SMU Withdraws Offer to Francis and Gives Release

Stallion · Post by **Stallion** » Wed May 06, 2009 5:54 pm

not surprised. Francis signing with Winthrop instead.

http://www.heraldonline.com/256/story/1323282.html

Charleston Pony · Post by **Charleston Pony** » Wed May 06, 2009 6:34 pm

which of course begs the question...what low post guy are we about to sign in his place?

PonyDoh · Post by **PonyDoh** » Wed May 06, 2009 7:07 pm

LOL, we evaluated a kid, signed him, then released him b/c he's not good enough, several months later. At least we have a plan

Buckethead · Post by **Buckethead** » Wed May 06, 2009 7:27 pm

How do you know that we have a plan? I have heard that Winthrop has a better dance department than UCONN.

Stallion · Post by **Stallion** » Wed May 06, 2009 7:44 pm

what really worries me is that this is the second guy that Doherty has evaluated that turns out to have very weak Senior Year and we end up revoking his offer. Which in my mind coincides with the thread about the posting of an opening for a new assistant Coach.

George S. Patton · Post by **George S. Patton** » Wed May 06, 2009 8:45 pm

Yep. The Clarke kid out of Detroit was the first one. But I also think this is a signal that Doherty doesn't have time to spend on another project big man.

Plus, with all of these guards, if we really are going to a 94-foot game, then a big man may not find much time on the floor. But then again, we just signed that British dude from San Diego, so only Doherty and the man upstairs know.

I think the keeper is right about the bb vacancy. I think some asst. coaches either blew evaluations and were "released" because of it or they just got phet up with Matt and left.

Sic_em · Post by **Sic_em** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:14 pm

Obviously, this kid is no Myles Luttman.

Seriously, if this kid is good enough for Winthrop, a frequent NCAA tournament team, then he's plenty good enough for us.

Horseshoe · Post by **Horseshoe** » Thu May 07, 2009 1:21 am

George S. Patton wrote:Yep. The Clarke kid out of Detroit was the first one. But I also think this is a signal that Doherty doesn't have time to spend on another project big man.

Plus, with all of these guards, if we really are going to a 94-foot game, then a big man may not find much time on the floor. But then again, we just signed that British dude from San Diego, so only Doherty and the man upstairs know.

I think the keeper is right about the bb vacancy. I think some asst. coaches either blew evaluations and were "released" because of it or they just got phet up with Matt and left.

"Phet up"?

PonyDoh · Post by **PonyDoh** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:01 am

Honestly, has anyone ever heard of signing a kid, complete w/LOI, only to back out of the commitment several months later? We've done this twice in 2 years and it's pretty awful form

ponydawg · Post by **ponydawg** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:18 am

damned if you do, damed if you don't.

I agree with the thought that we don't have the time for a
project, especially since Papa took a year off last year.

Hope we land a JC who is ready to rumble.

Mustang22 · Post by **Mustang22** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:04 am

what a mess.

smupony94 · Post by **smupony94** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:17 am

Buckethead wrote:How do you know that we have a plan? I have heard that Winthrop has a better dance department than UCONN.

Are they still going to do the ballet performance for the blind?

Harry0569 · Post by **Harry0569** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:50 am

Talking with someone who is extremely tied to the basketball program, they said that Francis's coach called SMU to tell them that he was not "ready" to play basketball in C-USA, nor succeed in the classroom. All sides felt it was best to release him from his scholarship, so that he could pursue a "lesser" D1 school. Yes, Winthrop has made the tournament a few times over the past 8 years, but I honestly believe the competition in CUSA is superior to the Big South.

George S. Patton · Post by **George S. Patton** » Thu May 07, 2009 11:13 am

Harry0569 wrote:Talking with someone who is extremely tied to the basketball program, they said that Francis's coach called SMU to tell them that he was not "ready" to play basketball in C-USA, nor succeed in the classroom. All sides felt it was best to release him from his scholarship, so that he could pursue a "lesser" D1 school. Yes, Winthrop has made the tournament a few times over the past 8 years, but I honestly believe the competition in CUSA is superior to the Big South.

I can buy that. But it also shows how Doherty and his staff missed this.

jkflamebo · Post by **jkflamebo** » Thu May 07, 2009 11:30 am

Harry0569 wrote:not "ready" to play basketball in C-USA

this could probably could have applied to a few current players...