Scott Drew and Baylor

[papawasamustang]

I think both have a point-but I think I come down a little closer to pappawasamustang. Doherty really made a mistake by hiring assistants with no proven relationship or connection to the Metroplex. He's had some turnover and yet he goes right out an hires more with no connection to the Metroplex. Say what you want about Dement but he was smart enough to retain Tubbs-that's exactly how you build those pipelines. On Doherty's side-the pond was already poisoned by actions of those before him. To those who think the Metroplex doesn't matter-you're hopelessly uninformecd-and I pray for your souls

I'm convinced that the right coach can find the cure.
On a side note, why isn't M J's son interested in playing for Doh?
Interesting.

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p= ... id=2431427

http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprosp ... 72&sport=2

[ponydawg]

On a side note, why isn't M J's son interested in playing for Doh?
Interesting.

http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprosp ... 72&sport=2

cuz we have sucked for years and years and years and years.
we play in a crappy conference and the team that has the only respect
in our conference just got kicked in the jimmy.

[MustangIcon]

I think both have a point-but I think I come down a little closer to pappawasamustang. Doherty really made a mistake by hiring assistants with no proven relationship or connection to the Metroplex. He's had some turnover and yet he goes right out an hires more with no connection to the Metroplex. Say what you want about Dement but he was smart enough to retain Tubbs-that's exactly how you build those pipelines. On Doherty's side-the pond was already poisoned by actions of those before him. To those who think the Metroplex doesn't matter-you're hopelessly uninformecd-and I pray for your souls

I agree that we are past due on Doherty hiring an assistant with strong metroplex connections. Heck, even if it were strong Texas ties or Houston specific it would be an upgrade.

[jtstang]

Drew knows how to operate in grey areas.

You hit the nail on the head there, buddy.

Then why shouldn't we get a coach who knows how to operate in the grey areas?

[J.T.supporta]

this is a school that was rocked by a murder and still has made the NCAA and now the NIT final the past two years

[PonyDoh]

I think both have a point-but I think I come down a little closer to pappawasamustang. Doherty really made a mistake by hiring assistants with no proven relationship or connection to the Metroplex. He's had some turnover and yet he goes right out an hires more with no connection to the Metroplex. Say what you want about Dement but he was smart enough to retain Tubbs-that's exactly how you build those pipelines. On Doherty's side-the pond was already poisoned by actions of those before him. To those who think the Metroplex doesn't matter-you're hopelessly uninformecd-and I pray for your souls

Once again, you can say people are misinformed, but where are your examples of small, affluent, primarily white schools, w/nationally recognized national hoops programs, that recruit their backyard primarily. I think everyone agrees Doh should have brought on a local coach/AAU connection. That was a horrible tactical error. That said, DFW is just part of the equation. Much like the student body isn't completely from Dallas, nor should the team be.

[Hoop Fan]

I think both have a point-but I think I come down a little closer to pappawasamustang. Doherty really made a mistake by hiring assistants with no proven relationship or connection to the Metroplex. He's had some turnover and yet he goes right out an hires more with no connection to the Metroplex. Say what you want about Dement but he was smart enough to retain Tubbs-that's exactly how you build those pipelines. On Doherty's side-the pond was already poisoned by actions of those before him. To those who think the Metroplex doesn't matter-you're hopelessly uninformecd-and I pray for your souls

Once again, you can say people are misinformed, but where are your examples of small, affluent, primarily white schools, w/nationally recognized national hoops programs, that recruit their backyard primarily. I think everyone agrees Doh should have brought on a local coach/AAU connection. That was a horrible tactical error. That said, DFW is just part of the equation. Much like the student body isn't completely from Dallas, nor should the team be.

Horrible tactical error is right. And one he has repeated a few times and cemented. I love recruiting LA, Chicago, NY, Juco City, Mars or Venus for special players. Paul McCoy is a good one. Tough, talented, heady kid. Take all of those we can get. What i dont understand is going to Cali and elsewhere to fetch projects. You can recruit projects in DFW and at least build bridges doing it. How about recruiting a Duncanville kid. Or Kimball, Carter, SOC. Then maybe when you go back to recruit a four star there, the door might actually really be halfway open. Give. Take. Give. Take. Thats called a partnership with local coaches/community. Something SMU has never done worth a damn, save the Dement years, they certaintly tried and did some good things. Q Ross wasnt the biggest headliner around out of Kimball, but a great pickup for SMU. By the way, i take your point about small, white bread schools having to try to recruit national to some extent. thats fine, but Butler has like 9 players from Indiana on its roster. Texas has more talent than Indiana. if you exclude Hickory at least.

[George S. Patton]

I've just never had the feeling there has been a great philosophy to recruiting.

Usually, you work your way inside out. Pursue the best kids in your area/state that you can attract and then expand regionally or nationally. I guess his focus is in the east because of his background and ties but after that, it looks odd.

It appears that we are going after some local kids but it doesn't seem like the hard sell has taken any affect.

I'm not going to claim I know Doherty's philosophy. But based on what I read and who is on the roster, it looks like a cherry picking event.

[PonyDoh]

I think both have a point-but I think I come down a little closer to pappawasamustang. Doherty really made a mistake by hiring assistants with no proven relationship or connection to the Metroplex. He's had some turnover and yet he goes right out an hires more with no connection to the Metroplex. Say what you want about Dement but he was smart enough to retain Tubbs-that's exactly how you build those pipelines. On Doherty's side-the pond was already poisoned by actions of those before him. To those who think the Metroplex doesn't matter-you're hopelessly uninformecd-and I pray for your souls

Once again, you can say people are misinformed, but where are your examples of small, affluent, primarily white schools, w/nationally recognized national hoops programs, that recruit their backyard primarily. I think everyone agrees Doh should have brought on a local coach/AAU connection. That was a horrible tactical error. That said, DFW is just part of the equation. Much like the student body isn't completely from Dallas, nor should the team be.

Horrible tactical error is right. And one he has repeated a few times and cemented. I love recruiting LA, Chicago, NY, Juco City, Mars or Venus for special players. Paul McCoy is a good one. Tough, talented, heady kid. Take all of those we can get. What i dont understand is going to Cali and elsewhere to fetch projects. You can recruit projects in DFW and at least build bridges doing it. How about recruiting a Duncanville kid. Or Kimball, Carter, SOC. Then maybe when you go back to recruit a four star there, the door might actually really be halfway open. Give. Take. Give. Take. Thats called a partnership with local coaches/community. Something SMU has never done worth a damn, save the Dement years, they certaintly tried and did some good things. Q Ross wasnt the biggest headliner around out of Kimball, but a great pickup for SMU. By the way, i take your point about small, white bread schools having to try to recruit national to some extent. thats fine, but Butler has like 9 players from Indiana on its roster. Texas has more talent than Indiana. if you exclude Hickory at least.

This is a solid take and one I agree with. I'm not even sure we have to give/take, as much as we just needed to hire an AAU savvy local. It's the future as these are the best programs around, not high schools. They are also travel & competition savvy.

Tony Bennett just took the head job at UVA & it's probable that he hires an assistant from Boo William's AAU program. Rumors at Maryland about Gary Williams adding a DC Assault coach to his staff, in much the same role Dalonte Hill provides at KState. Dwon Clifton at Baylor. Pastner w/Lute & now Calipari etc. Anyway, we should have presence in DFW, no matter how bad the history has been, no matter how many people we hung out to dry. I understand the locals are incredibly apathetic to SMU, pretty much always have been. Still need to pursue, though.

Honestly, I'm big on program building. There is a difference in how you construct a program in the SW, as compared to the East coast or basketball first schools. That said, there are other successful, small, private institutions, we can borrow from. The issue isn't going national, as much as who we're ending up with. They either pan out on the court or they don't. It's not just rankings, it's evaluation. That said, whether you recruit Dallas or Chicago, the key is getting quality. We're just far too hit & miss.

If the '08 freshman class wasn't sandwiched between the abysmal '07, 7 man albatross, and Julius the African Project in '09, it would seem like a fine building block.

McCoy is a diamond, Otis is serviceable, and who knows about Haynes. We won 9 games all year, and we couldn't find time to properly evaluate an athletic, big 2G, that showed glimpses of being able to shoot and board. It would be nice to know what we have in Haynes, but we don't. Speaking of McCoy, pretty sure he regards himself as a PG, not a combo or SG. That's where he'll earn his living, here or overseas. If you're going to lose all but 9 games, give him the rock. If not, run 3 guards out there and play small. Nyakundi is a shooter, no doubt. He could be a real contributor down the road. Solid SMU class.

If Doh hadn't missed so badly in '07, and seemingly in '09, I could see us actually turning the corner. Instead, we only have the '08 class, no local ties, nothing coming in, and the clear understanding that Doh is very average on the bench, and worse when it comes to roster management. What's worse is that he's now giving us the 5-year plan speech. That we'll be close to 500 next year.

Gillespie is a horrible fit, but I'd give thought to making a run at him before a Houston does. Even Pastner. Our coach gets worked by his old assistant at Tulsa for kids like Medder. It's hard to believe Doh can blog every day, but our media services like Rivals & Scout can't figure out who we're recruiting. It's control-freakish.

[ponydawg]

If Doh hadn't missed so badly in '07, and seemingly in '09, I could see us actually turning the corner.

'07 was a miss, but with 2 schollies left for '09, the class, his job, and our season could be saved. 2 juco Williams type contributors and this is a different squad.

[PonyDoh]

If Doh hadn't missed so badly in '07, and seemingly in '09, I could see us actually turning the corner.

'07 was a miss, but with 2 schollies left for '09, the class, his job, and our season could be saved. 2 juco Williams type contributors and this is a different squad.

Agreed, and I'm not saying it won't happen. That said, when you consistently wait till the end of the 2nd signing period, looking for impact recruits, to suit up the very next season, that's not good.

[Hoop Fan]

agree 100%. Pastner would have been a great fit with his Houston connections and he would have done great in Dallas too I think. I don't think there is any way we could get him at this point, he will go bigger when he goes. Doh was a cautious,safe hire by Orsini in my view. It was all about perception. Turner and Orsini knew he would project well in the Park Cities. And he had some gray hair.

Did Doh really suggest we should be close to .500 next year? This after he suggested "flipping the record" this year, ie 20 wins? Don't get me wrong, from what I see .500 next year might be realistic, I just think it would be absurd for Doh to set such a low bar for himself and essentially back down completely from his evalution of the talent in the 07 and 08 classes.

With the schedule we play, Doh really needs to post a 19 or 20 win season next year. The non conference schedules are just ridiculous.

[George S. Patton]

Well, we have about 2 weeks to see what happens with the signing period starting on April 15.

And it's pretty quiet.

Edit: To piggyback on HoopFan's non-conference schedule comment. Not only have the schedules been ridiculous. The losses have been embarrassing.

[ponydawg]

Agreed, and I'm not saying it won't happen. That said, when you consistently wait till the end of the 2nd signing period, looking for impact recruits, to suit up the very next season, that's not good.

I can't recall, did we know we were after Williams and when did he commit?
I know someone said he didn't have many offers. Hope Doh can find a couple who contribute right away.

[True Colors]

Once again, you can say people are misinformed, but where are your examples of small, affluent, primarily white schools, w/nationally recognized national hoops programs, that recruit their backyard primarily. I think everyone agrees Doh should have brought on a local coach/AAU connection. That was a horrible tactical error. That said, DFW is just part of the equation. Much like the student body isn't completely from Dallas, nor should the team be.

When you say "small, affluent, primarily white schools" I think that you are narrowing things down too much. If someone said "where are the examples of large, impoverished, primarily black schools with nationally recognized hoops programs" then that would be equally ridiculous. Whether your are large or small, public or private, etc. everyone wants to find a way to post winning records somewhow.

I am not aware of many good college teams which can sustain themselves year after year with talent mainly from their own local city. For one thing, a lot of colleges are not even in big cities to begin with. However, there are schools who pull in enough talent regionally to do well. Villanova, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, and Georgetown are a few examples of schools who have drawn off of regional talent over the years and added some national recruiting on top of that.

A lot of kids like to go to college at least an hour or two away from home. Probably even moreso than the ones who want to stay in their own town. I could see SMU actually having an easier time of recruiting Houston kids than DFW area kids.

TC