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I was thinking that the standard for the basketball program sits a few hundred yards to the southwest of Moody/Crum, and that the goal for SMU basketball should be to be a serious contender for every (or nearly every) Dallas-area recruit. But is this reasonable? I remember being told, at some point during the LB era, that basketball recruiting is by its very nature more of a nationwide affair.

Thoughts?

There are many ways that lead to success. We simply need a plan and effort. Larry showed that SMU can land some of the best recruits in the midwest and that translated to wins and attendance. Dykes has shown that SMU can be perceived as Dallas' team and that has started to translate into wins, recruiting, marketing, and hopefully attendance soon. SMU basketball doesn't have to attract the best basketball players from Dallas to get where we want it to be, although that would be very helpful given how much talent there is in the area. We just need a coach that is more engaged, more driven, and makes it happen. It all starts with having an aggressive young staff that is connected and can recruit.

I think in basketball you just take the best players you can get, period. You’re only signing a couple guys per cycle, it’s not like football where you need to fill out a 25-person class.

Dallas guys would be nice, but our track record there has been pretty spotty. Remember 2015 with Gilder, Tyler Davis, Jawun Evans, DJ Hogg, Elijah Thomas, McQuaid and Grindstaff? We went 0-fer that cycle despite being at the height of the LB era (although we still made out alright with Shake and Jarrey). Oh well, at least we landed Keith Frazier and the Mudiay brothers from DFW!

Dave Bliss' strategy when he arrived was for SMU to recruit one of the top Dallas area kids every year and it worked pretty well for him with guys like Reggie Pink and Carl Wright jump starting things to the point we had more recognition/success nationally...until Larry Johnson was denied admission and the wheels fell off.

Carl Wright was so good.

ponyboy wrote:Carl Wright was so good.

He really brought high flying excitement to Moody. Could have put a great highlight reel together on just his back door slams.

Georgetown which is very similar to SMU in its student body make up became the hoops favorite of the DC area. Lots of inner city schools had kids with Georgetown hats on. Very few DC players.

Speaking of Georgetown, did you see that McClung is heading to Lubbock? Pretty amazing what Beard is doing there. He’s Austin bound as soon as Shaka’s time is over.

Charleston Pony wrote:Dave Bliss' strategy when he arrived was for SMU to recruit one of the top Dallas area kids every year and it worked pretty well for him with guys like Reggie Pink and Carl Wright jump starting things to the point we had more recognition/success nationally...until Larry Johnson was denied admission and the wheels fell off.

When we inevitably make the change in our program it would be great to bring in a visionary like Dave Bliss again.

Great years in Moody!

LA_Mustang wrote:Speaking of Georgetown, did you see that McClung is heading to Lubbock? Pretty amazing what Beard is doing there. He’s Austin bound as soon as Shaka’s time is over.

Lubbock.

F’king Lubbock.

Ain’t exactly Westwood or Chapel Hill. Ain’t even Spokane or Gainesville. Yet Beard can turn over a roster every season. He can recruit and coach a team in a manner that kids will bite their bullet and go there for a year or three to further their basketball career.... their future.

It’s just sad that can’t happen in a sports town like Dallas.

Fire him.

It can happen in Dallas and should. I’m really hoping there’s a plan in place and all that’s required is a little patience.