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CBSSports.com reports that SMU's next target may be Oral Roberts coach Scott Sutton, who admittedly is a more realistic candidate. SMU also might have been successful if it targeted North Texas coach Johnny Jones weeks ago, but now the Mustangs may have waited too long since LSU is showing interest.

Whoever becomes SMU's next coach will be at an immediate disadvantage because of the Mustangs' lack of self-awareness in this search. All SMU is doing by going after pike dreams like Williams or Amaker is raising the hopes of their fans to unrealistic heights and making the eventual hire an automatic letdown.

DePaul was vastly more successful in a far stronger Conference USA, yet look how it has struggled since coming to the Big East.

SMU's basketball job may be more appealing than it once was, but it doesn't appear it's nearly as good a gig as the school's administration seems to believe. The Mustangs need to find someone who's legitimately interested and make him an offer before this coaching search drags on any longer.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger-college-basketball-blog/rick-majerus-becomes-latest-reject-smu-extending-mustangs-155342624.html

Seems like CBSSports has now modified their story so who knows.

This guy got a small exposure school in Tulsa to play well enough to have an average rpi finish of roughly 100 over the last 5 years. His school had zero tv time, few decent names as opponents, a league schedule full of traveling from Dakotas to Utah to Michigan.

SMU's average over the past 5 years is 233. Highest finish was Doh's 2nd to last year with an rpi ranking of 188.

He'd be a good fit as he could take advantage of a better setup in Big D. Hope it happens and it would be a step up for SMU.

Down to a lower tier, and honestly, this is the tier where I feel we should have started. Getting rejected by these guys and I might just have to become a non-college basketball fan lol

So we went for the prom queen and will end up with the girl from the A/V club...awesome.

We were trying to get in bed with Erin Andrews and woke up with Linda Cohn.

What a slap in the face.

Nothing wrong waking up with a cougar

The bar is going lower... and lower. Next offer--Dave Bliss or rehiring Matt Doherty.

Sutton, Thompson, Jones, Menzies, or Cross, all fit the bill. They aren't a step down by any means.
Time to stop the "elephant hunt".

I like the quote below re: Thompson. It's a perfect example of the type of coach SMU should hire as their next HC. Thompson should be the choice IMO. Sutton & Jones a close second.

Brooks Thompson – Thompson is considered a rising star in the profession and also has quite a playing pedigree from his days in the NBA. Could be ready to take the next step in his career.

Brooks James Thompson (born July 19, 1970) is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Orlando Magic in the 1st round (27th overall) of the 1994 NBA Draft. A guard from Texas A&M University and Oklahoma State University, Thompson played in four NBA seasons for five different teams. He played for the Magic, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks.

Thompson attended Littleton High School in Littleton, Colorado. Thompson was named the Colorado player of the year in 1989 and lead Littleton to 24-0 record and the state 4A title.

In his NBA career, Thompson played in 168 games and scored a total 760 points. On November 26, 1996, as a member of the Nuggets, he scored a career high 26 points against the Suns.

He also played for a few games in the Greek league for Iraklis Thessaloniki.

On April 19, 2006, Thompson was named head coach of the men's basketball team of the University of Texas at San Antonio.

On November 15, 2009, Thompson and UTSA defeated The University of Iowa. It was UTSA's first ever win versus a Big Ten Conference school.

Sutton interviewed for the Nebraska and Mississippi State HC positions this year.

I really think we are missing the boat by not interviewing Cameron Dollar. In addition to his coaching abilities he also has strong backing from nike - our new supplier.

Not sure if the bar is going lower or just finally becoming realistic. My take: we aimed at Buzz basically as an advertisement that we were serious; big money, promising the moon, really nothing to lose because even if he turned us down the world now knew we were serious about playing with the big boys. After that, these other swings and misses have been body blows that prove either a) we are completely dysfunctional in our search process; b) we really are not the place people want to be even with insane dollars or; c) some combination of the two. Given that operating environment, you really have little choice but to cut bait and get the best option you can, and Sutton really ain't that bad a choice at this point. Will we overpay? Probably, but if we get someone willing to put in the energy to build a program and give him the resources and flexibility to do it, I don't care if it's Phil Jackson or some guy from Billy Bob Community College at this point. Just get it done.

RyanSMU98 wrote:Not sure if the bar is going lower or just finally becoming realistic. My take: we aimed at Buzz basically as an advertisement that we were serious; big money, promising the moon, really nothing to lose because even if he turned us down the world now knew we were serious about playing with the big boys. After that, these other swings and misses have been body blows that prove either a) we are completely dysfunctional in our search process; b) we really are not the place people want to be even with insane dollars or; c) some combination of the two. Given that operating environment, you really have little choice but to cut bait and get the best option you can, and Sutton really ain't that bad a choice at this point. Will we overpay? Probably, but if we get someone willing to put in the energy to build a program and give him the resources and flexibility to do it, I don't care if it's Phil Jackson or some guy from Billy Bob Community College at this point. Just get it done.

I think realistic is a good term to use here. The elephant hunt, although well intended, wasn't what was needed here. This program needs a young, hungry, aggressive leader, ready to take the next step.

Gee- do you really think Phil Jackson would come here to coach?

redpony wrote:Gee- do you really think Phil Jackson would come here to coach?

Shoot, wasn't supposed to release that! Sorry Steve!!

ponyinNC wrote:So we went for the prom queen and will end up with the girl from the A/V club...awesome.

We were trying to get in bed with Erin Andrews and woke up with Linda Cohn.

What a slap in the face.

At least Linda Cohn knows her sports. Sometimes the sexy fit isn't really a fit at all.

Baylor's Scott Drew was not a splash hire. His total coaching experience prior to Baylor was Valparaiso University in Indiana. You don't have to have a splash hire to get a good coach...there are a lot of them out there early in their careers. Go get one and let's get on with it.