Doherty on Rivals Radio

[Mexmustang]

May I just say thanks for forwarding the radio clip w.o. any comment or inspection?

[carolsmu]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/bas ... 22,00.html



In an expected move, Conference USA athletic directors on Wednesday unanimously voted to return the league's men's basketball tournament to Memphis for a third consecutive year.
The vote still needs next month's ratification by C-USA's board of directors to become official, but that's considered a formality. So barring a surprisingly change of plans, the 2007 event will be played at FedExForum March 7-10, with the University of Memphis serving as host.

........
Family comes first

Despite their meetings ending Wednesday at about noon, most of the basketball and football coaches remained here at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa overnight. One of the exceptions was new SMU coach Matt Doherty, who left around 4 because of other obligations.

"It's my wedding anniversary," he said. "So I'm flying home to see my family."

Home is still in Boca Raton, Fla., where Doherty formerly coached Florida Atlantic after his stint at North Carolina. But everybody will be in Dallas soon.

"We have closed on a house," Doherty said.

======================================

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/l ... -headlines

If there was one thing made clear Wednesday at the Conference USA spring meetings, it was that men's basketball is the league's top priority.

Working from a detailed plan by associate commissioner Chris Woolard, conference officials are working on an incentive program that includes, among other things, establishing a point system to reward schools for on-court success.

Those rewards would come in the form of NCAA bonus money that in the past has been dispersed evenly throughout the conference. Under the working plan, teams that played "smarter non-conference schedules" would reap rewards based on their performance in those games. Only Memphis, UAB, UTEP and Houston had winning non-conference records last season.

"I think it's fair to assume we will have a package of strategies to improve men's basketball, and I think it's also fair to suggest there will be some form of incentive program," Commissioner Britton Banowsky said. "But the details are still under review
.....
Banowsky said he thinks the April hiring of coaches Matt Doherty (at SMU) and Mike Davis (at UAB) will go a long way in helping the conference recover from the exodus it experienced two years ago when it lost high-profile programs such as Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville and Marquette to the Big East.

"All of our programs are in different places," he said. "It's not like we're all here and all there. Every program has different challenges, but when you've got the people in place who have done it before and know how to get it done, then you stand a real high chance of success."

[Water Pony]

Excellent and speedy post.

The sense of urgency and the desire to increase the BB profile of CUSA is very encouraging. Memphis and, perhaps, Birmingham, are legitimate programs getting national attention.

Imagine CUSA with strong BB programs in those two cities, plus Dallas, Houston, Tulsa, Orlando and New Orleans. The demographics and these markets will be a very strong pull for the media and potential recruits.

Rising waters lift all boats!

Go CUSA, Go SMU