Doherty finally shakes that black sheep feeling

[indianmustang]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/colleg ... 34741.html

[PonyDoh]

that's a heavy article and fairly well done. I'm cheering for Doh to turn this around b/c he's still very young, and the new staff could be dynamic. That said, if Doh doesn't work out, I put the blame on Orsini. What that article clearly expresses is a man that was destroyed by his time in Carolina. That sort of situation clearly takes time to recover from, and we jumped in w/two feet, like that slump buster you nail on the rebound, after your life partner dumps you. Orsini should have known his head wasn't right, and wouldn't be right for years.

Something like this happened at Maryland after Lefty Driesell and Len Bias. The Terps brought on a high school coach, who was a wicked recruiter, but didn't know how to handle a program of that size and media glare. Simply, the AD and network around the program didn't give him the support he needed to really succeed. It's strange to hear Doh say they never told him to keep the UNC staff, and that had they mentioned it, he might have kept Ford. That just seems like a lie, or a major communications gaffe.

There are kids Doh won't recruit at SMU b/c they have 'Rashad McCants' style parents etc. It's tainted everything he does, and Orsini should have known that. Beyond that, Orsini should have set up a search committee or hired a hoops industry consultant. The Mob Boss is celebrating a great victory in June Jones this week, and I thank him for it, but he and he alone, didn't understand the Pony hoops position. Doh should have been told he had to keep parts of the staff at Carolina, and he should have been told he needed a strong local bench w/many AAU ties at SMU. Left on his own, he hires his own people for the good or bad, and we should have provided the appropriate guidance. Unfortunately, Orsini was new as well, so it's water under the bridge.

What I don't want to see here is what happened at Carolina. Fire the guy this year after a 15 or 16 win year, w/his best recruiting class coming in and what looks to be a good '11. At Carolina, the whole league knew they would have gone to the tourney had Sean May not been hurt. They were on their way, whether it was Doh or Roy. Simply, they had a bunch of big mouth players/parents that Doh couldn't control and Roy could. Talent they had to infuse b/c Gut couldn't recruit. As for Julius Peppers and Ronald Curry not playing, they were both prepping for the draft. Joe Forte was and is a complete and total [deleted], Ask Morgan Wooten

I feel bad for Doh, cause I always hate to see any man's dream crushed right in front of his eyes, especially in such a brutal and public manner. That said, he came to Chapel Hill like he was their first choice, not the result of a completely botched search. He should have bowed down and showed humility, b/c 'family' is the only thing that matters at Carolina. As a Maryland guy, it's something Dean/Roy/Gut did well to cultivate. We don't have that at Maryland b/c half the players love Gary Williams, the other half hate him. I actually get the feeling some will come back after he retires.

[Charleston Pony]

good read; we all know Doherty is pretty intense. You have to assume that, given time, he will recruit a team that will take on his personality. I'd like to see a team with that kind of intensity on the floor representing SMU.

We've still got a long ways to go in 2009-2010 and agree next year's incoming recruits look like upgrades from the group he inherited. I'm waiting to see some of that "refuse to lose" attitude on the hardwood at Moody

[PonyDoh]

good read; we all know Doherty is pretty intense. You have to assume that, given time, he will recruit a team that will take on his personality. I'd like to see a team with that kind of intensity on the floor representing SMU.

We've still got a long ways to go in 2009-2010 and agree next year's incoming recruits look like upgrades from the group he inherited. I'm waiting to see some of that "refuse to lose" attitude on the hardwood at Moody

It really is strange. You'd think a disciplinarian would have teams that demonstrate better team play. Heck, some complained about players lacking conditioning, and you know that's not the case. This program, going back to Dement, needs to really pay attention to assistants. We turn too many over. Some cohesion would go a long ways.

[Hoop Fan]

i don't know, i don't see much intensity from Doh on the sideline. He's basically been docile so far this year. Maybe he should flip it around and relax some in practice and crank it up for games. Get on the refs once in awhile.

[that's great raplh]

right on

win win win

no excuses

[ponyinNC]

doh is a bad memory for us north carolinians...seems he still sucks

[Z1]

PonyDoh wrote -

There are kids Doh won't recruit at SMU b/c they have 'Rashad McCants' style parents etc.

What I don't want to see here is what happened at Carolina. Fire the guy this year after a 15 or 16 win year, w/his best recruiting class coming in and what looks to be a good '11. At Carolina, the whole league knew they would have gone to the tourney had Sean May not been hurt. They were on their way, whether it was Doh or Roy. Simply, they had a bunch of big mouth players/parents that Doh couldn't control and Roy could. Talent they had to infuse b/c Gut couldn't recruit. As for Julius Peppers and Ronald Curry not playing, they were both prepping for the draft. Joe Forte was and is a complete and total [deleted], Ask Morgan Wooten

[/quote]

I can't agree more with these statements. I'm also sure that there was more to the Roy and Doh meeting because Doh had to know more than what has come to light now. He was too close and his whole distaste for the way he was fired has been repeated several times. What could [deleted] " The Gonadinally Challenged One " do but let Doh go. The timing couldn't have been better for him or Roy Williams to seal the deal and Doh's fate. What with Forte, McCants, and May(acting like cry babies all the time), the secretaries (whining cause they didn't want to learn how a 20th century CPU works), and the Politically Oriented Moeser spewing " the experience counts at UNC" , the parents trying to coach the team and Doh on how to play their kids, and the overall politically correct -don't spank or curse at our kids- mentality , I'd have fired myself if I was the coach too. Roy just stepped into a primo spot with people who wanted him and a situation that was primed for a championship run.

Had Badduer had any "sperical additions" between his lower limbs he would have put the kids and parents on notice-told them to shut up or leave like he did for Roy and ended that crap immediately. If a kid can't can't take a tongue lashing from Doh then why- as a person- would he take one from Roy. Roy's been known to spew the verbage as good or better than most. Roy was given the authority to do what was necessary to end the petty BS as evidenced by the lack of parental news quotes and player dissatisfaction there after.

One thing I reallly liked about the article, was the section about Roy kicking McCants off the bench. That is pure gold. Nobody deserved it more.

As for May. His lackidasical efforts in college has extended into the pros. I never saw a player with his intolerance for guidance or direction and such a high rate of bench inducing ailments.

In regards to Roy. I lost all respect for him after Matt was let go. He should have never went back to UNC after having such great success at Kansas. He had a heck of a legacy going and would have had building named after him, but he comes back not when UNC needed him the first time but rather when a "family member " is in need of support and his job is on the line. Then he takes the job.


Now that's family for ya.

z

[Erion]

"Intense coaches" cant handle "intense players". Intense players bring an attitude that generally conflicts with the intense coach's attitude/process. Help me out if you can think of any scenarios where those types of personalities were successful on the court. JohnThompson/Pat Ewing...but how often does that come around? Especially difficult in the abbreviated seasons/careers of college hoops.

Each coach needs to find the type of player that fits their coaching style. Not just athletically, but emotionally as well. Rompola took a minute to adjust after Newlee departed...tried her hand at several players that were above average athletically...but didnt fit her style...and the program suffered...dam near lost her job. She's since got her groove back and the program is full of players who respond to her style of coaching.

SMU will not compete with high majors for talent...but there is PLENTY of midmajor talent out there for the taking...just gotta pick em better. Put a system out there that supports the oncourt talent. DEVELOP players once theyre in house. Then we can compete with everyone on sched but Memphis. Looks like the next class is shaping up...for Dohs sake they better respond. In the meantime...get some stoppers in on D and move the ball on O!

[Hoop Fan]

the energy better change quickly or its too late for Doh. I just hope with JJs clear success that Orsini will be comfortable enough now in his own position not to have to be a hero and go solo on the next hoops hire. Take some insight and advice this time and not just from big $$ boosters. Form a real search committee. I nominate Ponydoh, Erion, and Prof Hamilton to start with.

[Erion]

You nailed it HF! Basketball people should make basketball decisions.

There's too many "Hoops for Dummies" cheat books out there. No shortcuts. Honestly and realistically evaluate the current and preferred state of SMU hoops.