We Suck AGAIN!!!

Lets get right to the heart of the matter, the basketball team has fallen apart. They followed up an absolutely terrible performance against South Carolina with an even worse one against Ole Miss. The team showed little to no effort throughout the game, moved like they were playing in molasses, and refused to show any hustle whatsoever. From my perspective, it looked like they had just given up. That is absolutely unacceptable. If a team sucks but shows great effort and is giving everything they have on the court, then I'm willing to accept that. Sure it will be frustrating to see loss after loss, but at least the team is "playing hard", which I appreciate. Mississippi State has not been "playing hard" the last two games. I'm sorry, but MSU has more talent than both Ole Miss and South Carolina. The only explanation for the losses is they got outworked, especially on defense.

Which brings me to Charles Rhodes. Lets listen in.

"If I get the ball, these are the results you're going to get," Rhodes said Tuesday night after a 24-point, seven-rebound performance in MSU's 85-73 loss to Ole Miss.

What results Charles? Are you talking about how you become invisible when the other team has the ball? The fact you are non-existent as far as a defensive presence goes? Maybe you're talking about those 7 rebounds, which could have easily been 12 or more if you would figure out that there are in fact other essential elements to the game of basketball aside from scoring. Hey, let us not forget about the most important result, getting embarrassed by an inferior team. Amazing results Charles. What? You have more to say? Wonderful.

"They were just looking for me more, because if I get the ball more I'll do what I need to do," Rhodes said.

Oh I see. Does doing what you need to do include throwing up momentum killing threes? Does it include trying to beat your man off the dribble from the three point line only to travel? Does it include shooting 16ft shots instead of, oh I don't know, working inside on your man? Does it include treating defense like your own personal nap time? I know, you need to pout when you don't get the ball, because you sure aren't going to try and get an offensive rebound. Who has ever heard of a power forward doing that?

Then there is Dietric Slater. You may remember me sprinkling some praise on him in an earlier post. ....I take it back. He is a turnover waiting to happen. There, I said it. His defense is very good I admit, but what's the point when Mississippi is scoring 85 on you. How much more is the opponent going to score? Get some offense in there. Please.

Can't forget about this little gem I picked up.

"What bothers me most is the guy who claims to have a position of leadership, or the responsibility thereof, allows the impression to be given that he takes more pride in showing-off for a trio of Jackson buddies who don't even play on the other team any more, than he is concerned with his team winning games. He said it right there into my tape recorder, and I saw the face with the words.
Amazing. I'm seeing scary similarities to actions and attitudes that dominated the football locker room 2001-03. Some very tough decisions are going to have to be made by the staff that might make things worse before they can get better here. There's too much potential in the soph-freshman class to spoil things now for the future." ----David Murray

Oh my. In case you don't know, Rhodes is the one talking into his tape recorder. I cringe thinking about a comparison being made between the team and 2001-2003 football. Please do something Stansbury. If basketball slips off the map, there won't be anything left. Football is on life support and baseball.....WE SUCK AGAIN!! Picked last. Maybe they can pull the trifecta, last in the SEC in all three major sports. I can already see the banner hanging in The Hump.