Wow...and not the good kind

[Rebel10]

Fair comments, but I've followed his career (closely) LONG before he was at SMU, and I wasn't a fan of his hiring. These aren't new concerns (at least for me).

I think Jank is a good guy and at the same time I think your concerns are legit.

[CoxMustangFan]

I think Jank is a good guy and at the same time I think your concerns are legit.

I've heard from a number of folks, including a number of you that I know and trust, that he's a "great guy" and a good representative of SMU. Just don't think he's a great 1 coach (at a major level).

[JasonB]

The fire and aggressiveness isn't there right now. The team is playing scared and timid.

The crowd fed off of the energy of Sterling, Nic, and Marcus. That is what made the atmosphere special. The crowd fell in love with the team and the team drove the crowd. The Cincy game last year was the one game the crowd picked the team up and carried them to victory.

When we are an established program, the crowd will take new players and give them the confidence to play aggressive. Right now, the crowd is just as timid and scared as the players are. Everyone is waiting for someone else to start things back up. But until it happens, the team just isn't very fun to watch right now. And the crowd is going to be impacted by that.

The ten minute stretch of the second half was a positive sign. We are going to have to show up as fans on Wednesday and try to keep the momentum going.

But don't blame the fans for not showing up to watch bad basketball. Or sitting on their hands. Fans showing up to watch bad basketball doesn't even happen for the Mavs.

[PonyTime]

I just came from the game and I couldn't believe it. A complete 180 from where this program was at the UConn game when we opened Moody. This team plays like a team being coached by an assistant coach. Zero leadership or energy. The crowd was embarrassing both in terms of size and energy. There was zero game day programming outside of some stupid sponsor gimmicks.

SMU has found a way to ruin one of the best up and coming programs in college basketball.

Well done!

Why don't you compare the atmosphere today to the atmosphere of one of the early season games in the year you are mentioning (in Garland), or the Monmouth game from 2 years ago or the Brown game from last year. Comparing it to the UCONN game makes no sense at all.

[CoxMustangFan]

I just came from the game and I couldn't believe it. A complete 180 from where this program was at the UConn game when we opened Moody. This team plays like a team being coached by an assistant coach. Zero leadership or energy. The crowd was embarrassing both in terms of size and energy. There was zero game day programming outside of some stupid sponsor gimmicks.

SMU has found a way to ruin one of the best up and coming programs in college basketball.

Well done!

Why don't you compare the atmosphere today to the atmosphere of one of the early season games in the year you are mentioning (in Garland), or the Monmouth game from 2 years ago or the Brown game from last year. Comparing it to the UCONN game makes no sense at all.

[tristatecoog]

On VividSeats, 33 tickets can be purchased for $20 or less for the TCU game.

http://www.vividseats.com/ncaab/smu-mus ... 45143.html

Demand is just off without a top 25 ranking and Larry Brown. Student/faculty ticket pull for the next seven or so games is in the morning at 7:00. Maybe there is already a line of student tents?

[tristatecoog]

Faculty and staff line was 35 deep at 7:00. Players and Jank handing out donuts to the many students waiting in line. Thanks players and beat the Frogs!!

[skyscraper]

Good to hear

[PonyTime]

I just came from the game and I couldn't believe it. A complete 180 from where this program was at the UConn game when we opened Moody. This team plays like a team being coached by an assistant coach. Zero leadership or energy. The crowd was embarrassing both in terms of size and energy. There was zero game day programming outside of some stupid sponsor gimmicks.

SMU has found a way to ruin one of the best up and coming programs in college basketball.

Well done!

Why don't you compare the atmosphere today to the atmosphere of one of the early season games in the year you are mentioning (in Garland), or the Monmouth game from 2 years ago or the Brown game from last year. Comparing it to the UCONN game makes no sense at all.

^^^^All early season Sunday afternoon games against no-name opponents...Moody will be rockin' on Wednesday night.

[SMUstangs22]

It will be rocking for sure. However everyone knows what the victory margin of the last 2 games should have been. It will be interesting to see how the crowd mentality is through the ups and downs (given that there are actually ups)

[mustang1992]

I also think the concerns about Jank are legit. He was a .500 coach at NTSU and regularly got bounced out of the first round of the NIT at Illinois State. Those things don't scream to me that he can now coach / maintain a top 25 program?

I'm sure that was a tough sell with NM, "hey you want to go play for HOF coach LB, or stay here?" Anyone here think NM career would have been the same or better had he stayed at IS if Jank had stayed there?

I'm not a fan, but willing to give him a chance, since so many on here were singing his praises. But the early results are hardly impressive. We've looked terrible against terrible opponents. The only good win we have so far is against Pitt. The last two games were sloppy and boring basketball and unless this ship gets turned around and fast, the momentum of the past three years will be gone.

I will be in Moody cheering for the team and Jank on Wed, this is a huge game. Could be a season and program changer.

[PerunasHoof]

People had the same complaints last year during the out of conference schedule against no name teams. The crowds will eventually show up and people can go back to complaining that our students aren't wearing matching shirts.

[SMU_Alum11]

I took my family out to the game against cal state- Bakersfield and I was too shocked by the difference in crowd size and noise level. I agree with the frustrations and I wonder how much of it is due to our crappy inexcusable losses more so than just LB being gone. I feel he had a huge impact in bringing celebrities and crowds. Also outside of the win on Friday, that felt like a horrible game to watch. I even yelled out to the kid getting the ruthie gift card, "you made the team!" and got a few crowd chuckles. Of course they are the tea sipping no-cheer fans but still.

Inexcusable losses? Michigan and USC were inexcusable losses?

No Boise state was and I think letting the Michigan game getting out of hand (over 20 points) was inexcusable. USC was a "decent" loss.

[SMUstangs22]

I took my family out to the game against cal state- Bakersfield and I was too shocked by the difference in crowd size and noise level. I agree with the frustrations and I wonder how much of it is due to our crappy inexcusable losses more so than just LB being gone. I feel he had a huge impact in bringing celebrities and crowds. Also outside of the win on Friday, that felt like a horrible game to watch. I even yelled out to the kid getting the ruthie gift card, "you made the team!" and got a few crowd chuckles. Of course they are the tea sipping no-cheer fans but still.

Inexcusable losses? Michigan and USC were inexcusable losses?

No Boise state was and I think letting the Michigan game getting out of hand (over 20 points) was inexcusable. USC was a "decent" loss.

Unless you watched the game. Inexcusable is a bit harsh but its not just that we lost but how

[Topper]

We don't have a true point guard or a true big in the starting lineup. No one on this team will replace Nic but someone needs to step up and become the emotional leader. I love Shake but I think he may be too cool of a character to be that guy. Maybe one of the upperclassmen can take that role. As far as the big man issue: I see Froling developing into a special player very quickly. Maybe in the starting lineup before long. With a little seasoning he is going to fill an important role in the middle. Overall I think that this team will grow up a lot in the next month.