Heading to the Future: Mississippi State Basketball in 5 Years

Mar 15, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) holds up the SEC sign after the second half of the SEC Conference championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Kentucky Wildcats defeated Arkansas Razorbacks 78-63. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

Where Will Mississippi State be in the SEC Pecking Order?

Mississippi State in five years will have established itself as one of the top programs in the SEC. And much of it has to do with Ben Howland.

If you take a look at the coaching landscape of the SEC, and you tried to rank each coach, Howland would be in the discussion for number two, right behind Calipari. You might hate Calipari and be glad we have Howland instead, but almost no one on the outside looking in would try to argue Howland is the more accomplished coach.

But Ben Howland has closed the gap between the two significantly. Florida has now become a question mark since Billy Donovan left for the NBA. There are other quality coaches in the league, but Howland is an elite level coach, and the Bulldogs are about to embark on a wild ride which will see them catapult their way to the top of the SEC.

Next: Going Back in Time: 10 MSU Football Games I'd Like to Change