Paul McCoy is gone!

[Hoop Fan]

this thing is a complete sh_t show. Always pleasant to go out of town for a couple days and return to ponyfans to see the latest implosions...Fab, McCoy, whats next. I've said this before but that flushing sound you hear is Papas senior year. The key for next year was for mccoy to make a full recovery and return to form and be a leader. That, or signing an experienced juco point guard. Neither appear to be happening and next year is looking really bleak.

[Charleston Pony]

have to agree with those who say this might not be such a bad loss; for the kid's sake..let him be where he will be happy. I think everyone had set expectations for this guy beyond what he was going to be able to deliver, anyways.

[FriscoPMG]

have to agree with those who say this might not be such a bad loss; for the kid's sake..let him be where he will be happy. I think everyone had set expectations for this guy beyond what he was going to be able to deliver, anyways.

Even if you assume he had another bad year next season or he had chemistry problems with his teammates, it's hard to think this is a good thing for the team considering you've also lost D. Will and Mo Faye (even though I didn't like his game). The team had enough trouble scoring last season and now you lose 3 guys who could somewhat create their own shots. We go from having a shoot-first PG to not having a single proven college PG on the team. How is that a good thing?!? Is the expectation that this incoming freshman class will really have enough impact to replace all 3 of these guys?? I have a hard time believing that next year's team is any better than this year's, which means yet more regression under Doh.
And it's just humorous that last offseason Doh and Steve O. flew out to Paul's home to beg him to stay and give him the keys to the problem only to see that backfire in their faces. Embarrassing...

[CalallenStang]

I have a hard time believing that next year's team is any better than this year's, which means yet more regression under Doh.

I, too, have a hard time believing that we've made any progress, which is disheartening because I think we're a point guard away from being a truly decent college basketball team. P. McCoy wasn't that PG and I'm not convinced he would have added a lot to this team, so I'm not terribly upset that he is leaving. However, every time I watch the video of Samarrippas, I'm more and more convinced that he is not the point guard this team needs.

Doh needs to take this scholarship and give it to a PG who can get it done, rather than using it to bring back TK for another year of bench-sitting.

[Charleston Pony]

I'm not suggesting this is a "good thing". Just said it might not be as bad as everyone fears. Another year for Paul like last season and our fans would be dogging him big time and if he's already unhappy, it could really become a disaster. He needs to be where he wants to be.

Win or lose, most of us on here will still be fans. We've followed this sorry excuse of a program through some pretty miserable times. I'm anxious to see how the new guys compete.

[Hoop Fan]

i agree that when a guy doesn't want to be here, let him go and wish him well. Some of us said that last summer, when there was lots of evidence pointing to mccoy not wanting to come back. Where are the "all is well" posters now who insisted everything was fine with Paul and the rumors were false? The miscalculation was begging, cajoling him to come back last summer when he didnt want to be here (and perhaps refusing to give him his release). Now people/Doh can claim its no loss because mccoy is hurt and had a bad soph season, but it IS a huge loss because Mccoy was Doh's marquee recruit and appointed leader. Revisionist history with hindsight is crap.

the key to next season, no matter how uncertain, was a full recovery and turnaround by Paul. Now Doherty is handing the keys to a true freshman, lightly recruited point guard in Year 5 of his tenure. Wow.

[PonyDoh]

i agree that when a guy doesn't want to be here, let him go and wish him well. Some of us said that last summer, when there was lots of evidence pointing to mccoy not wanting to come back. Where are the "all is well" posters now who insisted everything was fine with Paul and the rumors were false? The miscalculation was begging, cajoling him to come back last summer when he didnt want to be here (and perhaps refusing to give him his release). Now people/Doh can claim its no loss because mccoy is hurt and had a bad soph season, but it IS a huge loss because Mccoy was Doh's marquee recruit and appointed leader. Revisionist history with hindsight is crap.

the key to next season, no matter how uncertain, was a full recovery and turnaround by Paul. Now Doherty is handing the keys to a true freshman, lightly recruited point guard in Year 5 of his tenure. Wow.

the key to next season was always, how good is this new PG and the incoming class, not McCoys recovery. McCoys recovery only became huge when we signed JS as opposed to Loyd or whomever. When he went down, he was coming off the bench, couldn't hit the ocean from a boat, and wasn't really dropping dimes. He was still rebounding fairly well, but it was all the behind the scenes stuff that disheartened many of us. Many thought the injury could actually focus the kid. Instead, he wants to live in Portland during the offseason w/his girlfriend & rehab. This after spending last offseason at home & on the islands, completely healthy, showing no dedication to his game, muchless SMU, all while putting in limited reps. Even when the ball was tipped he couldn't focus, mostly for off court reasons. There is a pattern here.

If people want to kill Doh for recruiting McCoy, given how he turned out, ok. They wanted a failry soft kid to be their leader. I'll buy that. In terms of how they handled it though, they did everything they could w/a very fragile kid, to get him focused. Last season was on Paul. He could have very easily been a huge star, if he had just done work. Maybe Doh didn't inspire, maybe the kid needs zoloft.

There is no doubt this helps chemistry, same w/losing Faye. That said, it puts a ton of pressure on kids to improve, and is almost unfair to the frosh, a few of which aren't a slam dunk to be here in the fall, ie the clearinghouse.

The team is talented enough to compete, McCoy or no McCoy, but they need to find themselves really early, which is a chore for a team that's 4 newcomers need to contribute right away.

After watching JS' tape to death, I'm comfortable w/him as a back-up PG. We really need multiple PG types and he could fill a valuable role. In fact, I like him better then most any back up PG we've had in here recently etc. He's just not a kid that does much for us vs Memphis' class of Joe Jackson & Antonio Barton, if he's starting.

[Hoop Fan]

so why do you think JS was recruited as a back up? Whose the starter? Clink? Walker? Pats? Player to be named later? Besides the novelty of some interesting newcomers, this coming year could be uglier than last year.

[PonyDoh]

so why do you think JS was recruited as a back up? Whose the starter? Clink? Walker? Pats? Player to be named later? Besides the novelty of some interesting newcomers, this coming year could be uglier than last year.

My assessment is that JS is a quality back-up. Doh may see day 1 starter for pigtails, that's to be determined. I know he likes the kid, though. Mccoy was never slated to be the primary ballhandler, so it's not like we just lost PG depth. We lost another combo, no different then Clink or Pats. If anything, Clink & Pats can shoot, so they are probably more valuable in this offense.

Ultimately, it's still not about losing Mccoy b/c he was a huge question mark. It's about signing JS, & giving him 30 per, if he's just not ready. As was pointed out to me recently, w/the coaching changes at Houston & UTEP, nobody in CUSA presses anymore. It's a half court league, so there is some silver lining

[CalallenStang]

PonyDoh, I agree that JS is a fine backup, but I still don't see a starting PG on this roster - that's what we needed. Who would you start at the 1? I'm having a hard time figuring it out right now. Maybe Clink?

I hope JS can contribute in the zone D that Doh seems to be pushing us towards, because I don't see starter-quality coming from him in the Princeton (should say modified Princeton).

[PonyDoh]

PonyDoh, I agree that JS is a fine backup, but I still don't see a starting PG on this roster - that's what we needed. Who would you start at the 1? I'm having a hard time figuring it out right now. Maybe Clink?

I hope JS can contribute in the zone D that Doh seems to be pushing us towards, because I don't see starter-quality coming from him in the Princeton (should say modified Princeton).

No idea who starts at point, but I imagine Doh likes JS, since it's his recruit. I see back-up, you see back-up, but Doh probably sees starter. Especially in a league that doesn't press. I'd like to see another ballhandler added, but you sorta have to defer to those that are watching these kids play. We had several options still on the board, when JS was offered. Simply, Doh must really like the kid.

Also, it's interesting how when people see the same tape, they see different things. The kid lacks athleticism, but I can easily see him in the Princeton. His strength off the bounce is change of pace, hesitation dribbles etc. I bet he'll use a high screen pretty well, which bodes well for his mid-range game or drive & dish/dump. He's not going to finish in the way we saw on the video, but he'll move the ball, I bet. Not sure he can do the Dwill, one man show, but he seems to facilitate on that little video. Again, great for a back-up, IMO. I'm thinking Doh thinks he's a starter, though. Walker/Clink/Pats/Haynes can all help some.

I agree though, would love to see them grab another PG, or some more size.

[CalallenStang]

I think he'll use the high screen well, but I see a kid that wants to push the game instead of letting the game come to him. That's a great thing to see in a guy who is running a faster-paced offense, but in the Princeton with all of the required screens that need to be set up, you've got to exercise a bit of patience. Perhaps the kid is a fast learner and can be coached up to succeed and distribute the way he needs to in order to successfully run this offense.

[PonyDoh]

I think he'll use the high screen well, but I see a kid that wants to push the game instead of letting the game come to him. That's a great thing to see in a guy who is running a faster-paced offense, but in the Princeton with all of the required screens that need to be set up, you've got to exercise a bit of patience. Perhaps the kid is a fast learner and can be coached up to succeed and distribute the way he needs to in order to successfully run this offense.

I wouldn't sweat the speed of his game based on the video. From what I'm told, the kid is actually pretty cerebral and isn't reliant on a fast pace. I still can't figure out if they're after another PG, b/c they still have a few of their original list out there

[EastStang]

Sorry to see any quality player leave the program. That said, PMcC was just not improving in this program and was clearly not a real good fit. If you're going to keep the coach, then you have to let the kid who doesn't grow in the program leave for fresher waters. Since keeping Doh is apparently what has been decided despite cries from many on this board (including me on occasion), you have to play with the hand you've dealt yourself. Doh, is going to have to win next year with the players he has, or find himself no longer the coach of this program. If they don't win for him, then he has no one to blame but himself. So, I for one, will cheer for the Ponies next year and hope they do well. If not, come next March, I'll be one of the ones saying its time for a change. At this point, the players that are coming here are coming here and the players that are leaving are leaving, we need to play this hand out. No other cards are going to be dealt.

[PonyDoh]

Sorry to see any quality player leave the program. That said, PMcC was just not improving in this program and was clearly not a real good fit. If you're going to keep the coach, then you have to let the kid who doesn't grow in the program leave for fresher waters. Since keeping Doh is apparently what has been decided despite cries from many on this board (including me on occasion), you have to play with the hand you've dealt yourself. Doh, is going to have to win next year with the players he has, or find himself no longer the coach of this program. If they don't win for him, then he has no one to blame but himself. So, I for one, will cheer for the Ponies next year and hope they do well. If not, come next March, I'll be one of the ones saying its time for a change. At this point, the players that are coming here are coming here and the players that are leaving are leaving, we need to play this hand out. No other cards are going to be dealt.

other then maybe adding another player, you are 100% right. Good take.