GAME THREAD: MBB vs Houston

[PonyPride]

Ponies are playing with house money. Nobody expects SMU to win, so hopefully the guys come out relaxed and shoot the lights out

I disagree. This is by far the most important game of the season by design (that's what happens when you schedule the weakest collection of opponents in non-conference play). It is a must win game. As I said earlier, probably the most important game of the last 5 seasons and that is no hyperbole. These are all Jankovich's players, there are no sanctions, we really have not suffered from COVID/injuries, there are no excuses. Win or win! We have the horses, time to get it done!

You're right that the current players are Jankovich's players.

On the other hand, Jasey is out for the season, and while he might not be Joel Embiid, or whoever your favorite center is, his absence seriously alters the frontcourt rotation, to the point that SMU has been starting a 6'5" center.

And while SMU played "the weakest collection of opponents in non-conference play," Houston slugged it out with such national heavyweights as Hofstra (which took UH to overtime), Rice, Butler, Northwestern State, Bryant, Alcorn State and Louisiana. That is not saying anything beyond the fact that most if not all teams load the schedule with beatable teams in December.

[PonyPride]

Houston is 20-2, and has won 12 straight.

SMU is shooting .451 from the floor this season, while UH is allowing opponents to shoot just .360.
On the other end of the floor, UH is shooting .468, while SMU opponents are shooting .397.

Houston has five players averaging double-digit scoring, although its top scorer, guard Marcus Sasser (17.7 points per game) is done for the year. Also out is guard Tramon Mark (10.1 points per game).

[PonyPride]

Fans filtering in with 2:30 to go until tip ... but more students are here before tipoff than at any game in ... several years, I'd guess. Section behind scorer's table is full; behind east basket is nearly full.

[PonyPride]

STARTERS

Houston
G 1 Jamal Shead
G 4 Taze Moore
G 11 Kyler Edwards
F 25 Josh Carlton
F 35 Fabian White Jr

SMU
G 3 Kendric Davis
G 5 Emmanuel Bandoumel
G 10 Zach Nutall
G 23 Michael Weathers
F 50 Marcus Weathers

[PonyPride]

UH starts with back-to-back 3s, leads 6-0

[Arkpony]

Turn out the lights! LOL

[PonyPride]

Phelps replaces Nutall

Davis gets SMU on board with a turnaround J, then hits a 3

11-5 UH

[EastStang]

This is embarassing. At least KD is waking up.

[PonyPride]

Houston 16, SMU 7

SMU shooting 50%, UH shooting 75% (led by Frank White, who is 3-of-4 from the floor)

[Charleston Pony]

Bad sign when Nutall gets 2 wide open looks to begin the game and misses both, then Houston starts knocking down threes. Only chance our guys have is to get hot from the 3 point line but who is going to step up?

[PonyPride]

Phelps steal and dunk
18-9

[PonyPride]

Great ball movement — Marcus Weathers 3 makes it 18-12

[DallasMustang11]

I just don’t understand why we start every game so flat footed. After tip you blink and we are down 11 to Houston. This seems to happen nearly every game! What is the explanation for this?

[mustangxc]

We needed to come out hot and instead come out cold while Houston is red hot. Not looking good.

[PonyPride]

KD drives, hits left-handed layup and absorbs foul — hits FT to make it 18-15

6:25 in before a foul called against Cougars