Men's basketball schedule released

[PonyPride]

SMU ANNOUNCES 2006-07 MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE


DALLAS (SMU) --- The SMU Men’s Basketball team released its 2006-07 schedule on Tuesday. The schedule includes 16 home games, nine games against 2006 postseason teams, and 18 games against teams from Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The season begins Nov. 12-14 in Tallahassee, Florida, in a three-day round-robin event where the Mustangs face Illinois State, McNeese State, and host Florida State, respectively. The Mustangs host the Dayton Flyers in the home-opener at Moody Coliseum on Nov. 18. The slate includes a home game against Texas College on Dec. 3, which is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Moody Coliseum when the Mustangs topped McMurry 113-36 on Dec. 3, 1956.

"We are excited to have our schedule complete,” stated head coach Matt Doherty. “Our official start is only six weeks away. There is a sense of urgency around our program that is exciting as we prepare for this challenging season.”

Doherty and his inaugural Mustang squad will play teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (Florida State on Nov. 14), Big 12 (Oklahoma on Dec. 28), and the Atlantic 10 (Dayton on Nov. 18). The Mustangs’ non-conference regional opponents include trips to Oklahoma, Metroplex rival TCU, and Centenary. The Mustangs also face McNeese State in Tallahassee, and have home games against UT-Pan American, Prairie View A&M, Texas College, Paul Quinn College, and Louisiana-Monroe.

"We tip off against Illinois State in Florida State's event and have big road tests at Florida State and Oklahoma,” Doherty continued. “We bring Dayton into Moody Coliseum, so our fans can enjoy a game against a traditionally strong program before we face a difficult conference schedule. Conference USA added two more conference games and I asked to play Memphis and Houston. To be the best you have to play the best and these two teams represent two of the best teams in our conference. I also want to create a rivalry with Memphis and Houston. Moody Coliseum and our fans deserve games like this. Memphis was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament last year and Houston is an old Southwest Conference foe."

The Mustangs’ second season in Conference USA includes 16 games with the Ponies facing Houston, defending conference champion Memphis, Rice, Tulsa, and UTEP twice each. The Mustangs also host Southern Miss, Tulane, and East Carolina while traveling to Marshall, UAB, and UCF. The conference championship returns to the FedEx forum in Memphis from March 7-10.

"This will be a challenging schedule for our program, but one that should create an awesome environment in Moody Coliseum. Our players are working hard to be mentally and physically ready to play this year."

The Mustangs return seven players that saw extensive playing time last season. Sophomore center Bamba Fall led Conference USA as a freshman with 3.36 blocks per league contest. He also set the SMU freshman record with 53 blocks in just 18 games. Senior forward Devon Pearson (10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds) was second in the league in rebounding and set the conference championship record with a career best 17 boards against No. 24 UAB in the quarterfinal round. The Mustangs also return starters in junior guards Dez Willingham (9.6 points, 2.6 assists) and Derrick Roberts (10.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists). The Ponies return part-time starters in senior forwards Donatas Rackauskas (6.2 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Ike Ofoegbu (3.8 points, 3.0 rebounds).

SMU also returns junior point-guard Jon Killen returns as the only Mustang to play in every contest the last two seasons. Killen contributed 1.5 assists and 0.9 steals a year ago. Brian Epps, a senior swingman, added 3.2 points per outing as a reserve and shot 94-percent at the free throw line in 2005-06. Junior forward Paulius Ritter (1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds) returns along with incoming freshman Cameron Spencer of Orange, Texas. Spencer averaged 14.0 points, 10.7 boards, 4.5 blocks, and 2.9 assists at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School last season.

All SMU basketball games are broadcast on the Mustangs ISP Radio Network; which includes the flagship KXEB 910 AM in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, KOKE 1600 AM in Austin, and KTXX 103.1 FM in San Antonio. For ticket information call 214-SMU-GAME or visit www.SMUMustangs.com. Game times will be announced once broadcast schedules are finalized.



2006-07 SMU Men’s Basketball Schedule

Sat. Nov. 4 Houston Baptist (Exh.) Moody Coliseum

Sun. Nov. 12 vs. Illinois State Tallahassee, Fla.

Mon. Nov. 13 vs. McNeese State Tallahassee, Fla.

Tue. Nov. 14 at Florida State Tallahassee, Fla.

Sat. Nov. 18 Dayton Moody Coliseum

Wed. Nov. 22 Louisiana-Monroe Moody Coliseum

Mon. Nov. 27 Paul Quinn College Moody Coliseum

Sun. Dec. 3 Texas College Moody Coliseum

Wed. Dec. 13 Prairie View A&M Moody Coliseum

Sat. Dec. 16 at Centenary Shreveport, La.

Thu. Dec. 21 at TCU Fort Worth, Texas

Thu. Dec. 28 at Oklahoma Norman, Okla.

Sat. Dec. 30 North Carolina A&T Moody Coliseum

Thu. Jan. 4 Texas Pan-American Moody Coliseum

Sat. Jan. 6 Brown University Moody Coliseum

Wed. Jan. 10 Southern Miss * Moody Coliseum

Sat. Jan. 13 at Houston * Houston, Texas

Wed. Jan. 17 at UCF * Orlando, Fla.

Sat. Jan. 20 UTEP * Moody Coliseum

Wed. Jan. 24 Tulane * Moody Coliseum

Sat. Jan. 27 at Tulsa * Tulsa, Okla.

Wed. Jan. 31 at UAB * Birmingham, Ala.

Sat. Feb. 3 at Memphis * Memphis, Tenn.

Wed. Feb. 7 Houston * Moody Coliseum

Sat. Feb. 10 Rice * Moody Coliseum

Wed. Feb. 14 at Marshall * Huntington, W.V.

Sat. Feb. 17 East Carolina * Moody Coliseum

Wed. Feb. 21 at UTEP * El Paso, Texas

Sat. Feb. 24 at Rice * Houston, Texas

Wed. Feb. 28 Tulsa * Moody Coliseum

Sat. Mar. 3 Memphis * Moody Coliseum

Mar. 7-10 C-USA Championship Memphis, Tenn.



* Conference USA Opponent

All home games played on campus at Moody Coliseum

All games on KXEB 910AM in DFW, KOKE 1600 AM in Austin, and KTXX 103.1 FM in San Antonio





2006-07 Alphabetical Roster



NO NAME POS HT WT CL-EXP HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE)

34 Brian Epps G/F 6-5 225 Sr.-JC-1L Milwaukee, Wisc. (Franklin HS/Ga. Perimeter JC)

21 Bamba Fall C 7-1 210 So.-1L St. Louis, Senegal (Oak Hill Academy [Va.])

12 Jon Killen G 6-4 195 Jr.-2L Arlington, Texas (Martin HS)

10 Ike Ofoegbu F 6-8 225 Sr.-JC-2L San Antonio, Texas (Taft HS/Hill College)

2 Devon Pearson F 6-6 235 Sr.-3L Miami, Fla. (Northwestern HS)

25 Donatas Rackauskas F/C 6-11 245 Sr.-RS-3L Alytus, Lithuania (New Hampton Prep [N.H.])

0 Paulius Ritter F 6-7 255 Jr.-2L Vilnius, Lithuania (Holland Hall [Okla.])

15 Derrick Roberts G 6-4 198 Jr.-2L Houston, Texas (Nimitz HS)

33 Cameron Spencer F 6-8 220 Fr.-HS Orange, Texas (Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS)

3 Dez Willingham G 6-0 180 Jr.-TR-1L De Soto, Texas (De Soto HS/Kansas State)

[Big10Ponyfan]

At first examination, I think it's the kind of schedule the program needs. Load up for some potential easy wins, probably understand a lot about ourselves with the FSU tournament - 3 games in 3 days - and trip to Norman. Dayton game is interesting. They have been like us since Oliver Purnell went to Clemson. Still, very solid program. Dayton is home to the NCAA tournament play-in game.

As for the conference, I love the fact that Doherty asked for and got home-and-home with Memphis and UH. And I'm pleased that we have 16 conference games, not 14. Thought the conference schedule was too short anyway.

What will this mean record-wise? Who knows? But it creates the possibility that if we build up a nice non-conference record and hold our own in conference play and with Doherty's name, maybe the NIT could be in the conversation.

By the way, when was the last time, we had affiliates on the network? It's great we're in Austin.

[MrMustang1965]

I can't wait to see Coach Doh take the Mustangs to 'the next level'!!!

[The XtC]

Sweet mother of cupcakes....................... now there is a pastry shop for you.

[BUS]

Got to love the cream filled ones!!!

SMU has to start somewhere so why not win a few games.

See you this weekend X

[SMU Football Blog]

Well, it ain't quite A&M 05-06.

[MustangIcon]

To be honest the OOC schedule seems a lot like last years to me. There were only 4 games last season out of conference that we should have had a good chance at losing:

1. Oklahoma
2. Oklahoma St.
3. Toledo
4. TCU (yes they sucked last year but as our top rival there is always that added importance).

We lost 3 of those 4 and lost to Louisiana Monroe and Wyoming as well. We finished with an 8-5 record OOC.

Now look at this years schedule. I don't know all of these teams and how they are for this season but looking at first glance we have 4 OOC games that could be considerd in the same caliber as the 4 games I mentioned from last season:

1. Oklahoma
2. Florida St.
3. Dayton
4. TCU

Two of the teams are the same and you replace Ok St. and Toledo with Dayton and Florida St. I am unaware of the prestige of many of the other programs and am maybe missing one that is better than their reputation indicates- but to me this looks like a comparable schedule to last year. Then we add in 2 more conference games- 1 vs Memphis (a 1 seed in the NCAA last year) and 1 vs UH (an NIT 2nd round team last year). It appears to me there are more "Probable losses" this season than last regardless of the team that we are fielding.

[mrydel]

Are we going to be able to beat the team this guy named Paul Quinn has put together?

[MustangIcon]

And while I am at it I'll go ahead and be the first to take a stab at our record this season.

9-5 OOC (Including W over Paul Quinn's team for you mrydel)
6-10 CUSA
15-15 before the start of CUSA Tourney

And Big10ponyfan, I don't see any chance that we make the NIT tourney this season. I think BEST CASE scenario this Coach D's team might win 18 but I would be seriously shocked if they accomplished that with the roster (or lack there of) that we have.

[RGV Pony]

Cool....we'll still be able to listen live, for those of us out of town when All-Access isn't working:

http://www.txproradio.com/listen.html

[MrMustang1965]

Cool....we'll still be able to listen live, for those of us out of town when All-Access isn't working:

http://www.txproradio.com/listen.html

That's the Air America station. I love it.

[The XtC]

For the most part it is the same as last year with a few small steps down. Trading Toledo (19-11 last year) for Dayton (13-17), is a small step down. Adding a 2nd Non-D1 school (swapping Hardin Simmons for Paul Quinn and Texas College) is a small step down. Dropping mediocre teams like Wyoming and Long Island for Prairie View A&M (3-24, 333rd in the final sagarin rankings) and North Carolina A&T (6-23, 320 in sagarin) are small steps down. Harvard for Brown is close to a wash, Harvard beat Brown last year, but they were both middle of the pack in the Ivy League. Its nothing major, just a little slip downwards, but I didnt think last year was a standard we wanted to repeat, much less drop below. Florida State and Oklahoma are the only non-conference opponents with winning records last year. There are 8 teams that won less than 10 games, 5 with more than 23 losses, and 4 that finished below 300 in sagarin.

In Moody this year we'll see 2 non-D1 schools, and 6 D1 teams that averaged just 7 wins each last year. Is that going to draw fans? Seriously, wasnt that one of Orisini's goals in the other thread posted today? I realize that its not much worse than last year, but I wasnt a big fan of last years schedule, either.

[MustangIcon]

I agree it is certainly not a big draw at the gate- same as last year. I would hope in the future the level of competition increases for us. But truth be told, with our team this season, if we upped our OOC schedule we would have gotten smoked. I anticipate a stronger OOC schedule next season when Doherty and Orsini feel like Doherty has at least enough time to fill out an entire roster (which this season we do not have one).

I am also a fan of playing both Memphis and UH twice a piece. I feel like they are the two best and most exciting teams in CUSA. I saw UH play in person twice last season and Tom Penders has them playing a fun run and gun style of ball that is really exciting to watch in person. I expect UH to make the jump from NIT to NCAA this season.

[mrydel]

For the most part it is the same as last year with a few small steps down. Trading Toledo (19-11 last year) for Dayton (13-17), is a small step down. Adding a 2nd Non-D1 school (swapping Hardin Simmons for Paul Quinn and Texas College) is a small step down. Dropping mediocre teams like Wyoming and Long Island for Prairie View A&M (3-24, 333rd in the final sagarin rankings) and North Carolina A&T (6-23, 320 in sagarin) are small steps down. Harvard for Brown is close to a wash, Harvard beat Brown last year, but they were both middle of the pack in the Ivy League. Its nothing major, just a little slip downwards, but I didnt think last year was a standard we wanted to repeat, much less drop below. Florida State and Oklahoma are the only non-conference opponents with winning records last year. There are 8 teams that won less than 10 games, 5 with more than 23 losses, and 4 that finished below 300 in sagarin.

In Moody this year we'll see 2 non-D1 schools, and 6 D1 teams that averaged just 7 wins each last year. Is that going to draw fans? Seriously, wasnt that one of Orisini's goals in the other thread posted today? I realize that its not much worse than last year, but I wasnt a big fan of last years schedule, either.

I kind of look at this the way the football season is set up this year. Try to win, build some confidence, get some recruits and then expand the OCC schedule. I know this has to eat you alive XTC. I wish we were playing Texas and Arkansas in football, but not yet. What I like is that for the first time in many years I really feel like some steps are being taken in the right direction with the BB program. No offense to Mr. Tubbs, but I never felt that while he was with us. I know that you will never heal completely from the way they handled your friend, and rightly so, but maybe, just maybe we are building something that could become good from the BB side for a change. In the mean time, please continue to keep us informed from your excellent perspective as to what is going on inside the program. Your insight is always welcome. Look forward to seeing you on the boulevard.

[jtstang]

Are we going to be able to beat the team this guy named Paul Quinn has put together?

I think he got on the schedule by calling "next game" at Dedman one day.