What really burns me up...

[Original Frank]

What really burns me up is that a win now serves absolutely no constructive purpose. The season is hopelessly lost and a few wins sprinkled in as the season winds down will only serve to create unnecessary doubt about Dement. I think the comments from UTEP's radio team sum it up very nicely. They, like us, expected so much more from this team. However, unlike some, I believe that we are seeing the same Dement that coached underachieving teams with Sasser, Davis, Hancock, Q, and now these guys. Each of these tems started well and had a chance in the conference race and then folded its tent as the season came to a climax. The reason, in my mind, is SMU's complete lack of offensive scheme or organization makes the second game against an opponent much more difficult. Opposing coaches know what to expect (or what not to expect) and they react with schemes intended to give their teams the advantage. As such, SMU struggles just to maintain control of the ball somewhere near the midcourt line. To state SMU has no offensive flow is to overstate SMU's offensive ability. First Sasser went 1 on 5, then Hancock went 1 on 5, now Hop goes 1 on 5. When we have nothing, we just have a 15% 3-point shooter throw up a 3. It's brutal to watch.

It is sad and terribly disappointing but true...SMU's loss to Louisana Tech and to UTEP are important for the future of the program. We must start over and a few consolation wins filling out a horrid season will just add confusion to a situation that should be crystal clear.

Clearly Dement has lost the team. It was first obvious on the court versus OSU in early January. Then he broke the team and tried to shift the blame ("recruit tougher players"). Then he tried to punish them (5 AM practices). Then he just tried to be democratic (vote for starters). Now the screaming. Yet nothing changes. It's clearly a lost cause. If he doesn't go, I struggle for any reason to keep coming back next year. After eight years of my attendance, I feel like I've seen this movie many times before.

And by the way, JUCOs and academic risks, while an interesting discussion in a different conversation, are not relevant to the point I am trying to make. I am not talking about recruiting. I am talking about the ability to organize a basketball team with players at hand and make it perform to its ability on the court. Irrespective of where the talent came from, SMU's talent is better than 2 wins and 9 losses against the rest of the WAC teams. Evidence: TTech, Purdue, Wake.

Let's just get through the season, get a new coach, and get excited about next year. It appears that a true scorer is on the way along with a new coach!

[Pony_Fan]

To give UTEP credit, they shot 52% from the field and 43% from 3 land.

I really wondered last year who was going to score this year. SMU had a lot of problems on the road last year even with Q. I think he provided so much to the team. He was a quiet leader in the game and I am sure at practice.

I think only 12 home games was not a good idea but Dement did schedule some good OOC games maybe to excite the fans.

As some have pointed out, we have no true scorers on this team like Stephen Woods or Hancock (even though he was selfish he could turn it on whenever). There isn't 1 guy on the whole team who can score confidently with an open jumper from 10 feet. I think Lewin said we are 15% in the last couple of games from 3. That is 1 advantage some other WAC teams have is a true shooter (Kuebler) but I don't feel like this team is close to being a 9th place team. I would think if they were playing up to their potential, we would be in 5th or so.

Look out b/c it's only going to get worse. I haven't looked but I imagine we are last in a lot of stat categories now.

[DickerJames]

Original, I don't think you have to worry about us winning games to save Dement's job. The way it's going right now, we will rescue San Jose from going winless in the WAC. I agree completely with your observation that this is the same Dement we have seen for 8 years. They just happen to have a little less talent. I have been a basketball season ticket holder for 10 years, and like you,this movie re-run is way past being old and tired for me. The lack of an offensive scheme that has plagued us all of Dement's tenure, has come crashing down on this team. There is no Woods or Sasser or Davis or Ross to make up for this glaring problem. This isn't some mass mutiny by these players, they are tired and have lost all hope.