Assessments from the season opener

[Pony Up]

Savannah State is a ridiculous team and didn't provide much of a test for the Ponies. So, with that out of the way:

~ This is Quinton Ross's team. He was amazing Friday night. He was "feeling it" with his shot - 15 of his 21 points came on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the three-point line. And it looked like he has a little more Sasser swagger in him than we thought the last two years - there were several times he drilled a three (and also following a sensational double-pump dunk) when he schooled an opponent and then told him about it. Looked completely comfortable when he ran the point instead of Damon Hancock. Big year for Q this year.
~ Hancock had a strong game, but it looked at times like he didn't trust the new guys - he forced some shots. Played terrific defense, as always, and shot well. Got a technical foul for mouthing off to an opponent, then nearly got another for hanging on the rim when he stole the ball right after he got his T and drove in for a serious slam. Very impressive.
~ Patrick Simpson is going to be great. Looked a little nervous at the beginning, but showed some really nice moves, blocked a couple of shots (he's listed at 6-9, but plays taller -- has very long arms). He's going to be a star, no question.
~ Kris Lowe had a great game. There were times last year when he looked scared or lost when he got the ball. But he looked really comfortable last night, and shot well.
~ Jibran Kelley got a scare when he was knocked out cold by what looked like an accidental elbow. But when he played, he was good. Drilled a three-pointer (when did he become a long-range shooter?) and seemed very mobile and active, considering he had a strained knee in the offseason. Nice game in limited minutes.
~ Eric Castro looked more mobile than I thought he would. You wouldn't think he's a great athlete just looking at him, but he's pretty quick for a big man. Could be a solid addition for the Ponies.
~ Billy Pharis ... didn't look mobile. At all. His first shot was blocked by a guy seven inches shorter than he is, and it looked like a chore for him to get up and down the floor. Hopefully that will change as he continues playing.
~ Justin Isham (a.k.a. J-Ice) looked impressive. In warm-ups, he dropped down a dazzling windmill dunk that brought gasps from the crows. Got visibly more comfortable as the game went on. Didn't shoot much, but handled the ball pretty well and looked very quick on defense. Could be the prize of the recruiting class, after Simpson.
~ Brian Miller was hard to assess - he missed both exhibition games with ankle sprain. But looked fairly confident in his playing time, and he shot well.
~ Three-headed inside monster was capable, if not overpowering (which actually was a concern, since SSU had absolutely no size.) Nigel Smith clogged things up nicely inside, sterring penetrators to the outside with his size alone. Mike Neimi was a workhorse again, and got screwed twice by the refs when he appeared to have clearly established position, only to get called for blocking fouls each time. Jon Forinash seems to have slipped in the rotation - didn't get in until there were about three minutes left.
~ SMU's two practice players, Ryan Hatch and Michael Dement, Jr., were OK in garbage time. Dement rimmed out a three-pointer and seemed confident on both ends of the floor, if a bit overmatched physically (and in quickness). Hatch was active on both ends of the floor, but may have had jitters -- when a rebound came his way and he was all alone, he threw up a 12-foot jumper from 7 or 8 feet away. The ball sailed way over everything. But the word is that he's a very good shooter, so now that he has that unguided missile out of his arsenal, he could be a valuable shooter in garbage time.

See all the PonyFans Sunday afternoon when we sink Navy!

[91Stang]

Thanks for the information. Hard to get SMU hoops news up here in hockey land. Keep it up.

[H-E-B Mustang]

Additional Comments:
~ Q has obviously been working on his shooting. Previously his shot had a very flat trajectory and hit the rim hard. Last night his shots had a good arc and a soft touch. He will see his shooting percentage increase significantly because of this.
~ I really liked the attitudes of Patrick Simpson and Eric Castro. Those guys looked like they wanted to be there and they came to play. Neither looked like a freshman in his first college game.
~ Justin Isham is a tremendous athlete. I agree with the comments above about his defense and ball handling. He appears to have all the skills to be a solid player.