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A source who plays in the pickup games daily at SMU (a bball stud himself) had the following observations that should give SMU fans some optimism.
first, the players participating in these games that he mentioned - im sure there are more notables but these were all he mentioned: Kurt Thomas (NBA), Chris Bosh, Bryan and Ryan Hopkins, Dez W, Leonard Hopkins, Quentin Ross, Bamba.

Observations:
1. Bamba is much better than his reputation says - this source says he even holds his own, plus more at times, against Bosh. He will help the team a lot next year.

2. Dez W is really good, as im sure most people on here already knew. Source says that Tubbs will be making a huge mistake if he does not let B Hop and Dez play on the court together for the majority of the game. He says the combination will be unstoppable for anyone in the NCAA.

3. Lastly, Ryan Hopkins has vastly improved to the point where everyone is having a tough time containing him on the court. Apparently, he has gotten himself in great shape - added tons of muscle and is realizing his athletic abilities. I said are you serious? And my source was even more adamant that Ryan has been unstoppable.

Anyway, this was great to hear, for SMU's sake - I hope other SMU fans will get excited by this report and get even more ready to support the stangs this year - should be a very good team if Depth does not become a negative factor and If Tubbs does not mess anything up.

Hope your source knows what he is talking about. We need some good basketball news around here and your report is a real upper. Thanks.

Man, you should see OP play golf on the driving range.....

good analogy to the driving range, OP. Pickup games dont tell you much. It is worth a little something if Bamba is showing something against Bosh though. Bosh has basically proven himself at the NBA level.

Since Due brought it up, I have also heard that Bamba is looking pretty good. I hesitate to say that because people shouldnt expect too much from a freshman, but I've heard it from several sources who dont always agree on things. I must say I also heard that Dez wasnt playing as well as he can yet. Nothing bad, just not tearing it up early in the summer. Maybe he needs to knock some rust off.

Everybody looks good in summer pickup games because nobody plays defense.

I walked on at SMU, a long time ago, and you should have seen me light it up in the summer at Deman and Moody. I would have been an All-American based on my summer performances. Defense is a little different when it counts and when coaches are involved.

Thanks for the post but lets wait and see what happens with our thin team.

where are these pickups games - Dedman, Moody or elsewhere?

OP - does that genius in your post come with Age?... As my years go by, I can only hope to state the obvious as well as you did in your post.

Before dismissing these games as the type of pcikup games your used to seeing at the local YMCA... go see for yourself... you will notice true competiveness and players not just going through the motions... Players at this level and at these stages demand such intensity during offseason pickup games....

Obviously, the intent and the message in my post was misunderstood.... at this point, I dont care to explain.

Hoop Fan - Im not accusing you of saying i did, but in case, I never said Dez was tearing it up - a very accomplished BBall player who has been playing with him this summer simply said he is very good and this source does not give praise to just anyone.

due, OP welcomes the opportunity to spar with a new partner. Just remember the glass is always half empty from his viewpoint and that reality checks are not a high priority.

I'm sorry but if you get a message board and say:

Bamba Fall is able to hang, and beat, quality NBA players

The Hopkins and Willingham duo will be unstopable by anyone in the NCAA

Ryan Hopkins cannot be contained

Well, you're going to cacth some heat.

Its like when we hear all the guys dominating in spring football practice.

Danny Noonan wrote:The Hopkins and Willingham duo will be unstopable by anyone in the NBA

In fairness, he said "unstoppable for anyone in the NCAA ," not the NBA. The rest of your post is accurate.

jtstang wrote:

Danny Noonan wrote:The Hopkins and Willingham duo will be unstopable by anyone in the NBA

In fairness, he said "unstoppable for anyone in the NCAA ," not the NBA. The rest of your post is accurate.

I meant NCAA. Corrected.

due wrote: .... 2. Dez W is really good, as im sure most people on here already knew. Source says that Tubbs will be making a huge mistake if he does not let B Hop and Dez play on the court together for the majority of the game. He says the combination will be unstoppable for anyone in the NCAA. ....

Lighten up, Francis.

I also have heard great things about Bamba Fall, Dez, etc. And while I agree with you that BHop and Dez might be an absurdly quick and perhaps potent backcourt tandem, I would hesitate to line them up for their all-America citations just yet, because at their lack of height, I would anticipate some considerable issues on the defensive end. For the sake of argument, let's say they are the quickest pair of guards in C-USA, and therefore they're able essentially to run past other teams en route to a combined 40 or 50 (combined) points per game. How are they going to stop teams that throw guards who are 6'3" and 6'6" at them?

I'm still in the "wait and see" camp .... but your report sure is encouraging!

Sorry- my bad. I just hope Q doesn't lose all his cofidence being routed by the unstoppable RHop. I would hate for him to lose his job.
I am such a pessimist that I thought pre season that we would dance last year Waz.
Glad to hear that DW and Bhop are the top tandem in the US. I hear about that all day on ESPN but it is nice to have "due" confirm it for me. I just hope Bamba doesn't go stright to the pros. Thank goodness that the draft is over and he didn't declare this year. The Ponies should contend for the nat'l championship if I read "due's report correctly. I am pumped.

Yes due- With age does come wisdom. You must have some potential at earlier ages though or you won't be able to spot the obvious or state its characteristics when you see it later on. I thought I had called BS on you in a nice way with a smidgen of humor since I didn't want to offend your tender sensibilities.

It would be nice if Ryan could earn some quality PT this season...hope it works out.