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This season offically ended today. I was listening to the Ticket at 5:45 today and they reported that Dement allowed the players to vote on the starting lineup today. They were musing about the inteligence of this move and were wondering what the problem was. The problem is Dement.

The Sunday DMN coverage of the La Tech loss mentioned Dement's attempt to turn things around in practice and the lineup. I give him credit for trying to break out of the rut, and for conceding his job is probably forfeit at the end of the season. The coaching situation is a very sad one now. No one wants to torment Dement or embarass SMU by dismissing him before the end of the season, but it would be merciful to put him out of his misery and to end ours as well.

I have mixed feelings about letting him go now or finishing out the season. I like the man as a person and appreciate the good things he has done for this school, but it is obvious that this season is over right now with him as coach. I personally lean toward pulling the trigger now just to see if anything can be salvaged.

Lets pretend this is going to happen for a second. Who gets the interim job? Lineburg? I believe he's been here the longest.

I think its highly unlikely that Dement would be fired mid-season. That doesn't happen in basketball. It happens in football because of the timing of recruiting and the February signing period. And Dement deserves a graceful exit if thats what is meant to be. He has earned that much with a clean program, impeccable grad rates and several winning seasons.

I agree HF, but I don’t think Dement can continue under the current situation. I have never seen a team quit like this one. He’s obviously lost these guys and I really think he wants out now. He knows he’s taken this program as far as he can and his tank is empty. SMU may be the toughest place to succeed in major/mid-major college athletics and Dement has been able to kept SMU basketball competitive every year until now. He should be commended for that. He is a good coach and a good person but its time to end the relationship. If Copeland plans to make a move, he needs to do it now. Let one of the assistants coach the rest of the season and go from there.

This whole development is very sad.

Originally posted by Hoop Fan:
I think its highly unlikely that Dement would be fired mid-season. That doesn't happen in basketball. It happens in football because of the timing of recruiting and the February signing period. And Dement deserves a graceful exit if thats what is meant to be. He has earned that much with a clean program, impeccable grad rates and several winning seasons.

Jarvis this year? Not sure what the circumstances were.

Copeland needs to be shown the door too. This whole season is wheels off like the football team this year. What a year..

<small>[ 01-25-2004, 04:10 PM: Message edited by: Pony_Fan ]</small>

LA, its damn sad the way this thing has turned out. I just don't think a school with SMU's reputation in the coaching community can afford to slash coaches mid-season. We just need to suck it up and write this season off and let Dement finish it out. I don't see any way he gets a contract extension either, although winning the WAC tournament might make it a hard call. As remote as it seems, there is no reason this group can't regroup and they are still capable of putting a run together.

I personally vasilate on the issue of firing Dement now or letting him finish the season. On one hand I feel he should be allowed to stay since his son is on the team and he has given us 8 years. The other argument says I don't know if it is fair to the school and the players to continue on with the curent state of things. The one thing I do know is that this team wont' come close to winning the WAC tournament. That is a PIPE dream.

I forgot that Dement's son is on the team this season. The coach deserves some consideration in this situation, so I will be content to wait until the end of the year to change directions. :huh:

Jarvis was fired for ruffling feathers in the administration at St. John's. It was a shock because it rarely happens in college basketball absent some scandel. (Eustachy). It does happen though, I vaguely remember that Michigan fired their coach mid-season when they had the fab 5.

East, you are think of 1989 I think, when Michigan won the national title. That was before the Fab 5. They had Glen Rice and Rumeal Robinson, but the Fab 5 came later. You are correct though, they fired Bill Frieder late in the season, Steve Fischer was the head asst who took over and lead them to the title. Fischer also went out in a blaze of glory when the Fab 5 scandal hit.

You guys crack me up. Here you are, all of you talking like you actually have some say in wether Dement keeps his job? You're trying to decide wether to fire him now, or wait to the eend of the season, like its actually your decision? HA!
Here's a news flash for all of you: You Dont Matter. The only one who decides whether Dement stays or goes is Copeland, and Copeland isnt even thinking about firing the guy, yet. Before the Hawaii game, Copeland was ready to give Dement a contract extension before the end of the season. After the last couple of debacles, Copeland has slowed down a bit, he's going to wait until AFTER the season to make the contract extension. Firing Dement isnt even a consideration, yet. The collapse wil have to last until the end of the season for him to even think about it.

Originally posted by Uncle Morty:
You guys crack me up. Here you are, all of you talking like you actually have some say in wether Dement keeps his job? You're trying to decide wether to fire him now, or wait to the eend of the season, like its actually your decision? HA!
Here's a news flash for all of you: You Dont Matter. The only one who decides whether Dement stays or goes is Copeland, and Copeland isnt even thinking about firing the guy, yet. Before the Hawaii game, Copeland was ready to give Dement a contract extension before the end of the season. After the last couple of debacles, Copeland has slowed down a bit, he's going to wait until AFTER the season to make the contract extension. Firing Dement isnt even a consideration, yet. The collapse wil have to last until the end of the season for him to even think about it.

Here's something else that is funny-you don't know what you are talking about either.

Of course Copeland was talking about extending Dement's contract. You never let a coach go out on the recruiting trail with one year left on his contract. It is unheard of. If Dement went out recruiting in the last year of his deal, he wouldn't be able to recruit anybody. It would show that the university has no confidence in him and that he may not be around for 4 or 5 years and every other coach on the recruiting trail would make sure the kids knew it.

Originally posted by Uncle Morty:
You guys crack me up. Here you are, all of you talking like you actually have some say in wether Dement keeps his job? You're trying to decide wether to fire him now, or wait to the eend of the season, like its actually your decision? HA!
Here's a news flash for all of you: You Dont Matter. The only one who decides whether Dement stays or goes is Copeland, and Copeland isnt even thinking about firing the guy, yet. Before the Hawaii game, Copeland was ready to give Dement a contract extension before the end of the season. After the last couple of debacles, Copeland has slowed down a bit, he's going to wait until AFTER the season to make the contract extension. Firing Dement isnt even a consideration, yet. The collapse wil have to last until the end of the season for him to even think about it.

It's too bad -- there is enough talent on this team to win the conference tournament. If only they were motivated to play 48 mins of defense a game and taught not to make stupid mistakes. A good coach could come in midseason and accomplish these things.