Duncanville vs Brooklyn Lincoln on ESPN

[LA_Mustang]

tonight at 8:30p. D-ville lost to Oak Hill last week but I think both are still ranked in the top 10 nationally. It will be a good chance to see how Dallas HS basketball stacks up against NYC's finest.

[PonyDoh]

tonight at 8:30p. D-ville lost to Oak Hill last week but I think both are still ranked in the top 10 nationally. It will be a good chance to see how Dallas HS basketball stacks up against NYC's finest.

I'm not sure its an apples to apples comparison. Duncanville is unquestionably the most talented team in Texas, where kids still play in a public school system. Lincoln is a public, but most of NYCs best players play prep, private or catholic league ball. That said both Born Ready and Padgett(Maryland) will present some problems for Duncanville. I'm just not sure it makes sense to make it Dallas vs NYC.

[LA_Mustang]

Probably not but that is how most will see it. I really want to see Lincoln's 2 guard Lance Stephenson (#9 in the 2009 class) play. I like his description the DMN - nickname is Born Ready and he is expected to be a human highlight every game.

[papawasamustang]

If Orsini/Robo knew how to run a program the first hire that should have been made after Robo was announced as HC was to name Phil McNeely(Duncanville HC) assistant HC & recruiting coordinator.

Its 3 years late, but not too late.

Wake up

[PonyDoh]

If Orsini/Robo knew how to run a program the first hire that should have been made after Robo was announced as HC was to name Phil McNeely(Duncanville HC) assistant HC & recruiting coordinator.

Its 3 years late, but not too late.

Wake up

I don't know the specifics about McNeely, but you have the right idea. I really thought Doh would leverage his staff at a mid-major. There is enough happening at SMU that w/the right bench hires, we have 3 or 4 kids like McCoy. Gotta play the game

[LA_Mustang]

Duncanville won, 77-57. Duncanville's Williams (UT) had 20 pts and Lincoln's Stephenson had 32 pts.

[George S. Patton]

If Orsini/Robo knew how to run a program the first hire that should have been made after Robo was announced as HC was to name Phil McNeely(Duncanville HC) assistant HC & recruiting coordinator.

Its 3 years late, but not too late.

Wake up

I don't know the specifics about McNeely, but you have the right idea. I really thought Doh would leverage his staff at a mid-major. There is enough happening at SMU that w/the right bench hires, we have 3 or 4 kids like McCoy. Gotta play the game

We're beginning to learn that Doherty's arrogance may be a problem here. He's too average to let his ego keep this program stuck in neutral. I hope those come-to-Jesus sessions he had after the UNC mess may a changed him, but you wonder if they really did.

Cue bleedingredandblue to take every line and attack it.

[Alaric]

If Orsini/Robo knew how to run a program the first hire that should have been made after Robo was announced as HC was to name Phil McNeely(Duncanville HC) assistant HC & recruiting coordinator.

Its 3 years late, but not too late.

Wake up

I don't know the specifics about McNeely, but you have the right idea. I really thought Doh would leverage his staff at a mid-major. There is enough happening at SMU that w/the right bench hires, we have 3 or 4 kids like McCoy. Gotta play the game

We're beginning to learn that Doherty's arrogance may be a problem here. He's too average to let his ego keep this program stuck in neutral. I hope those come-to-Jesus sessions he had after the UNC mess may a changed him, but you wonder if they really did.

Cue bleedingredandblue to take every line and attack it.

Really? Please give us some specifics besides the ambiguous "he's got too big of an ego to let the players play". I'm not saying he doesn't have a big ego but that just sounds like a really big generalization. BTW, I'd generalize here and say most successful coaches do in fact, have a big ego...

[papawasamustang]

Does anybody know if Robo was @ this game last night?

I saw Self from Kansas, Ford from Okla State & our buddy from Baylor.
I'm pretty sure I saw John Kileen.

It just sucks watching all these outstanding players right here in Dallas & knowing none of them will play for us. Something needs to change.

[George S. Patton]

If Orsini/Robo knew how to run a program the first hire that should have been made after Robo was announced as HC was to name Phil McNeely(Duncanville HC) assistant HC & recruiting coordinator.

Its 3 years late, but not too late.

Wake up

I don't know the specifics about McNeely, but you have the right idea. I really thought Doh would leverage his staff at a mid-major. There is enough happening at SMU that w/the right bench hires, we have 3 or 4 kids like McCoy. Gotta play the game

We're beginning to learn that Doherty's arrogance may be a problem here. He's too average to let his ego keep this program stuck in neutral. I hope those come-to-Jesus sessions he had after the UNC mess may a changed him, but you wonder if they really did.

Cue bleedingredandblue to take every line and attack it.

Really? Please give us some specifics besides the ambiguous "he's got too big of an ego to let the players play". I'm not saying he doesn't have a big ego but that just sounds like a really big generalization. BTW, I'd generalize here and say most successful coaches do in fact, have a big ego...

Successful coaches have one. All I can tell you is my impression in the limited times I've been around him and what other people that follow the program think.

Does it affect the program? Maybe. Maybe not. But if local recruits are getting the same vibe Im getting, that doesn't help.

Let's look it at this way. This is really the first time Doherty has had to build a program. He had one year at Notre Dame, went to UNC and yes, he did a very good job recruiting, but that program feeds itself. He had one year at Florida Atlantic so it's difficult to read what kind of building blocks were in place.

SMU is really his first attempt to do something like this. I'm sure he learned a lot from colleagues and also went to them for support/knowledge/advice. In his defense, I think the program was left in shambles when he took it over and the inherited academic restrictions he walked into (TCU's Jim Christian didn't).

Sooner or later, the decisions over the direction -- now with the restrictions loosened -- give him the opportunity to awake this program.

And when you get to year 3 with any new coach, there better be some marked improvement by the caliber of play and the Ws need to go up -- significantely, and he knows that.

If you don't, it may not ever get better.

The 3 wins were expected but the 3 Ls against better competition have shown how wide the margin is. I came away from the TCU game with such disappointment, that I just don't believe this program is moving in the right direction. They will be 4-5 after the next three games.

They will beat UAPB and struggle at A&M and Northwestern. Should we expect that? No. They need to grab one of those games.

Who knows, I could be wrong and this whole thing will turn. But I'm not convinced.

[papawasamustang]

SMU is really his first attempt to do something like this. I'm sure he leaned on a lot of people to for support/knowledge/advice. In his defense, I think the program was left in shambles when he took it over and the inherited academic restrictions he walked into (TCU's Jim Christian didn't).


Patton, I have the same feeling about Doh & the bb program.

The only thing I really don't agree with is the TCU statement.
TCU only returns Langford & Ebie on this years team & they had hit rock bottom. Doh had some talent his first 2 years. Not great, but better than what's been over in Ft. Worth.

I realize its an early comparison to look @ TCU in Christenson year 1 vs Robo in year 3 but I don't like the view from my angle.

[ponydawg]

I have never seen anything to suggest he has a bigger ego than a coach should have. I don't know how he interacts with the team, but to little ole me, he has only showed a first class side.

As for the team. While we have not seen an improvement in the W-L column, there have been little positives to take away. I don't think we can pass total judgement on this team or the recruiting that has taken place until we are in conf. play. Then we can see how our new guards are playing with Faye and to see if Doh can pull an "Ike" with Papa and Bamba.

[FriscoPMG]

Does anybody know if Robo was @ this game last night?

I saw Self from Kansas, Ford from Okla State & our buddy from Baylor.
I'm pretty sure I saw John Kileen.

It just sucks watching all these outstanding players right here in Dallas & knowing none of them will play for us. Something needs to change.

Saw Doh (along with Barnes, and the new ops guy and video guy) at the Mavs game last night, so he was not at the Duncanville game unless he snuck away from the Mavs really early. Not sure if he was trying to hold on to his failed UNC stint by buddying up with two of his recruits who helped run him off (May & Felton on the Bobcats).

You'd certainly think it would be in his and SMU's best interest to be at the biggest high school basketball event in Dallas in hopes of reminding the Dallas hoops community that SMU still exists and does indeed have a supposed D-1 basketball program.

[papawasamustang]

Does anybody know if Robo was @ this game last night?

I saw Self from Kansas, Ford from Okla State & our buddy from Baylor.
I'm pretty sure I saw John Kileen.

It just sucks watching all these outstanding players right here in Dallas & knowing none of them will play for us. Something needs to change.

Saw Doh (along with Barnes, and the new ops guy and video guy) at the Mavs game last night, so he was not at the Duncanville game unless he snuck away from the Mavs really early. Not sure if he was trying to hold on to his failed UNC stint by buddying up with two of his recruits who helped run him off (May & Felton on the Bobcats).

You'd certainly think it would be in his and SMU's best interest to be at the biggest high school basketball event in Dallas in hopes of reminding the Dallas hoops community that SMU still exists and does indeed have a supposed D-1 basketball program.

That's what I was afraid of. I didn't see him @ the game.
He should be the face of college basketball in Dallas, instead he's @ a Mavs game.
If he was @ the HS game I was @ today he would have been the only D1 coach @ the game watching the #1 ranked player for 2012 int the country.
Let's face it, Robo's next job will be in the NBA as a scout or 2nd assistant.
This is going to be his last D1 college basketball coaching gig.

[George S. Patton]

Does anybody know if Robo was @ this game last night?

I saw Self from Kansas, Ford from Okla State & our buddy from Baylor.
I'm pretty sure I saw John Kileen.

It just sucks watching all these outstanding players right here in Dallas & knowing none of them will play for us. Something needs to change.

Saw Doh (along with Barnes, and the new ops guy and video guy) at the Mavs game last night, so he was not at the Duncanville game unless he snuck away from the Mavs really early. Not sure if he was trying to hold on to his failed UNC stint by buddying up with two of his recruits who helped run him off (May & Felton on the Bobcats).

You'd certainly think it would be in his and SMU's best interest to be at the biggest high school basketball event in Dallas in hopes of reminding the Dallas hoops community that SMU still exists and does indeed have a supposed D-1 basketball program.

That's what I was afraid of. I didn't see him @ the game.
He should be the face of college basketball in Dallas, instead he's @ a Mavs game.
If he was @ the HS game I was @ today he would have been the only D1 coach @ the game watching the #1 ranked player for 2012 int the country.
Let's face it, Robo's next job will be in the NBA as a scout or 2nd assistant.
This is going to be his last D1 college basketball coaching gig.

The Dec. 18 blog -- Yes, I know it isn't Dec. 18 yet but that's what the blog has -- is the reason he missed the game. You be the judge if it was the right thing to do.

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/hoopsblog/