Daily Campus article on bball

[carolsmu]

http://media.www.smudailycampus.com/med ... lisher.com

Men's basketball underway
Garland named new assistant coach
Jordan Hofeditz, Sports Editor, [email protected]
Issue date: 9/27/06 Section: Sports



The SMU men's basketball team held an open practice this Saturday and the turn out was impressive. Head coach, Matt Doherty, was pleased with the attendance, especially on a football Saturday.

It was only the fourth practice for the Mustangs so far this season. The NCAA allows two hours of practice time a week, which Doherty breaks into two one-hour sessions.

The Mustangs have two big men who patrol the middle. One is 6-foot-11 Lithuanian senior Donatas Rackauskas. Doherty notes the advantage of "having someone who can open up the floor with outside shooting." While 7-foot-1 Senegal native sophomore Bamba Fall, according to Doherty, his strengths come from "blocking shots and low post scoring."

Leadership is often focused on the guard. For the past four years that leader was Bryan Hopkins. But now with Hopkins graduating, "Jon [Killen] has emerged as the leader at the guard position with Dez [Willingham] coming in second."

Last week Doherty made Mike Garland his assistant head coach. Garland previously coached at Cleveland State and assistant coached at Michigan State. Doherty said he wanted someone with head coaching experience and Garland has that. Garland was the head coach at Cleveland State for three years where he helped turn the program around. Garland inherited a Vikings team with a record of 8-22, after a hard first year dropping to 4-25, Garland lead the team to a 10-18 record in his final year.

Garland also has experience in a major conference and championship experience. Garland assisted Tom Izzo at Michigan State for seven years. Doherty likes Garland's "Final Four experience under Izzo at Michigan State." Doherty also said Garland brings something new to the coaching staff at SMU.

The basketball team will have its Tip-off Dinner on Oct. 11, with former All-American Jon Koncak speaking.

Then the Mustangs will open up the season with an exhibition game against Houston Baptist on Nov. 4.

[friarwolf]

Anybody else find it interesting that Doherty has moved Killen ahead of Willingham?????????

[The Falcon]

Killen may be the best defensive player on the team.

His heighth - 6'4" helps him to see the floor better (Dex is probably
5'10" or 5'11 at best)

My guess is that Doherty will focus more on getting the ball inside
to Bamba, Rack, and Pearson. And, Killen may be the best suited
for hitting the bigger people.

Also - Dez seemed to play very well coming off the bench and may give
us an energy spark when it is needed.

It certainly would be nice if Epps could regain the 3 pt stroke that he had
in Jr. College in Atlanta. He was hitting 53 percent from the field and 57 percent from three-point range in his 2nd year. He could be the one
to keep defenses from collasping on the big men.

If I had a particular suggestion to offer this team it would be for Pearson
to stay around the basket more - he could be the scoring leader is he would concentrate on rebounds, tip-ins, and garbage baskets. He is a
fierce rebounder and needs to stay away from the 3 pt shot - he is not
consistent from outside. Funny how the smumustangs.com survey on who
would emerge as our star this year - left Pearson off the choices. In my
opinion he is a warrior and could be that emerging star.

As Dandy Don used to say - if "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts,
we'd all have a Merry Christmas. I hope we do. Call me a sunshiner -I always get this way before the season starts.

[MustangIcon]

As Dandy Don used to say - if "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts,
we'd all have a Merry Christmas.

A good one I have heard is "If my aunt had a ___ she'd be my uncle." I guess that one is more suited for the adult ponyfan crowd.