Kate H. On Loss

[PonyKai]

I know it's kind of stating the obvious, but there's very little to feel good or like about this last game and this write-up. Doherty's not stupid, and I'm sure he recognizes the same thing.

Matt Doherty blasts 'soft' Mustangs after TCU crushes SMU, 84-64

By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

FORT WORTH – TCU forward Amric Fields emphatically dunked Tuesday night, the conclusion to one of many fast breaks for the Horned Frogs against overmatched SMU. The freshman hung on the rim too long for the officials' liking and was whistled for a technical.

Maybe he was being a bit showy – but, hey, the dunk did put the Frogs up 20 with 7:35 still to play in the first half. And TCU backed up his exuberance from start to finish at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum with an 84-64 whupping of its area rival.

TCU's win was so decisive that fifth-year Mustangs coach Matt Doherty didn't hesitate to rip his team afterward.

"I don't want to sugarcoat it anymore; we're a soft team," said Doherty, who had put on an encouraging face after SMU's season-opening loss Friday to Arkansas-Little Rock. "Our guys were afraid. I recruited them, and I've got to make them tougher."

SMU fell to 0-2 as the Frogs (2-0) beat the Mustangs for the third straight season, the streak coinciding with TCU coach Jim Christian's tenure. It was TCU's largest margin of victory against SMU since 1997.

While TCU has an influx of new players (junior college transfer Sammy Yeager, 17 points) and key returning players in Ronnie Moss (16 points) and Garlon Green (17), SMU is essentially playing with the same roster from last season, minus two of its top three scorers.

Freshman Jeremiah Samarrippas and transfer Collin Mangrum are contributing, but three newcomers Doherty expected to play immediately have yet to be ruled eligible by the NCAA.

The Mustangs couldn't match TCU's aggressive, athletic play Tuesday. Forward Papa Dia got into early foul trouble as the Frogs built a 49-35 halftime lead.

The Mustangs will focus now on pointed film sessions and building toughness, though Doherty wonders if it was possible to change what's in players' hearts.

"How much can you improve toughness?" Doherty said. "We'll figure out a way. We were outclassed tonight."


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... e6e16.html

[buckwheat]

Just opened up the paper and read this great news. SMU gets rolled by 20 then Doherty calls them out for being soft and afraid. Would think he would keep things internal and keep encouraging from within but no, he decides to rip them to the masses and say they are soft. Even though the team doesnt have alot of talent I feel bad for them having to play for this guy.
The only reason Doherty isnt gone already I have to believe is due to the athletic department finances.
0-2 now with losses to Ark lIttle rock and TCU...Nice work Doherty and Orsini, how much more of this are we going to take? The fans have already made their voice clear by the attendance, we wont continue support this program.

[PonyKai]

Nice little tidbit that we're 0-3 against TCU since their coaching change.

[Bergermeister]

Doherty's not stupid, and I'm sure he recognizes the same thing.

"I don't want to sugarcoat it anymore; we're a soft team," said Doherty. "Our guys were afraid. I recruited them, and I've got to make them tougher."

SMU fell to 0-2 as the Frogs (2-0) beat the Mustangs for the third straight season.

"How much can you improve toughness?" Doherty said.

Four basketball seasons under Doherty. Four off-seasons under Doherty. Four recruiting seasons under Doherty. Are we better? The excuses are tiresome. We're getting worse and worse. Obviously, (and unfortunately) we made the wrong hire. Pull th' plug.

[RGV Pony]

seriously how many times have we heard this tired refrain from Doherty? At least once a season he calls out his...repeat HIS...players, as in those he recruited, those he hand-picked and chose to bring in.

Time for someone to stroll Doh in front of the mirror, point, and say...there's your guy..

[EastStang]

I watched part of the game last night. First, we had lots of open looks and some good passing, but couldn't hit the shot when open-that's the good news. Anything under 45% from outside on clean looks is unacceptable for a Division 1 team. Free throws- guards should shoot free throws at 75%, minimum. Not sure what the percentages were, but we were missing them when I watched. Attendance. I hope the Frogs didn't have the BE reps at the game. CrossTown Rival and empty arena. They won't get an all sports invite with that kind of hoops support. Defense, there is no excuse for the uncontested shots that TCU had from the perimeter. Either our guards don't know how to switch on picks or they don't know how to fight through a pick, but clearly that was a softness issue. Again, every Division 1 guard should know how to fight through a pick and should know how to handle a simple switch, its taught from kids level to AAU. So, my view is that this is going to be a long season for this team unless the overseas guys get cleared and then there will be time needed to get them into game readiness and assimilated. I suspect Moody will be a tomb this year for men's hoops.

[PoconoPony]

Just opened up the paper and read this great news. SMU gets rolled by 20 then Doherty calls them out for being soft and afraid. Would think he would keep things internal and keep encouraging from within but no, he decides to rip them to the masses and say they are soft. Even though the team doesnt have alot of talent I feel bad for them having to play for this guy.
The only reason Doherty isnt gone already I have to believe is due to the athletic department finances.
0-2 now with losses to Ark lIttle rock and TCU...Nice work Doherty and Orsini, how much more of this are we going to take? The fans have already made their voice clear by the attendance, we wont continue support this program.

The whole issue with Doh, in my opinion, is that he does not have the personality and personal skills to coach. He simply does not know how to teach, coach up, exhibit leadership, gain, respect....etc. His temper gets the best of him, his kids play in fear of being pulled, he is critical when he should be constructive, he blames the kids for his coaching failings.....etc. He does know basketball; however, does not have the demeanor and personal skills to coach and now disasterously starts the season by ripping the kids in public instead of keeping it within the team. He knew the team was soft based on the performance of the same soft players from last year. What did he doe about it? Apparently, nothing was done. This is his coaching failure. Not to beat a dead horse, but these are the same issues that have followed his whole career as exemplified at North Carolina. Yes, he is short of talent which is his responsibility. In addition, if he does not get the NCAA clearance for his 3 2010 recruits and they end up being red shirts for the year, the scholarship cycle will be totally out of whack again with 10 ships wrapped up in 2 classes ( 2 current ineligible transfers who were sitting on other team's benches, 3 kids in 2010 and 5 ships in 2011) and the excuses will start again when half of each class fails to pan out and he is greatly limited in recruiting for the out of cycle 2 years. Not a great picture.

[buckwheat]

[quote="PoconoPony"][quote="buckwheat"]Just opened up the paper and read this great news. SMU gets rolled by 20 then Doherty calls them out for being soft and afraid. Would think he would keep things internal and keep encouraging from within but no, he decides to rip them to the masses and say they are soft. Even though the team doesnt have alot of talent I feel bad for them having to play for this guy.
The only reason Doherty isnt gone already I have to believe is due to the athletic department finances.
0-2 now with losses to Ark lIttle rock and TCU...Nice work Doherty and Orsini, how much more of this are we going to take? The fans have already made their voice clear by the attendance, we wont continue support this program.[/quote]

The whole issue with Doh, in my opinion, is that he does not have the personality and personal skills to coach. He simply does not know how to teach, coach up, exhibit leadership, gain, respect....etc. His temper gets the best of him, his kids play in fear of being pulled, he is critical when he should be constructive, he blames the kids for his coaching failings.....etc. He does know basketball; however, does not have the demeanor and personal skills to coach an starts the season by ripping the kids in public instead of within the team. Not to beat a dead horse, but these are the same issues that have followed his whole career as exemplified at North Carolina. Yes, he is short of talent which is his responsibility.[/quote]

Well said..and there lies the enigma that is Doherty. Since the first day he was on campus he has been great with "shaking hands and kissing babies". When in a social setting he shines, is engaging and finds some common ground to share. It comes down to his coaching ability, recruiting and temper which seems to get the best of him time and time again...see UAB game last year. His non-basketball personal skills are superb, basketball coaching however is not.
I firmly believe Orsini (even though good friends) has known Doherty should have been gone long ago but from a financial basis there is nothing he can do. Its sad, the University, students, alumni, supporters, fans deserve much better.

[PonySnob]

Nice little tidbit that we're 0-3 against TCU since their coaching change.

And we're 0-3 against them in football since our coaching change.............

[Real Talk]

If you cant win in North Carolina, no reason to think he could win here. Its not his fault...he's the same person he was when he interviewed. Whoever made the decision to force Tubbs out and sell the farm to bring him in is to blame.

SMU (central dallas) in general is too enamored with hype, connections, and perceived prestige. You got exactly what you wanted...now live with it.

[friarwolf]

Great........toughness drills. Roll the ball out and make the kids play one on nine with no holds barred.....Bring the trashcans out and run them till they puke and then run them some more. Nice......He has such a way with the kids................

[ponydawg]

Nice little tidbit that we're 0-3 against TCU since their coaching change.

And we're 0-3 against them in football since our coaching change.............

that seems like a fair comparison.....oh wait, except that their Football team has been ranked in the top 10 since then and their B-ball program has been in the dumps......other than that, very fair comparison.

[CalallenStang]

I recruited them, and I've got to make them tougher."

He couldn't figure this out before last night? No wonder we look like a high school team...Doh didn't realize that you had to make them tougher to play college ball!

[Stallion]

point of clarification:this is Doherty's 5th year not 4th. He is asking us to wait until 6th year for freshman, 7th year for them to mature and 8th year for them to compete-at least

[moodymadmen]

Doh just isn't a leader. He pulled this garbage last year and now he is doing the same don't blame me, blame these soft kids routine again. After the second game of the season mind you!!!!! Far too early to use that bullet and just another demonstration that he isn't a good coach, good leader, or good recruiter. Hey coach, if you want tougher kids, go get them...you've had 5 years for goodness sake! The same tired routine from the same bad coach. Hopefully the same thing will happen that did an UNC...he will be fired and then a real coach and leader can come in and mold these kids and incoming talent and accomplish something other then 5 sub-.500 seasons in a row. There is nowhere to go but up from the current disgrace of a program..