State competing in the SEC

[Maroon13]

The most disheartening aspect of last football season, now basketball and probably baseball .......is the lack of size and speed between us and other SEC teams. You can see the size difference from the stands as they are standing there on the field and court. Then the gap in athleticism becomes very evident as play takes place. Baseball......it is a talent issue, PERIOD......this team can't hit. SEC pitching with dominate them.

Anyways.......what's the problem? I am sure it has always been this way to a certain extent.....but it seems since NIL.....we are slipping down the ladder in talent with each passing year. I didn't think that would happen with baseball......I was worried about football.

Or maybe it is the football coach's revolving door that set football back. Maybe it is one terrible baseball coach. Will Coaching stability/change alone help those two elevate the talent pool in Starkville? Regardless, it better get done or football is going to be the same ole same ole. Baseball will be lucky to win one sec series and 9 SEC games.

I think basketball is what it is. Very tough to attract big city talent to a rural school. Jan's is doing about all that can be done.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

The most disheartening aspect of last football season, now basketball and probably baseball .......is the lack of size and speed between us and other SEC teams. You can see the size difference from the stands as they are standing there on the field and court. Then the gap in athleticism becomes very evident as play takes place.

This is easy. I'll outline each sport individually below.

.....I was worried about football.

Or maybe it is the football coach's revolving door that set football back.

In football, we certainly have an NIL problem. We don't have the critical mass of either overall fans, or big donors, to make a dent. We're going to have to just accept this. We are going to have to do less with more, and this will take an overall plan for the program, and a commitment to that plan. Recruiting and scheme wise. And yes, it will need to be an 'against-the-grain' niche on offense, and piling our best MS-grown talent on defense. NIL will need to be spent on retaining our own guys who have proven they could play.

I think basketball is what it is. Very tough to attract big city talent to a rural school. Jan's is doing about all that can be done.

Some of that is true about big city, but I don't think that's a limiting factor. Doesn't hurt Alabama and Auburn. I think the bigger problem is that we can't seem to consistently attract crowds. But we have the NIL support to get good players and coaches. And we can't really compare ourselves as far as overall program strength to Alabama and Auburn at the moment because they are just ahead of us in program development as their coaches have been there longer. So we just need to keep a good coach and let him operate. Don't think too much here......like we did with Stansbury......just be happy with what we have if it's marginally successful.

I'd also focus on going on the road in November and December, playing in bigger cities and neutral sites, and other areas where we can get alumni crowds, play as hard of an OOC schedule as we can. Most of our fans would rather deer hunt than watch basketball in November and December. Then, when the students are back in full swing in January, SEC play starts. We will be battle-tested as well.

Baseball......it is a talent issue, PERIOD......this team can't hit. SEC pitching with dominate them.

We have no NIL issue in baseball, we absolutely can compete there. Our current problem is Lemonis' recruitment, he chases the wrong things. It's more prevalent in our hitting, because he's more involved with that, and less so in pitching, since he largely delegates that. Both the X/Os and the recruiting.

So that sums it up. We need a direction like this from the very top. But unfortunately a large portion of our fans and leadership are trying to throw all NIL at football just because Ole Miss did. We'll end up average at best in everything, but more likely crappy in football, and average in basketball and baseball.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

We are not even competing with Sunbelt schools in Baseball right now.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

We ended up being pretty good in baseball last year and were borderline for hosting. While we've had hitting issues recently, I'm not giving up on baseball already.

 

[8dog]

Our baseball coach stinks. So there’s one easy answer. I’d take any coach in the sec over him except maybe the Mizzou guy.

 

[Anon1728174187]

We are not even competing with Sunbelt schools in Baseball right now.

Don’t worry! The sunshine pumpers will be here to tell us all that we lost to two top 25 teams and every thing is great. That we lost to mid week teams and lesser teams in the past. Then went on and had a good season.

Losing to mid major teams is not my problem. It is the fashion we lost. We couldn’t even score one run vs USM and yet ole miss scores 15 on the same team. Losing to Troy our hitting again was just terrible. We have bases loaded twice and don’t score one run. One of those bases loaded was with just one freaking out. We have at least one massive hole in our hitting lineup and these coaches keep trotting him out there to strikeout, ground out or pop up for a sure out and rally killer. We had a bunch of hits but left 12 runners on base. You will never convince me that these sunbelt teams are no way as talented as the SEC we will face.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

We ended up being pretty good in baseball last year and were borderline for hosting. While we've had hitting issues recently, I'm not giving up on baseball already.

With the money we pour into baseball, lower tier SEC is not acceptable.

 

[bulldoghair]

With the money we pour into baseball, lower tier SEC is not acceptable.

This is why we shouldn’t be putting any money into baseball. Or basketball. We should consolidate here at State with what resources we have and go all in for football, the sport that actually makes money.

 

[Podgy]

I don't know how we can expect to compete with the likes of baseball powerhouses like Troy for good hitters.***

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Don’t worry! The sunshine pumpers will be here to tell us all that we lost to two top 25 teams and every thing is great. That we lost to mid week teams and lesser teams in the past. Then went on and had a good season.

Losing to mid major teams is not my problem. It is the fashion we lost. We couldn’t even score one run vs USM and yet ole miss scores 15 on the same team. Losing to Troy our hitting again was just terrible. We have bases loaded twice and don’t score one run. One of those bases loaded was with just one freaking out. We have at least one massive hole in our hitting lineup and these coaches keep trotting him out there to strikeout, ground out or pop up for a sure out and rally killer. We had a bunch of hits but left 12 runners on base. You will never convince me that these sunbelt teams are no way as talented as the SEC we will face.

To be fair, we just didn't get the runners in vs. Troy, and 2/3s of that was on Hines, our supposed high draft prospect. So we did play better there.

AND.....both USM and Troy were good teams.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Our baseball coach stinks. So there’s one easy answer. I’d take any coach in the sec over him except maybe the Mizzou guy.

Stinks is false. He's average. You don't win a national championship if you stink. Even with another coach's players/culture.

I will say that last year is about the best you can hope for, barring a miracle run, which will be averaged out with a terrible year. Like I've said many times, Polk II territory.

 

[ETK99]

The most disheartening aspect of last football season, now basketball and probably baseball .......is the lack of size and speed between us and other SEC teams. You can see the size difference from the stands as they are standing there on the field and court. Then the gap in athleticism becomes very evident as play takes place. Baseball......it is a talent issue, PERIOD......this team can't hit. SEC pitching with dominate them.

Anyways.......what's the problem? I am sure it has always been this way to a certain extent.....but it seems since NIL.....we are slipping down the ladder in talent with each passing year. I didn't think that would happen with baseball......I was worried about football.

Or maybe it is the football coach's revolving door that set football back. Maybe it is one terrible baseball coach. Will Coaching stability/change alone help those two elevate the talent pool in Starkville? Regardless, it better get done or football is going to be the same ole same ole. Baseball will be lucky to win one sec series and 9 SEC games.

I think basketball is what it is. Very tough to attract big city talent to a rural school. Jan's is doing about all that can be done.

We should've beaten Alabama and Kentucky earlier, we just missed shots. We're competing fine in the SEC in basketball. Road wins are hard to come by and we've got a few of those. So this one is nonsense with basketball. We just aren't playing well as team.

 

[GloryDawg]

Baseball looks bad right now. If I remember correctly that it did at this time last season. Hopefully he can turn things. I am really down on Selmon and his inability to get things going well. He is over his head. I don't think he knows how to have a sit down with coaches and tell them what is what. We are heading into a dark period for Miss State sports.

 

[ETK99]

We are not even competing with Sunbelt schools in Baseball right now.

A couple close games isn't close? It's the coaching and lack of development and a couple lazy recruiting years for them too. It's time to clean house in baseball.

 

[8dog]

Stinks is false. He's average. You don't win a national championship if you stink. Even with another coach's players/culture.

I will say that last year is about the best you can hope for, barring a miracle run, which will be averaged out with a terrible year. Like I've said many times, Polk II territory.

Anyone can have some level of success at state. So we will just have to agree to disagree. He stinks. He’s built an incredibly soft program after he inherited one of the toughest programs in the country.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

With the money we pour into baseball, lower tier SEC is not acceptable.

Yeah, I have no idea the money we put in relative to other teams in the SEC, but I agree that we should expect to perform around that level if we’ve putting in more than most of the rest

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Yeah, I have no idea the money we put in relative to other teams in the SEC, but I agree that we should expect to perform around that level if we’ve putting in more than most of the rest

Though I’ll add that we were 17-13 in the SEC last year and clearly not lower level. That’s after losing to a bunch of ****** teams early

 

[$altyDawg]

At what point did the University decide that we just weren't going to play defense in any sport? Last year in football was the worst by far I've ever seen, and in basketball we've given up over 200 points in the last two games. Opposing teams shoot as high a 3 point percentage against us as we shoot free throws.
Dang, it's always been frustrating watching us lose, but this feels more like falling off a cliff.

 

[Anon1666368914]

We should've beaten Alabama and Kentucky earlier, we just missed shots. We're competing fine in the SEC in basketball.

However we lost both games at home and go back and look... I said we lost both games and it was because of talent deficiencies.

Alabama is a final four team, or talented enough. State is a ncaa team. Nothing wrong with that, point is we are way below them in talent.

 

[onewoof]

Our team is noticably slow out of the gate. Seems like that may be the culture that starts at the top. Just kinda gather and slowly get out of bed and wake up to start the season.

And online we instantly overeact and panic that we will lose every game remaining.

But clearly. Clearly we look at a baseball season as a marathon and not a sprint. And when we start the marathon, we start off sleep walking and unfocused, haphazard, dazed and play way below our capabilities. Because in reality, we are not really mentally on the field yet. That will take a few more weeks. There is a pattern here with the start of the baseball season. It is very clear. Last year was worse, but you see similar tendencies this year as well. Not ready to play ball yet.

I am not sure we will ever witness the baserunning mistakes we saw last year again. That was one of the most brainless things I have seen in MSU sports in a while. Really any sport.

 

[HomeBoyDawg]

To me it starts with leadership. Hopeful that Selmon will start showing his worth. This is how I see the coaches...

Baseball - Lemonis should have been fired 2 seasons ago. He "earned" this season by improvement last season. I really hope things turnaround this season or he should be fired.

Basketball - Jans is a really good coach and we've had really good (not great) teams under him. I'm good with that.

Football - Still optimistic about Lebby but need to see improvement this year which doesn't necessarily mean a winning season and bowl game. Sort of feel like football the way I feel about basketball--strive for a really good coach and really good teams (average 8 wins/4 losses and a bowl game).

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

To me it shows there's a lack of accountability in our athletic department. Coaches aren't going to bow to fans' criticism online. There has to be some sort of corporate accountability structure inside the institution.

 

[Maroon13]

Baseball: A great point was made about starting slow. And I've heard (not sure how true) but the relaxed atmosphere of the baseball program, I think it is a HC problem.

However I think currently we are under talented at the field positions. Which goes back to recruiting. Which goes back to the HC too.

 

[POTUS]

Every dollar spent on baseball is a wasted dollar. One Final Four appearance is worth more than 10 CWS appearances. If we want to grow our school's athletic program, focusing on sports that receive almost no attention nationally is not a winning strategy. A good football and basketball team will make the baseball team better because more eyeballs and money will be on our school if we succeed in those sports. We could win 3 CWS in a row, and it's worth little more than a pat on the head.

 

[o_HuntDawg]

Our baseball NIL isnt as strong as some think its good, but not in the top 5 of the SEC.. and the bottom/middle half of the SEC is starting to catch up with it as well.

We've been outbid for the big portal guys on a consistant basis.

 

[o_HuntDawg]

Anyone can have some level of success at state. So we will just have to agree to disagree. He stinks. He’s built an incredibly soft program after he inherited one of the toughest programs in the country.

agree totally on this. The man plays favorites and the culture has changed. He cant handle or manage the name brand talent IMO.

 

[Anon1728174187]

I have no insight to the athletic department or have connections. Just an avid bulldog fan. From outside looking at our athletic department we don’t have a leader that demands excellence in anything. Sure we make the tournament in basketball and lose first round. We don’t even make or come close to making the playoffs in football. Girls basketball is not good. Baseball gets in regionals but doesn’t get to Omaha. Mediocrity is the standard.

 

[maroonmania]

To be fair, we just didn't get the runners in vs. Troy, and 2/3s of that was on Hines, our supposed high draft prospect. So we did play better there.

AND.....both USM and Troy were good teams.

Last year proved he is not a draft prospect at all. If he was he wouldn't still be here. Can nobody convince him to move slightly off the plate? I've never seen a hitter continually jammed like he is.

 

[onewoof]

Our baseball NIL isnt as strong as some think its good, but not in the top 5 of the SEC.. and the bottom/middle half of the SEC is starting to catch up with it as well.

We've been outbid for the big portal guys on a consistant basis.

Thank God Griffin from Jackson Prep did not go to LSU like Skenes did.... https://www.wlbt.com/2025/02/24/konnor-griffin-impresses-mlb-debut/

Also, how did Georgia sign this pitcher from Virginia? GEORGIA...

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

The most disheartening aspect of last football season, now basketball and probably baseball .......is the lack of size and speed between us and other SEC teams. You can see the size difference from the stands as they are standing there on the field and court. Then the gap in athleticism becomes very evident as play takes place. Baseball......it is a talent issue, PERIOD......this team can't hit. SEC pitching with dominate them.

Anyways.......what's the problem? I am sure it has always been this way to a certain extent.....but it seems since NIL.....we are slipping down the ladder in talent with each passing year. I didn't think that would happen with baseball......I was worried about football.

Or maybe it is the football coach's revolving door that set football back. Maybe it is one terrible baseball coach. Will Coaching stability/change alone help those two elevate the talent pool in Starkville? Regardless, it better get done or football is going to be the same ole same ole. Baseball will be lucky to win one sec series and 9 SEC games.

I think basketball is what it is. Very tough to attract big city talent to a rural school. Jan's is doing about all that can be done.

Maybe some of the fans in the LFL could feed some of OUR OWN players for a while***