group that won the SEC in 91.......finished in eighth in the SEC (out of 10) as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors if I recall. Then it was back in the crapper from 92-94 before we caught lightning in a bottle with Darryle, Erick and Dontae.

Hanmudog · Mar 21, 2009

We have played Clemson, Missouri, and Miami over the last 2-3 years. I have no problem with our weak OOC schedule this season because this was seen as a rebuilding year. In hindsight, a tougher schedule probably would have given us a better seeding even if we subsituted a loss to say Georgia Tech instead of San Diego but there was no way to know at the start that this team would even be in the NCAAs. I can agree that our OOC needs to be tougher next season though.

graddawg · Mar 21, 2009

I'm not a graph/computer wiz, but here's something I threw together that shows our overall wins, SEC wins and how far we advanced in the conference and NCAA tournaments in each of Rick's season's as head coach. Does this help with the "trending downward" debate? I have no idea, but it's something to look at.

Pot Liquor · Mar 21, 2009

at least compared to me, Rock On!

MSUCostanza · Mar 21, 2009

I would say that just shows that Rick is very consistent. Doesn't appear to be a trend one way or the other.

I'll say it again. If we had a football coach that had the sustained success of Rick Stansbury, he'd have a statue in the middle of the drill field.

hatfieldms · Mar 21, 2009

Coach34 said:
and since he is, he needs to do a couple of things differently- like D@A said...

Upgrading the schedule has got to be the 1st priority. Its a must if we want to take another step forward and move up the ladder of college basketball. Its the first thing Bruce Pearl did at Tennessee, and its paying dividends there. Lets go to UCLA...lets go to Michigan St- we should be able to hang with those guys...and playas love traveling to play big teams

There is no doubt that we need some tougher teams on the schedule to help keep us out of these 8-9 games

Pot Liquor · Mar 21, 2009

To my critics: 

 Dante' Jones 

 Travis Outlaw 

 Robert Smith - played for California in 70's went on to play for NBS Denver

Greg Odem #1 in the Draft 

 All great players that changed a team's dynamics so much they went from good to great. It's a good book too. 

 

 I have to ski-daddle so I can't reply to all, however aside from just trying to pick me apart for the sake of picking me apart I meant Greg Odem. He's a real tall guy that got picked up in the 2007 draft, I believe at #1. 

 The Robert Smith dude was a player from the 70's. He was good, not great, but did have a decent career with Nuggets. 

 The weirdest situation was our Robert Lawrence transfer that Rick got to come to MSU. Again it was a weird *** deal, but he came to state and he helped us a bunch. 

 But again, Rick did that. Mr. Robert's was headed in several other directions but he did chose us. 

 [ Lawrence Roberts - in 2004 the NCAA allowed him to transfer to MSU without penalty because another player on the team was murdered and the coach was caught paying players to come help "build" the program. The NCAA doesn't change its mind often but stranger stuff happens and it could happen again, who knows ] 

 I think Rick and State are going in the right direction and I guess I think 2010 we shall find out if my opinion is crap or not. 

 Pot

PosterFormerlyKnownAsRFAA · Mar 21, 2009

MSUCostanza · Mar 21, 2009

Before the 2001 season, you could have elected Jackie Sherrill mayor of Starkville. He had won 2 bowl games in 10 years and had 3 really crappy seasons mixed in as well.

dawgstudent · Mar 21, 2009

because 12 NCAA tournament appearances in 20 years would be what I expect. 60% - you go to the tourney.

patdog · Mar 21, 2009

Of course, his redshirt year at MSU was both because of the injury and because of the transfer rule. It can't hurt to ask, and if he could stay healthy next year, it could be huge for us, especially if Varnado and/or Augustus don't come back.

patdog · Mar 21, 2009

but I don't want us to be a road ***** and I don't see a lot of those teams giving us a home-and-home. Try to work those games to a neutral site if possible or at least keep the road whoring to a minimum (no more than once a year or two). But the biggest thing we need to do to improve the schedule is to quit playing teams like Centenary, North Alabama, Fairleigh Dickinson, and LA-Monroe. We need EVERY non-conference game to be against teams that are usually in the top 200 RPI. Not saying some won't be below that in the year we play them, but we can't play 3 games against 300+ RPI teams + 1 against a Div. II team.

MSUCostanza · Mar 21, 2009

we've done it every year. We schedule light when we are trying to rebuild or have a lot of new faces. We schedule heavier when we are more experienced. I'm not sure why folks are complaining so much, we do this EVERY year.

I fully expect next year's schedule will be more challenging, with a lot of guys coming back.

And I am in agreement that the top programs are not going to come to Starkville. We don't have that name recognition yet, and I don't want to see us playing 8-9 road games, either.

For the glass is half full crowd....

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