Embarrassing…absolutely embarrassing. That’s about the only PG thing I can say about this game that I just witnessed. I went into the Hump hoping, no, praying for a sign of life from this team. Hoping that the win against Jacksonville on Wednesday would be the spark that the team needed to get back on track, and provide hope for the Bulldog faithful. Alas, I was let down by a Mississippi State basketball squad who gave up 66 points to McNeese State.
The Bulldogs gave up the first basket to McNeese State…then proceeded to give up a couple more baskets before scoring themselves. McNeese State took the lead, and never gave it up. Literally, the Bulldogs never even tied the score up. The Cowboys shot 56% from the floor in the first half, and ended the game with a 52% shooting clip. The Cowboys were also 8-17 from beyond the arc. Now let’s compare that to the Bulldogs’ numbers shall we? The Bulldogs ended up shooting 41.9% from the field and 4-15 from beyond the arc.
The Cowboys dominated every single statistical category team-wise. The Cowboys won the Free Throw shooting contest (75% to 58.3%), rebounding (30-21), steals (7-5), blocks (3-1), assists (15-6), and turnovers (8-10). But hey…we won the moral victory right? Nope…not even that. The team looks defeated. They’re acting defeated, they’re playing defeated, and they are just looking like they want the season to end. Honestly, I can’t blame them for that. But when a coaching staff has lost the team, there’s no real way to bring them back.
Rick Ray should stop reading right about here. That’s right, go ahead and just click that big X beside the article to close this window, because what I’m about to say will not be kind. Scott Stricklin, please continue reading and consider what I say with an open mind. It’s time to fire Rick Ray. I don’t care what kind of handshake agreement you had with him about letting him finish the season out, it is time. There is absolutely no excuse for what we have been seeing on the hallowed court of the Hump this season. This is a pathetic excuse for Mississippi State basketball, and I’m ashamed of the product that is being produced. Never in my lifetime as a Mississippi State basketball fan have I ever been as embarrassed as I am right now. That’s right, this is worse than the Hawai’i fight. Fan support is at an all-time low. Team morale is absolutely gone. Coaching is pathetic. The Hump is a shell of what it was. If I was a season ticket holder, I’d be asking for some money back from this season. That’s how bad this season is right now.
To all of the fans who have stuck it out this whole season, and continue to support the program as much as you do, I tip my hat to you. I tried as hard as I could to stay interested in this game. I really did try. But when you see the lack of fire, fight, or will in your team as they walk up the court and watch an opposing player dunk it, you’ve got to toss in the towel and say “I’m done.” Scott, consider this me throwing in the towel. I’m tapping out. I’m waving the white flag of surrender. Bulldogs fans deserve a better product than what they’re getting on the court right now from the Men’s squad and coaching staff. Honestly, this is pathetic, demeaning, and an embarrassment for all of those who have worn Maroon and White. We need a change in the staff. Not after the season, not next month, now. You hear what the fans are saying, are you going to listen to them, or turn a blind eye to what is going on with the team?
In closing, I leave you with some of the best tweets from tonight that epitomize what happened tonight.
IJ Ready says the team hasn't had one good practice since they've been back. Craig Sword said they aren't into it.
— Robbie Faulk (@robbiefaulk247) December 31, 2014
"It's like we take one step forward and two steps back."- IJ Ready. "We've got to have a meeting and figure that out."
— Robbie Faulk (@robbiefaulk247) December 31, 2014
Ray said that there are some fractures on the team. First two years they played hard and now they're not.
— Robbie Faulk (@robbiefaulk247) December 31, 2014
This team is done...literally. You can see the lack of fire and fight in their eyes. If I paid for season tickets, I would ask for a refund.
— Yacht Rock Gems (@yachtrockgems) December 31, 2014
This is who we lost to…
McNeese State is 5-5 with wins over Jarvis Christian, Southern, LSU-Alexandria, Louisiana College and UL-Lafayette.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) December 31, 2014
Nearing the end of the game, this told me all I needed to know about the state of the program.