It might be coming from the blue nation, but at least someone is talking SEC basketball. I think it will take the full summer of digesting the roster to get a feel for what direction our team will head. But for now, it could help us get through the summer.
Mississippi State will contend for top honors in the West. If you will notice, in my earlier evaluation of the West, I had Mississippi picked to win the league. I have changed my mind on that. Judging from the tenor of Jamont Gordon's remarks, I expect him to stay in the draft. If he does, the two Mississippi teams will likely fight it out for second place in the West. MSU loses Charles Rhodes to graduation in addition to the likely defection of Gordon, but has a nice stable of players and some excellent recruits coming.
Rick Stansbury has done a very good job of coaching this team, and I look for the Bulldogs to once again compete for the West. The loss of Ben Hansbrough does not help their outside shooting, but the addition of Demarquis Bost and Romero Osby will more than make up for his loss. My pick as a strong second in the West.
Acts 27:25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
20 comments:
Of course this guy picked UK to win the East and the overall title. However his analysis of the west is fairly good despite him giving us the benefit of the doubt that Osby and Bost will come in ready to play. Regardless I think that we have slowly ascended to the point that most people will remember Stansbury's consistency during his tenure.
I hope that Varnado is able to pickup his offensive game.
captaindawg
Mississippi State Basketball is on the move. Also, Stansbury and staff are doing a very good job.
Is it about time that we move a notch above consistency? We'll see. Could be 09-10 before we see that though. We should sit alittle back farther in our seats this season and expect alittle differt next year.
We have a solid, if not spectacular, core of Varnado and Stewart coming back. The key is going to be the remaining pieces that surround them. When Varnado played as the only post along with four guards he did fine. The key will be someone getting him the ball in a position that allows him to score as he has not shown to be as adept as Rhodes in creating his own shot.
I hope that Bost can step in at the point and that someone other than Stewart is able to back him up and let Stewart concentrate on his offensive game. A perfect scenario would be for Bost and Beckham to be able to man the point and Stewart and R Johnson be able to concentrate on the wings.
Further there are several candidates for the other post position. Going by Coach Stansbury’s normal pattern the starting position will likely go to B Johnson.
My guess for the starters and subs would be:
1- Bost
2- Stewart
3- R Johnson
4- B Johnson
5- Varnado
Backups
1- Beckham, Stewart
2- Bost, Turner, Beckham, Benock
3- Holcombe, Stewart
4- Osby, Augustus
5- Bailey, B Johnson
captaindawg
Kodi Augustus has a lot of talent. Very good shooter.
Riley Benock can flat shoot. Solid skills.
Benock can shoot if the ball makes it out of his hands!
Bost & Beckham/Beckham & Bost
Defense.........Early last season, Mississippi State appeared to have serious issues defensively. They didn't give up and continued to improve. The coaching staff(didn't give up/kept coaching) helped to get the team(did'nt give up/responded) to playing outstanding defense last season. They can help make this years team outstanding on defense. Also, outstanding defensive coaching, SWAT, lots of talent, outstanding atheletes, Ect. Word from coaching staff member(interview) is that Mississippi State is expecting to very good on defense again.
SWAT
SWAT - (n) a person
SWAT - (v) the act of swatting.
SWAT - (adj) the sound of one swatting.
SWATTAGE - a unit measure used to describe SWAT's SWATS.
Dr. SWAT
Gregg Ellis links to this story on his blog about a 4 star in TX who has MSU as his top choice for now.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news?slug=rivals-219313&prov=rivals&type=lgns
6-8 290 lbs Oak Hill player from Houston, TX. Nice to be mentioned among some pretty good basketball programs.
Keith Gallon- Big/Very Talented.
I'm talking SEC basketball, too!
Make sure ya don't leave me out....check out the site, if you haven't already!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2008 SEC/BIG EAST Invitational.......Dec. 16 at Nashville's Sommet Center and Dec. 18 at Cincinnati's U.S. Bank Arena(ESPN and ESPN2).
Tennessee, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss(SEC). Marquette, Cincinnati, South Florida, and Louisville(Big East).
Dec. 16(Nashville)- Vanderbilt plays South Florida and Tennessee plays Marquette.
Dec. 18(Cincinnati)- Mississippi State plays Cincinnati and Ole Miss plays Louisville.
That's a good tournament against some good teams.
Wouldn't it be nice if MSU could advance to play UL and get a chance to say hello to Reggie D?
Who in their right mind put us up against Cincinatti and Ole Miss against Louisville?!?!?
Give me a break.
Dee Bost can flat play.
Dee Bost
Post a Comment