The "we are young" excuse

[angryfan04]

And the pressure will be on for what? Finishing 4th or 5th in the conference? Will a 5th place finish in 2 years be considered a success?

[J.T.supporta]

[quote="angryfan04"]And the pressure will be on for what? Finishing 4th or 5th in the conference? Will a 5th place finish in 2 years be considered a success?[/quote]

no

[smu diamond m]

I think next year should be more bearable than this year, but still not a NCAA year. That is a few years off.

[gostangs]

Our two best players graduating? I dont think so.

Hope you naysayers are around in two yrs to admit you are wrong. Not saying they are top twenty five but I think it is easy to see this team, coach , facilities and school will make some good things happen in the basketball area within two yrs.

[Mexmustang]

I believe that Doh would have preferred to redshirt the entire class. But, he needed to field a team. Papa D. has potential, but a great less basketball experience than a typical US player. He had to get him into as many games quickly as possible.

I just don't feel the sky is falling. However, most of you are right, we simply don't have a true point guard. That was a coaches judgement error. Let's see who he finds for next year to fill this gap.

[Hoop Fan]

Our two best players graduating? I dont think so.

Hope you naysayers are around in two yrs to admit you are wrong. Not saying they are top twenty five but I think it is easy to see this team, coach , facilities and school will make some good things happen in the basketball area within two yrs.

I'd say Killen is our best and most athletic player right now. scary, i know. Look at the way he goes to the basket. Rhodes is probably more of a pure athlete, but he's not on the floor. Faye will undoubtedly upgrade the talent and athleticism. But its not strech at all to say Killen is the best player on this team right now, and its not really even close. I'd put Papa second. Then probably Bamba, but there is a real production dropoff after papa.

what do you see happening in two years gostangs? are you predicting NCAA, NIT or what? And don't worry, i'll be here to discuss it.

[Hoop Fan]

I believe that Doh would have preferred to redshirt the entire class. But, he needed to field a team. Papa D. has potential, but a great less basketball experience than a typical US player. He had to get him into as many games quickly as possible.

I just don't feel the sky is falling. However, most of you are right, we simply don't have a true point guard. That was a coaches judgement error. Let's see who he finds for next year to fill this gap.

its not football, nobody redshirts entire basketball classes. in fact redshirts are not very common at all.

[MustangIcon]

the fact that Harp distinguished himself from Rhodes early on was a not a good sign.

The way that Harp distinguished himself is what is interesting here. He did it by busting his tail harder than everyone else on the floor. I don't doubt Bennie is a very talented player but everything I have ever heard about him through his interviews and Doherty's remarks leads me to believe he is a little overly confident and not the hardest worker. Kid had some pretty nasty stats at Mt. Zion. Something like 18pts 8reb 8assists. If he puts forth the effort then he should turn into a pretty darn good player I would think.

[MustangIcon]

Our two best players graduating? I dont think so.

Hope you naysayers are around in two yrs to admit you are wrong. Not saying they are top twenty five but I think it is easy to see this team, coach , facilities and school will make some good things happen in the basketball area within two yrs.

I'd say Killen is our best and most athletic player right now. scary, i know. Look at the way he goes to the basket. Rhodes is probably more of a pure athlete, but he's not on the floor. Faye will undoubtedly upgrade the talent and athleticism. But its not strech at all to say Killen is the best player on this team right now, and its not really even close. I'd put Papa second. Then probably Bamba, but there is a real production dropoff after papa.

what do you see happening in two years gostangs? are you predicting NCAA, NIT or what? And don't worry, i'll be here to discuss it.

Agreed on your ranking of players. Speaking in terms of this season alone I would have to say Killen, Dia, Bamba is the order of importance. However, I feel like the big production dropoff comes after Bamba, not after Dia.

Hoop is also right that it is NOT common for hoopsters to redshirt. Guys like TK often do when they are lanky and new to the game, but generally not a guy like Bennie Rhodes or Robert Nayakundi (although his redshirting was due to conditioning and maybe classroom stuff).

[Hoop Fan]

youre probably right, i just feel like bamba disappears for too many long stretches and then will look like an all-american for about 2 minutes here and there. but still, its something.

[MustangIcon]

--------------------- Bennie Rhodes (6-6, 185) averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists as a guard for coach Antonio Fozard at Mt. Zion Academy in North Carolina. In 2005-06, Rhodes led Castlemont High School in Oakland, California, to the Northern California Division I semifinals while averaging 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Rhodes is a three-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com. He is the son of Bennie Rhodes Sr. and Jeannie Smith. "Bennie was presented to us by a family friend here in Dallas," explained Doherty. "When I viewed his DVD I was very impressed with his athleticism and his skill level. He is a high major talent that will be able to achieve great things if he demonstrates the drive and commitment."

19/9/7 at Mt. Zion is impressive. Plus his size, speed, athleticism make him a candidate to be a very good defensive player. On the defensive side of the ball all it takes is effort and want to when you already are a natural athlete. Does Bennie have that desire in him? I hope so.

[smu diamond m]

I believe that Doh would have preferred to redshirt the entire class. But, he needed to field a team. Papa D. has potential, but a great less basketball experience than a typical US player. He had to get him into as many games quickly as possible.

I just don't feel the sky is falling. However, most of you are right, we simply don't have a true point guard. That was a coaches judgement error. Let's see who he finds for next year to fill this gap.

I really think PD is going to be an even larger force next year than this year (which probably goes without saying). The guy is big, has feet, and a decent shot.

[LA_Mustang]

Hope you naysayers are around in two yrs to admit you are wrong. Not saying they are top twenty five but I think it is easy to see this team, coach , facilities and school will make some good things happen in the basketball area within two yrs.

ok, this is the third time you have said this and I've asked you specifically each time to give reasons/examples you feel this way......you have failed to respond each time. So, I'll try again. If it is so easy to see, please tell me. What about this team gives you confidence? Be specific by player....don't just say we are young. And what in-game coaching moves have given you great confidence in Doherty. To me, it looks like these guys have quit, and that is not a great sign for the future, or the coach.

As for being around in two years to admit I'm wrong....I hope I am, and I'll be the first to admit it if we have a dramatic turnaround, but I'm not seeing it. I’m just tired of you guys coming on here gushing about the next two or three years having so much potential, and you can’t tell me why.

[MustangIcon]

youre probably right, i just feel like bamba disappears for too many long stretches and then will look like an all-american for about 2 minutes here and there. but still, its something.

I agree that his consistency certainly needs work and alot of that is due to being overly tall/thin. Still a good player for our conference.

But the bottom line here is that we currently, in this season, have probably only 3 players I would grade out as a CUSA starter. Now that does not mean that I don't think some of these guys will develope into starters. Harp will. Faye is sitting out but will be a starter. Malone seems to have the talent but is just lost often. Jury is out for me on Walker. I think he will benifit from Killens departure and sticking to just the 1 as oppossed top playing off the ball. TK, Bennie, and Nayakundi time will tell on.

[Hoop Fan]

--------------------- Bennie Rhodes (6-6, 185) averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists as a guard for coach Antonio Fozard at Mt. Zion Academy in North Carolina. In 2005-06, Rhodes led Castlemont High School in Oakland, California, to the Northern California Division I semifinals while averaging 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Rhodes is a three-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com. He is the son of Bennie Rhodes Sr. and Jeannie Smith. "Bennie was presented to us by a family friend here in Dallas," explained Doherty. "When I viewed his DVD I was very impressed with his athleticism and his skill level. He is a high major talent that will be able to achieve great things if he demonstrates the drive and commitment."

19/9/7 at Mt. Zion is impressive. Plus his size, speed, athleticism make him a candidate to be a very good defensive player. On the defensive side of the ball all it takes is effort and want to when you already are a natural athlete. Does Bennie have that desire in him? I hope so.

is bennie practicing right now? I know he was injured for awhile, but it really would have been good to get him on the floor this year. maybe i would feel differently about this class if he was in the mix and improving. what i see is just not athletic enough.