BR writer predicts SMU 9th in CUSA

[The PonyGrad]

SMU

A very competitive team in 2009-2010, the Mustangs return third-team all-conference pick Papa Dia, a legitimate double-double threat each game. They did, however, lose their other top two scorers in Derek Williams and Mouhammad Faye, as well as Paul McCoy (transfer).

Robert Nyukundi and Justin Haynes need to be viable second and third scoring options for SMU if they want to maintain some of the momentum they created last season. The Mustangs won't sneak up on anyone so they need a good start in conference play.

Prediction: Ninth

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/436467-conference-usa-who-can-tame-the-tigers

[PonyDoh]

I don't really have a problem w/the prediction, but it's really clear CUSA is wide open. None of the teams listed in front of us are special, or even significantly better than us. Memphis is monster depending on what happens to their recruit class. As of now, many of those kids are on the outside looking in w/regards to the clearinghouse. I wouldn't be surprise to see us 4th or 9th.

Didn't know Marshall picked up Dante Holmes, that's a helluva late signing.

[Pony_Fan]

he lost me when he said "very competitive team in '09-10"

[MustangIcon]

he lost me when he said "very competitive team in '09-10"

you must get lost quite easily then. they were.

[Pony_Fan]

he lost me when he said "very competitive team in '09-10"

you must get lost quite easily then. they were.

according to ? - beating a crappy Memphis team?

[MustangIcon]

A few facts to consider:

- SMU has won more than 15 games only 1 of the past 9 seasons.

- This past year we went 14-16 in the regular season, 7-9 in CUSA.

- Of our 16 losses, all were to post-season teams except for TCU and at Texas State.

- We went 7-9 in conference. 4 of the 9 losses were by 4 points or less to teams that won 20+ games each. Add in a 6 point loss at Houston (19 wins and NCAAs) and a 7 point loss to Tulsa (23 wins and post season) and you are looking at 3 games in conference that we weren't competitive. Those 3 games were against the top 3 teams in CUSA.

- Our SOS last season was not bad. 129th. Ahead of Norwestern, Virginia Tech, Illinois St., VCU (132, 133, 135, 136). A few spots behind BYU, Gonzaga, St. Marys, and Oregon St. (116, 118, 120, 128).

So "Pony_Fan", according to me, anyone who is even a little bit rational, and the facs above, we were a competitive team last year.

[Pony_Fan]

nice work - hope that didn't take you too long of wasted time
competitive by SMU standards, ok

[MustangIcon]

We were competitive by SMU standards and CUSA standards. We should be better than merely competitive in my opinion, but no denying that we were in fact competitive.

Didn't take me any time at all. Copy and paste job from the "How many Wins Will it Take" thread found on 2nd page of hoops forum. It is sometimes hard to find anything positive burried amongst all of the negative stuff.

[PonyDoh]

We were very competitive last year, it's just that our 'fans' gave up after the UNLV game in Hawaii, if not earlier, after the A&M & USF games. I commented on it then, but it was one of the most pathetic displays I've witnessed amongst a fan base, when you consider its a 30 game season.

I wonder if those same folks give up on football, if we get smoked in Lubbock. BTW, SMUs football schedule last year was so much worse than our hoops schedule.

[CA Mustang]

BTW, SMUs football schedule last year was so much worse than our hoops schedule.

Putting aside the fact you are comparing apples to oranges, who did SMU play in basketball that was the equal of TCU in football? Heck, who was the equivalent of ECU, UH and Navy?

[PonyDoh]

BTW, SMUs football schedule last year was so much worse than our hoops schedule.

Putting aside the fact you are comparing apples to oranges, who did SMU play in basketball that was the equal of TCU in football? Heck, who was the equivalent of ECU, UH and Navy?

A&M is every bit as good in hoops as TCU is in football, if not better. TCU would be a middle of the road BCS team, they just currently work their way through an average league. Good for them, yada yada. USF, UNLV, CoC, Northeastern, Memphis, UTEP, UAB and a bunch of others are every bit as good, and some better than ECU/UH/Navy were in football.

[papawasamustang]

Last season is history. Time to look ahead. What will this team do? Who knows. I expect them to be competitive like last season. I'm interested to see just how soft the out of conference schedule is. Will Dia be a beast like last season or fall back to what he was his Soph. year? If Vilde plays, Smith is what I think he is, & Pats makes a smooth transition, I think their ceiling is probably last years conference win total of 7. If 3 players, Haynes , Clink, & RN can take their game to the next level, than it could be even better. Losing DWill is huge. His ball handling, ability to get to the rim, & scoring ability can not be replaced by anyone on this roster.
A lot of ?? for this squad.

[CA Mustang]

A&M is every bit as good in hoops as TCU is in football, if not better.

When has A&M basketball ever been ranked in the top 10? Wasn't 23 their highest ranking last year?

USF, UNLV, CoC, Northeastern, Memphis, UTEP, UAB and a bunch of others are every bit as good, and some better than ECU/UH/Navy were in football.

Now here's where trying to compare apples to oranges breaks down. With more basketball games to choose from, you don't prove a point solely on the basis of quantity. You also neglect to mention that Fla Gulf Coast, Huston-Tillotson, Occidental and N.C. Central were far worse than any team the football team faced.

I'll buy the argument when the football team starts scheduling D-III schools.

[MustangIcon]

This is a silly comparison really. But if you want to be fair look at SMU's Bball SOS rank as a percentage of the total number of D1A bball teams, vs SMU fball SOS rank as a percentage of total D1a football teams. I have no idea who in that scenario, but its the best proxy I can think of.

There are way more D1a bball teams than D1a football teams, so a 23rd ranked team in bball would equate to something higher than that in football. Again, not sure to what extent, you would need to know the # of d1a hoops programs compared to the 120ish d1a football programs.

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

Last season is history. Time to look ahead. What will this team do? Who knows. I expect them to be competitive like last season. I'm interested to see just how soft the out of conference schedule is. Will Dia be a beast like last season or fall back to what he was his Soph. year? If Vilde plays, Smith is what I think he is, & Pats makes a smooth transition, I think their ceiling is probably last years conference win total of 7. If 3 players, Haynes , Clink, & RN can take their game to the next level, than it could be even better. Losing DWill is huge. His ball handling, ability to get to the rim, & scoring ability can not be replaced by anyone on this roster.
A lot of ?? for this squad.

If Vilde plays? Then we'd have to forfeit every game. Thats what happens when you play an ineligible player.