2004-5 and beyond

by **OldPony** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 12:40 pm

Recruiting so far looks very much like a Dement year. A project and top 5 Colorado player. I hope we still land a high talent Dallas area guy still but I think we'll need to see major differences on the court this year for the Tubbs connections to Dallas to really bring results. This group is as good of a team as we have had since Sasser's senior year (with a little better depth) so the change in philosophy needs to produce a challenge for at least an NIT bid to allow for some swagger and excitement in the recruiting process. I think this year is hugely criical for Tubbs and SMU. A tourney bid (even NIT) could really boost expectations for the program. Anything less will be difficult to overcome and progress will take a lot more time, I'm afraid.

by **Hoop Fan** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:56 pm

I do agree with you somewhat, but have some counterpoints too. Dermody sounds like a nice 3 Star player with at least one Big 12 offer, but I admit being a little surprised by the Colorado connection. My feeling is that given two similar players or even close to similar in talent, I would give the scholarship to a local or area kid. That builds a two way commitment to and from the local coaches. Maybe there arent any comparable players left in Texas, I admit to falling behind a bit on recent verbals.

Even so, I see some early differences between Tubbs first 3 recruits and Dements era: Ike and Bamba are supposed to both bring a shot blocking defensive presence in the post. Call Bamba a project if you will, but Dement never even signed a real center prospect until finally Rack. Tubbs has done more earlier. I think we have one scholarship left, might be wise to get a true point guard, although I think Gary Flowers would be my wish.

I agree this season is important. We should see the real Hopkins. If he is not healthy, explosive and in shape this season, he never will be. Even if he is not the same player due to the foot injury in hs, Tubbs should have him motivated and ready. We still have problems guarding the post against better teams. I don't know if that will change. I think the season will swing on how much Devon Pearson and Rack improve and the level of Hopkins explosiveness.

by **Charleston Pony** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 6:10 pm

couldn't agree more, OP. I've been pointing to Simpson, Castro & Isham's senior seasons as the time for SMU to finally see the post season, especially w/B-Hop now having 2 yrs under his belt and hopefully improved health. Those 4 guys can carry this team, but there's no question we need some production from Pearson , Rack and some of the other guys. I'm expecting this to be at least an NIY year for the Mustangs. Anything short of that and Tubbs is going to have his hands full.

P.S. A winning season is critical to finally putting more than 1500 butts in the seats at Moody, too. There is a lot riding on this season if we are going to be ready to compete in CUSA.

by **Stallion** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 8:50 pm

Dement signed at least 3 and I think 4 Centers who were higher rated than Bamba Falls by TexasHoops.com plus I've been assured that the Rack was one of the Top 15 Centers in America. Dement first few classes were much higher rated and he recruited generally much higher rated players than this including at least Sasser, Ross, Hopkins, Elsey, Willie Davis, Damon Hancock, Simpson, etc. The reason we aren't signing more DFW players is because the 7-8 quality players all turned us down. The guys we are committing now were not our first choices. Its too early to panic but let's be honest.

by **Hoop Fan** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 9:29 pm

3 or 4 centers? Who? Guys like DeWayne Floyd and Eric Castro are power forwards at the most. And more to the point, Dement never even brought in a defensive minded front court player of any kind in my opinion.

by **Stallion** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 9:40 pm

the 7-0 kid who had the major sinus surgery(brainfart), Michael Niemi, Bobby Holkan and DeWayne Floyd were all rated in the Top 20 by TexasHoops.com Top 20-22 or so. Floyd was a thicker than Falls and played Center. Ike was rated something like No. 62 in the state his senior year and the success he had in JC was a low level JC that didn't play at a very high level. Of course, I belive Ike has gained about 2-3 inches since his rating so he would probably would have been rated at his present height.

by **Hoop Fan** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 9:57 pm

Yep, Nigel Smith was supposed to be a center. But he was nowhere near 7 foot. Listed at 6'10, but looked more like 6'9. DeWayne Floyd probably did play center in high school but was nowhere near a college center. In fact, what he liked most was facing up for 3s. Niemi was thick and 6'8, but more of a true power forward, especially on defense. Just not tall enough or quick/athletic enough to make up for it. Bobby Holkan was long before the Dement era, in fact he was one of Shumates first classes.

by **OldPony** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 10:06 pm

Our big men or projects haven't panned out. Some will say it is coaching, others that we just didn't get good ones. The point is though that we had high expectations for Tubbs immediately because of his Dalllas connections. His first recruiting class looks little different than Dement's first one without him. I am not particulaly critical of this recruiting class but it isn't as good as many hoped. Is the Colorado kid from George Washington HS?

by **Stallion** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 10:16 pm

OK who was the 7-0 white stiff that was in the Niemi class-I thought it was Holkan but maybe not-he was rated pretty darn high. At least Texas Top 18 or so.

by **OldPony** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 10:21 pm

I believe you are talking about Jon Forinash

by **jtstang** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 10:32 am

Stallion wrote:Dement signed at least 3 and I think 4 Centers who were higher rated than Bamba Falls by TexasHoops.com plus I've been assured that the Rack was one of the Top 15 Centers in America. Dement first few classes were much higher rated and he recruited generally much higher rated players than this including at least Sasser, Ross, Hopkins, Elsey, Willie Davis, Damon [deleted], Simpson, etc. The reason we aren't signing more DFW players is because the 7-8 quality players all turned us down. The guys we are committing now were not our first choices. Its too early to panic but let's be honest.

As long as we're being honest, why don't we acknowledge it was Tubbs' efforts that landed those recruits, not Dement. I think we are much better off with Tubbs at the helm than before, both for future recruiting and for something that we never saw emphasized with a Dement team--defense.

by **OldPony** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 10:57 am

Then let's say Tubb's assistants have landed these recruits. The head coach gets the credit or the blame. Recruitng this year looks very much like Dement's classes since Tubbs left. Coincidence?

by **Charleston Pony** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 1:12 pm

Let's face it. We got B-Hop because we were willing to offer Ryan as part of a package deal. If and when we start winning and attracting 7500 fans to Moody, we might be able to get some higher rated guys interested. Nobody should underestimate how tough it is to sell a guy on SMU as a place to play when the usual 1500 show up to support them. These guys have egos and like to be appreciated for their efforts.

by **Pony_Fan** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:08 pm

Bring on the hoops. Another abysmal Fball season. The competition is stiff again so it's going to take a good team effort to pull a lot of W's. I expect we won't see any 40 point losses to Rice at least.

by **Hoop Fan** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 8:31 pm

Stallion wrote:OK who was the 7-0 white stiff that was in the Niemi class-I thought it was Holkan but maybe not-he was rated pretty darn high. At least Texas Top 18 or so.

That "stiff" was Forinash. And thats really my point, I don't expect Tubbs to bring in any stiffs regardless of rankings. Nothing against Forinash, he was a good kid and played hard.

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