PonyFans.com practice report: (10/10/14)

[PonyPride]

• While shooting around with his former teammates before practice Friday, graduate assistant coach Shawn Williams made it plainly clear he reeeeally enjoys reminding his them that he can knock down a three-pointer.

• When warming up with strength and conditioning coach, one of the Mustangs' drills designed to stretch out the hamstrings had the players walking forward and kicking each foot up (knee straight). G Sterling Brown kicked his foot up over his head. No, it doesn't mean much as far as what kind of season he'll have, but try it — not easy. If nothing else, he looks like he's in better shape than last year.

• Head coach Larry Brown believes in having all of his players able to handle the ball. To that end, one of the early drills was a simple dribbling drill, weaving through cones. Adding a second basketball for each player makes the drill exponentially harder, of course. Two of the people who looked remarkably adept and almost comfortable double-dribbling: C Yanick Moreira and F Ben Moore.

• One of the most visibly different players is G Keith Frazier. Last year, he arrived at SMU with the reputation as a dangerous shooter, but his shooting was inconsistent. The suggestion was made that at least part of the reason for Frazier's hot-and-cold shooting was his unorthodox footwork: when he left the ground, his feet would cross in front of him. Head coach Larry Brown is a big believer in proper mechanics, and Frazier clearly got the message, as his feet no longer cross when he releases his shot. It doesn't look entirely natural/second-nature all the time, but he is shooting from a more stable base and with better balance. For what it's worth, his shot from behind the arc was consistently accurate Friday.

• For someone who basically started playing point guard — on a limited basis — this summer, Ben Moore looks pretty comfortable putting the ball on the floor and driving through traffic to the rim.

• Remember when there was concern about F Markus Kennedy's conditioning? Seems like a distant memory — he looks leaner and faster than he did last season.

• Transfer G Ben Emelogu is still getting used to his new team, but there is obvious talent. He's strong, quick, and has a quick release on his shot. Like a lot of players who are new to a team, you can see him thinking through plays/assignments, but it's understandable why he was a coveted player coming out of South Grand Prairie High School in 2013.

• Moreira and C/F Cannen Cunningham look like they both have extended the range on their jump shots; Cunningham looks very comfortable out to (and behind) the three-point line. Hitting them in games and in practice are two different things, of course, but if he can extend his range, it would add an element to the offense.

• If Ben Moore can handle the responsibilities of playing point guard, he'll create mismatches at both ends of the floor. Not only are there few guards who can defend a 6-8 player with quickness and athleticism, but he also will create headaches for opponents on the defensive end. He presumably is taller than every point guard in the country, but he also can run. At one point, the team split into full five-on-five scrimmage drills, and a pass was fired into the wing toward G Ben Emelogu, but Moore shot off the baseline and picked off the pass. Could other guards make that play? Sure, but not many have his height and length. (Don't read more into this than is intended: this is not to suggest Moore is the second coming of Magic Johnson, and by all accounts, he still will spend the vast majority of his time at forward, sharing backup guard duties with Ryan Manuel. But he does present some rather tantalizing possibilities.)

• Head coach Larry Brown remains as active a teacher as ever, in the middle of the floor during just about all drills, barking out instructions and correcting flaws that escaped most or all of the other observers in the gym. At one point, the offense ran some kind of a shell offense, passing around the perimeter, and Brown stopped the drill because of poor passing … after the ball had reached its target eight or nine times in a row. Completing the pass, Brown said, was meaningless, unless it was completed in a position that allowed the recipient to then do something with the ball, rather than just continuing the rotation around the perimeter of the court. In his eyes, a pass has to do more than reach its intended target to be a good pass.

• Brown also pleaded with the players to react to what they see, not what the expect to see. For example, G Ryan Manuel drove from the left side of the lane into the paint and then turned toward the rim. Expecting the defense to collapse on him, Manuel picked up his dribble and tried to split two defenders by threading the ball in between them; Brown pointed out that nobody had stepped in front of Manuel, who could have foregone the difficult pass (which resulted in a turnover) and driven in for an easy dunk.

• Shortly thereafter, Manuel turned the tables, driving through three defenders to get to the rim for a lay-in. Brown praised Manuel for his aggressiveness … after which Manuel sheepishly accepted a hug from his coach.

• G Nick Russell has moved on, playing professionally overseas, but G Nic Moore still gets called "Little Nic" sometimes.

[LA_Mustang]

Great report. Thanks.

[sadderbudweiser]

Thanks.

Damn I can't wait.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Awesome information. Thanks!

[gostangs]

i really respect ryan manuel and cannen C. Both those guys cam in under Doherty - and have responded well with LB and earned spots. We will need them both for all important depth - and they seem ready to do what it takes to make this team go somewhere. Could be really exciting to see that pay off for them down the road.

[Planter's Punch]

It was reported Jean Micheal Mudiay attended the first practice, but he is not listed on the roster. Can you clarify his current relationship with the team?

[Junior]

he's not listed on the roster. might have just been there to watch.

[Harry0569]

PP - any indication from LB/SID as to when we will hear anything on Ben's eligibility status?