Final 11 games of the season

[MustangIcon]

Let's take a look at our last 11 games of the season. 2 games vs Memphis. 6 games (one yet to be played) vs the #2-5 ranked CUSA teams. 3 games we were even/favored and won. Aside from Memphis, we have at minimum had a chance to win every single one of these last 10 games during the most brutal stretch of our schedule.

Tulsa (road)- SMU within 5 with 2:16 left. SMU Loss.

Memphis (home)- Tied with 13 min left in the game, down by 3 with 9 minutes left. SMU Loss.

Cal State Bakersfield (home)- SMU Win.

Houston (home)- SMU leading with under 12 minutes left in the game. SMU Loss.

UAB (road)- Within a couple of points either way the entire second half. SMU lead with 18 seconds left in the game. SMU Loss.

Memphis (road)- Memphis rolls. SMU Loss.

Rice (home)- SMU Win.

UTEP (road)- SMU leads most of game, goes to OT. SMU Loss.

Tulsa (home)- SMU leads most of game. SMU Loss.

So Miss (home)- SMU Win.

Houston (road)- ?

We won the three games we were supposed to. We played right there with the #2-5 teams in CUSA (with one still left to play at Houston). You could really say we completely blew the most recent Tulsa and UTEP games of those games against the #2-5 teams. Plus the ECU and Marshall games, prior to this 11 game stretch, are ones we coulda/shoulda/woulda as well. Memphis games I am sort of ignoring since they haven't lost since we were in the WAC, or so it seems.

I think next season that we can very easily double our current conference win total, 3, and end up with at minimum 6 wins in conference. We should also improve on our nonconference record, assuming we don't significantly up the difficulty of our OOC schedule. I expect this team to be .500, or better, next season. If they aren't, then I'll be willing to be as critical as some others on this board of Doherty's tenure. But until then, I cannot cast aside what i see in terms of the talent on the floor and the progress we have made this season.

[George S. Patton]

They just need something in the low block to really take that next step.

[MustangIcon]

They just need something in the low block to really take that next step.

I think you are right. Maybe Dia bounces back next season. I know many have forgotten, but as a freshman Dia averaged 9.7ppg and 6.5 rbp in 24 minutes. This season that has fallen to 5 and 5 in only 17 minutes per contest. I know we lose Bamba, but if Dia can develop the promise he showed his freshman year we could a solid rotation.

I also agree a slashing/scoring wing is something we have needed for a long time (as many posters here have said as well).

[bagice]

I am right there with you, nice post. I may even have higher expectations for next year. As most know, I think Doherty is the right fit for SMU basketball but next year we need marked improvement and by 2011-2012, we need to be a staple near the top of the C-USA leaderboard.

C-USA is a funny and frustrating league, 10 of the 11 teams we should be able to get even and ahead of. Memphis, however, is really going to be a task. They rival the elite schools in recruiting year in and year out and Calipari is a great coach, plus the city is behind them, filling an NBA arena most nights. They really are a square peg in a round hole. We just need to turn that into a positive to motivate us to get better.

Also, the season ain't over with yet . We have at least two more games to show that we are not the same team at the beginning of the year, and can maybe turn in an effort where we don't just hang close to a 2-5 conference ranked team, but beat them.