CM expectations & Howland's results at Mississippi State...

Posted on: October 2, 2019 at 08:42:29 CT

As many of you know, Ben Howland is the guy I wanted in 2014 instead of Kim Anderson. Mississippi State subsequently hired him and he's done well there, despite it being an extremely hard place to win. IMO, his results at MSU are what we should expect from Cuonzo:

• Year 1: 14–17 (7–11 SEC)... substantially worse than CM's year 1
• Year 2: 16–16 (6–12 SEC)... similar to CM's year 2
• Year 3: 25–12 (9–9 SEC)... NIT (reached semi-final)
• Year 4: 23–11 (10–8 SEC)... NCAA Tourney

In year 3, Howland showed significant progress over the previous year by reaching the NIT semi-finals (and winning 25 games). MSU probably should have received an NCAAT bid that year based on their .500 record in a tough SEC conference. They also had a controversial loss to MU that season involving an apparent push-off and flop by Geist that negated a game-winning 3-pointer. I think if their name had been Florida or Arkansas or Missouri, they would have gotten in.

Anyway, if Cuonzo can have a year 3 like that, reaching and winning a few games in the NIT, I think that would be a solid season. Hopefully he can reach the NCAA tournament, but I think NIT should be the bar in year 3 considering what he inherited (same as Howland).