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The Houston Cougars obviously have more going for them basketball wise from a historical perspective than we do. In fact, you would have to say that only Memphis has more tradition and success than Houston in C-USA (with UTEP coming in a distant third).

Yet they have struggled for a number years, although they did pull off a suprise C-USA tourney win from the bottom seed (a fluke). They have had several high profile coaches (Penders, Drexler, Dickey etc.) but have not ever been able to put anything back together. They are quick on the trigger to replace one high profile coach with another but the results have yet to be any better. In fact, this has to be one of the worst Houston teams ever.

If Houston cannot win with their history and high profile coaches, I think it shows the tall order that we here at SMU have and I think it also highlights some of the things that Doherty brings to the table.

Bottom line, he needs to win and start winning soon, but I think we are kidding ourselves if we think changing coaches will fix things, it will put us 5 years behind where we are now and we will have to start all over.

I think I read somewhere they have two very highly rated guys coming in next year? right

Houston is in the situation it is in because of Tom Penders and because it got rid of Tom Penders. Had they kept Penders around they would have continued to be a 20 win season team that went to the NIT or CBI yearly. He wasn't great at recruiting 4 year athletes, but was very adept at finding some solid jucos and transfers to plug in for 2 seasons. The problem is the fan base got tired of his inability to progress beyond that threshold and his inability to mine the Houston area talent. Additionally, he did not do a good job in attracting many 4 year players and left the cupboard empty. Now, Dickey assembled an excellent staff which is doing a standup job of attracting 4 and 5 star talent to Houston, but it will take another season or 2 for him to right the ship as those are 4 year players he is recruiting. I still think that as long as we don't fall back we should keep Doherty another season.

This is just his first year at UH not his sixth or seventh like Doh at SMU.

This is his second season at UH, not his first. Penders started winning his first season at UH so it is a very different situation to what Doherty inherited. That said, it is time for Doherty to perform as he is in his sixth season at SMU.

Rebel10 wrote:This is just his first year at UH not his sixth or seventh like Doh at SMU.

This is his 2nd year, and they don't stand to be good for two more years, even then not great. They have a couple good freshman, but that class was very overrated nationally, as many put it on par w/ours, which it wasn't. Their #12 class is quite good and should contribute immediately. If they keep coming strong in '13, they'll be ok in year 4 or so

That is really the point I was trying to make. Even with a big time coach, an excellent staff, and a program rich in history, it is difficult to right the ship and get back to the level of competitng for conference championships every year down here in football country, unless you happen to be in the Big 12.

If we ultimately decide Doh has to go, we have to brace ourselves for at least a 5 year building project. That is why I really hope Doherty can continue to move forward and take that big step instead of the baby steps.

Houston could have hired Billy G. Instead they hired Dickey. One of the oddest decisions ever.

Billy G is another coach who always is looking for the next higher paying job. Ask the Aggies and UTEP what they think of Billy G. So, getting Billy G means you rent him. Houston wanted a guy who might put in a few more years than that.

If we let go of Doherty it should not be a 5 year project as he has set a good foundation with our current players and recruits. The key is doing our homework and going after someone that could mesh with this roster.

CalallenStang wrote:Houston could have hired Billy G. Instead they hired Dickey. One of the oddest decisions ever.

In hindsight, I think it was pretty smart. Dickey has had Big 12 success in the past, and is a proven recruiter. He lacks BCGs skeleton's and to be honest, he never flamed out like BCG did at Kentucky. I think BCG gets more love in Texas b/c of his UTEP/A&M stints, but his stint at Kentucky was legendary bad. Also, he's had a bunch of run-ins at Tech already.

Didn't Tom Penders retire from UH after they made it to the NCAAs a few seasons ago? They didn't fire him.

mustangxc wrote:If we let go of Doherty it should not be a 5 year project as he has set a good foundation with our current players and recruits. The key is doing our homework and going after someone that could mesh with this roster.

If we hire a new coach.....please make it someone who will play an uptempo style of basketball. Have to think that we have the athletes for that now.

PonySnob wrote:

mustangxc wrote:If we let go of Doherty it should not be a 5 year project as he has set a good foundation with our current players and recruits. The key is doing our homework and going after someone that could mesh with this roster.

If we hire a new coach.....please make it someone who will play an uptempo style of basketball. Have to think that we have the athletes for that now.

We will get killed in the Big East trying to run, killed. That's a bump'n'grind league. Very physical

RunningStang wrote:Didn't Tom Penders retire from UH after they made it to the NCAAs a few seasons ago? They didn't fire him.

His contract was up. Officially it was a mutual parting, but unofficially he was not retained.