SMU on the rise

[PonyPride]

From the Sherman (Texas) Herald Democrat:

SMU on the rise

By Rick Atkinson
Special to the Herald Democrat


DALLAS — The Matt Doherty era hit the ground running Sunday when SMU played the first of three basketball games in three days at The Colonial Classic in Tallahassee, Fla. The Mustangs opened with Illinois State, faced McNeese State last night and play Florida State tonight.

“From a scheduling standpoint, it’s not ideal,” Doherty said. “You’d probably like to have a few cushy games at home to start.”

But there is good news.

“Our players are probably better than I thought they were,” Doherty said. “We have some talented kids.”

With nine lettermen and four starters back from last year’s 13-16 squad, Doherty hopes to begin the process of restoring a winning tradition at SMU. The Mustangs’ last NCAA tournament appearance was in 1993, the last year they won a conference title.

“Overall, we’re trying to get this program to another level,” Doherty said. “I think that SMU is thirsty for it. I don’t think it’s going to take much to light the fuse that can blow this thing up.”

To help things along, Doherty is working to bring top teams to Dallas. Conference USA recently expanded its schedule from 14 to 16 games and Doherty chose to add games against conference powers Memphis and Houston, for home-and-home sets with each.

“If we want to be a big dog, we’ve got to be able to get off the porch and run with the big dogs,” he said. “We may get it handed to us, but I think it’s good for our fans and our program to have Memphis and Houston in Moody Coliseum every year.”

No respect?

After a 4-10 conference record last year and losing leading scorer Bryan Hopkins, SMU is picked eighth in C-USA, with no players on the preseason all-conference team.

Doherty isn’t bothered.

“I love it,” he said. “I love it because I think we’re better than that.”

Starting point guard Jon Killen said the team is motivated by the picks.

“It’s definitely locker room material that you can post up,” he said. “We can use that as a tool for us to get better.”

“I think we’re gonna surprise many people,” said senior center Donatas Rackauskas.

Doherty said SMU must improve in two areas from last season: turnovers and shooting percentage. The Mustangs had 79 more turnovers than assists and shot 43 percent from the field.

Depth is also a concern, with just 10 scholarship players on the roster.

“We can’t afford injuries or academic casualties,” Doherty said.

Doherty’s staff has major conference ties, and a history of winning and strong recruiting.

Associate head coach Mike Garland was an assistant to Tom Izzo at Michigan State for three straight Final Fours and a national championship. Assistant Lance Irvin has coached at Big 12 schools Iowa State, Texas A&M and Missouri. Assistant Steve Lutz comes from a winning program at Stephen F. Austin.

The players

“The level of instruction he’s given each one of the players has been really good,” Killen said of Doherty.

Added Rackauskas, “He wants us take care of little, small things,” he said. “He keeps telling us the small things will lead to big things, and that’s what he expects from us.”

Killen and Rackauskas were personally chosen by Doherty as team co-captains after he observed their ability, leadership and work ethic.

Doherty calls Killen one of his biggest surprises.

“Jon Killen’s really improved his shot,” he said. “When he’s open, I want him shooting the ball.”

Junior guard Dez Willingham the team’s most accurate three-point shooter (36 percent), will come off the bench.

Leading returning scorer Derrick Roberts starts at the two guard position.

“As long as his knee holds up, I expect him to be one of our best defenders,” Doherty said of Roberts.

Down low, SMU has size. Along with Rackauskas, forwards Ike Ofoegbu and Devon Pearson will start.

“Ike would have started for me at North Carolina and Notre Dame,” Doherty said. “He can play.”

Pearson was SMU’s leading rebounder last year and third in C-USA, averaging 8.3 per game.

Center Bamba Fall will also see playing time. Doherty likes Fall’s toughness, adding he could eventually be one of the top players in C-USA. Last season, Fall set SMU’s freshman record for blocked shots with 53.

Cameron Spencer, Doherty’s first SMU signee, is the team’s only freshman.

“Cameron was really under-recruited,” Doherty said. “We got some film on him. I liked what I saw. I saw a big guy who could pass and handle the basketball.”

Junior forward Paulius Ritter is back after missing most of last season for violating team rules. Senior guard Brian Epps is nursing a sore hamstring.

The Mustangs home opener is 7 p.m., Saturday against Dayton.

[jtstang]

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[PonyPride]

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[jtstang]

You're absolutely right. For some reason, the link wouldn't work for me.
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[Big10Ponyfan]

. Now, let's be careful out there.

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[Stallion]

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[PonyPride]

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[PonyPride]

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