AAC TOURNAMENT GAME THREAD: MBB v Memphis

[SoCal_Pony]

really! I wanted us to win but to blame the officials etc. is pretty lame. How many foul shots did we miss, how many shots missed? IMO the officials missed calls on both teams. IMO we didn't come to play.

You’re listening to the broadcast and not watching the game.

I still think we’re getting in.

I hope you’re right. In 2014 we were nationally ranked the week before the AAC tourney, beat 4 ranked teams, swept eventual national champion UCONN, and we didn’t get in that year.

Yeah, that’s been my concern all along. 2014 was definitely a better team. No representation on the selection committee, i think we might get overlooked again. Not necessarily an anti-SMU bias, just a non-P5/ BE bias, but my money is on a play-in.

[Charleston Pony]

I don’t think we get in. Too many other bubble teams have won in their conference tournaments and too much bias against SMU. We needed to at least make the final if not win it.

Everyone has their opinion but I like our resume compared to a lot of P5 teams that the pundits keep saying are in. I think the biggest factor in SMU's case is that this team started poorly getting blown out by Oregon and losing to what I believe are inferior teams in LMU and Missouri. Would love to play them all again now that this SMU team has come together because this is not the same team we watched in November and December.

[Charleston Pony]

If this SMU team gets an at-large invite, I hope it is for one of the play-in games because those are pretty evenly matched and should be a good opportunity to win a game and then have a shot at another team that will probably be evenly matched despite their higher seed. Plenty of 5 vs 12 and 6 vs 11 "upsets" prove that every year.

If we don't get in, then hopefully we get a high enough seed in the NIT to get home games and a chance for more Moody Magic. That NIT run to MSG under Larry Brown was fun. Regardless of which way it goes, this team's season is not over.

[ponyboy]

Good point, CP.

[mustangxc]

The 2014 team had more opportunities to show well in conference because the AAC was a more top heavy league that year with Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati, UConn being national programs. However, that team ended with a skid losing to Louisville, at Memphis, and a mediocre Houston team in the conference tournament. This team won it previous 3 games and had a great showing against Memphis and showed well against Memphis, passing the eye test. The 2014 team finished in third place in the conference tied with UConn and Memphis, behind Cincinnati and Louisville. This team finished alone in second place. Both teams had weak non-conference schedules. That team was 23-9 on Selection Sunday and this team is 23-8 (with 2 home games lost due to COVID-19). It's not a good place to be in, but I think there is reason for hope.

[HarvCrimYaleBlue]

Just got home from the game. For anyone in attendance thank you for showing up because not many did. Memphis fans clearly travel well and it showed. Felt like SMU was the “away team” most of the game. Too much sitting on our hand and not enough cheering. Oh well. My boys and I were loud and had fun, save the final.

[DC-Pony]

The 2014 team had more opportunities to show well in conference because the AAC was a more top heavy league that year with Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati, UConn being national programs. However, that team ended with a skid losing to Louisville, at Memphis, and a mediocre Houston team in the conference tournament. This team won it previous 3 games and had a great showing against Memphis and showed well against Memphis, passing the eye test. The 2014 team finished in third place in the conference tied with UConn and Memphis, behind Cincinnati and Louisville. This team finished alone in second place. Both teams had weak non-conference schedules. That team was 23-9 on Selection Sunday and this team is 23-8 (with 2 home games lost due to COVID-19). It's not a good place to be in, but I think there is reason for hope.

I think you’re right. Reason for hope. Reason to watch the section show. And, hey, if we get selected it will be that much sweeter.

I do like our team. They fight. They want to win. Seem like good guys. So want it even more for them.

[Higher Authority]

If this SMU team gets an at-large invite, I hope it is for one of the play-in games because those are pretty evenly matched and should be a good opportunity to win a game and then have a shot at another team that will probably be evenly matched despite their higher seed. Plenty of 5 vs 12 and 6 vs 11 "upsets" prove that every year.

If we don't get in, then hopefully we get a high enough seed in the NIT to get home games and a chance for more Moody Magic. That NIT run to MSG under Larry Brown was fun. Regardless of which way it goes, this team's season is not over.

Agreed. Love the heart and toughness of this team. One way or another, I want to see more from this year's team.

[Higher Authority]

I think you’re right. Reason for hope. Reason to watch the section show. And, hey, if we get selected it will be that much sweeter.

I do like our team. They fight. They want to win. Seem like good guys. So want it even more for them.

All of that is true ... and the outcome notwithstanding, our coaches coached circles around Hardaway. He has a 6-11 lottery pick being guarded by Marcus Weathers, who is tough as hell but maybe 6-5, and Duren takes only 4 shots? Duren missed time when he got hurt and because of fouls, but he played plenty in the second half. When you have a stud like that being guarded by a short defender, you pound it inside until the other team shows he can be stopped.
Hoops 101.

[Charleston Pony]

One thought I had watching this game was that Memphis turned up the defensive pressure and doubled KD all night, forcing our other guys to win this game. Unfortunately nobody really stepped up to become that guy. KD tried to do too much at times and ended this game 3-13 from the field but more important he had only 2 assists vs 4 turnovers which are really unusual numbers for him in a game where he is held to 12 points. It didn't help that Bandoumel had an off night offensively going 0-5 from three and the fact that the team only went 5-20 from three. I'd have to research but that may have been our lowest 3 point production of the season? All year this team has lived and died by the three but I think fatigue was a factor in the end. If I have any criticism or the way Jank managed this game it would be the minutes our starters had to play. KD went the full 40 minutes and SMU's bench played only 22 minutes contributing 7 points and 2 rebounds whereas Memphis played 57 bench minutes and added 20 points and 13 rebounds. It is incredible that SMU was out rebounded 48-25 and still had a chance to win this game in the end. Great effort by our guys last night

[H-E-B Mustang]

The five starters played almost the whole game. After catching up with Memphis and building a four point lead, they ran out of gas. We need more team depth.

[mustangxc]

We need Phelps to develop more confidence. He has the talent, but at times he plays scared. Had a couple good looks and passed them up. He plays tentative and we need him to be aggressive so our guys can get some crucial rest to be fresh in crunch time.

[Charleston Pony]

We need Phelps to develop more confidence. He has the talent, but at times he plays scared. Had a couple good looks and passed them up. He plays tentative and we need him to be aggressive so our guys can get some crucial rest to be fresh in crunch time.

Phelps will be one of the keys to next year's team. Like a lot of frosh, he doesn't really have 3 point range and that's a part of his game that needs work, as well as driving hard to his left. If he becomes an effective perimeter shooter, it will open things up for him and he could become another in a long line of outstanding PGs that have played at SMU. He's already ahead of the curve defensively and he does a nice job in the paint offensively

[Charleston Pony]

The five starters played almost the whole game. After catching up with Memphis and building a four point lead, they ran out of gas. We need more team depth.

I think Phelps, Smith and some of our bigs needed more minutes yesterday but hindsight is 20/20

[ponyboy]

It was interesting last night how condescending the announcers were towards SMU. They all but said, Memphis is a legit Final Four contender and [who is it they are playing tonight?] is lucky to be on the same court. By the end of the game, they were openly criticizing the officiating and very pro SMU. I think we impressed anyone who watched the game, since it was obvious we were playing two opponents.