SMU-CU gamethread

[KnuckleStang]

I like the way we're battling tonight. Wish we could get a defensive stop at all. Still well within reach w/ 5 mins left.

[George S. Patton]

Well, we lost, 63-52 and dropped to 6-7. Missed some 3s inside four minutes to cut it to six.

We did cut it to 58-52 on a Fall 3-point play, but then had to foul.

Thought the defense was much better in the second half. Shooting was just bad. Thought the effort was there. Roberts did not play well.

The signature play was when Killen went for a layup and had Fall right next to him. He didn't -- and should have -- dish and went out of control and missed the layup. That would have cut it to six. Buffs go down and score and lead goes back to 10.

Now, it's on to CUSA play. Pray for 4 conference wins to get to 10 for the year.

[Treadway21]

And then he threw the next one away. He does some good stuff, but other stuff that will drive one crazy.

[papawasamustang]

It seems like every game we have a 10 minute period of time where we go stone cold & can't put the ball in the hole or have a string of turnovers & can't even get a shot. Tonight it cost us toward the end of the first half & the beginning of the 2nd half.
I thought the freshman played pretty good with Malone leading the way. Roberts & Kileen really struggled.

Ball handling continues to be the major problem. Also, we had a huge size advantage & didn't take advantage of it. CU has no inside game & they are going to get killed in conference play.

The team played ok against a CU team that is very beatable.

[Hoop Fan]

Colorado is not good at all. be surprised if they win one, much less two Big 12 games. We made a few shots to start the game, but other than that it was pretty ugly. Uncontested shots all over the floor on defense and a bunch of horrible, I mean horrible turnovers on offense.

[mr. pony]

And then he threw the next one away. He does some good stuff, but other stuff that will drive one crazy.

When CU made its 23-4 run in the first half, SMU had about 4 turnovers in rapid succession.

[papawasamustang]

While watching the game last night, I knew that our 2 senior guards were really struggling. I didn't realize they were a combineed 4 for 21 shooting.
Their lack of shooting & their poor ball handling skills are really hurting this teams development. They are suppose to be our leaders.
I really expect more out of them than what we are seeing.

[George S. Patton]

Here's the boxscore,

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_ ... x_Colorado

And papawasamustang,
You and I have probably been to enough games to know that what we see from Killen and Roberts handling the ball is what we're going to get. Jon can only dribble with one hand. He constantly picks up his dribble far too early and IMO doesn't have the ability to dribble penetrate. In fact, I have seen little dribble penetration this year, where you kick to shooters.

And sometimes, we have passed up open looks long enough to draw the defender to where we have to give up the shot and pass.

I think Walker can be the guy to dribble penetrate. That has to be an important part of your offense.

Again, 10 wins is where it's at this year.

[papawasamustang]

General,

I was very disappointed to hear about Rhodes.
I really wanted to see him contribute this year. This is a guy that was recruited by Kansas & UCLA.
I thought he would be getting some of Killeen & Roberts minutes.

I do hope that Ritters minutes are reduced & Malone & Dia get the majority of them.

The past 2 years we have been the worst D1 ballhandling team I have ever seen.

This has to be corrected by next year or we will go through the same thing again.

I do like the 4 freshman though. I think the future is very bright.
Once the ball handling issue is resolved this team has a chance to be special. However, that's a major issue.

[Pony_Fan]

Roberts - what can you say? Awful night. We need him for pts. every game. We have no Ike this year. These scoring droughts are atrocious. Backdoor cuts, alley oop to Fall, anything to get it in...ridiculous.

[EastStang]

We knew going in that the upperclassmen were marginal talent wise. They work hard, but they are should be spot starters and depth players not everyday starters and they've been forced into that role. We knew the freshmen had some learning to do. Anyone who thought they were going to be good this season is really not looking at reality. They are making strides to becoming a legitimate Division I basketball program. This is their growth year. I suspect that come conference tournament time, they'll be surprisingly better and the upperclassmen will be in the roles they were meant to be in.

[Hoop Fan]

We knew going in that the upperclassmen were marginal talent wise. They work hard, but they are should be spot starters and depth players not everyday starters and they've been forced into that role. We knew the freshmen had some learning to do. Anyone who thought they were going to be good this season is really not looking at reality. They are making strides to becoming a legitimate Division I basketball program. This is their growth year. I suspect that come conference tournament time, they'll be surprisingly better and the upperclassmen will be in the roles they were meant to be in.

what strides are you referring to in particular? you keep talking about how surprising this team will be come tournament time. don't see it so far. We weren't playing Kansas last night, we played a poor Colorado team who didnt have a guy over 6'7 and had a freshman or two on the floor themselves. That Levi Knudson kid made several shots, didn't turn the ball over, played smart. He is a freshman. outplayed all of our freshmen.

[Hoop Fan]

something else, Dia, Walker and Rhodes are not true, wet behind the ear freshmen. Besides the 13 games they have played so far, these guys are older and went to top prep schools that should have prepared them for at least the pitiful schedule we are playing. Just because these guys are freshman doesn't mean you shouldn't see some serious flashes that last more than a minute or two if they do really have "it". You really see Walker as the point guard of the future? I don't see the speed or smoothness. Rhodes wasn't able to get off of Doherty's bench hardly at all, and is now injured. Harp has a long way to go. Malone is closer. Dia is fairly effective, but he ain't 18 years old folks. We'll see what the upside is. I was disappointed last night, because I don't really see a spark or momentum building as we head into conference play. You know it when its there.

[Hoop Fan]

didnt realize it but Higgins, CUs point guard, is a freshman as well as Knudson. played 36 minutes, had zero turnovers. Silas, one of their scorers who had 15 last night is a sophomore. We aren't the only team with young players.

[papawasamustang]

Hoop Fan,

Very good points.

I think from reading most of the posts here that everyones expectations are pretty low.
The expectation level should became higher & higher as the season progresses as the players mature & start feeling more comfortable iwith their roles in the system.

My expectation level is that I expect more than what I am currently seeing. I expect to see better ball handling & fewer turnovers.
I expect to see a better fg% & I expect us to out rebound the majority of teams we play, especially a team like CU last night. And last, I expect to see smart BB. We recruit smart kids but I swear we make more stupid mistakes than any team I have seen in a long time, including HS.

We should be playing better than we are right now.