ATm Intl Game Thoughts

[bagice]

Just back from the game, now that was fun. The team really needed that, everyone looked good. Nice to see Alex Malone take the ball to the hoop, he needs to start scoring more. I liked Doherty sticking with the starting 5 longer than he usually does, that is our best team and he needs to let them develop some chemistry. I really like that lineup....McCoy, Williams, Malone, Dia, and Fall.....and I think if they are given more time together, we are going to win more conference games than we have in a while.

Nice to see Dia get his shot back, he definitely feeds off of the confidence of getting one to fall.

Highlights were Walker's dunk, nice to see a 6 ft guy get a slam, he barely got high enough, but he did it. The play where Williams threw the ball off the backboard to Bamba trailing for the monster slam was awesome.

Too bad we have to wait 10 days to see another game.

I really like the intro sequence and music this year for the player introductions, if we can ever get Moody mostly full, the crowd would rock to that.

Anyone know what happened to Maag, was looking forward to seeing him get some minutes at the end of the game, but he wasn't on the bench and didn't even see him in the stands...

We are 1-0 in our quest to dismantle the Texas A&M school system, one college at a time!

Go Ponies!!!!

[Pony Ride]

Just back from the game, now that was fun. The team really needed that, everyone looked good. Nice to see Alex Malone take the ball to the hoop, he needs to start scoring more. I liked Doherty sticking with the starting 5 longer than he usually does, that is our best team and he needs to let them develop some chemistry. I really like that lineup....McCoy, Williams, Malone, Dia, and Fall.....and I think if they are given more time together, we are going to win more conference games than we have in a while.

Nice to see Dia get his shot back, he definitely feeds off of the confidence of getting one to fall.

Highlights were Walker's dunk, nice to see a 6 ft guy get a slam, he barely got high enough, but he did it. The play where Williams threw the ball off the backboard to Bamba trailing for the monster slam was awesome.

Too bad we have to wait 10 days to see another game.

I really like the intro sequence and music this year for the player introductions, if we can ever get Moody mostly full, the crowd would rock to that.

Anyone know what happened to Maag, was looking forward to seeing him get some minutes at the end of the game, but he wasn't on the bench and didn't even see him in the stands...

We are 1-0 in our quest to dismantle the Texas A&M school system, one college at a time!

Go Ponies!!!!

I agree with alot of what you had to say. During the S. Fla. game, I said that I hope Coach can find a rotation of 8 after five games. Well, we're there, and like you said, we definitely have our starting lineup in place. But I think Faye may find his way into the starting lineup before this year is over, if not by conference play. He's a talent, and I think we will all be impressed when he hits the court.

Haynes could be a great spark off the bench, but I want to see him play like he did tonight against better competition. He definitely has the size to be a legit 2 man.

I hate saying this over and over, but Dia has the ability to be a First Team type of player but I haven't seen him play a complete game yet. I just hope this coaching staff can help him develop into a dominant force (that's assuming that this staff can do that, which I'm not convinced of yet).

Like you said, we needed a game like this. I hope we don't regress over the break.

[Mustangsabu]

I have to agree, Dia looks like he could a be a huge asset to the team but right now all I have seen is lots of potential and little proof that when the going gets tough he can take a game by the scruff of the neck.

It is also a pity that we do not have another game for 10 days because we could have fed off that one, so many players found their range. We started slow but our defense kept them from finding their rhythm, although, as has been pointed out, TAMI are terrible.

I am looking forward to Faye getting on the court. I am very out of touch, what is the story behind this guy?

[bagice]

Dia has been very inconsistent and I have really liked what I have seen from Otis, he brings great energy to the floor, he is a great passer and defensive player, and he has great moves on the low blocks and has drawn plenty of fouls, he MUST improve his FT shooting however, I swear that half his attempts have hit backboard before iron.

The big men can be rotated for us and when Faye gets in there, that will be one more big body to add to the mix.

Still to me, Malone is the key, he has the rare gift of being a 6'8'' guy with great ball handling skills, he can penetrate to the basket with authority and his shot is pretty smooth as well. I was a bit frustrated early as he always seemed to be the first guy to come out, I suspect he has not been practicing well. Was really happy to see him get more minutes.

Williams, McCoy, and Malone need to be our "big three" , they need to log the most minutes for the team each night, hopefully we are going in that direction and he can step up to the challenge.

[RE Tycoon]

I like Malone's upside, and agree with your assessment of him, but if we are to reach our potential we need either Bamba or Dia to be a part of the big three with McCoy and Williams. Otherwise we will be in big trouble.

[Harry0569]

For the past year and a half all I have heard about Malone is his upside, yet I have yet to see him play a truly great game. He either dribbles around for 10 seconds going nowhere, or drives and passively gives up a chance to draw a foul or shoot. I see the tools, but it has not translated onto the floor.

[bagice]

The big men will definately need to contribute, at least we have a rotation we can run out there with them.

I think Malone has been tentative, afraid that he was going to be the first one of the starters to come out. I think if his minutes go up, he can start playing more loose. About the only highlight of the TCU game was when he had the ball on the wing in the motion offense, worked off the pick and took it down the lane in traffic for a two handed jam. We need a lot more of that.

[hunters]

I really like the intro sequence and music this year for the player introductions, if we can ever get Moody mostly full, the crowd would rock to that.

I'm pretty sure that was the new britney spears song and they really got to put a stop to that. Also the warm-up music was all 90s rock, nickelback and other stuff that you would never find on the radios of any of the hoops players.

[One Trick Pony]

Bag looked for you at the Rad hotel bar. My wife, my self, and the bartender were the only patrons... just the way i like it!

This will be my stop before all games.

[PoconoPony]

Watched the earlier tournament games and last night's game on All Access which has limitations on court coverage thereby negating the appreciation of some aspects of a game. I'm impressed with our starting guards who are doing a fine job; however, I still have little confidence that any of the front line has the stamina, strength and skills to win many games. Ponies better beat up on these early season weak links as they are not going to win many games in conference play without significant front line improvement. Hate to be a pessimist, but I just do not see enough at this point to believe that we can win more than 8 games.

[SMU 86]

Frank Otis looks like a real blue collar type player. I think he will add a toughness to the team that we need.

[bagice]

Bag looked for you at the Rad hotel bar. My wife, my self, and the bartender were the only patrons... just the way i like it!

This will be my stop before all games.

Heh, my daughter came with me, so we went to Fudruckers instead, sure you had much more fun.

On a side note, was really bummed to see Tilley's closed (formely Joe Willies on Greenville). That was my family pregame spot, decent build your own burgers, good fries and rings, cheap beer, sports on TV, games for the kids, SMU memoribilia on the wall....and a nice atmosphere, not generic like fudruckers, felt like you were at a bar, that happened to be family friendly....BUMMER!

[ponyboy]

That is a huge bummer. I'd kinda forgotten about the place in the last few years. I believe there's still one in Rockwall.

[smupony94]

That is a huge bummer. I'd kinda forgotten about the place in the last few years. I believe there's still one in Rockwall.

Darn, I never returned the trivia machine I "borrowed"

[LA_Mustang]

On a side note, was really bummed to see Tilley's closed (formely Joe Willies on Greenville). That was my family pregame spot, decent build your own burgers, good fries and rings, cheap beer, sports on TV, games for the kids, SMU memoribilia on the wall....and a nice atmosphere, not generic like fudruckers, felt like you were at a bar, that happened to be family friendly....BUMMER!

I used to love Joe Willy's when I was going to SMU......good burger, great onion rings and cheap beer. It was a good place to watch a game. As ponyboy mentioned, their Rockwall location is still open.