Why do folks on here hate coach Ray? Because he didn't coach at Duke/Kentucky? Because he didn't hit a game winning shot against Ole bear(Drew) . He's gonna make players bust their ***. Maybe some people are scared of that....
Why do folks on here hate coach Ray? Because he didn't coach at Duke/Kentucky? Because he didn't hit a game winning shot against Ole bear(Drew) . He's gonna make players bust their ***. Maybe some people are scared of that....
and a good one, at that. I thought his head was on straight and was excited that he could help our program transition. We have ZERO leadership returning... with the exception of Jalen Steele, who was on reserve, none of our 5 starters will be here next year. We will have a team with nearly zero experience at the college level. This is a recovery that could hurt us, not just in terms of experience, but recruiting, for years.
but from just looking at our program, it's going to take 2 seasons - at least - to be winning again.
I hope he can turn it around but if there seemed to be one player that had his head screwed on straight to coincide with a high level of talent - it was Hood. Now that he is gone, things don't look good for Ray's first couple of seasons.
I am scared because he couldn't "recruit" our best player to return to the team. Especially, when this player could play one more season and go to the NBA, but he is so ready to get away from this place that he is willing to go to WKU and sit out for a year. Apparently, Josh Gray is going somewhere else and I heard a rumor earlier today that if Hood left Jalen Steele would also be looking to transfer.
We laugh at the Bear's program, but just wait and see what we put on the floor next year. There won't be many high-major teams as bad as we are next year.
Staring Five:
Wendell Lewis
Euro guy
Shaun Smith
Sword
Hardwick
Bench:
Ware
Thomas
some random JUCOs that we are going to be forced to sign to have a full roster
Baxter Price
You get to be the best player on one of the worst teams in the conference that may not even make the NIT next year? You get to be the leader of a team whose returning experienced players are Jalen Steele and Wendell Lewis? Forget that. No way Ray had a chance in hell of selling that. I think Hood would rather sit a year, learn from a guy like Pitino duringthat year while he sits, then play for a year, be pretty much guaranteed to play in the NCAA Tournament, then go to the NBA as a lottery pick.
If Ray had come in, secured Hood and Gray, and landed Pollard, we could've all looked forward to a season of growing pains followed by the likelihood of a return to the winning ways in 2013-14.
Now, we find out he can't even recruit a player already here, who has to sit out a year to go anywhere else, and who we supposedly retained the least-known assistant to help out with this.
I'm quickly abandoning all hope on Gray and Pollard, and beginning to simply pray for miracles.
He wasn't even 2nd team all sec. Yeah he has potential to be a nba player but didn't do enough this year to make me think he will be one of the 30 best players in the nation next year.
it is a rumor. Just like Cunningham going there is a rumor. One that I hope is true. As I've said here many times, Ray Harper can coach his *** off and makes guys better so Hood can do a lot worse.<div>
</div><div>Louisville might be in the mix, too. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Cal doesn't give him a ring. Hood's game is a nice fit for either system.</div><div>
</div><div>The fact is, Hood is in an enviable position where he can sit back and pick his spot.</div><div>
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Hood was already in your program, but he wanted to leave.It would appear to some here that Ray's first job was to recruita guy that was already on scholarship at State. He failed to do that. That doesn't bode well for his future. If nothing else, anyone that coaches at MSU or OM has to be able to get these guys to buy what their selling. It didn't work out for Ray this time. Even for one already enrolled in school and will now have to sit out a year before he plays again.
All goes back to Stricklin taking a gamble with this High risk high reward coaching hire. First hand was recruit Hood to stay. and we lost, hope the 2nd hand whatever it is, is a win. With all the smack Rick Ray is talking about his intense coaching style: Wendell Lewis will quit before conference play starts and Steele may transfer 2morrow.
There is no right or wrong answer. We need to get behind our coach and be done with the drama. Hood is gone...lets deal with it and we shouldn't worry about TSUN because they haven't been a threat to us in many years.
If you are right, then what he is doing makes perfect sense. If college basketball is the end of the road, might as well play somewhere where you can win.
Wasn't he apart of the most underachieved team in MSU history? Apparently his heart was never in it if he tried to leave 3 months ago. I'm so hoooood...you could see it in our defensive effort.
I think a lot of people on this board disliked Ray from the beginning, because they had an over-inflated view of what kind of coach we could get. You had people on here claiming head coaches were beating our door down for the job, we were turning down elite 8 coaches, and all matter of lies and nonsense. All that garbage polluted this board.
are now gravitating to the big pro factory programs and that is just the way it is. We are in a bad spot but maybe Ray will turn out<div>to be a good long term hire but it sure feels familiar to a crooked hat wearing dude I know.</div>
You keep harping that I think we should have kept Stans. Nada. I am just reminding you and your minions of the endless posts you guys made that we could get anyone we wanted and we would be instantly better because Rick would be out.
New Rick has his work cut out for him and I don't envy him at all.