Sweet 16 or Bust?

[Coach34]

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[Coach34]

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[Fletch Fletcher]

I voted no, simply because you can't predict the circumstances. See the UM team 2008-09.

 

[Afro Dawg]

I voted no because the Sweet 16 is nearly a year away and who the hell knows what could happen between now and then. We still have our best player in NBA Draft limbo, though I feel good about it.

 

[NavinJohnson]

...if Stans doesn't do it this year or next with sophomores Renardo Sidney and Shaunessey Smith and several talented juniors and seniors, then he'll never do it. Stans will have to recruit tremendous 2010 and 2011 classes to have more talent than he does right now.

 

[hankp]

Next years junior class could possibly be the most talented group of basketball players to ever come through the state of Mississippi. Stans will have plenty of opportunities to land some HUGE basketball recruits in 2011.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

How in the world could you leave off BriantheDawg?

You're slipping my man.....badly.

 

[Coach34]

frankly, I just didnt consider him to be significant enough to put on there...Cow and Hanmu have put in years of man-love to Stansbury and have earned their elite status

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

situation. The players look to be there, but the players and personalities also must fit together.

But, it looks good from here, for now!

Time for you to call for an X and O guy?

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Meo and Handmoo are Faulkner and Hemingway compared to Brian.

 

[BriantheDawg]

DawgatAuburn doesn't like me. How will I ever get to sleep tonight?

 

[whatever.sixpack]

My my, how far must we have come if we don't make the Sweet 16 and we're considered a bust and ready to fire the coach that didn't get us there.
</p>

How many of our other sports will EVER have the expectation to win the SEC and finish in the top 15 nationally? Basketball seems to set those expectations one out of every 3 or 4 years. Hell, Duke has 7 McDonald's All-Americans and they were elated to make the sweet 16 this year for the first time in 3 years</p>

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Otherwise, you care too much about me. Caring any at all about me is actually too much.

I don't dislike you Brian. Just don't always agree about Stans.

 

[patdog]

I don't give Stans as much credit as most on here do for the SECT title this year, and depending on what happens in the full season, next won't necessarily lose confidence in him if we have another great season and lose in the 2nd round of the NCAA next year. Tournaments, by their nature, are too random.

 

[BriantheDawg]

My expectations have risen now with this signing though. Next year needs to be the year - we really have no excuses for not making a deep run next season. None.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

There's your new sig quote.

My expectations have risen now with this signing though. Next year needs to be the year - we really have no excuses for not making a deep run next season. None.

 

[BriantheDawg]

No doubt about it. Will I think Stans should be fired if we don't get there? Hell no. That would be stupid as hell. But, should we make the run and get the in-state guys in the '11 class to commit, we could seriously be good for a good long while. Today's signing was huge!

 

[windcrysmary]

wool runneth over...

I like it...

 

[Hooston728]

Time for stansnancy to be a coach and not just recruit. Now or never

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

all the "luck" he has going for him.

 

[spacecataz]

No, because I don't expect a sweet 16. This has all the ingredients for a major upset. Somehow, someway, it will blow up in our face.

 

[seshomoru]

[No message]

 

[Hanmudog]

Call me a homer or whatever but we are freaking loaded with more talent than I can remember if Varnado comes back. I will be damn disappointed if we don't at least get to the Sweet 16 or further but the bottom line is that Stansbury put us in this position to have these expectations and if you look around Starkville these days at our success in sports then that should count for something.
Oh and Coach, you are a tool. The way you get a stiffy for Mullen and Cohen and then rip on Stansbury is some downright comical hypocrisy.

 

[Goat Kicker]

but amazing nonetheless.

 

[Hanmudog]

The biggest difference in the 96 team and this one is depth. From top to bottom this team has more talent but the 96 team did have a better starting five. Of course we are also comparing freshmen and sophomores to juniors and seniors right now. Who knows how well Ravern, Osby, and Bost will develop in addition to Sidney.

 

[8dog]

were much better than these guards on both ends of the floor.

 

[Hanmudog]

I would think when Dee gets to be a junior like Bullard was, then I would take Bost any day of the week. Obviously, Barry is no Super D. And again, I am talking about pure talent from the top starter to the end of the bench and not individual talent.

 

[8dog]

Williams was actually planning on 97 being the huge year b/c he thought he would have Dontae and Damp back to go with Bullard. And in the end, we lost all 3 of them.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Ultimately from the WSJ:

Until the NCAAs, Mr. Williams expected Mr. Jones to come back. He wasn't as sure about 6-foot-11 Erick Dampier, a soft-spoken junior center. Mr. Dampier was academically solid, but he had contemplated going pro after his sophomore year. Three weeks after Mr. Jones's announcement, Mr. Dampier left, too.