Memphis game thread

[Diamond Girl]

MM65

Interesting comments by the announcers about how C-USA officials are working to reduce the number of home team students/fans from sitting behind the visiting team's bench.

Yeah. What's with the Big Brother, p.c., get rid of the home field advantage Coach Doh really wanted to create when he arrived?

[J.T.supporta]

We are 3 years from an NIT. Maybe the tournament in year 4 or 5.

that must be some good koolaid youre drinking!

[gostangs]

I think the CUSA issue came from our TTech game awhile back where Knight got his panitie in a knot about our student "encouragements" and complained to SMU and CUSA. Banowsky was at that game and was miffed - so now there are no students behind the visitors bench. We need to tell CUSA to stuff it - we are going to do it our way. They will fold like a cheap suit. They should not be able to govern our seating chart - that is micro-managing.

[Peruna88]

SMU Alums, have you ever seen that many students at a b-ball game, the whole student section and behind the basket? If only, every game could be like that..

For the current student body, I can see why you would make that statement. Great turnout by the students tonight.

But, think of the south bleachers being pulled out all the way and filled with students. Six or seven rows, not just three. Plus, the bleachers on the east end filled with students along with the band. And, overflow on the court. And in the west blue seats behind the basket.

So, yes, I have seen more students there back in the day of the great Carl Wright, Kato Armstrong, Carlton McKinney, Jon Koncak, Scott Johnson, Larry Davis, Butch Moore. . .

[Big Hoss]

All in all, I thought it was a great effort by our team, especially the seniors. Turnovers, missing free throws, being outrebounded, and our soft inside game were all factors in this game not being closer. Those are all items I hope improve this coming year.

Bamba had a nice effort, but his inside game was SO soft. He needs to add some weight and get stronger so he can at least muscle threw a block attempt every now and again. He's 7 freaking 1 for God's sake, and he couldn't hit shots from 3 feet. And how about a dunk every now and again?

[Harry0569]

But, think of the south bleachers being pulled out all the way and filled with students. Six or seven rows, not just three. Plus, the bleachers on the east end filled with students along with the band. And, overflow on the court. And in the west blue seats behind the basket.



Why do you torture me so? I only wish we could be like that...maybe next year.

[mr. pony]

They are playing harding than I'd expected. Free throws were a bit weak, and rebounding's still a problem.

SMU outrebounded Memphis, 35-34.

It was the turnovers. 22

[mustangklick]

They are playing harding than I'd expected. Free throws were a bit weak, and rebounding's still a problem.

SMU outrebounded Memphis, 35-34.

It was the turnovers. 22

In the second half I felt like they got an unusually high amount of offensive boards.

[jimhagle]

Where did Dia disappear to? 2 shots and little presence while on the court.

[perunapower]

Where did Dia disappear to? 2 shots and little presence while on the court.

The bench. I rarely saw him out there.

[Come and Take It]

Awesome to see the turnout last night. However, from what I could tell, it still wasn't sold out. It's a little disheartening to have the #2 team in the country come in and not pack the house.

The noise level was great. Granted there were quite a few Memphis fans in there. If Moody could get somewhat full, that would be one of the loudest arenas in basketball.

Nice student turnout, both behind the bench and behind the basket. I only wish you could get more students that weren't greek affiliates to show up. To me, it seemed like it was mandated from the fraternities and sororities to show up.

On to the actual game.

Can someone tell me why every time an SMU player gets the ball on the offensive end, they stop their dribble. Watching Memphis last night, they had good movement, both off the ball and with it. Players were constantly in motion. SMU would take the ball past half court, set up the play, pass the ball, stop the dribble, get double teamed, then pass it off where it was rinse and repeat. I have yet to figure this out all season.

Who saw the Bamba Fall turnaround fadeaway? Reminded me of Hakeem Olajuwon with his "Dream Shake". Where has that shot been? It's unstoppable. Have him stick that in his arsenal, maybe with learning to use the glass ala Tim Duncan, and that would be the most dominant move in college basketball. I have dubbed that shot the "Senegal Shimmy". (all rights reserved).

After his first turnover, Ryan Harp was afraid of the ball. I bet that for the remainder of the game, he didn't have the ball in his hands for more than one minute. Seemed shaky and looked scared.

All in all, I was impressed with the effort the guys showed. They were probably overmatched, and Memphis wasn't giving it a full out effort the entire game. When Memphis decided to turn it on, they did.

I understand it is a very young team, and only see great strides towards improvement.

[DickerJames]

All in all, I was impressed with the effort the guys showed. They were probably overmatched

Ya think?

[couch 'em]

Awesome to see the turnout last night. However, from what I could tell, it still wasn't sold out. It's a little disheartening to have the #2 team in the country come in and not pack the house.

Think about it this way - we nearly packed the house with people expecting a massive, humiliating blow-out. How many people you think stayed home thinking "I don't want to go and watch a boring blow out"!

[PonyKai]

Yeah and uhh what last year we wound up 13-16 and drew 3500-4000 for Number 6 Memphis, and this year we're 9-19 and drew over 7200 for number two Memphis.

Boy call me crazy but one of those numbers seems bigger than the other. Biggest crowd in seven years (embarrassing) and we still moan and groan. Sure 8,998 would be great. Doesn't happen overnight and doesn't happen when your ten games under .500

[Big Hoss]

So if we are looking for positives from last night's game, I think we can say that Memphis didn't completely run us off the floor. While we may have outrebounded Memphis in total, we only had 8 offensive boards of our 35 total. We get just 2 more offensive rebounds & putbacks, and that leads to 4 more points. Bamba hits those 2 shots from like 3 feet early in the game, that's 4 more points. We were 1 of 9 from 3 pt range in the first half, give us 2 more baskets there and that's 6 more points.

Don't get me wrong, the better team won last night. Plus, really good teams like that take you off your game making it tougher to get the kind of points like I called out above. So I guess what I am trying to say is that while I expected them to lose, I don't think it was a demoralizing loss a la East Carolina.