Horrible Season

[abezontar]

I think Bamba has gotten better since he started. Maybe it hasn't been a huge change, but I would definitely say he has shown improvement.

[friarwolf]

Sorry, you're wrong. That's your perception - not the kids'. They see the Lincoln stud who won state with Bosh - was higher profile than Bosh - who has had to spend 4 years in college and whose performance has declined. That sends chills down these kids' spines who think they have 1-2 years before they go pro.

An old boss of mine told me something one time when I took a new assignment. He said, "identify all the problems and get them out in the open within your first 3 months. If you don't, they become "your" problems. Same thing with Tubbs - he's been on the job for 2 years so it all "falls in his lap" now. It's tough but that's the way it is.

And, I think BHOP is a good guy but he'll never see the NBA. Thomas Hill, the old Duke guard, told me one time why he never made it in the NBA. He said he did everything well but he didn't do one thing exceptionally well and that's what you have to do to make it in the NBA. I think that same thing applies to BHOP - not to mention the fact that he is 5' 10 ".......

[EastStang]

Firing a coach after two years, that's really smart. What name coach would think of coming here after we do that to a coach? No coach wants that kind of pressure on them. And by the way its that kind of pressure that leads to lapses in NCAA rules. Do we really want to get DP'd in basketball, too for one season of glory? I submit that we let Tubbs run out his contract and either succeed or fail and support him all the way. If after 4 years, he doesn't have a winning record in CUSA, he hasn't landed a single top DISD recruit, and he hasn't made improvements, his contract doesn't get renewed. I suspect that the new AD will not discuss a contract extension with him until after the fall signing period has passed and we see what's in the cupboard for 2007. As I posted on another thread it took four years for Coach K to have a winning conference record at Duke, and they were calling for his head after three years. So, things change slowly. Tubbs looks like he's building from the inside out, which is good. You win games in the paint. Now Bamba, eat some pasta and work on that hook shot.

[abezontar]

I have to agree with EastStang here, and I made the same argument for Bennett after his 0-12 year. You can't fire someone after such a short time if you ever want to get a quality guy here. They only coaches you would get would be guys who have had no other chances, and unfortunately we are already close to that. The only caveat I would add is that if there is some sort of substantial rules violation that threatens to get the school in a whole lot of hot water. I would further add that I would only care about a rules violation if he got caught.

[friarwolf]

East, I think you are probably right regarding the new AD and I think Tubbs will be given his chance to sink or swim - with a caveat regarding the investigaion's findings. I officially have tired head over this topic.

One last thing, I take exception with the coach K analogy from this perspective. He had Gene Banks his first year at Duke and his recruiting class going into his second year was rated as one of the best in the country. If Tubbs landed this kind of class, I would dive headfirst into the koolaide.....

Duke Basketball
Success stories do not just happen overnight. They take time, and the latest chapter in Duke basketball is no exception. Krzyzewski inherited a Duke squad in 1980-81 with a thin talent base outside of All-America Gene Banks, Kenny Dennard and Vince Taylor. The squad hustled its way to a bid in the NIT, but it was obvious the recruiting trail was Krzyzewski’s only answer if the team was to succeed over the long run.

He landed a recruiting class in 1982 made up of Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, David Henderson, Jay Bilas and Weldon Williams. It was rated one of the nation’s best and put Duke on the map to stay.

Joining that powerful group was guard Tommy Amaker in 1983. Duke won 24 games with that nucleus in 1984 and earned the first NCAA bid under Coach K.

[DickerJames]

friarwolf Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:35 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You darn right I would be concerned about Shady's development if he came here based on what I have seen. You are nuts if you think all the kids have not noticed that BHop fell off the map coming here.

And pardon me but I don't think Rack has shown much improvement. Don't mistake one game against a marginal opponent as showing improvement. Improvement would start with winning a starting job for the entire year.

You missed my point. How are you going to have time to develop a player that is headed to the NBA after 1 or 2 years.

As for Rack, he is what he is. Did you think Tubbs was going to turn him into a star center?

Hopkins was a great high school player on a great high school team. He is a very good college player surrounded by poor to average talent that doesn't have the ability to carry an average team to greater heights. Blame Dement for his inability to surround him with better talent and just be thankful we had him for 4 years.

[Blunt Pony]

Guys, seriously, what did you expect?

Three new starters, read it and weep. If a football team, even a top 25 one had 60% turnover in their starters they would get spanked up and down the field and basketball is no different.

Stop trying to compare things so dissimilar as this team or last years, WAC and CUSA, Tubbs and Dement at this point.

The conferences change, teams have turnovers, coaches inherit different things.

You can call me an apologist if you wish, but try not to be outrageously unrealistic in your expectations and you won't have to be so furious all the time when they aren't met.

This may be a horrible comparison, but North Carolina had to replace all but about 3 points per game from last years national championship and look at how they have done. You can say that they have replaced the departing studs with new incoming blue chippers, but so has everyone else in that conference.

These Freshman and sophomores have a whole lot of experience and are not as wet behind the ears as many of you would like to think. I do not run in AAU circles, but these kids now play a high level of local and national competition before they set foot on a college court. They have experience and yes there is a learning curve but many get used to that halfway through the season. Your top programs now have to rely on young talent to win championships simply because the studs rarely play past their sophomore year.

I am tired of the youth excuse, it is convenient, but if Darrel Arthur was here and did not produce big time in his two year (max) tenure, most on this board and Darrel himself would consider his time here a disapointment

[stangerredblue]

It was a miserable season for sure. From poor freethrow shooting, sloppy unforced turnovers, to bad offense. I hear a couple of you guys claiming the defense is better, but I saw way to many of our opponents having career nights against us. This team got worse as the season went along. I brought friends to our games a few times, and found myself apologizing for the performance. Can anyone deny with the product on the floor, and the atmosphere in the stands, that Moody has become a depressing place to be? I now wonder why I should renew my season tickets.

[Hoop Fan]

Sorry, you're wrong. That's your perception - not the kids'. They see the Lincoln stud who won state with Bosh - was higher profile than Bosh - who has had to spend 4 years in college and whose performance has declined. That sends chills down these kids' spines who think they have 1-2 years before they go pro.

An old boss of mine told me something one time when I took a new assignment. He said, "identify all the problems and get them out in the open within your first 3 months. If you don't, they become "your" problems. Same thing with Tubbs - he's been on the job for 2 years so it all "falls in his lap" now. It's tough but that's the way it is.

And, I think BHOP is a good guy but he'll never see the NBA. Thomas Hill, the old Duke guard, told me one time why he never made it in the NBA. He said he did everything well but he didn't do one thing exceptionally well and that's what you have to do to make it in the NBA. I think that same thing applies to BHOP - not to mention the fact that he is 5' 10 ".......

perception is important, but the kids also know more about BHop than you think. Everybody knows BHop used to be able to flat out fly in high school. Because of injuries he can't fly anymore. He became a local legend because he could dunk with the best of the best anywhere. Now, he just can't. When he goes into a gym in the summertime, it doesnt stop to see him dunk anymore. He can dunk strong for a 5'11 guy, but he cant get very far above the rim like he used to. Enough coaches and basketball people around the area understand that and don't put it on tubbs. By the way, who recruited and developed Q Ross? I guess SMU did. Tubbs needs to use that and offset some of the misguided perceptions that may be around.

[The Falcon]

So much frustration, gloom & doom on this board. We want so badly for SMU to win and we naturally feel deflated, depressed, and disappointed at the end of a season like this.

I have been a fan for 38 years. I missed very few home games over that period. I hope to be a fan for the rest of my life. I brought 15 people with me to the UAB (Moody) game. Most had never been on campus before. They had a good time and several said they would be back. If we do have 1000 loyal fans and each of you brought 5 people we would
have 5000 plus in the stands.

Keep Tubbs - let him play out his 4 years. If he can't pull it off - then let's try something else. As to comments on this board to the contrary - we did have improved play by Rack, by Killen, by Morris, by Fall, and by
Pearson. I even think Ike O has improved. I think Dez will be better next year. Granted - Roberts took a step back, and I don't know why - this guy should be one of our stars but maybe he needs more focus. He seems to be out of control much of the time, can't pass well, and can't catch much of the time. He has trouble finishing - Let's see if JT can make him better next year - if so, that will be coaching. Bhop actually became a better all around player this year but we think he regressed because he didn't score as well - mainly caused by missing 1/3 of the season, injuries, and other teams focusing on taking him out of the game.
We will have to go to the paint more next year by focusing on our inside players. I think Fall and Morris will give us a great 1-2 punch but we need to work on passing and catching. This team has not been able to catch or throw the ball. It is no wonder we have so many turnovers. Let's see if this improves next year. Only Morris seems to know how to catch the ball-
he has great hands and knows how to position himself.

Thanks Mustangs for your effort and hard work. We wish it had been a better year for you and for the fans. I will be in the stands again next year. I will bring several with me, and I have hope that we will continue to improve.

Now if that ain't sunshine I have never seen it before. Go ahead guys - I'm a masochist so take your best shot. Hey - we beat TCU in football and basketball. That's good.

[jtstang]

You darn right I would be concerned about Shady's development if he came here based on what I have seen. You are nuts if you think all the kids have not noticed that BHop fell off the map coming here.

And pardon me but I don't think Rack has shown much improvement. Don't mistake one game against a marginal opponent as showing improvement. Improvement would start with winning a starting job for the entire year.

Basher. What better coach would come here?

[stangerredblue]

Jon Killen is an unforced turnover waiting to happen. Way to many of our players seem to need advance notice the ball is coming, or they will bumble it out of bounds.

[Hoop Fan]

Falcon, you're right, those guys you mentioned did show improvement. It was obvious to anybody who cared to see it or was willing to see it. Was it enough for our liking? No, but it still was there.

[friarwolf]

Jt,

History lesson.... A&M stunk up football in the early 80's and had become a joke. Bum Bright and company ponied up (pun intended) and got Jackie Sherrill to come for an obscene amount of money for the time. Forget all the circus that followed regarding Mr. Sherrill. Money talked which is no big surprise. So, if you want Bill Self or Tubby Smith or "who" ever, you can have him if you are willing to pay him "enough". Read my post regarding Tulsa. We don't have to pay enough to buy a small country. We have to be smart and find an AD who is good at sniffing out good young talent. Pay the big bucks to this guy.

As much as our facilities suck, we are in Dallas, with a beautiful campus, a great school, and money starting to roll in. You can sell that. This is a winner's town. Win and watch how quickly the students and people from the Metroplex start filling up Moody. Will it be easy? No. Can it be done? Absolutely.

I have more tired head now. Basher is out.........................

[jtstang]

Who will come here basher?