DMN Article: Doherty 'Encouraged' By Loss to NC A&T

by **MrMustang1965** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:01 am

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 45b00.html

by **SMUStew** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 3:23 am

Is Doherty on drugs?

by **Higher Authority** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 4:24 am

Not at all. The team hasn't played well in recent games, and got absolutely run over in Norman, in part because of a perceived lack of effort on the part of some. Tonight they played hard, which absolutely is reason for encouragement. This is a very thin team that can not afford to lose anyone (Pearson), and needs a little confidence as conference games approach.

by **Hoop Fan** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:00 am

this is why Doughtery is good for SMU. what he says is gospel to most fans because of his name. A loss like this and other coaches would be absolutely fried around here. Cmon, we should be upbeat because we played hard at HOME against NC AT&T? A moral victory? Nah, not buying it, it was a horrible loss. One of the worst ever at Moody. However, what i am buying is this: I think Doherty is absolutely breaking this team down privately, but remaining positive publicly. The honeymoon is over behind the curtain. Breaking a team down is not a bad technique. Bob Knight has been doing it for years. preseason is nothing to Knight, its all about getting ready for conference play. With knight, he has the skins on the wall and the ability to do it. lets hope Matt D. does.

by **DickerJames** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:35 am

I agree with you Hoop Fan on the importance of having a coach with a "name" at SMU right now. This team has been exposed the past two games and I think it might be good for the team in the long run. Doherty's post game comments were pure smoke being blown up our a*s in an effort to keep team morale up in my opinion, because we haven't looked this bad in a long time. I was praying we would score 40 points against OU, and last nite I was happy when we successfully got the ball inbounds.

by **mrydel** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:42 am

DickerJames wrote: we haven't looked this bad in a long time.

Apparently you missed last season.

by **Hoop Fan** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:51 am

we were pretty bad last season, but last night was a low point by any definition. giving up 80 points at home to NC A&T. are you kidding? Doherty can use this loss to teach, but lets not excuse it or sugarcoat it because of last year or anything else.

by **mrydel** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:59 am

Pointing out that we were bad last year is not sugar coating. Waking up to the fact that we have the same players sans Hopkins as last year is reality. I have never said anything about this team other than we have an extraordinarily high number of turnovers which I guess can be construed as sugar coating if you are pleased with leading the nation in something.

by **Sic_em** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:50 pm

Point of reference: two days prior, Baylor beat this team by 20.

by **ponydawg** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:04 pm

Hoop Fan wrote:we were pretty bad last season, but last night was a low point by any definition. giving up 80 points at home to NC A&T. are you kidding? Doherty can use this loss to teach, but lets not excuse it or sugarcoat it because of last year or anything else.

NC A&T averages 74.6 points a game with games at Missouri, Dayton, New Mexico, Arizona St., Baylor - While these teams are not GREAT teams, they are better teams then we have faced this year, I don't know what you were expecting this year but we were 13-16 last year with more talent on the floor.

by **MustangIcon** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:24 pm

I think we are right on pace with what was expected at the beginning of the season. I have said all along that we would go between 10-4 and 12-2 with our OOC schedule- as it stands now 11-3 could be it. Thats an improvement from last season. Throw in a 6 wins in CUSA and we are looking at a 17-13 before the CUSA Tourney from a team that had a losing record and lost it's best player and another starter and replaced them with a guy who has played in a little more than half our games this season (who played very well last night though by the way). That, to me, would be a very successful season.

Now on last night's game. Rush for NC AT was worth the price of admission. 6-9 from 3pt range with a few of them being in the face of defenders from way downtown. You do not beat presses and traps off the dribble but instead with the pass, which we did exactly 1 time all night long. Our guards are not good passers into the post but at the same time our post players need to be better at establishing position and getting wide. Rack is pretty good at this while Bamba is awful. Also thought there was a few tiumes where we had lapses in our transition defense. Overall, a pretty poor showing from us regardless of any excuses about how hot Rush was, Pearson being injured, or the fact that NC AT has played some decent teams well.

Spencer was a bright spot. Establishes position well in the post, good footwork on the defensive end, crisp and attentive passer. I would think he should start to see more time as the season goes on, especially when our other bigs are playing at such a mediocre level.

by **StangEsq** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 3:38 pm

ponydawg wrote:
Hoop Fan wrote:we were pretty bad last season, but last night was a low point by any definition. giving up 80 points at home to NC A&T. are you kidding? Doherty can use this loss to teach, but lets not excuse it or sugarcoat it because of last year or anything else.

NC A&T averages 74.6 points a game with games at Missouri, Dayton, New Mexico, Arizona St., Baylor - While these teams are not GREAT teams, they are better teams then we have faced this year, I don't know what you were expecting this year but we were 13-16 last year with more talent on the floor.

The season isn't over. We've beaten two decent teams all year. After getting killed by Oklahoma and losing to teams like this at home, I can't wait until we play Memphis and UAB.

by **RunningStang** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 3:53 pm

I was impressed by Cameron Spencer last night. It sounded like he had a lot of energy. Last time I checked, he wasn't here last year.

One more thing, this loss will not look so bad at the end of the year. NC A&T could very well win the MEAC Conference and with that a spot in the NCAA tournament.

by **ponydawg** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 4:02 pm

StangEsq wrote:
ponydawg wrote:
Hoop Fan wrote:we were pretty bad last season, but last night was a low point by any definition. giving up 80 points at home to NC A&T. are you kidding? Doherty can use this loss to teach, but lets not excuse it or sugarcoat it because of last year or anything else.

NC A&T averages 74.6 points a game with games at Missouri, Dayton, New Mexico, Arizona St., Baylor - While these teams are not GREAT teams, they are better teams then we have faced this year, I don't know what you were expecting this year but we were 13-16 last year with more talent on the floor.

The season isn't over. We've beaten two decent teams all year. After getting killed by Oklahoma and losing to teams like this at home, I can't wait until we play Memphis and UAB.

Again, I repeat, we were 13-16 last year with more talent on the floor, what were you expecting this year? We all knew it was going to be a long season. I am encouraged with how doh has gotten these guys to work and am excited for when he has his own players in his own system.
Everything else is gravy. And I still think with these players and doh leading them that we could surprise a few teams here and there.

by **DickerJames** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 4:39 pm

mrydel wrote:Apparently you missed last season.

Unfortunately I didn't.

DMN Article: Doherty 'Encouraged' By Loss to NC A&T

DMN Article: Doherty 'Encouraged' By Loss to NC A&T

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