STARKVILLE — On paper, Rick Ray’s third season as coach of the Mississippi State men’s basketball team was worse than his second.
The Bulldogs won 13 games this season, down from 14 a year ago. They also failed to win a Southeastern Conference tournament game for the first time in Ray’s tenure.
But the players already are looking forward to Ray’s fourth season in charge.
“We want to play in March, in the NCAA tournament,” said sophomore guard I.J. Ready. “We fell short this year, but I think we can make it next year. We have to work on our individual games and our team game so we have that camaraderie we need to make it.”
For the third time in three years, Ray failed to lead his Bulldogs to the postseason. In a year that saw MSU lose eight of its last 10 games and endure multiple losing streaks of at least five games, the postseason remained out of the team’s grasp. So why do MSU players feel the program is so close to getting back to the postseason?
The answer is they believe in Ray and consider him the right man for the job.
“When he was recruiting me, I saw how hard his team fought,” MSU freshman Demetrius Houston said. “He only had six scholarship players, but they played harder than anybody. I wanted to be a part of that, and I still do.”
Junior Travis Daniels agreed.
“They were fighters,” Daniels said. “I saw a guy with a coaching style that I liked, and he still has a great coaching style. His players will fight for him, and that’s what we are doing right now.”
The Bulldogs (13-19, 6-12 SEC) have yet to enjoy a winning season under Ray. This season, he set a high-water mark for conference wins after winning four and three games in the league in his first two campaigns. But eight days removed from the season finale, a 74-68 loss to Auburn in the SEC tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, Ray looks destined to return to Starkville for another season. MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin hasn’t spoken publicly about Ray’s job status, but there has been no indication that the administration is contemplating a change. Ray said as much at the SEC tournament.
“I’ve never had any situation at all from the administration that they are displeased with where we are at this point in time,” Ray said. “I know everybody wants to be more on the fast track. I’m sure the administration wants the same thing, but I think those guys believe in me.”
While the wins have been slow to arrive, MSU’s players believe in the direction of the program. Six of MSU’s SEC regular-season losses this season were by six points or less. Five of them were against teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament.
Daniels feels this season still can lead to big things down the road.
“I think this was a learning year,” Daniels said. “I think we will be more experienced next year. We’ll have more depth. The experience will be carrying over to next year. Our season didn’t pan out the way we wanted to. I think we learn from this.”
Plenty returning
All but two of MSU’s top nine scores this season figure to return next season. Only seniors Roquez Johnson, who averaged 9.3 points per game, and Trivante Bloodman, who averaged 3.8, will graduate, which will leave Ray with his most experienced group. That will include the leading scorer Craig Sword, a second-team All-SEC performer, who averaged 11.3 ppg. despite suffering lingering effects from offseason back surgery.
“I think we will have some very good pieces next year,” Ray said. “This process has been long, but a guy like Craig Sword, having him back for his senior year will mean so much to this basketball team.”
MSU has other reasons to be optimistic. Houston, an athletic 6-foot-7 swingman, emerged down the stretch, scoring at least seven points in four of his last six games. He also stepped up as the most physically gifted Bulldog, a small forward with the ability to finish effortlessly at the rim.
“The game slowed down for me,” Houston said. “At first, everything we going 100 mph, but now I think it’s making a lot more sense.”
Ray figures to return four starters, including former Starkville High School standout Gavin Ware, MSU’s leading rebounder, junior Fred Thomas, Sword, and Ready. Houston and freshman post players Oliver Black and Fallou Ndoye also are expected to be back.
After starting the season 5-0, MSU lost its next five games and finished 7-7 in non-conference play. The Bulldogs then averaged only 61.2 ppg. in the SEC, the 13th-best total in the 14-team league. To a man, though, each Bulldog polled about the offseason was excited about the team’s possibilities next season.
“I still think we have a ways to go, and I think we’re all disappointed with the fact we’re not where we want to be,” Ray said. “But I think what we’ll see is that progress really come to fruition next season.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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