Ben Hansbrough Transfers to Notre Dame

Its the offseason for basketball, and at MSU that means somebody is going to be transferring. This year it is starting guard Ben Hansbrough. He cited Mississippi State's lack of a practice facility as a major factor in his decision. Now, I am 100 % confident the lack of a practice facility was a factor in his decision. I am also 100% confident it was not the only factor. What else led to his decision we don't know and we will never know.

Hansbrough averaged 10.5 ppg and was the team's leading free throw shooter at 78.9%. With him gone, MSU will have one proven outside shooter next year in Barry Stewart. That's not good. Now there are some other guys with potential, i.e Ravern Johnson, but they have yet to show it on the court. I'm not one to sugarcoat, but even if I wanted to there isn't any way to put a positive spin on this transfer. It hurts. Mississippi State is going to have an extremely young and unproven lineup yet again next year. It looks to be ugly.

Looking at the big picture, this trend regarding transfers is becoming disturbing. I don't know what is going on inside The Hump, but something needs to change. You just cannot have multiple players leaving the program every year, it destroys the program's stability. I realize transfers will happen, but not at this rate. It has gotten so bad, I honestly feel fortunate that only one player decided to leave the team this year.

I like Rick Stansbury as the coach, really I do. He has done a very good job, especially given that he has been working under an athletic director that refuses to support him. However, he needs to make some changes to his program. I don't know what needs fixing and I don't know what needs to be done, but these transfers have to stop. Maybe he promises recruits the world, maybe he gives preferential treatment to some players, heck maybe it has just been the Jamont Gordon effect. Whatever is going on, if it isn't corrected, Mississippi State will never be a real player on the national stage.