Thoughts on Houston Hiring Dickey

[Charleston Pony]

It wouldn't hurt to get bigger crowds in Moody as well. Our attendance really hurts us when we recruit locally.

Agreed. Doherty himself said SMU needs to average around 4,500 to bring in top players. But how will SMU get anywhere near that point when they can't break 14 wins? The schedule isn't full of top 25 schools, so what is supposed to get that many people interested in attending?

P.S. When was the last time SMU averaged 4,500 in attendance for basketball?

I'd have to look that up but probably back before the death penalty and de-emphasis of sports at SMU

[PonyDoh]

This team is a roster overhaul and a new coach away from 18-19 wins, plain and simple.

I'm not buying it, but let's assume for a second that the new kids are a significant upgrade in talent over the past 4 or 5 classes. What has Doherty shown, and be honest...what has he shown that gives you any hope he knows how to deploy talented players?

This team wasn't that far from 18 or 19 wins this year. See College of Charleston & UAB, just to name a few. Some make it seem like we were blown out every single game. This is a matter of getting some more capable size, a PG, and continually adding skill(passing, shooting). This isn't some massive rebuild, it's a team that has a few glaring holes that need to be filled, then needs to gel early. You can't find your way after the OOC anymore.

[dcpony]

PonyDoh, you're hilarious. The way you write about next year is great. I can't wait to see the schedule Doherty puts together with all of his talent coming in. We should be a shoo-in for the field of 96, lolz. If SMU was serious about hoops and being top 25 program Doh wouldn't schedule the likes of USC-upstate, Stevens Inst. of Technology etc... The problem is we get beat by those teams. If SMU is going to get beat I'd rather see it get beat by champs and power teams from the mid-majors. Don't tell me SMU could not games get with Butler, Vermont, St. Mary's, Gonzaga, Xavier, Richmond, Temple, Cornell and Lehigh etc...
Also there two ways to win in college basketball today. 1) You do the AAU thing. SMU can't or won't do it. 2) Systems. i.e. winning with decent talent, excellent coaching and execution i.e. "The Butler Way, " Princeton, Richmond, St. Mary's etc... It seems to me Doherty doesn't have a system and can't get talent.

[CA Mustang]

It wouldn't hurt to get bigger crowds in Moody as well. Our attendance really hurts us when we recruit locally.

Agreed. Doherty himself said SMU needs to average around 4,500 to bring in top players. But how will SMU get anywhere near that point when they can't break 14 wins? The schedule isn't full of top 25 schools, so what is supposed to get that many people interested in attending?

P.S. When was the last time SMU averaged 4,500 in attendance for basketball?

I'd have to look that up but probably back before the death penalty and de-emphasis of sports at SMU

The answer is the '86-'87 season. Though Dement's '01-'02 squad did average just over 4k.

Highest average overall attendance was in '61-'62 with '84-'85 close behind. However in virtually every season, the average for conference games was far higher than the overall average.