Pre-season NIT Announced

[hoopmanx]

I know you've mentioned Mangino's desire to return to Denver, but I really don't feel sorry for him anymore. He made the choice to come here. He wanted to stay in the game. He believed this was his best opportunity. He shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. If he was ready to go, then his credentials should have put him in a position to move on.

Was he close to leaving and an opportunity fell through?

Its not a matter of feeling sorry for anyone. He had plenty of options to stay in the game, but chose SMU b/c of the footprint he could leave on the program. There is nothing to be angry w/the guy about, as he's a tremendous coach. He just doesn't love Dallas, which isn't looking a gift-horse in the mouth. Every coach sacrifices to coach. You know you're going to live places you don't love etc. He either gets over it, or he moves on. Problem is that its effectively his program, not Dohs. That puts us in a somewhat precarious situation, should he take his ball and go home.

He can do what he wants, just like Irv, Reggie & Lutz looked after their own best interests. His interests seem to be running his own program at any level & family. Nothing wrong w/either

[Hoop Fan]

Hoopmanx, why are you surprised by the politics, ego, and paranoia? Its been abundantly obvious that Doh only has to manage and maintain his highly personal relationships with a few key people. No one else matters, certainly not updating the rank and file SMU fan by Twitter. Doh knows where his bread is buttered and locked into it like a salesmen from day 1. The modified princeton is probably a real good fit at SMU like you say, but when it takes you five years to find a system and you have to bring in someone that you are nearly 100% dependent on running it for you, that's another problem waiting to happen. Leopards don't usually change their spots. Doh is a 50 year old guy who has been searching for a system and coaching identity. Besides a very poor record, these are the things that have bothered me because they are very hard to overcome realistically. Now, I do love the infusion of Dallas kids like Cotton and Russell transferring back home. I've always thought SMU could make a living by scooping up local transfers and getting some Q Ross type four year players. We'll see, i think this is a key year coming up for Doh. Can't afford another false start.

[hoopmanx]

Hoopmanx, why are you surprised by the politics, ego, and paranoia? Its been abundantly obvious that Doh only has to manage and maintain his highly personal relationships with a few key people. No one else matters, certainly not updating the rank and file SMU fan by Twitter. Doh knows where his bread is buttered and locked into it like a salesmen from day 1. The modified princeton is probably a real good fit at SMU like you say, but when it takes you five years to find a system and you have to bring in someone that you are nearly 100% dependent on running it for you, that's another problem waiting to happen. Leopards don't usually change their spots. Doh is a 50 year old guy who has been searching for a system and coaching identity. Besides a very poor record, these are the things that have bothered me because they are very hard to overcome realistically. Now, I do love the infusion of Dallas kids like Cotton and Russell transferring back home. I've always thought SMU could make a living by scooping up local transfers and getting some Q Ross type four year players. We'll see, i think this is a key year coming up for Doh. Can't afford another false start.

I'm not surprised, I'm just always hopeful. Who thought the guy would turn all the Xs & Os over to an assistant in his first year w/the program? I know it left previous staff members slack-jawed based on their experience. Desperate guys do wild things and in the last year they've really worked for Doh. Good season, well-coached team, very good recruiting class, w/some swag sitting out and ready for this year.

The mentality of the kids in the program is just different. Some of his other teams knew they stunk, last years didn't accept that, and next years thinks they are pretty good. The two negatives were Reggie leaving & Leslee's injury. On top of that, all the facility improvements etc. Doh should be on top of the world, not to mention his scheduling nonsense is now in the rear view mirror. Just don't see how getting positive recruiting buzz out there is a bad thing. It only adds to the other stuff mentioned. Strange that he can't see it.

Either way, I have them tracked pretty well. Its just strange that he would go out of his way to keep even good news under his hat

[Harry0569]

Well thank god we have you hoopman/pdoh or we'd really be in the dark.

[bubba pony]

I just cleared my calendar for the championship games at Madison Square Garden. I love to see SMU play in NY.

[Mitch McConnell]

How cool would that be to see us playing in The Garden?

It's just nice to be able to even think about it.

[SMU Pony Mom]

I myself am very happy we'll be in the pre-season NIT. Will be keeping my fingers crossed that by some miracle we make it to MSG (my absolute favorite venue for a basketball game). I only live a couple of hours from NYC and the timing would be perfect as my daughter would just have gotten home from SMU for Thanksgiving! Road Trip!!

[hoopmanx]

I thought the top 4 seeds advance no matter if they win or not. Can't remember, but last years CoC had the Terps on the ropes at Maryland in the preseason NIT, and the fans while pissed, were sorta dismissive cause they'd get a chance at Pitt at the Garden regardless. I'll check into it, but I'm not sure we can even get to the Garden w/two wins. They want the schools w/fanbase that will show up in the Garden

[SMU Pony Mom]

I thought the top 4 seeds advance no matter if they win or not. Can't remember, but last years CoC had the Terps on the ropes at Maryland in the preseason NIT, and the fans while pissed, were sorta dismissive cause they'd get a chance at Pitt at the Garden regardless. I'll check into it, but I'm not sure we can even get to the Garden w/two wins. They want the schools w/fanbase that will show up in the Garden

My understanding is that the winner of each of the four sites will advance to MSG for the semis and final (regardless of who the team is, but of course the network would prefer it's one of the top four teams). The losers of the 1st two rounds will also play additional games (3rd and 4th round) at the highest seed's home site.

[Wuba]

I thought the top 4 seeds advance no matter if they win or not. Can't remember, but last years CoC had the Terps on the ropes at Maryland in the preseason NIT, and the fans while pissed, were sorta dismissive cause they'd get a chance at Pitt at the Garden regardless. I'll check into it, but I'm not sure we can even get to the Garden w/two wins. They want the schools w/fanbase that will show up in the Garden

Winners advance, nothing locked in for the hosts.

[hoopmanx]

excellent news. The Garden will be fun

[Corso]

Mangino has no recruiting responsibility...

Uh oh ... don't tell the "Klemm does all the recruiting" crowd about that!

I assume Coach Doherty didn't say anything before this because, by SMU policy, he is not allowed to talk schedule until it goes through SMU's compliance office and the C-USA office.

[hoopmanx]

Mangino has no recruiting responsibility...

Uh oh ... don't tell the "Klemm does all the recruiting" crowd about that!

I assume Coach Doherty didn't say anything before this because, by SMU policy, he is not allowed to talk schedule until it goes through SMU's compliance office and the C-USA office.

Don't care about him talking schedule, more interested in priority names in recruiting. He can't comment on kids, but Crum can give the services a general direction. They ignore such requests.This schedule stuff, both Ok St at AAC & preseason NIT, has been common knowledge for months. We also have a return game at Ole Miss

[Harry0569]

So who all is gonna go to MSG if we make it?

[mrydel]

So who all is gonna go to MSG if we make it?

Evidently the Asian population does not like Madison Square Garden. Any time I go to an Asian restaurant these days they have big signs saying "No MSG".