Realistic expectations for basketball program?

[mstateglfr]

What do yall think are some realistic expectations for our basketball program? Let us look at a few facts:

1) Our budget is the absolute lowest in the SEC - if we were getting our money's worth we would be 0-16 in league play and 1 and out in the SEC tourney every year, we are obviously exceeding expectations here
2) We are located in the most sparsely populated area in the SEC with the smallest recruiting area - we could actually be considered a tie with UM here, but we are pretty much ahead of them every year so I think we are doing ok here
3) Our facilities are AVERAGE at best - go step in Bud Walton or Rupp arena and ask yourself how in the world we compete with these guys....it is mind boggling in a way
4) Fan support - I think we do pretty well here, MSU has some great fans who are vocal and supportive and actually care about basketball, I would give us the nod over Ole Miss and Auburn but that is about it

So given the facts what would you say are some realistic expectations of our coach? Coming out and saying "hey I want a sweet 16 run every year" is ignorant beyond all reason given what we are facing as a program. I would say a tourney appearance every 5-6 would be far exceeding any realistic expectations we have set for ourselves. Any other thoughts?

1- That isnt a fact. We can have the lowest budget but still do better than 0-16 you F'n tool. And since those arent expectations for our budget size, we arent obviously exceeding them.

2- What the F are you talking about?...one of the smallest recruiting areas? In the last 6 years we have had 2 players from NYC, a player from Indiana, 5 players from TN, a player from KY, 2 players from TX, a player from Louisiana, 2 players from NC, a player from Miami...what small recruiting area are you talking about? Do you even think about what you are saying before you post?...cuz this is just a no brainer.

3- Ok, lets say our facilities are average at best. That means we have 6 teams in the SEC that have worse facilities. Whats your point, that we are middle of the road? Oh well. A practice facility will help that.

4- I agree to an extent on fan support. I think we have a TON of fans, but not much in terms of attendance. It sucks, but at the same time we are well above average in terms of profit that the team brings in, and attendance has something to do with that.

If you seriously think that 1 appearance every 5-6 years is acceptable, then i got nothin. I really dont know what to say to that. You must really not think much of MSU's ability to improve.
Thats 1-2 appearances every DECADE. What on earth makes you think that should be the standard?

I swear there are some seriously extreme fans tied to MSU, on both sides of the spectrum. I know its the same everywhere else, but damn its always shocking to actually read the thoughts of crazies.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

...People forget that information is available. Now I wonder when the Star's next update will be.

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

the UM program next year and hopefully it was in response to that.

 

[HD6]

I am an idiot with unrealistic expectations and little sports knowledge who is also a ***** when it comes to putting my money where my mouth is.

You expect us to be in the top 10. Bet.

 

[hatfieldms]

be ranked in the top 10. The question was what we should expect. The rest of the SEC is oging to blow next year, and theoretically we have everyone back. Our players hsould improve, we should expect to be one of the top 10 teams next year, imo. I officialy expect that. I am not betting that we will be in the top 10, because we won't. I think we should be that good, which is reasonable.

This is just stupid. At least you are not setting yourself up for to much disappointment

 

[seshomoru]

Either you can figure it out, or I'll tell you why when I get to work.

 

[msudawg12]

we should be making the tournament 75% and sweet sixteen 25% of those times, hoping for a good run every once in a while.

That being said, I think we will be improving much more and be able to recruit better with the IPF. I think Byrne has set foundations to have great numbers once the economy hits an upswing. We seem to be doing better now, despite the economy

 

[seshomoru]

First, you throw out anything before the early sixties. We went 24-1 and finished first in the SEC in 61-62. We get a big fat ZERO added to our all time tourney appearances for that season. Now, let's throw out some more years of history when considering current basketball expectations. The first year that more than one team from any conference was allowed into the tourney was 1975. That's right. ONE team per conference. From 1964 (the year after we won the SEC and snuck out of the state to finally play in the NCAA tourney) through 1974, Kentucky went eight times. They sort of dominated the top of the conference remember.

Additionally, the field wasn't even expanded to 40 teams until 1979, then to 48 all the way through 1982. Perhaps I'm wrong, but if there had been a 64 team field, our 78 and 79 teams which finished 18-9 and 19-9 respectively (good for 2nd and 3rd in the conference) would have received at-large bids. The field as it is with 64 teams today, wasn't started until 1985. In 1986 we hired Richard Williams which marked the end of a Croom-esque run of MSU basketball. He started slow, but at least he showed promise. His fourth year (89-90) saw a 16-14 mark as opposed to Boyd's 8-22 in his fourth and final year. This is the year I start judging MSU basketball. Integration had long since taken place, the tourney field was set at 64, Boyd was long gone, and the tournament had officially taken off as one this country's great sporting events.

So, how have we done in these 20 years (89-09)? We've been to the NCAA tournament 9 times ('91, '95, '96, '02, '03, '04, '05, '08, & '09), or 45% of the time. We've been to the NIT five times ('90, '94, '99, '01, & '07). While I pretty much despise the NIT, it is a post season tourney you have to at least be decent to play in. So all in all, we've been to the post season 70% of the time. Looking as Stansbury alone, who has set new expectations for this program that carry more weight than anything that happened in the forties and fifties (I've laid out why I don't think anything pre 1989 counts at all), we've been to the NCAA tournament in 6 of his 11 seasons, or 55% of the time. Also, it doesn't really count for much other than I find it impressive, but he's won 20 or more games in 8 of 11 seasons as well.

So, tell us once again why you think we should only expect to go to the NCAA tournament once every five or six years. Please do it quickly. You're attracting bears.

 

[gtowndawg]

I knew that was rambling around in my brain for a reason.

Dollar for basketball dollar we're not much different from most of the others

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[gtowndawg]

was when he was in school (60's). It was always State and Kentucky playing for the overall title. We have basketball tradition, not Kentucky tradition, but we certainly have the foundation to expect fairly consistent success.

 

[StateLover]

We usually have more defections in a season, but Stans has shown signs that he can lose only one promising underclassman in a year. Now its just a matter of being consistent.

We shall see.

 

[Agentdog]

dbl</p>

 

[Agentdog]

My expectation is to see State reach the NCAA 50% of the time. Post season 80%.

I think you make great points. However, I disagree on #2 and #4.

#2. Basketball, it only takes a few good players and you can compete. The surrounding area has produced enough talent for us to be very competetive. Not Final4s every year but at least a NCAA team. Also, teams only have 11 scholarships to give. So, a lot of talent goes unrecruited elsewhere. Stans has the ability to land those guys.

#4. Considering what has been produced over the last 15 years, State fans/locals do not support baskeball well. Sure, the GTR is not a metro area. But with 17K students and 150K people in the surrounding counties, we should have higher attendence. Also, I remember running over to the midnight madness in the fall of 95. A guy leaving the football game asked me what was going on. I had to explain to him midnight madness. This after our team had reached the Sweet16 the year previous. Also, the GTR has always been a bigger supporter of baseball than basketball. Maybe it is different in Tupelo, Meridian, and Jackson but not in Columbus or in Starkville from what I have seen/heard.

 

[TheNewMSU]

I know a few of the deadbeats that have nothing better to do other than complain can post immediately so you will have to forgive me if it took a while to respond. Anyway, you did not address a single time the situation we are in as a University. I personally think that is the most important factor in determining where we SHOULD be as a program. Teams that are located in big markets with good recruiting areas generally outperform the ones that are not. Look at Texas, UCLA, Florida, etc....We have 1/10th the athletes they have to choose from in our immediate recruiting area and recruiting to Starkville is extremely difficult. Why do you think we are the butt end of all jokes when discussing college towns? Good grief, if Stans was coaching at a school like Florida or Texas he would be winning national championships considering what they have to work with.

You can throw out statistics until you can't type anymore and it won't change a thing. Again, we are DEAD LAST in the conference in terms of $$$$ support, fanbase, facilities (ok tie with UM in most of these), recruiting area, prestige, etc.....and I personally believe those things are very important factors in determining what we SHOULD expect. The fact of the matter is that we have greatly OUTPERFORMED what we should be doing as a program. That can be directly attributed to having much better than average coaches. Richard Williams was great, Stansbury is even better. Look, MSU will always be my favorite school (I have 2 degrees from there) and I will always hope they win every single game.....but I will at least look at things realistically. Unless the State of Mississippi triples in population over night and our alumni ups their contributions by 400% while no other school improves, we won't be a powerhouse program. It simply won't happen. I will make a prediction that one day we will look back at these years of Stans and RW and consider it our "glory" years. Meanwhile, a few idiot fans continue to whine and complain like little babies.

 

[KurtRambis4]

you really believe any of that?

 

[Coach34]

that **** was priceless...they have already posted numbers to bash your point to death...you need to find a new point

 

[Maroon Eagle]

[No message]

 

[HD6]

this guy is the polar opposite of you. You think Stansbury underachieves big time, this guy must feel he is some kind of sorcerer to pull of what he does. I guess, for once in my life, I'm the middle ground.

 

[PosterFormerlyKnownAsRFAA]

.

 

[seshomoru]

So I'll just bow out quietly and hope that you're really just trolling around.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

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