Pastner Picks Ponies as Pre-season Favorite

[hoopmanx]

With the fall abortion at Ford called tiki-ball I am really looking forward to the start of next years bball season. It is likely going to seem like a long wait.

Actually, there is no offseason. AAU starts in march/April, so we have barefield to follow, as wel as thousands of godfather sightings at prospects games. It's on

[Mexmustang]

You might show June and our players a little more respect. We can all enjoy our basketball success without trashing football.

June did bring this university forward in major steps in just three years. We were the worst college football program in America. Beyond the top 100. He earned four bowl bids, something we hadn't seen in 25 years.

He changed our recruiting and admissions policies after sacrificing five former head coaches to the almighty SAT score.

According to President Turner, he was the single biggest reason we were able to escape the crumbling CUSA and join the Big East (nice try).

According to Larry Brown, June was the reason he agreed to come to SMU rather than another school. June told him that the fan/student support was there and only needed to be awakened. June got us into a good basketball conference, even if it lacks in football.

And finally, the disparity between the money, facilities, admittance (transfers and marginal student scores), tutors, and marketing now spent on basketball vs. football is re-awaking some of our major donors to go back and ask some very important questions of our admissions people, provost and president in regard to football.

Give June your support, acknowledge the major steps he took to bring this school forward, let him retire, but get the facilities and financial commitment done before we start looking for a replacement.

[friarwolf]

And we have another winner!!!!!!! Basketball thread hi-jacked yet again............

[Mexmustang]

Just attempting to show that the two head coaches can lever one another's progress. Success in one sport can raise the standard and financial support of another. SMU has a unique history of "not trying to win" for over two decades and we need to recognize not only the progress that has occurred in the last five years, but the hurdles that still need to be overcome. Success is built upon commitment in facilities, budget and academic support.

[Mexmustang]

A good friend of mine just texted me and asked me to correct my last comment. SMU has a unique history of over two decades of "not allowing us to win." I stand corrected.

[Rebel10]

Again, June did not change the academic entrance issues. That was done when SMU fired Bennett in order to attract a new coach. When they were looking at Paul Johnson they changes had been made. Glad he had some mediocre seasons good enough to get us to some bowl games but they way he has disrespected SMU after SMU made him wealthier than he has even been is enough to turn people off towards him. Give Kris Krowe some credit who, just like June, encourged him not to give up on SMU when Orsini did not originally hire him.

[Pony_Law]

to get back on topic, I think SMU should be the preseason pick to win the AAC next year. Cinci, UCONN and Memphis will graduate/lose there best players. We are already the deepest team in the conference and we only lose 2 role players where there are obvious younger replacements. We will likely have the top recruiting class when all is said and done or at the very least the single best player coming into the confernce. Our team will have youth, depth and tournament experience to go along with the best coach in the conference and the toughest place to play. That to me says top 15 team, AAC championship, and sweet 16 run at a minimum.

[CoxMustangFan]

to get back on topic, I think SMU should be the preseason pick to win the AAC next year. Cinci, UCONN and Memphis will graduate/lose there best players. We are already the deepest team in the conference and we only lose 2 role players where there are obvious younger replacements. We will likely have the top recruiting class when all is said and done or at the very least the single best player coming into the confernce. Our team will have youth, depth and tournament experience to go along with the best coach in the conference and the toughest place to play. That to me says top 15 team, AAC championship, and sweet 16 run at a minimum.

Agreed. Only things that will trip up SMU are grades and a PP scandal.