UAB head coach Mike Davis on SMU

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Better fundamentals due to being a coach's son makes sense to me. Here is a link confirming offers. SMU, TCU, Stanford, Wake, Texas Tech, Arizona St., Iowa St., William and Mary, Northwestern offered. That is a great list.

http://wireless.rivals.com/recruit.asp? ... 81&Sport=2

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Icon, thanks. I've asked that question several times and you're the first to give a legit answer. Yes, Harp has shown flashes of improvement, but as HoopFan said, is it really at the level we need? Freshmen who go from bad to average will get this program nowhere. Now if we had seen the same type of improvement from Dia, we may have something, but he has regressed from his Nov/Dec level...and as you mentioned, so has Malone.

btw, I wasn'y aware that Harp was offered by Stanford either. I knew Tech had offered.

I agree that Harp will not be a #1 or #2 option on an postseason team, but he certainly can evolve into a starter for one.

Dia and Malone have not improved how I might hope, but I really do think we will see a great deal of improvement from these guys. Remember they all entered into 20+ minutes per game on a team with a returning high scorer of what- 10 points? I am just of the belief that things are going to get much, much better (even if only for the fact they can't get any worse ).

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Harp was the #14 ranked player in Texas. As my friend mentioned during the SMU/UAB game, Harp looks like the second coming of Elsey, and I have to agree.

A friend of mine has also made the Elsey comparison a few times as well.

I am curious on everyone's take on Mike Walker. He is the biggest mystery to me thus far of the 4 freshman playing.

I think he is very competent with the ball and has the potential to be a solid PG. He seems to hoist threes a bit much for my liking, I'd much rather see him penetrate, but he seems like he could be a good player. Do you think the fact he has played anything from the 1 to the 3 affects him at all? I think if he is strictly at the point you could see him evolve into a very serviceable PG.

[Hoop Fan]

I don't think Walker is a point guard, offensively and especially defensively. Not an ideal shooting guard either. therein lies the problem, even if he does improve his game.

same goes for Harp. He's not a 3. And hes not a 2 either to me. what is he? I got really worried when i heard Doh say harp could play any position including the 4.

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I don't think Walker is a point guard, offensively and especially defensively. Not an ideal shooting guard either. therein lies the problem, even if he does improve his game.

Any more detail to that analysis? He has shown to have the dreaded usher style defense at times, guiding the ball handler right to the hoop, but that can be corrected with better footwork/hard work. Offense he seems to me to be someone that could be a good floor leader/game manager, which is what I would like from a pg.

[Hoop Fan]

i dont see the speed, quickness, explosiveness off the dribble to get where he wants to go on the floor. I'm not worried about footwork either, that can be learned on defense, its more the pure footspeed. and i don't see the innate passing ability to quickly find the open man. and he's small with a serious hitch in his jumpshot. not a bad player, more of a Southland conference guy if you ask me. nothing wrong with that, those guys can play too. I am viewing all this through the prism of taking the SMU program to a place it hasnt been in a long time, the ncaa tournament. Nothing against Walker, Harp or anybody else. seem like great kids all the way around. I'm done now. I don't like to critique kids, but have to backup my opinion i guess.

[friarwolf]

Baylor is a bubble NCAA team this year - A&M slightly ahead of Baylor. Where do you think Harp, Walker, Dia, and Malone would fit into their rotation, if at all? I think Dia might have a chance to be a 5 minute per game player, Malone and Harp would be at the end of the bench or red-shirted, and Walker would probably be a walk-on. As sophomores, probably not much better.

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Baylor is a bubble NCAA team this year - A&M slightly ahead of Baylor. Where do you think Harp, Walker, Dia, and Malone would fit into their rotation, if at all? I think Dia might have a chance to be a 5 minute per game player, Malone and Harp would be at the end of the bench or red-shirted, and Walker would probably be a walk-on. As sophomores, probably not much better.

Thats a valid comparison. Do you really think we are at a point where we should be recruiting at a level where our freshman would be contributors on a A&M team that has come off of back to back deep NCAA Tourney runs? Come on now...

Drew, I have said before, amazes me at the talent he has been able to bring to Baylor. I have no explination there.

Maybe we should compare to a NCAA bubble team like UAB in our conference. Dia would certainly be an immediate contributor there. Harp and Malone could get minutes I would suspect. Maybe someone who has followed UAB a bit more could offer better info.

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After re-reading your post I don't think you were comparing us to A&M, just stating Baylor was right behind them. Sorry for the mix-up.

But as I said, Drew has done an amazing, almost unbelievable job. That really would have to be considerd less than typical in my estimation.

[The XtC]

[quote="RGV Pony"]I think Doh really, really thought he was going to land Roberson. He figured he would have Killen and Walker backing up one or both of them, or he could've played Killen at the 2 alongside Roberson, with Walker backing up Roberson and Harp backing up Killen.

That would have been a completely different team.[/quote]

Yeah it would have, but...................

Roberson committed to Texas Tech on September 10th. Early signing date is mid-November, and late signing is mid-April. So, there were at least two months before the early date and 7 months before the spring date when Doh should have gotten the picture that Roberson might not be coming here, and he should move on to someone else.

We didnt offer a scholarship to Walker until after it was clear that Roberson wasnt coming, and we lost the Eddie kid from Detroit who decided to go play for his father. Walker was the backup plan, I really dont think there was a plan to play them together.

I know I'm being a wise [deleted], and I apologize. Normally I like you and think most of your posts make sense. But I'm bitter and angry at this time, and my inner cynic is running rampant. The scenario you suggested doesnt make sense, unless Doh is mentally challenged, and even his largest detractor (me) doesnt think have that low an opinion of him.

[WildBillPony]

Just curious Big X, why are you Coach Doh's "largest detractor". (Don't use you size as a reason) I know there is the Tubb's thing but that is not Doh's fault. Is it something else? Just to let you know where I am coming from, I think SMU is very, very lucky to have Coach Doh. Sure I am disappointed in the out come of the season, I always want to win. I did not hold out any false hopes for this season. I honestly believe things will start to fall into place beginning next year and most certainly the next. You have been down the whole season.....from the get go. What gives?

[RGV Pony]

The scenario you suggested doesnt make sense, unless Doh is mentally challenged, and even his largest detractor (me) doesnt think have that low an opinion of him.

FWIW I have a signed "photo-op" photo framed and hanging in my office of Coach K, which creates somewhat of a bias. In October, I go to K's leadership seminar, not Doh's. However, I wouldn't mind Doh being successful, though. Hell, I really want some bball coach on the Hilltop to be successful. Any COACH, for that matter. And no apologies necessary. The only way stomach what goes on game after game is cynicism.