What are realistic expectations for next year?

[Charleston Pony]

my expectation is that we make some post season tourney next year. I hope for NIT, but realistically we might be CBI caliber. As I watch our local team, College of Charleston getting ready to tip off against George Mason with the winner advancing to play the winner ot Texas vs Houston in a field that includes Tulsa and ECU, that is my minimum expectation for next year's team

Comparing this year with Cannen and Dickerson as our bigs with Jalen having to play the 4...to next year with Cannen part of a 3 man rotation with Markus and Yanick = big step up.

At the 3, instead of just Shawn we could see Shawn and Jalen competing for time. I would not be surprise to see Shawn start (better outside shooter) but I love the idea of Jalen as our 6th man to provide "instant energy"

For guards, instead of Nick Russell and Ryan having to carry the load, we have a PG with at least a 4 player rotation.

All of that is without any contributions from any of the incoming Frosh, so there is no doubt in my mind we are going to be significantly better. The question is whether next year's team will gel early and be able to compete with the upper echelon of our conference, which should include Louisville, Cincy, UConn, Memphis & Temple. I'm not expecting that until coach Brown's 3rd year, but it would not shock me if we are competitive as early as next year, which could lead to the NIT.

[max the wonder dog]

Tough scheduling would probably benefit us - if we could rise to the occasion- seeing as a 30 win memphis team earned "only" a 6 seed.

Memphis had a weak OOC schedule:


11/12/12 vs. North Florida TV FedExForum W, 81-66
11/17/12 vs. Samford FedExForum W, 65-54
11/22/12 vs. VCU TV Paradise Island, The Bahamas L, 78-65
11/23/12 vs. Minnesota TV Paradise Island, The Bahamas L, 84-75
11/24/12 vs. Northern Iowa TV Paradise Island, The Bahamas W, 52-47
11/29/12 vs. Tennessee Martin TV FedExForum W, 93-65
12/05/12 vs. Ohio TV FedExForum W, 84-58
12/08/12 vs. Austin Peay TV FedExForum W, 83-65
12/15/12 vs. Louisville TV FedExForum L, 87-78
12/20/12 vs. Lipscomb TV FedExForum W, 62-56
12/28/12 vs. Oral Roberts TV FedExForum W, 72-57
12/30/12 vs. Loyola (Md) TV FedExForum W, 78-64
01/04/13 at Tennessee TV Knoxville, Tenn. W, 85-80

[gostangs]

and their conference is not so strong either.

[SoCal_Pony]

Wrong forum

Just curious, do you attend many BB games?

[SoCal_Pony]

As for the topic of this post, SMU was 15-17 this season, playing close games in virtually every loss.

Assuming they played the same schedule next season, I see no reason they couldn't win half of those losses. That would place them at 23-11. Round down a little and you still have a 20 win season. Given the weakness of C-USA, I stick with my 23-11 prediction.

I suspect a stronger schedule next season places them closer to 18 or 19 wins, and a post-season tourney bid.

[couch 'em]

Wrong forum

Just curious, do you attend many BB games?

These days I catch an occasional game. Wish I could make more. Probably went to 5 or 6 this year.

[CalallenStang]

Looking at next year's Big East, we will lose to Louisville and almost certainly to Cincy, UConn, and Memphis as well. Temple will be a tough game. USF is a game I see as a toss-up. Should beat Houston, Rutgers, and UCF.

My guess is that we will play all teams twice (18-game round robin). Looks like we finish somewhere around 7-9 in conference. Need to be very strong in OOC games to hit 20 wins

[LHS81]

Not so sure about Cinci. 3 of their starters, and who they get the most production out of, are seniors. Anything less than 20 wins for the Ponies I would consider a disappointment. Whether the 20 wins gets them an NCAA berth, NIT or one of the other post season tournaments is another story.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Looking at next year's Big East, we will lose to Louisville and almost certainly to Cincy, UConn, and Memphis as well. Temple will be a tough game. USF is a game I see as a toss-up. Should beat Houston, Rutgers, and UCF.

I wouldn't be so quick to say we lose to Memphis either. We hung with them this year.

[CalallenStang]

Looking at next year's Big East, we will lose to Louisville and almost certainly to Cincy, UConn, and Memphis as well. Temple will be a tough game. USF is a game I see as a toss-up. Should beat Houston, Rutgers, and UCF.

I wouldn't be so quick to say we lose to Memphis either. We hung with them this year.

Honestly, I don't know what they have coming back, but I do know that they have a top recruiting class coming in

[max the wonder dog]

Looking at next year's Big East, we will lose to Louisville and almost certainly to Cincy, UConn, and Memphis as well. Temple will be a tough game. USF is a game I see as a toss-up. Should beat Houston, Rutgers, and UCF.

I wouldn't be so quick to say we lose to Memphis either. We hung with them this year.

Honestly, I don't know what they have coming back, but I do know that they have a top recruiting class coming in

They lose D.J. Stephens, but everyone else of consequence is returning next year. Pastner is continuing to develop as a coach, and, as you said, a good recruiting class. Still, the talent gap won't be as big next year. I wouldn't take SMU straight up against Memphis, but neither would I be shocked if they stole a win at Moody.

[LHS81]

SMU owes Memphis' punk, Shaq Goodwin, a flagrant 2 foul.

[Fresno Mustang]

IF next years team had played this years schedule, 25 wins. I bet we schedule up in a big way next year. Larry Brown strikes me as knowing nothing about RPI or SOS, other than he needs to play a tough schedule being SMU. I'd love to see his program as road warrior the way Tarks teams were. They never got home & homes, just played the best wherever they had hoops and lights. Brown probably doesnt have to do that, but talk about finding out what you have. Who can play, who can't

I would love if SMU basketball was as fun to watch as Tark the Shark, minus ncaa violations of course.

[SMU2007]

I would love if SMU basketball was as fun to watch as Shark Tank.

[SMU 86]

Any post season play would be good next year.