Official SMU-Rice Game Thread

[Stallion]

that 1985 team was No. 2 in the Country 13-0 and playing for No. 1 on a Saturday Nite in Lubbock Texas when the No. 1 team lost. Unfortunately that didn't work out so well...I was one of a few SMU fans there that Nite and as I remember Bubba Jennings lit us up. Jennings and Gene Phillips were probably the greatest SWC shooters I've ever seen and neither played in the 3 point era. Tech made a run to extend to something like a 9 point lead with a minute left but SMU crawled back and almost miraculously pulled it out at the buzzer. Excerpt from New York Times Story

"Tony Benford's 10-foot baseline jump shot with 3 seconds to play gave Texas Tech a 64-63 upset of No. 2 Southern Methodist University tonight. The defeat was the first in Southwest Conference play for the Mustangs after six victories and only the second loss over all with 15 victories. Benford's shot came after Texas Tech had squandered an 11-point lead late in the second half. Carl Wright led the comeback with a field goal and four free throws as Southern Methodist took a 63-62 lead with 47 seconds to play. After Benford hit his shot, the Southern Methodist threw the ball away, but Vince Taylor missed a free throw."

[RGV Pony]

to this day I remember that Loyola-Chicago is called the Ramblers because of the implosion that I watched in the tournament by what started out as a Top 2 SMU team

[mustangxc]

Great win!!! Congrats to the team!!!

[shadowman]

Any haters gonna drive by tonight?

Too much SMU Hoop Love going on.

Maybe wins against Memphis, USM, @Tulsa, and @Rice has made a few more believers.

Surely HoopFan will at least stop by to p!ss in the pool. JK! I love ya HoopFan, but sorry, I am excited about what Doherty has done. Took much longer than I would have liked, and still a lot of work to go, and yes, it could all implode.

BUT I think we are turning the corner. We now have identity on offense and defense and some solid recruits coming in.

Good things are on the way! (I hope).

[Mitch McConnell]

When was the last time SMU won consecutive road conference games?

[mathman]

Great win ponies. Still waiting to hear from SC Pony. I know he will have a lot of good, positive comments about our team and the game.

[shadowman]

When was the last time SMU won consecutive road conference games?

I would assume very similar to the winning conference record...never. Although, maybe we lucked a couple out somewhere in the past 5 years. Maybe someone who listened to the SMU radio got that scoop.

[PonyDoh]

I'm not all out of hugs, who wants one?

[mustangxc]

I'm not all out of hugs, who wants one?

I am extremely happy about the current success!!! I think you and I are the only ones who didn't want the team to tank this season!!! I was definitely hopeful to win 6 conference games, but the teams we have beaten so far are definitely a pleasant surprise!!!

[shadowman]

Funny the respect we are getting from the conference now from the other message boards.

On the UTEP board, their greatest fear is having to play SMU twice! We worry them just as much as anybody, after they saw what we did to their main rival, Memphis.

[SoCal_Pony]

that 1985 team was No. 2 in the Country 13-0 and playing for No. 1 on a Saturday Nite in Lubbock Texas when the No. 1 team lost.

SMU achieved that #2 ranking by beating Kentucky on the road, then going to Chapel Hill and defeating UNC. Pretty impressive as both teams were good back then.

Jennings and Gene Phillips were probably the greatest SWC shooters I've ever seen and neither played in the 3 point era.

Jim Krivacs deserves honorable mention.

[Pony_Fan]

is Character still around, that kid is a Defensive End playing hoops.

Look forward to the games coming up - I am eating crow for dinner. Didn't think these guys could win 3-4 games. TCU and ULR would be nice to be able to have a do-over.

Beat ECU!

[mustangxc]

is Character still around, that kid is a Defensive End playing hoops.

Look forward to the games coming up - I am eating crow for dinner. Didn't think these guys could win 3-4 games. TCU and ULR would be nice to be able to have a do-over.

Beat ECU!

Add La Tech, Tulane... pretty much every team we lost to except maybe Ole Miss and UAB (road game)!!!

[Hoop Fan]

didn't see or listen to the game, I was at my kid's games, but you'll be glad to know I was happy that we won as ALWAYS when we win real Division I games, contrary to recent accusations otherwise. I will say that I expected us to be decent this year. I just don't agree that this year's club should be without expectations. This is Papa Dia's senior year. He is all-conference caliber center with tons of experience. Nyakundi, Haynes, Walker, Harp are upperclassmen who have a ton of starts under their belts and Doherty has invested alot of playing time in them as young players. There is no reason we should not be competitive in CUSA. Our non conference play was a big disappointment all the way around. Things look alot better right now, bad loss to depleted Houston at home last Saturday notwithstanding.

[shadowman]

didn't see or listen to the game, I was at my kid's games, but you'll be glad to know I was happy that we won as ALWAYS when we win contrary to recent accusations otherwise. I will say that I expected us to be decent this year. I just don't agree that this year's club should be without expectations. This is Papa Dia's senior year. He is all-conference caliber center with tons of experience. Nyakundi, Haynes, Walker, Harp are upperclassmen who have a ton of starts under their belts and Doherty has invested alot of playing time in them as young players. There is no reason we should not be competitive in CUSA. Our non conference play was a big disappointment all the way around. Things look alot better right now, bad loss to depleted Houston notwithstanding.

Good analysis, and I do agree. that Houston game was upsetting, but Houtson is posting some nice wins, and we are competitive. I know you always go for SMU and want them to do well.

Bottom line for me though, I do not want to start over, I want Doherty to be the answer. Takes such a long time to build a basketball program, We all need to get behind what we have been doing.