Coaching search at Houston, too

Charleston Pony · Post by **Charleston Pony** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:12 pm

looks like Houston is also tired of underachieving and playing in front of less than 3000 fans.

It's important for both schools, and for CUSA...that SMU & Houston become competitive and and develop fan bases of 5-6000. Given the economics of college bball today, you can't put together a decent home schedule unless you can pay your visitors $50k. Kind of tough when your average home gate is only $50k

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1754335

Hoop Fan · Post by **Hoop Fan** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:07 pm

McCallum was considered an up and comer several years ago after a real good run at Ball State. He seemed like a good hire at the time, but I don't think he had any recruiting connections in Texas. I bet you anything that as good of a guy as he is, that was too hard to overcome. I bet Houston will follow their football example and hire a Texas guy next (ie an Art Briles type). Will we?

Hoop Fan · Post by **Hoop Fan** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:29 pm

by the way, I'm not even from Texas originally, so don't construe my comments as some type of Texas pride or something. Its not that at all, there are good coaches everywhere. Its a simple belief that the best thing for the program is a guy who has the connections in Dallas already and can lead players. Tubbs may or may not be the only guy who fits that description, but he fits it nonetheless.

EP Pony Fan · Post by **EP Pony Fan** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 1:36 am

Is it safe to say Tubbs is the leader at this point? Probably not, since that Michigan State guy is the only one (that I've read about, at least) who has had an interview. But in the DMN story on the PF.com homepage, there's a suggestion that Copelane might visit with more candidates this week while the Big 12 tournament is in Dallas. I would have to think that means Tubbs, Sean Sutton, James Dickey .... are there other Big 12 assistants who are thought to be legitimate candidates?

Charleston Pony · Post by **Charleston Pony** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 7:15 am

the last time the Ponies had consistent success on the hardwood was when the coaching staff made it a goal to recruit one of the top DFW area players every year. That's all it would take to return this program to top 25 caliber, starting with landing a low post player in next year's class.

Stampede · Post by **Stampede** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 11:42 am

Nolan Richardson is the front runner at Houston. If happens, it will help CUSA. Richardson may hire Kevin "Ice" Lewis (yes the same one that played at SMU) to Houston as assistant. He is presently an assistant at TCU.

(I spent last weekend in Houston at a major "14 & under" b-ball tourney and that is what I learned)

P. S. Let's get JT hired and we'll be on our way!!!

Cheesesteak · Post by **Cheesesteak** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 12:13 pm

Stampede posted:

Nolan Richardson is the front runner at Houston. If happens, it will help CUSA.

I suspect that U. of H. is a situation where N.R. would succeed.

Stampede is right, a winning Cougars Basketball program would be good for CUSA.

I also feel that N. R. is a troublemaker who creates more problems than the wins he might generate would be worth.

Arkpony · Post by **Arkpony** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 1:20 pm

HIre that jerk Nolan Richardson? God help them if they do!

jtstang · Post by **jtstang** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:34 pm

Stampede wrote:Nolan Richardson is the front runner at Houston. If happens, it will help CUSA. Richardson may hire Kevin "Ice" Lewis (yes the same one that played at SMU) to Houston as assistant. He is presently an assistant at TCU.

(I spent last weekend in Houston at a major "14 & under" b-ball tourney and that is what I learned)

P. S. Let's get JT hired and we'll be on our way!!!

I don't want the job--Tubbs can have it--I'd only use it as a stepping stone, anyway.

Hoop Fan · Post by **Hoop Fan** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:50 pm

JT, I almost referred to you when Stampede used the initials but didn't think you lurked over here. Glad you do. This board ain't all sunshine anymore.

pony63 · Post by **pony63** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 4:44 pm

Charleston Pony you probably are too young to remember when we had consistent Basketball success. The significant number of banners hanging in moody are from the 50's and 60's when we recruited players from basket ball country in Illinois, Missouri and few from Texas. Times have changed and there are more talented players here now.

I just wanted to point out that we had many years of success when we recruited non Texans who could play basketball. Does that formula still work?

Charleston Pony · Post by **Charleston Pony** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:34 pm

I wish I was too young to remember the Doc Hayes era, but that was when I 1st got interested in SMU bball. I didn't follow them in the Krebs years, but remember very well the Beasley, Holman, Hooser, Begert, et al years of dominating the SWC in the 60's.

We don't need to recruit from "up north" to win, but we do need to compete with the big boys for Texas talent. There is plenty of H.S. talent in Texas to compete at a very high level. Bhop was a good signing and we might have lucked out getting Derrick Roberts before the big boys discovered him.

It would be nice to have a larger budget that would allow us to recruit countrywide...because it won't be easy to convince local kids who have watched SMU during the Dement era that we can win here. Locals also know what a pathetic fan base we have. It's easier to fool someone who might come in for that "once a year" game with Texas Tech in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd.

Bottom line is that it won't be easy for whoever takes this job, but I do believe there is enough talent on this roster that we could be only one key player away from being a post season participant. It's going to be critical to win next year when Castro and Simpson are seniors. I would include Isham, but if Roberts turns out to be a stud, Justin's playing time might be significantly reduced next year. We realy need a strong recruiting class next year and reaching the post season would definitely help.

ClassOf81 · Post by **ClassOf81** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 7:09 pm

To say the least. And reaching the postseason with young (returning) players playing a significant role would help even more.

Coaching search at Houston, too

Coaching search at Houston, too

Hire Nolan??Huh??

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