Not Good in Springfield

[ALEX LIFESON]

We also beat SMS in the 2000 regular season, by 10 or 12 points on an nuetral court.

[The XtC]

The court wasnt neutral. It was an in-season tournament, but SMS was the host.

[mustangbill67]

Maybe its because they support their teams a great deal better than SMU does? Perhaps its because they have a very different atmosphere and attitude towards competition. All those great extra curriculars you mentioned are sometimes referred to as "Distractions."
In Springfield, SMS is the only game in town, and draws a great deal of support from the local community, both in terms of attendance, but also in corporate/commercial sponsorships. After the mens team played up there I had to listen to Dement rant for half an hour about all the things they had that we didnt (private plane for recruiting, full gym for every game, better student spirit groups, bigger budget, etc, etc.)

The SMS women have been a strong program for a long time, and succcess has bred more success. They consistently draw well, and the combination of a successful team and community support has helped them maintain their level of play. Looking down your nose at them because your ego wont allow you to accept something, isnt productive.

This has nothing to do with ego. I did not attend SMU as an undergraduate. As a law school graduate in the 1960's I began supporting SMU simply because I grew to love the school and Dallas. Nor is SMS the only game in Springfield. Across town Drury University is one of the strongest Div II programs in the country in all sports, has a beautifull campus, has well attended athletic events and is a very classy and high academically rated school. Drury does well because it has a lot going for it. No I did not attend Drury. SMS is basicly a commuter school with a sprawling campus of nondescript buildings. Yes they get good attendance at their games but basketball is big in southwest MO. My observations simply pertain to why SMU with all it has going for it does not fully compete with the SMS's of the world at least in basketball (we did dominate them in soccer as I recall).

[EastStang]

Hey Billy boy, don't call me out about the next level. The next level is qualifying for the NCAA tournament and winning CUSA. I don't care if we play Sam Houston, SW Missouri State, or who it is along the way. I thought my message was one of encouragement. "You had a great season, you've tasted the NIT. Now go out and build on what you've learned to take your game to the next level and the team to the next level".

[mustangbill67]

I think we have beat this topic to death.