We Need To DoThis!

[50's PONY]

Posted on Wed, Oct. 08, 2003



TCU INSIDER
Basketball teams finally get a place to call home
By Damien Pierce
Star-Telegram Staff Writer


STAR-TELEGRAM/JEFFERY WASHINGTON
Work has begun on an all-basketball facility at TCU, a building men's coach Neil Dougherty says could be a tool in recruiting.


Calendar

Shortly after arriving on campus as the men's basketball coach in March 2002, Neil Dougherty was eager to start his new gig and begin off-season practice sessions.

There was just one snag.

"We were kicked off our home court for two to three weeks because high school graduation was using Daniel-Meyer Coliseum," Dougherty said. "We've had different conflicts like that where there has been a student function or something else using our court. We've had to go to the student recreation center and practice while students were on the court adjacent to ours, and we've practiced off campus. It wasn't fun, and it can be hard to get things done when you're working that way."

That's about to change.

After years of scheduling conflicts and headaches, the school has started construction on a $6 million basketball practice facility that could be completed in time for the Conference USA women's basketball tournament in March.

The 22,000-square foot complex, which is being built on the old baseball field adjacent to Daniel-Meyer, will house office space for the men's and women's coaching staffs, meeting rooms, a weight room and -- most important -- two full-size practice courts that will be available to the school's teams 24 hours a day. Dougherty calls it "Gym 7-Eleven."

The building should provide a boost in recruiting and offer the Horned Frogs a permanent home without the pain of having to reshuffle a schedule.

"It's a tremendous aid in the critical development of a player," TCU women's coach Jeff Mittie said. "We've always been locked into a three-hour practice schedule with the men coming onto the floor right after us. So if a player wanted to stay longer and shoot extra, they really couldn't in the past because another team needed to practice. When this new facility is here, players can stick around and come and go as they please."

TCU athletic director Eric Hyman bounced around the idea of building such a facility several years ago but had other ongoing projects to complete.

After finishing developments for the baseball and women's soccer teams, Hyman and the athletic department shifted their focus to basketball.

The project won't cost the university anything and was paid for through fund-raising by the athletic department.

"This facility makes a huge statement to the commitment we have toward our basketball programs," Hyman said.

With the new building, TCU becomes a viable host for college, high school or Amateur Athletic Union basketball tournaments.

Recruits also are taking notice.

"It obviously isn't going to be the deciding factor on whether a recruit comes here, but now it's in the conversation and it raises their interest," Dougherty said. "A potential recruit and their family can see our commitment level and what we're trying to build here, and they can see something that's going to be available to them while they are here. It helps."

It's also not so bad to have a place that is always going to be there.

"For 365 days a year, there is always going to be a place for the team to practice," Mittie said. "It's going to help with a lot of different things, but that's the biggest thing."


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Damien Pierce, (817) 390-7760 dpierce@star-telegram.com





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© 2003 Star Telegram and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.

[Casey]

You're right - we DO need to do that. Our football stadium really underscores just what a dump Amon Carter is, and I believe it has helped Coach Bennett and his staff in recruiting. And not to speak badly about Moody, because I love Moody, but the last thing we need is for the little froggies to get a leg up on us because they have a better hoops facility.

[PK]

Great idea. Your donations will be greatly appreciated. Make it big enough and they will name the new facility after you.

[Greenwich Pony]

Well, we did build Ford stadium, and I hear that they are going to overhaul Dedman Center. Once the conference situation is straightened out, I cannot imagine that Moody Coliseum improvements and a basketball facility of some sort wouldn't be on the AD's list. Don't they mention plans for Moody in the Commitment. After all, we're SMU Mustangs fans... we should be committed...

[abezontar]

Dedman Center isn't part of the atheletic department, it has taken them over 10 years to finally get the board to agree it needed to be upgraded (the last major renovation was in the 70's or 80's), and even then they wouldn't divert any of the money from the capital campaign for it, instead the students are going to have to endure a 1.5% additional tuition increase. I really doubt that is the route you want to go with Moody unless you want it to take equally as long.

<small>[ 10-09-2003, 02:10 PM: Message edited by: abezontar ]</small>

[DiamondM]

It is my understanding that part of Dedman Center expansion, maybe not the first phase but eventually, will be practice facilities for the teams in Moody. The renovation of Moody itself cannot begin until such facilities are available. Ground breaking on the new Dedman Center annex is set to begin in the spring last I heard.