WAC next season

[Hoop Fan]

Based on returning starters and talent, who are the favorites in the WAC next hoops season? Its been a long summer and I cant recall what Utep lost besides their coach. Nevada lost Snyder. What about Rice? Seems to me SMU should have a good chance to surprise people with 4 starters back and a new coach. I'd guess SMU will be picked around 5th by the media and coaches going in. I like our chances to do better than expected.

[abezontar]

Didn't Neveda lose their coach too?

[Charleston Pony]

The WAC should be a heck of a bball conference next year, with the kind of balance that makes predicting the champion a real crapshoot. I don't think we'll see anyone strong enough to make the kind of run Nevada did last year and I expect SMU to be rated somewhere in the middle of the pack...but I think the returning group is athletic enough that they are going to give our WAC opponents fits. I expect to see a more agressive defensive team this year, which should keep us in most games. One goal of this year's team should be to go unbeaten at Moody. That would make for a great season.

Forgot to respond...yes, Stanford hired Nevada's coach, Trent Johnson, a former assistant on Mike Montgomery's staff, so Nevada has some holes to fill, but I still expect them to be one of the better teams in the WAC.

[OldPony]

We better challenge next year or it will be a long time. If not next year, Tubbs needs a miracle recruit or 2.

[SoCal_Pony]

OP, I couldn’t agree more. Between Castro, Simpson, Isham and BHop, there is a ton of playing experience on this team that will not be easily replaced.

If that gets us no more than a 5th place prediction going in, it is a stinging indictment of the lack of real talent on this team and further proof that our model is an abject failure.

3 years of developing our big men for what? So in their senior year we can be selected in the middle of the pack? That should be unacceptable to all of us.

Personally I think they will do much better.

[Pony_Fan]

I guess it will obviously depend on how Nevada and UTEP can bounce back. I wouldn't be surprised to be in 4th or 5th realistically. Lots of the teams in 3-7 will be evenly matched. Castro/Simp need to show us more than they did this year...good games here and there but nothing special. Maybe tougher defense and mentality will pick up some more victories which were lost last year. SMU was soft and didn't close people out. There were many games where they flat out quit. I certainly hope that stuff doesnt happen again this year but it looked better at the end of the season when Mikey was gone. 5-13 is inexcusable.

As you guys have said, the problem is this is the best it's going to be for a long while.

Boise State have returning starters?

[Hoop Fan]

While I agree that we need to take advantage of alot of experience next year, I dont necessarily see doomsday after that. In fact, how can our post defense get any softer than it has been the past few years? Big Ike has a year of junior college and good leaping ability. I think Rack might have finally improved quite a bit this summer based on what he showed in the Global Games. Castro and Simp are nice players, but havent done anything to suggest irreplacable. Derrick Roberts could easily become the most exciting player SMU has seen since Kato Armstrong. I like Devon Pearsons game alot and BHop will still be here in 2006.

2005-06 lineup could be BHop Sr, Roberts So., Pearson Jr., Ike, Jr. and Rack Sr.

Tubbs might just get a good recruit or two in the meantime too. It wont take a miracle either.

[EastStang]

I agree on the lack of closer instinct. We consistently let teams back into games or quit when we fell behind. I saw the Navy game, a team we wiped the floor with early and then went show time and let them close the gap, and then got busy again. It was embarrassing. We should do much better on this.

[Charleston Pony]

I agree the cupboard won't be bare after this year, but this senior class won't be easily replaced.

I said earlier I suspected SMU would be picked in the middle of the pack because we have pretty much the same team back that hasn't fared well in the WAC the past couple of years...so why suddenly expect them to win? Meanwhile, our competition continues to bring in whole new teams (recruited from the JUCO ranks).

I do think coach Tubbs will get this group to realize their potential. I'm just not sure what that is going to be relative to our competition.

[SoCal_Pony]

Hoop Fan,

The Rack is our own Poster Boy as to why our current model stinks.

Burn two years on ‘development’ and hope and pray there is some contribution in the end. He only averaged 2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last season.

I agree with your assessment of Castro and Simpson, but each averages some 30+ minutes per game.

Answer me this on your proposed ‘05 roster. Assume the Rack doesn’t develop and Ike gets into foul trouble, or worse, sprains a knee and is out a few weeks……...then what??

Will we have to rely on a Tubbs freshmen or will we change policy and bring in another much needed JC big body?

Something to consider....I’m off to the beach.

[Hoop Fan]

So Cal,

Dont get me wrong, Rack is no sure thing. But dont write off Chris Reay yet, especially as a backup rebounder and defender. The dude is big and strong and will be a junior by then. Also, how can we dismiss the incoming freshman Ritter before he even gets here? Seems to me its too early to declare this year a last chance. In fact, theres a fair chance the year after next will actually be a better team. I say that mainly because of Roberts and my belief that Tubbs will get some guys ready to contribute early in the Fall signing period.

[DallasDiehard]

While I agree that we need to take advantage of alot of experience next year, I dont necessarily see doomsday after that. In fact, how can our post defense get any softer than it has been the past few years? Big Ike has a year of junior college and good leaping ability. I think Rack might have finally improved quite a bit this summer based on what he showed in the Global Games. Castro and Simp are nice players, but havent done anything to suggest irreplacable. Derrick Roberts could easily become the most exciting player SMU has seen since Kato Armstrong. I like Devon Pearsons game alot and BHop will still be here in 2006.

2005-06 lineup could be BHop Sr, Roberts So., Pearson Jr., Ike, Jr. and Rack Sr.

Tubbs might just get a good recruit or two in the meantime too. It wont take a miracle either.

Word from the court says that Big Ike is a pretty polished player for a newcomer, and STRONG. Also, Rack is up to 255 (what was he last year, 230?). And I agree that Pearson came on strong last year.
Might be getting ahead of ourselves to call Roberts the most exciting recruit since Kato. There was more than a little hype when Sasser arrived, too. Based on the CocaCola games, he looks like a cross between Sasser and Isham: thin, athletic, can handle the ball and get to the hole, but needs a better outside shot. Then again, he might defend better than either one.

[ponyboy]

Perhaps most importantly, Roberts won't be given free reign and asked to carry the team all by himself a la Sasser, Hancock, and Hopkins. Jimmy's gonna bring a more team oriented concept, one in which IMHO a player like Roberts will flourish.

[Hoop Fan]

DD, youre right its probably premature to annoint Roberts to Kato status. Still, I cant think of a more dynamic looking freshman in a long time. By dynamic I am thinking of a guy who can take it the basket and dunk on people, but also pull up for a mid range jump shot and create opportunities on defense as well. BHop would have been if not for the injury he suffered in the state championship game. He hasnt been the same guy since, still a great player, but not the same. Sasser was a different kind of a player to me, more herky jerky and I dont mean this in a bad way at all more of a garbage guy. Willie Davis was pretty dynamic as a freshman before some knee problems. He was a warrior for us, but his jumper was always a liability. Looks to me like Roberts has a much better potential jump shot than our slashers/high risers have in the recent past.

[LA_Mustang]

HF, I agree. Roberts is the most polished of our recent 2 guard recruits. The fact that he averaged 30pts/game last year in a 5A Houston district says a lot. I really feel that Hop's game will compliment Roberts and I anticipate that Tubbs will structure our offense and defense to these guys strengths.

BTW, I am hopeful that Ike can bring a low post presence to floor. That could make a world of difference.