Local Recruiting

[EastStang]

While the current abilities of CUSA are dubious at best, schools like UTEP, Houston, Memphis, UAB, and Tulsa have all made late appearances in the NCAA's. That may not translate into recruits, but it certainly gives the conference a base to build upon and some team names that programmers at ESPN will remember which translates into more TV coverage. We also have more urban schools which helps in basketball. Dallas, Orlando, New Orleans and Houston are all major TV markets. Memphis, Birmingham, and Tulsa are secondary markets. This will help in the long term as well. CUSA is getting better. The coaching quality will continue to improve.

[Hoop Fan]

Hoop Fan you are 100% wrong. Mike Dement most certainly coached in the Southwest Conference during his first year at SMU. Look it up...it is a fact. Conference instability is a factor in SMU's recruiting/success as we have played essentially in 4 different conferences sinces 1995...tenure of Dement, Tubbs, and Doherty. SWC, 16-team WAC, paired down WAC, and now this very poor version of CUSA.

Does the phrase "dead on arrival" mean anything to you? Another guy who can't comprehend common sense. The SWC didn't shut down operations the minute the announcement was made. There was a lame duck period. Mike Dement came here knowing he was a WAC coach, not a SWC coach and everybody in the world knew it, recruits, fans, and probably even you. You really think that lame duck period attracted recruits because we had just been kicked to the curb by the SWC? Have a point. Although I do agree with your comment that the current version of CUSA is very poor. Memphis and the poor step children. At least Houston gets it and is trying.

[Hoop Fan]

Just so you are clear and don't throw out any more pointless assertions:

The announcement of the breakup of the SWC occurred on February 25, 1994. Dement was hired by SMU in March of 1995. The ramifications of that are really hard to comprehend, I know.

[EastStang]

Dement was recruiting for the WAC-16 which was not a bad basketball conference. Remember, it had in the beginning BYU, UNLV, Tulsa, Fresno, and Utah, all solid programs. After that broke up, the WAC was still not too shabby in basketball with Fresno, Tulsa, and Nevada.

[papawasamustang]

Its hard to be patient because of the lack of success & we all want to win now.
However, I do believe that Doh will be successful in attracting local & in-state talent to play @ SMU.
Doh has the ability to land the top recruits in DFW. His track record proves he can recruit @ the highest level.
I really don't think we will be discussing this in 2009/2010.

[gregkinzer]

Keep in mind that the 16-team WAC only lasted like 2 years, then all the quality programs jumped ship to the Mountain West and the cast offs were left to fend for themselves in the 8 team WAC. Yes, there were a few good schools, but the big dogs were gone. Geographically it was a tough sell for SMU, and once those quality schools left it was a matter of time before SMU left.

I like conference USA better for both B-ball and football. The WAC had zero geographical rivals....at least we can claim Houston as a former SWC opponent.

One day it will all come together.......right?

[papawasamustang]

I could see a pretty solid foundation @ yesterday's game against Texas State. They have obvious ball handling weaknesses however I also see some pretty strong positives.

I also enjoy CUSA. Its very competitive & teams have a chance to take it to the next level each year. I believe we will begin to see that soon.