When Ben Howland was hired a few weeks ago to lead Mississippi State’s basketball program, my first thought was to the 2015-16 season. With a handful of seniors it was supposed to be Rick Ray’s best team – so just how far could Ben Howland push them?
My answer to that under Coach Ray would have been to the NIT. My answer under Coach Howland is still probably the NIT, but maybe they’d reach 20 wins.
Then comes the issue of Malik Newman. Did MSU stand any chance to sign him with Rick Ray as the coach?