Dawg83 Posted May 21, 2023 Share Posted May 21, 2023 Tolu Smith just announced he will be back at State for one more season. Huge news. State may be a preseason Top 25 team next year. They bring back almost every major contributor from last year’s team and majorly upgraded their backcourt talent this offseason. Notably added a transfer guard from Marshall, Andrew Taylor, that averaged 20 points a game last year. Going to be a lot of in state hype about basketball next year between State’s situation and Ole Miss bringing in a new coach who, as embattled as he is off the court, is admittedly a very good basketball coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 I agree that State should be preseason top 25 this coming November, but I wouldn’t depend upon the major sports networks getting onboard with that line of thought. I don’t even think they have State in the projected field of 68. I think that just shows how credible they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldogs4 Posted May 22, 2023 Author Share Posted May 22, 2023 Basketball is one of those sports where rankings don’t matter. Your play on the court takes care of that. With coliseum being newly renovated and some momentum building with both the men’s and women’s teams, basketball could be fun this upcoming season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 2 hours ago, maroontide06 said: I agree that State should be preseason top 25 this coming November, but I wouldn’t depend upon the major sports networks getting onboard with that line of thought. I don’t even think they have State in the projected field of 68. I think that just shows how credible they are. I think some of that was Tolu wasn’t projected to be back at one point. Now that he is, and now that State has added to their backcourt like they have, I can’t see how State wouldn’t be a projected tournament team next year. Will McNair probably transfers now but they brought in West Virginia’s starting center from the portal to back up Tolu. This team should absolutely shoot the ball better than it did a year ago. If they still defend like they did last year, you’re talking about a group with a pretty high ceiling. As in could be one of the best teams in the SEC if they stay healthy and newcomers live up to their billing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSTSatchmo Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 On 5/21/2023 at 10:54 PM, Dawg83 said: I think some of that was Tolu wasn’t projected to be back at one point. Now that he is, and now that State has added to their backcourt like they have, I can’t see how State wouldn’t be a projected tournament team next year. Will McNair probably transfers now but they brought in West Virginia’s starting center from the portal to back up Tolu. This team should absolutely shoot the ball better than it did a year ago. If they still defend like they did last year, you’re talking about a group with a pretty high ceiling. As in could be one of the best teams in the SEC if they stay healthy and newcomers live up to their billing. Has State added any dependable 3 point shooters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 2 hours ago, MSTSatchmo said: Has State added any dependable 3 point shooters? State added Andrew Taylor from Marshall. I think he'll wind up being like a Shane Power. So yes, I think State has addressed that need and there's probably someone from the recruiting class that can shoot the 3 as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSTSatchmo Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 35 minutes ago, maroontide06 said: State added Andrew Taylor from Marshall. I think he'll wind up being like a Shane Power. So yes, I think State has addressed that need and there's probably someone from the recruiting class that can shoot the 3 as well. I knew the Marshall guard had a good ppg average and the MRA kid is the leading scorer in MS history, but not all scorers are shooters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 10 hours ago, MSTSatchmo said: I knew the Marshall guard had a good ppg average and the MRA kid is the leading scorer in MS history, but not all scorers are shooters. Taylor is a career 36% shooter from three so he should be fine. They also added a JUCO guy (Trey Fort) that had a monster year in terms of scoring, also a good shooter. Granted, I know JUCO competition in basketball is hit or miss. But Fort seems like he could be a dynamic player that they didn’t have last year. I think they’ll be a better shooting team by default, they can’t possibly get any worse. Lol. But there’s a chance they are a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSTSatchmo Posted June 1, 2023 Share Posted June 1, 2023 OM has been picking up some needed spots in the portal plus Murrell is returning. They got Flannigan from Auburn after hiring his dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted June 1, 2023 Share Posted June 1, 2023 3 hours ago, MSTSatchmo said: OM has been picking up some needed spots in the portal plus Murrell is returning. They got Flannigan from Auburn after hiring his dad. His dad was an assistant at State under Rick Ray. Never thought he was a bad coach but you wouldn’t know based on how much of disaster State was at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted July 7, 2023 Share Posted July 7, 2023 Sad to hear that former State women’s coach Nikki McCray-Penson passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was only at State a year, but from all indications was a very good person. I know she had a young son as well. Prayers for her family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted July 7, 2023 Share Posted July 7, 2023 24 minutes ago, Dawg83 said: Sad to hear that former State women’s coach Nikki McCray-Penson passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was only at State a year, but from all indications was a very good person. I know she had a young son as well. Prayers for her family. Yes that is sad and Johnie Cooks passed away yesterday as well. Prayers for both families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 I don't know if you can gauge anything by it, but State has been impressive against these teams in Portugal. The Portugal teams may not be very good, but it's kind of refreshing to see the shooting by State. I feel like they'll be an exciting bunch to watch come November. I certainly don't think the extra practices and these games hurt anything at all. I think they'll help this team in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldogs4 Posted July 31, 2023 Author Share Posted July 31, 2023 Agree. This was an ideal year to have the international trip with some games against other squads. Also a great trip for the players (probably or possibly a once in a lifetime type trip). Basketball wise, this should be a big boost for the team to gain some more cohesiveness with the new players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted August 1, 2023 Share Posted August 1, 2023 I think this State team has a chance to be special, if the defense continues to hold up and the perimeter pieces they added live up to the hype. I’m really excited about Andy Taylor. And former Ole Miss signee Josh Hubbard has a ton of potential. Adrian Myers is someone I expected to redshirt but he has looked like one of State’s best players on this trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted August 2, 2023 Share Posted August 2, 2023 9 hours ago, Dawg83 said: I think this State team has a chance to be special, if the defense continues to hold up and the perimeter pieces they added live up to the hype. I’m really excited about Andy Taylor. And former Ole Miss signee Josh Hubbard has a ton of potential. Adrian Myers is someone I expected to redshirt but he has looked like one of State’s best players on this trip. When your bench can outscore your starting lineup, that’s a good problem to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted August 3, 2023 Share Posted August 3, 2023 On 8/1/2023 at 7:53 PM, maroontide06 said: When your bench can outscore your starting lineup, that’s a good problem to have. As much as the offensive issues got brought up last year, a big part of that was State’s bench gave them very little all season. I don’t think that will be the case this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 Haven’t seen it discussed yet but Tolu Smith hurt his foot in practice and is likely out until January. Tough blow for State, will have to gut out the nonconference schedule without him. They did bring in West Virginia’s starting center via the portal so they may not be in awful shape at center, but he’s no Tolu and they’ll have to play a little differently for roughly the first half of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted October 17, 2023 Share Posted October 17, 2023 (edited) SEC preseason polls came out today, State picked to finish 7th and Ole Miss picked 10th. I need to hold on State for a bit until I see what they look like without Tolu and also when/how strong he’s able to come back. Absolutely think this should be an NCAAT team though. Jans is a high floor coach, the ceiling is what we have yet to determine. If everybody is healthy I think this is a Top 25 team, though. I think Ole Miss will be much improved. Beard obviously has the personal stuff that has been a problem and say what you want about that, but from a purely basketball standpoint he’s one of the best minds in the game right now. I mean he’s just a few years removed from coaching a team that lost in overtime of the national championship, and the team he assembled last year for Texas was good enough to make it to the Elite 8 (he didn’t coach them most of the year, but still his roster). Edited October 17, 2023 by Dawg83 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 State 31 USM 27 Half Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Shawn Jones hurt his ankle and he looks like he’s in some kind of pain. Hopefully it’s not too serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldogs4 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Share Posted October 29, 2023 State with a tough 60-54 win. Obviously it was an exhibition game but still was a good win on road against a good team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 1 hour ago, Bulldogs4 said: State with a tough 60-54 win. Obviously it was an exhibition game but still was a good win on road against a good team. USM was definitely scrappy. Glad I got to see this one in person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 State was without several guys today. I know it technically doesn’t count but USM won their conference last year so beating them with a short handed roster is positive thing for sure. Season opens a week from Wednesday against Arizona State in Chicago. Big game right out of the gate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg83 Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 State crushing Arizona State in the season opener. It’s one game but this has been really impressive. Defensive intensity from last year is still there, but tonight they’re actually making shots too. Definitely looks like a deeper team this year, they’re doing this without several key players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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