Simple Question

[papawasamustang]

Treadway,

Read all the posts. You won't find a bigger Robo fan than me.
I really hope he turns us around.

[gostangs]

I think Doh knows what he has and what he does not have - so when I say Harp is a great 6th man 2 guard - I think Doh has him penciled in there becasue he knows when these guys are juniors that is what he will need to make a serious run at anything.

If you think Doh (or anyone) was going to turn this around in one recruiting class then you are plain stupid. We have the right guy - our facilities are competitive (although more needs to be done), he is recruiting better players, and the best thing is you can see during the season player improvement. Harp looked lost his first couple of games - now he is confident. Papa improves every game. Walker has improved. My comments about Malones shot is that he has a very nice shooting motion, and when he figures out a better time to use it his percentage will be very high. You can see it happening - and if you dont know enough about basketball to see that then just stay quiet so you dont prove ignorance by posting.

[mathman]

I think Doh knows what he has and what he does not have - so when I say Harp is a great 6th man 2 guard - I think Doh has him penciled in there becasue he knows when these guys are juniors that is what he will need to make a serious run at anything.

If you think Doh (or anyone) was going to turn this around in one recruiting class then you are plain stupid. We have the right guy - our facilities are competitive (although more needs to be done), he is recruiting better players, and the best thing is you can see during the season player improvement. Harp looked lost his first couple of games - now he is confident. Papa improves every game. Walker has improved. My comments about Malones shot is that he has a very nice shooting motion, and when he figures out a better time to use it his percentage will be very high. You can see it happening - and if you dont know enough about basketball to see that then just stay quiet so you dont prove ignorance by posting.

There are a few on here who can't get past the Tubbs firing. The year we win 20, they will complain because it wasn't 21. They will blast the program and Doh every opportunity they get. Now that the Model has evidently been changed, Doh can get the JC help we all know we need.

[Big Hoss]

Doherty is a great coach (winner of coach of the year while at UNC) and a great recruiter. When his recruits become the upperclassmen on this team in a year or two, you will see all the plans and prep unfold. I don't think we can get a better HC if we tried.

As for this season, you can't expect a team that really only has 7-8 players that see any playing time (half of whom are freshmen) really compete with teams like Houston (who plays 10-11 men regularly, most of whom are upperclassmen). It's not going to happen overnight because we basically needed to start over.

And by the way, if in the next year Papa Dia becomes the monster everyone thinks he will be and it starts resulting in great wins, then all of you naysayers will be back on this board saying how great a recruiter and coach Doherty is.

[Charleston Pony]

too early to judge because SMU bball really is a major construction project, but I like some of the current FR and I like the transfer from Ga Tech. I agree with those who say we need a PG who can contribute right away. Walker might grow into the role and become a decent player, but the guys who are talented enough to come in and take over a team right away usually play somewhere other than SMU (BHop was an exception). Let's hope Doh can change that and eventually attract guys who have options to play in major conferences.

Another point we fail to consider...when talking about effort...anyone who has played on a losing team knows how easy it is to get "down" and give less than maximum effort. What is missing at SMU is a large fan base that could make a difference. Just look at the effort against TCU and Tulsa...games where Moody was at least 1/3 full.

I just hope that next year these guys can get off to a good start and that they get to play in front of 4-5,000. It makes a HUGE difference in a player's adrenaline and motivation/effort. You see that difference in the defensive intensity (offensive skills pretty much being what they are)

With any coach, I'm looking at his 5th-6th year before I'm ready to pass judgment. It takes that long for the entire roster to be that coaches guys. I still think Doherty can get it done because he's a recognized "name" in this business. I expect that by his 5th or 6th year, the big boys might come calling. Let's hope so...and that Orsini can raise the funds to keep him here long term if/when it happens.

[PonySnob]

With any coach, I'm looking at his 5th-6th year before I'm ready to pass judgment. It takes that long for the entire roster to be that coaches guys.

Won't the roster be all "his guys" next year with Killen, Ritter, and Roberts gone? Who on the team was recruited by Tubbs or Dement for next season?

23 Joston Benton 6-5 175 Guard FR-HS Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS)
42 Papa Dia 6-9 250 Forward FR-HS St. Louis, Senegal (South Kent (Conn.))
21 Bamba Fall 7-1 220 Center JR-2L St. Louis, Senegal (Oak Hill Academy (Va.))
Mouhammad Faye 6-9 208 Forward RS SO-TR Dakar, Senegal (Georgia Tech)
30 Ryan Harp 6-4 190 Guard FR-HS Abilene, Texas (Abilene Cooper)
13 Brett Holland 6-0 180 Guard FR-HS Miami, Fla. (Miami Country Day)
12 Jon Killen 6-4 195 Guard SR-3L Arlington, Texas (Martin)
14 Tomasz Kwiatkowski 7-1 245 Center FR-HS Bydgoszcz, Poland (Lee Academy (Maine))
10 Alex Malone 6-8 185 Guard/Forward FR-HS Mansfield, Texas (Timberview)
24 Robert Nyakundi 6-8 220 Forward FR-HS Arlington, Texas (Bowie HS)
1 Bennie Rhodes 6-6 185 Guard FR-HS Oakland, California (Mt. Zion Academy (N.C.))
0 Paulius Ritter 6-7 255 Forward SR-3L Vilnius, Lithuania (Holland Hall (Okla.))
15 Derrick Roberts 6-4 198 Guard SR-3L Houston, Texas (Nimitz)
33 Cameron Spencer 6-8 220 Forward SO-1L Orange, Texas (Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS)
22 Mike Walker 6-0 190 Guard FR-HS Iowa City, Iowa (South Kent (Conn.))

[EastStang]

Anyone who thought we would be good right out of the chute this year would not have any understanding of college basketball. The upperclassmen were not highly sought after and the freshmen were upgrades, but still need some grooming and were not top 5 in the Country at their position. I think the team is growing and with a young team, you take two steps forward and one step back. CUSA is not a bad basketball conference, Memphis is just that good. I think this is a rebuild which will take some time. 4-5 years is the window we should look at. If after 4-5 years we aren't one of the top 3 programs in CUSA, then we can all complain.

[Charleston Pony]

With any coach, I'm looking at his 5th-6th year before I'm ready to pass judgment. It takes that long for the entire roster to be that coaches guys.

Won't the roster be all "his guys" next year with Killen, Ritter, and Roberts gone? Who on the team was recruited by Tubbs or Dement for next season?

23 Joston Benton 6-5 175 Guard FR-HS Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS)
42 Papa Dia 6-9 250 Forward FR-HS St. Louis, Senegal (South Kent (Conn.))
21 Bamba Fall 7-1 220 Center JR-2L St. Louis, Senegal (Oak Hill Academy (Va.))
Mouhammad Faye 6-9 208 Forward RS SO-TR Dakar, Senegal (Georgia Tech)
30 Ryan Harp 6-4 190 Guard FR-HS Abilene, Texas (Abilene Cooper)
13 Brett Holland 6-0 180 Guard FR-HS Miami, Fla. (Miami Country Day)
12 Jon Killen 6-4 195 Guard SR-3L Arlington, Texas (Martin)
14 Tomasz Kwiatkowski 7-1 245 Center FR-HS Bydgoszcz, Poland (Lee Academy (Maine))
10 Alex Malone 6-8 185 Guard/Forward FR-HS Mansfield, Texas (Timberview)
24 Robert Nyakundi 6-8 220 Forward FR-HS Arlington, Texas (Bowie HS)
1 Bennie Rhodes 6-6 185 Guard FR-HS Oakland, California (Mt. Zion Academy (N.C.))
0 Paulius Ritter 6-7 255 Forward SR-3L Vilnius, Lithuania (Holland Hall (Okla.))
15 Derrick Roberts 6-4 198 Guard SR-3L Houston, Texas (Nimitz)
33 Cameron Spencer 6-8 220 Forward SO-1L Orange, Texas (Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS)
22 Mike Walker 6-0 190 Guard FR-HS Iowa City, Iowa (South Kent (Conn.))

The 2009-2010 team will consist entirely of guys Doherty recruited and will be his 4th season as head coach. This year's FR (those who are still here) will be JRs that year...but to be fair, I want to see the survivors of this class as SRs and see what Doherty can bring in in the next couple of classes. I fully expect some attrition from his 1st two classes. I want to see Doherty's roster and I want to see half of those guys mature and experienced as Division I players before I decide whether Doherty can be the guy to re-establish a legitimate bball program here.

[mustangbill67]

[quote="PonySnob"
Won't the roster be all "his guys" next year with Killen, Ritter, and Roberts gone? Who on the team was recruited by Tubbs or Dement for next season? [/quote]

Bomba Fall.

And the following year, Doh came on late and had only one signee, Cameron Spencer. That is why we have 7 freshman.

[Alaric]

bump

[MustangIcon]

I made the trip up to Dallas this weekend and attended the game on Saturday. I know many of you in town have been able to track our progress as the season goes on, but for someone like me who has had to follow the games through other media (radio and online webcasts mostly) the improvement from the first week of the season to now is vast.

- Killen had a fantastic all around game. He pulled up from the parking lot on some of those 3s.
- Roberts, whom I have been critical of lately, led by example with his hustle all over the floor. He never stopped and his effort in this game reminds me of what Ryan Harp brings to the floor every game. Speaking of which...
- Harp is by far the most night and day improvement from the first couple games of the season (lost and tenative) till now. Kid has a knack for rebounding and getting to lose balls. He now looks confident putting the ball to the floor and putting up his shot. He is very solid on defense and works tirelessly on that end of the floor. The part of his game that is most lacking is his shot, which to me is great news. The kid came in here as a shooter and I find it encouraging that his supposed "strength" is the area he lacks in most right now. If his shot comes around, which his HS numbers and scouting suggests it will, then he will be a very nice player.
- I love when Malone plays as a slasher and/or penetrates. I think he has a decent outside shot as well, but I would like for that to compliment his game rather than him falling in love with it. His length/athleticism will create problems for CUSA defenses and while he is not a good on the ball defender as of now, he is solid on weakside help.
- Spencer is a solid rebounder, has very good footwork for a big man, and has court vision/passing abilities that might be the very best on our team. I thought all of these things last year too and wonderd aloud why he saw the floor so infrequently. Now he does have the glaring problem of putting the ball in the basket (I was shocked he sunk both his freethrows on his trip to the line) but to me he brings more to the table than Ritter does.

However, with Dia out our offense still looked subpar. You cannot count on Killen to carry the team making in rain from downtown every game. It is easy to go through extended downtimes on offense when you have no go-to shot creater in the post or off the dribble.

Great win for the ponies!

[George S. Patton]

I made the trip up to Dallas this weekend and attended the game on Saturday. I know many of you in town have been able to track our progress as the season goes on, but for someone like me who has had to follow the games through other media (radio and online webcasts mostly) the improvement from the first week of the season to now is vast.

- Killen had a fantastic all around game. He pulled up from the parking lot on some of those 3s.
- Roberts, whom I have been critical of lately, led by example with his hustle all over the floor. He never stopped and his effort in this game reminds me of what Ryan Harp brings to the floor every game. Speaking of which...
- Harp is by far the most night and day improvement from the first couple games of the season (lost and tenative) till now. Kid has a knack for rebounding and getting to lose balls. He now looks confident putting the ball to the floor and putting up his shot. He is very solid on defense and works tirelessly on that end of the floor. The part of his game that is most lacking is his shot, which to me is great news. The kid came in here as a shooter and I find it encouraging that his supposed "strength" is the area he lacks in most right now. If his shot comes around, which his HS numbers and scouting suggests it will, then he will be a very nice player.
- I love when Malone plays as a slasher and/or penetrates. I think he has a decent outside shot as well, but I would like for that to compliment his game rather than him falling in love with it. His length/athleticism will create problems for CUSA defenses and while he is not a good on the ball defender as of now, he is solid on weakside help.
- Spencer is a solid rebounder, has very good footwork for a big man, and has court vision/passing abilities that might be the very best on our team. I thought all of these things last year too and wonderd aloud why he saw the floor so infrequently. Now he does have the glaring problem of putting the ball in the basket (I was shocked he sunk both his freethrows on his trip to the line) but to me he brings more to the table than Ritter does.

However, with Dia out our offense still looked subpar. You cannot count on Killen to carry the team making in rain from downtown every game. It is easy to go through extended downtimes on offense when you have no go-to shot creater in the post or off the dribble.

Great win for the ponies!

Doherty said on the postgame show he expects to have Dia for Saturday at Tulsa.

[longbuzzer]

For the first time since Dave Bliss (the first DB, not the recycled DB at Baylor), I have East Coast friends who compliment the SMU basketball coach.

It will take time to rebuild. The biggest obstacle for SMU recruiting is attendance. A loud 3000 people per game is still not 6000, or 10,000 for successful programs at our level.

Until our attendance increases, MD will have to do his best to get kids that will play his kind of ball.

[ibezu2]

The jury is still out on Coach Doherty...I'm not impressed with the offensive scheme, or to say the least, I don't understand it. The offense seems to be directed totally in getting the ball in the middle to the big guys, this one dimensional offense hasn't and isn't working. The players seem to be confused and as a result...they pass up open shots, sloppy ball handling...TURNOVERS! We have a lot of young talent on this team (supposedly)...until they learn to shoot the ball when open...get the turnovers down in the single digits and shoot better at the free throw line, the results are going to be the same...a LOSS! The exception being the UCF game...turnovers were way down, they shot the ball well and played defense. This team has played 19 ball games and I really don't see any improvement as a team...individually there are improvements. Insanity: an individual or individuals doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

[Pony81]

Not signing a quality point guard was a terrible mistake.

Being competitive and winning a few close ones gives kids confidence.

Getting blown out by good teams and struggling / losing to poor teams makes kids nervous and lose faith.

I have to believe that Doh thought he had Roberson in the bag and didn't go after a quality point guard because of that.

Nevertheless, Doh is a master communicator and has serious good will with SMU fans. I think he will do fine. But this season is a throw away.