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Suprised to see Houston as only an 8 point favorite here considering we have had a hard time staying in the gym with them the last few seasons.

I always look forward to this game as Penders and his thug recruits are near the top of all my all time hate list.

Unfortunately, they always seem to shoot the threes lights out against us, we really need them to be cold tonight. Still though, we have held many opponents this year to their lowest totals of the season. We need good scoring defense, rebound well, and limit our turnovers and we may have a chance.

Hope it is a fun and close game.

Go Ponies!

I sure hope Vegas is right, but I wouldn't bet on it. The fact that UCF torched us and then Houston torched UCF does not bode well for us. I'll be there hoping for the best.

That UCF game has been our one true awful game from start to finish in conference play.

In our 8 conference games that is the only one that got totally away from us...while some we were closer in than others, in each of the other seven you can point to a moment where we had a real chance to pull it out, this young team just has not figured out how to finish. Even against superior talent, we have for the most part been right there to some degree, just have to find a way to pull off that upset.

I expect us to hang close tonight and if Houston is a bit off on their shooting, we have a chance.

I actually went last Saturday to watch Rice play at UH here in Houston and I think we match up better against this Houston team than we have in recent years. A couple of reasons and observations from Saturday (and the couple of other times I have seen them on TV and in person):

1. Kelvin Lewis (guard, Auburn transfer) and Calhoun (6'8 forward) both shoot close to 40% from deep, but they are the only legit three point shooters on the team that get regular minutes. That helps considering UH typically loves the 3ball and we typically don't like to defend it.

2. They play a much bigger line-up than in years past. Marcus Cousin (7ft senior, Seaton Hall transfer) is avg'ing close to a double-double and plays 30 min per game and the Calhoun kid (mentioned above) also plays 30 per game. Calhoun does spend a lot of time on the perimiter but isnt fast enough to blow by anyone. Allows us to play Bamba, Dia, Nayakundi, Faye etc without getting exposed by a much smaller/quicker lineup (which UH has done to us in recent years).

3. They lack a true PG or consistent PG play which really bogs down their offense at times.

4. Their best player, Aubrey Colemen, can't shoot consistently from the perimiter. Something like 20% from 3 on the year and airballed 3 or 4 long jumpers Saturday night (still managed 27 points). He is fast as heck though, finishes well at the bucket, and is a sure bet to hoist up 15-20 shots against us.

5. They played lazy, awful defense until about 13 minutes left in the game against Rice. They just didn't seem to care on that end of the court. However, when they turned it up a notch at that 13 minute mark, they were really quite good on the ball defenders, but their team help D still lacked.

We didn't play them within 20 points last season and didn't finish closer than 15 down against them, the season before. I think this year we should fare much better. I won't predict an upset, but I wouldn't at all be shocked to see us pull one off.

bagice wrote:That UCF game has been our one true awful game from start to finish in conference play.

In our 8 conference games that is the only one that got totally away from us...while some we were closer in than others, in each of the other seven you can point to a moment where we had a real chance to pull it out, this young team just has not figured out how to finish. Even against superior talent, we have for the most part been right there to some degree, just have to find a way to pull off that upset.

I expect us to hang close tonight and if Houston is a bit off on their shooting, we have a chance.

Don't forget the Rice game. We came back, but still looked awful throughout.

smupony wrote:

bagice wrote:That UCF game has been our one true awful game from start to finish in conference play.

In our 8 conference games that is the only one that got totally away from us...while some we were closer in than others, in each of the other seven you can point to a moment where we had a real chance to pull it out, this young team just has not figured out how to finish. Even against superior talent, we have for the most part been right there to some degree, just have to find a way to pull off that upset.

I expect us to hang close tonight and if Houston is a bit off on their shooting, we have a chance.

Don't forget the Rice game. We came back, but still looked awful throughout.

True, but we did get back to within 2 points in the second half from 16 down, its a bit of a fudge, but I call that our "defining moment" .....was fleeting, but was there!

You can just feel the excitement building for this game-can't you. Why that's a half dozen posts right there.

Stallion wrote:You can just feel the excitement building for this game-can't you. Why that's a half dozen posts right there.

I had to wait for my red and blue body paint to dry before I could touch my keyboard......i'm sure others have the same issue.

ponydawg wrote:

Stallion wrote:You can just feel the excitement building for this game-can't you. Why that's a half dozen posts right there.

I had to wait for my red and blue body paint to dry before I could touch my keyboard......i'm sure others have the same issue.

Solid A- !

Well, I don't care that we have a cruddy record, I am really excited about this game, its another chance to beat that Perma Haired clown down in Houston....One day, we are going to embarrass his team when all them clown threes they throw up don't fall, and I wanna be there to see it!

Just behind beating Memphis, this would be my season defining win.

we have a basketball team?

expony18 wrote:we have a basketball team?

same could be said for football. in fact, SMU Football might be the only NCAA sports team that our hoops team has a higher winning percentage than over the last 2 years.

OK, off to the game, see everyone there, and those out of town, make an interesting game thread, I always like reviewing those!

Go Ponies....we are due one!

MustangIcon wrote:

expony18 wrote:we have a basketball team?

same could be said for football. in fact, SMU Football might be the only NCAA sports team that our hoops team has a higher winning percentage than over the last 2 years.

i meant to say we have a [fill in the blank] team?

let's do this thing...hopefully we can compete with them on our home court

Charleston Pony wrote:let's do this thing...hopefully we can compete with them on our home court

cant find the radio link- not on my home computer. have one handy to post please?