DMN: No reason SMU, TCU shouldn't be dancing in March

[Cardinal Puff]

pretty much with ponydoh and calallenstang on this one. In a way the goal JJT set for men's basketball at smu is what we have for women with the recruiting Rhonda has done-yet we are not on the national radar.

[FriscoPMG]

I like how he says he can't be convinced that it takes 5 years to turn around any program and then hails Scott Drew as a success story.

When did Scott Drew finally finish above .500? Year 5.

You can't make stuff like that up. Thanks, JJT, for a great laugh.

Yes, record-wise it took until year 5 to get over .500, but the improvement was very noticeable at Baylor during those 5 yrs. Unlike Doh, Drew truly took a program that had hit rock bottom and managed to get recruits there (yes, most likely in a very shady fashion, but it's only cheating if you get caught!) and now they're a legit program. Plus his record includes going through a tough Big 12 schedule every year.

His year 5 turn around is a far cry from Doh's teams sputtering along for 3.5 yrs then finally showing some signs of improvement towards the middle of year 4 and the coach proclaiming that he has finally found the right system!

With that said I agree with PonyDoh that it would be nice to get some actual quotes from the hoops community. Not that I don't trust what PonyDoh reports about their feelings towards SMU, but I would like hearing exactly what local AAU and HS coaches have to say. Are they truly bitter towards SMU or is just because the program is a joke? I still believe if this was a legit program we'd have no problem getting some local talent...but I guess that is the chicken & egg debate.

[Stallion]

PonyDoh
give up your Texas hate-its not true-you're living in the past. You pull that Maryland stat out of your pocket but Maryland had about 29 commitments in the 2009 Class-Texas had 116 commitments. By any standard Texas and especially Dallas and Houston are among the Top BASKETBALL recruiting hotbeds in the country.

[ready4abowl]

Larry Johnson wanted to come to SMU back in the day. Pye said no.

That kind of guy turns an athletic department around, not just a team.

Was actively recruited and recruited well by the coaching staff at the time.

[Stallion]

In fact I'll give PonyDoh 1 guess which state has by my count more recruits on the 2011 National Top 150 than any in the Country?

It stats with a T.

Further, not one state in ACC Country was really close to the Top as Georgia, California and Illinois were the states closest to Texas.

[mr. pony]

Larry Johnson wanted to come to SMU back in the day. Pye said no.

That kind of guy turns an athletic department around, not just a team.

Was actively recruited and recruited well by the coaching staff at the time.

from http://cusa-fans.com/articles/2009-2010 ... 30810.html


Analysis: The Whiteside Effect

Anyone doubting how quickly a college program can turn around with the addition of just one dominant player need look no further that this year’s Herd. Whiteside’s arrival in Huntington, West Virginia - of all places - has transformed a middling Marshall squad overnight into maybe a bracket-buster (albeit for one season?)

“It’s really changed our team, [having Whiteside],” Jones said. “It’s his ability to block shots and his ability to score and run the floor. It really frees up our other guys. It’s taken the pressure off Tyler Wilkerson to give him the opportunity to do a lot more. His game has really improved because of it.”

What’s the attraction in Marshall for a Whiteside? And how about Houston coming into Dallas last week with the nation’s leading scorer, Aubrey Coleman? Or Rice, before that, with “ Iran’s Kobe Bryant,” Arsalan Kazemi - who was recruited by Syracuse, Louisville and Maryland?

Gotta ask: when’s SMU going to get one of these dudes?

Doherty said the following after Saturday’s game when asked what he’s learned in his fourth year at SMU: “I think you’ve got to learn the league, you’ve to learn the university. You got to figure out what type of student-athlete fits at SMU and in the league, and have a style of play that takes advantage of that. I felt like this is the first year that I have a style of play, offensively and defensively, that fits our university and fits the league. I think it’s foolish for us to be like Memphis or UTEP. … Let’s do what we do. What does Georgetown do in the Big East? What does Vanderbilt do in the SEC that makes them so successful? … We feel now that we have a style of play and can recruit to it.”

Makes sense, but is it over-thinking? How about just going after the top, NBA-caliber, dream recruit in the country - who can make grades at SMU - and build your “style,” your “fit,” around him?

(If SMU had another shot at a Larry Johnson, would he fit the school’s “style”? Dallas’ own Johnson, who led UNLV to the NCAA national championship in 1990 before a 10-year NBA career, was coming to SMU before death-penalty dazed administrators got nit-picky about grades.)

Was Marshall looking for a guy who “fit” the school or the league when it pursued Whiteside? Or did they see a good kid, a physical specimen who could flat deal, and just go after him? Did Coleman necessarily “fit” C-USA and/or Houston, or could he just move and shoot lights out?

Doherty and the Mustangs have definitely turned a corner this season. The arrow is up. But let’s not think this thing to death. Bring in a Whiteside, a Coleman or an “Iranian Kobe” and watch the fun.

[PonyDoh]

PonyDoh
give up your Texas hate-its not true-you're living in the past. You pull that Maryland stat out of your pocket but Maryland had about 29 commitments in the 2009 Class-Texas had 116 commitments. By any standard Texas and especially Dallas and Houston are among the Top BASKETBALL recruiting hotbeds in the country.

First off, I'm not hating on Texas prospects, stop reading into it. The writer said Bosh/Williams played in the all-star game, which is great, but irrelevant to SMU. Much like the first overall picks coming from Maryland are irrelevant to the Terps. Terps weren't getting those kids, and SMU isn't getting Williams/Bosh types anytime soon.

BTW, hilarious commitment stat you tossed out w/o looking at the relative size of each state. Both areas can ball

[PonyDoh]

In fact I'll give PonyDoh 1 guess which state has by my count more recruits on the 2011 National Top 150 than any in the Country?

It stats with a T.

Further, not one state in ACC Country was really close to the Top as Georgia, California and Illinois were the states closest to Texas.

lol at you not thinking Georgia is ACC country in hoops.

[Stallion]

LOL! that you think Georgia is anything but SEC Football Country and that other round ball they play when it gets cold. I think you know what I meant.

[Samurai Stang]

Doherty said the following after Saturday’s game when asked what he’s learned in his fourth year at SMU: “I think you’ve got to learn the league, you’ve to learn the university. You got to figure out what type of student-athlete fits at SMU and in the league, and have a style of play that takes advantage of that. I felt like this is the first year that I have a style of play, offensively and defensively, that fits our university and fits the league.

This is the talking of losing. If the idea is that SMU is determined to play on an even level, then why is it that SMU is determined to run an offense that is a associated with having less talent than your opponents. Running the Princeton Offense is a clear indication that Doherty does not believe SMU can ever compete on the same level as other schools. This is the sort of offense that one would expect SMU to champion in the era of Pye, but not at a time when SMU actually desires to win. This style of play at once reeks of an athletic inferiority complex, while also warning recruits that if they do come to SMU they can look forward to four years of mind-numbingly slow basketball. A losing attitude that will only serve to perpetuate losing.

[RGV Pony]

I don't know...either Doh's onto something with that, or this is the latest in a series of wtf moments. A couple of years ago it was recreating the new breed of Mustang. Before that it was to build around the player who wouldve started for any of his teams. After that it was the remaking of our point guard and renaming him 'shooter'.

Could it be brilliance? If Doh was being interviewed by Bob Knight or Billy Packer, and made the comment of "I felt like this is the first year that I have a style of play, offensively and defensively, that fits our university and fits the league," how would they respond?

[PonyDoh]

Doherty said the following after Saturday’s game when asked what he’s learned in his fourth year at SMU: “I think you’ve got to learn the league, you’ve to learn the university. You got to figure out what type of student-athlete fits at SMU and in the league, and have a style of play that takes advantage of that. I felt like this is the first year that I have a style of play, offensively and defensively, that fits our university and fits the league.

This is the talking of losing. If the idea is that SMU is determined to play on an even level, then why is it that SMU is determined to run an offense that is a associated with having less talent than your opponents. Running the Princeton Offense is a clear indication that Doherty does not believe SMU can ever compete on the same level as other schools. This is the sort of offense that one would expect SMU to champion in the era of Pye, but not at a time when SMU actually desires to win. This style of play at once reeks of an athletic inferiority complex, while also warning recruits that if they do come to SMU they can look forward to four years of mind-numbingly slow basketball. A losing attitude that will only serve to perpetuate losing.

So you are saying grind it out teams don't win?

[Longtime]

I can't explain or defend what's going on with Doh, but I can tell you this was a lazy effort by Jean Jacques Taylor. To simply point the finger at SMU and TCU and not even pick up the phone is ridiculous for someone of his status and market size. "Off the cuff" columns are for small-market hacks. We're supposed to expect better from the DMN.

I don't know Doh's specific reasons for not recruiting Dallas, but I do know that DISD basketball is a cesspool. Everyone has his hand out - coaches, players, AAU coaches (aka street agents). And it's spreading to the suburban schools. And even those players that aren't looking for a payday don't want to stay home.

And I'll second the notion that Baylor's Scott Drew is extremely shady as a recruiter.

SMU may be more committed to winning now, but SMU still isn't buying players. It's got to be nearly impossible to recruit cleanly in the current environment around Dallas, but that's not something Doh or anyone from SMU can say on the record. Jean Jacques Taylor isn't dumb, so what I gather from his column is that he is chastising SMU and TCU for not getting into the bidding wars for DISD players.

But the best thing about his column is it doesn't mention UNT, which is doing well again in its dinky league. It's driving the green people nuts!

[PonyDoh]

I don't know...either Doh's onto something with that, or this is the latest in a series of wtf moments. A couple of years ago it was recreating the new breed of Mustang. Before that it was to build around the player who wouldve started for any of his teams. After that it was the remaking of our point guard and renaming him 'shooter'.

Could it be brilliance? If Doh was being interviewed by Bob Knight or Billy Packer, and made the comment of "I felt like this is the first year that I have a style of play, offensively and defensively, that fits our university and fits the league," how would they respond?

I have no idea what to think of it myself. In some ways, it defeats the arrogant/Park Cities hire image, cause admitting he's essentially been w/o a rudder for 3 years is pretty damning. This is a good young staff, though.

[Samurai Stang]

So you are saying grind it out teams don't win?

They can bring victory, but not often enough. The Princeton Offense was designed for an Ivy League school that does not offer scholarships, in order to bring about victory over schools that are able to recruit greater talent. Running this system is admitting that SMU is inferior to other schools that offer scholarships, and that there is simply nothing that can be done in order to change this. Is SMU truly so lacking? Does Doherty think so little of his abilities and what the school offers? Additionally, running a style of basketball that is reminiscent of what was played in the 1950s will not bring in talent from the Dallas area.

This style of basketball can provide victory, but for SMU it would at best be slightly over .500. One would hope our expectations are higher.