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that would be great

indianmustang wrote:that would be great

better for sure, but sixth would hardly be great. not so long ago, SMU often finished in the top half of the WAC and the WAC was probably a better basketball league actually. I do think Paul McCoy can be a terrific point guard.

Nice read, I still want SMU to hang in the conference race and go into the last couple of weeks challenging for a Top four finish and a first round bye in the conference tourney. I definitely agree that the talent is there and now is the time for that to start translating into wins.

I hate to say this, but this season rests on Papa Dia and playing small. Seriously, this roster begs for a 1-in 4-out type offense. Very solid guards in McCoy/Haynes/Clinkscales/Williams, but nothing other then Dia upfront. Faye is softer then Charmin & floats, and Nyakundi is a face-up 4, not a banger.

We need to push the tempo this year, and jack up open looks. Don't eat the clock, don't pass around the perimeter w/no hope of going inside etc. RUN

I always become leery when an unidentified coach makes such a bold statement like this one told the Memphis beat writer about Doherty having Top 5.

That's something that makes you go hmmm.

But I agree with PonyDoh that 2009-2010 is really going to sink or swim on what kind of season Papa Dia has. There better be some kind of Come to Jesus type of moment for him this summer that will transform him into the player we think he will become.

Faye has to do a better job of taking the ball to the basket and please use Nyakundi as the spot-up 3-point shooter religiously.

Make sure Harp doesn't see the floor and that Walker's -- yes, I missed on him -- minutes are diminished.

With this roster, Doherty has little choice but to go uptempo.

Outside of the Christmas tournament, I'm curious as to what the rest of the non-conference schedule will look like.

this will be make-it-or-break-it season for coach D... However, i just don't see how we can hang with other teams without anybody inside... With Bamba gone, you take away not only the most productive inside offense but also a true defensive stopper... Papa better step it up and start playing like he used to or it will be another long season for Mustangs...

There better be some kind of Come to Jesus type of moment for him this summer that will transform him into the player we think he will become.

Yeah, and if a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his _ss.

All nice thoughts, SMU will definately need to run and gun, take advantage of our outside shooting ability and exceptional gaurd play. Our gaurd play and three point shooting should be as good as anyone in the conference, this is a big plus...we just need to build on it. Here are my two make or break keys.

Papa Dia - Needs to get back on track, not sure what happened last year. first game of the year, he started out about 6 for 6, then did not do much the rest of the year...need him healthy and improved. He's the man in the middle, he needs to play like it. Short of that, we better hope our British Big Man is what Doherty thinks he is and can stay on the court more than 10 minutes a game......Short of that, only hope is that Otis grew 3 inches and learned to shoot FTs.

Justin Haynes - He is our ace in the hole. Doherty said he would be All Conference by his senior year and I agree. This is the next Q...he has a sweet, true outside shot and has the tools to develop into the Slasher that everyone agrees we need. He is also a great defender...physically, a carbon copy of Q with the long arms, and I think he is ready to blossom. This could be his breakout year and he could have us saying "WOW" like we all did with the out of nowhere emergence of Ike (which Doherty also predicted). Doherty brought him along slowly last year and he stayed under the radar,but now is the time....(hopefully) ...

Other than that, we just need our main contributers to have had a good off season and gotten better. McCoy, Williams, Faye, and Nyakundi is a pretty damn good basis to add on to if you ask me. Have those things happen that I mentioned above and this will be a great year.

Wojo has done a decent job in about the same amt of time as Doh.
They just need a few pieces where SMU needs a TON.

Pony_Fan wrote:Wojo has done a decent job in about the same amt of time as Doh.
They just need a few pieces where SMU needs a TON.

Wojo just got 6 more yrs on his contract & Tulsa looks like the teamto beat imo.
As far as next season goes, we have a very good backcourt.
I'm anxious to see how the big men have matured & who our next signing will be.
At this point in the off season I'll predict 4th place in the conference & our 2 new assistants will make a big impact on recruiting in years to come .

papawasamustang wrote:

Pony_Fan wrote:Wojo has done a decent job in about the same amt of time as Doh.
They just need a few pieces where SMU needs a TON.

Wojo just got 6 more yrs on his contract & Tulsa looks like the teamto beat imo.
As far as next season goes, we have a very good backcourt.
I'm anxious to see how the big men have matured & who our next signing will be.
At this point in the off season I'll predict 4th place in the conference & our 2 new assistants will make a big impact on recruiting in years to come .

Sign me up for 4th as well...this team is ready to step forward.

Can't remember. Are we out of scholarships or do we still have one left?

If our inside game gets better then I could see 4th. If not, 8th. We got hammered in the paint last year and will be hammered there this year unless we can block out and get defensive rebounds. Guess what guys, you still win games in the paint. Second chance opportunities kill you. Fouls kill you. You can't run and gun without getting defensive rebounds and making the outlet pass. And you don't get good looks at 3's without having some inside threat. Basketball 101.