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We're badly in need of a post from you, man

You are absolutely right. X is extremely knowledgeable and a longtime Mustang; however,
to my knowledge, he hasn't used Prof X as a username in some time. His last several posts
have been under the user name Balatro Diabolus Ex

I did see him at the Montana State game. Not sure why he is not posting currently.

That's right. Forgotten that he changed to the latin phrase. How about this? Calling Jon, we're badly in need of a post from you, man.

What can I do for you?

Make some gumbo

mrydel wrote:Make some gumbo

Simple enough, I was going to do that anyway.

Balatro Diabolus Ex wrote:What can I do for you?

How about a scouting report on Rhonda's 2013-2014 team and how it will do in the American.

mustangbill67 wrote:

Balatro Diabolus Ex wrote:What can I do for you?

How about a scouting report on Rhonda's 2013-2014 team and how it will do in the American.

Off the top of my head I can tell you they should look alot like last year, quick but small. We have 4 starters back from last year, one high quality freshman recruit, and a post player who had to sit out last year will return. Getting Brittney Hardy back will help in the post, but we're still going to be a small club. I expect SMU will push the ball alot in transition and take alot of shots from 12+ feet away from the basket. Keena Mays can break down a defense with dribble penetration, and Korina Baker can drive but is better dishing the ball off rather than taking it all the way to the basket. Gabby Wilkins will get first shot at filling the open spot in the starting lineup, but Hardy may also have a shot at starting, if Rhonda wants a taller lineup. We'll have 3 guards in our starting 5, but there will be moments when we'll have 4 guards on the court.

The AAC (or as I like to call it, C-USAAC) will be a big step up in competition. UConn is the defending National Champs (again) and returns 4 starters from that group. To put it simply, every player on UConns roster, down to the last player at the end of the bench, was more highly recruited than anyone who has ever played for SMU. The Louisville women also made the Final Four last year, their 2nd in the past 5 years and return all 5 starters, including point guard Shoni Schimmel, who started for the US National Team this past summer at the World University Games. SMU will open conference play at Louisville, in a nationally televised game. The Cincinatti women were once a power in C-USA, but have struggled since joining The Big East, they did make the NWIT 2 years ago, but they finished 16-16, and thats as close as they have gotten to seeing .500 since their first year in the league. The South Florida women got their first ever NCAA tournament victory last year, defeating Texas Tech in Lubbock, and followed that with an overtime loss to Cal, a Final Four team. The Bulls went 22-11 last year, and return 3 starters (all of whom are taller than anyone in SMU's starting 5). They have alot of size, and alot of experience, and have a solid shot at getting back to the NCAA tournament again, this year. The rest of the conference are the same C-USA teams we've been playing for awhile, now.

In short, if SMU can finish 4th in this league its an accomplishment, finishing 3rd would be cause for celebration. The top of this conference is miles ahead of anyone we have seen since the SWC broke up.

Do you think Rhonda has the team in place to recruit at an elite level.

mustangbill67 wrote:Do you think Rhonda has the team in place to recruit at an elite level.

I'm not sure what you mean, are we talking about the actual team/players, or do you mean her coaching staff?

We are moving into a conference with some elite level competiton, with a good TV contract, and playing games at locations that draw strong crowds, all of that is going to help. We move from playing in a conference that was no more than an after thought, to being part of the mix. We're sort of on the edge of the spotlight, but thats better than living in the shadows. The exposure of playing the UConn powerhouse helped several former BE programs step up, but its not a guarantee.

Bottom line, I have to say no, not right now. It can happen in the next few years, but the team has to see at least some modest success in the next few years, to start drawing the "elite" recruits. We're surrounded by teams that have been to at least the Final Four (Texas, Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, Baylor, Texas A&M, Oklahoma), and nearly every team in the Big 12 has been ranked in the top-25, and draws 4-5 times as many fans as we do, and has been on TV countless times more often. SMU has never had a player make the WNBA. Thats what attracts the elite players, and SMU has alot of catching up to do. There are too many higher profile teams competing for the same players we would be going after.

In the post above I forgot to mention Rutgers, a terrible oversight, the Scarlet Knights have made the Final Four in 2000 and 2007, and are consistently in the top-25. They sold out their gym multiple times for womens basketball, and consistently send players to the WNBA.

Good stuff. What do you think about the men's prospects in 2013-2014?

I wonder if Rhonda can recruit to that level even with the new TV contracts. She has had a couple of years to get ready for the new conference.

Balatro Diabolus Ex, the devilish jester?

Rebel10 wrote:Balatro Diabolus Ex, the devilish jester?

Roughly, yes. Ex in Latin means 'of', out of', or 'from', so you are reading a message 'from a wicked jester'.