game

[smu diamond m]

69-68 ponies

Posession to us

[smu diamond m]

71-70 were at the line

Knocked both down

[smu diamond m]

up by 3 :30 to go

Tx St just threw a brutal foul

[ponyplayer]

77-70, Derrick Roberts pulls it out.

[perunapower]

SMU pulls it out 77-70. Nailbiter. Shouldn't have gotten that close after that big of a lead.

[vismatt]

Nice win by the Ponies. I was glad to see them pull it out after losing the lead late.

I am really concerned about our lack of ballhandlers, and our slow developing out of bounds plays. I was frustrated all afternoon watching us try to get the ball inbounds. We sent one guy long every time (which takes him out of the play), and then had Killen coming to the ball and then Mike Walker coming off a screen set around the free throw line. The problem was if Killen didn't get open, Walker's move was coming too late, and we got hit with two 5 second calls.

I also am a little worried about how we move the ball up court after a made basket. I hold my breath every time Killen gets the ball and holds it for a few seconds before making his first move, and then as he steps over the mid court line about .1 seconds before we get called for a 10 second violation. We actually had two 10 second violations today. None of the guards seemed overly concerned as the clock was winding down. In a couple of cases, Killen actually went backwards as the clock ran down. I would prefer to see Walker or even Roberts handle the ball when we are pressured full court.

If we are having this much trouble with Texas State I am worried about how we will respond to the full court pressure of teams like Memphis. If I was another coach I would press us all day.

Hopefully we'll make some adjustments.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Killen stll scares me to death when he has the ball, he's still a disaster waiting to happen.

[mustangxc]

It appears SMU will only go as far as Derrick Roberts takes us. Whenever he shows up we tend to win and whenever he disappears, we lose.

[mustangbill67]

Harp had his best game so far playing 30 minutes. He will only get better and will be a very good player before he is finished. I guess Ritter gives us something on defense although he lives in foul trouble. He is clearly an offensive liability. Our guard play is of great concern especially handling the press. This cost us the lead and almost the game. It seems that no lead is safe with no one to step up and take control of the game. The remainder of the season is going to be difficult.

[beamout2000]

You guys played well. Texas State is young and still learning as you guys are. I think the future is bright for both teams. Unfortunately Texas State still fouls WAY too much and hasn't learned to hold a lead and finish. I think you guys have had some of those same problems this year.
Better bring your "A" game tomorrow because SFA is REALLY good.

[SoCal_Pony]

Our guard play is of great concern especially handling the press. This cost us the lead and almost the game. It seems that no lead is safe with no one to step up and take control of the game. The remainder of the season is going to be difficult.

Agreed, BTW, are any of our new signees known for their ball-handling ability?

[George S. Patton]

I think the DuBois kid is pretty good at it.

[mustangbill67]

another game we should have won. Now we are on the road to the middle of January.

[SoCal_Pony]

I think the DuBois kid is pretty good at it.

Let's hope so, between Harp, Malone, Walker, Roberts and Killen, we had 3 or 4 guards on the floor at the same time and could still not break a Texas State half-court press!!