SMU vs Rice in CUSA Tourney

by **MustangIcon** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:47 pm

I think this was a game that SMU should have won. I am upset that we didn't. However, I think that some people are making this loss out to be greater than it is.

It is VERY tough to sweep a conference foe 3 games to 0 in a season, unless you are an elite team. I think SMU has put together a nice season after a very rocky start but would never confuse the team with elite.

I am just as happy with every win that we have had in the CIT as I would have been with a CUSA win against Rice.

by **Mustangsabu** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:09 pm

I think that is right. The teams we have played in the CIT are of CUSA quality. Indeed I think UNI might have beaten Rice (or maybe it was Jax or Oral) and, especially when viewed with the four narrow losses we had, SMU could have been looking at a really great season.

That said, I am not claiming that this is an elite team either, just the best I've seen at SMU in a long time.

by **SMU Spartan** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:56 pm

As someone who was there, we should not have lost that game.

by **mustangxc** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:59 pm

No question we should have won that game, but that game alone would not have made our season and I don't think it broke our season either.

by **Junior** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:17 pm

Why are we talking about this game?

by **Mustangsabu** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:19 pm

SMU Spartan wrote:As someone who was there, we should not have lost that game.

Glad I wasn't the only one!

by **2ndandlong** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:37 pm

Junior wrote:Why are we talking about this game?

to invite haters to continue to bash the program

by **papawasamustang** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:39 pm

Rice is not that far away from joining the middle of the pack or better in CUSA. Braun is building a solid program. Their top 2 players were just Soph's this season. Kazemi outplayed Dia in the tourney. Its also extremely difficult to beat a team 3 times in a season.

Bottom line is I'm having a great time watching the kids continue to play out the season. Nothing but positives about playing in the post season.

by **2ndandlong** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:28 pm

papawasamustang wrote: Kazemi outplayed Dia in the tourney.

While I don't disagree with your statement, having later learned that Dia had been sitting out practice prior to the CUSA tournament because of his back, it really comes as no surprise that he got outplayed.

I really am sick of hearing how this was Doh's fault for the loss (not on this thread), but his best player was unable to practice (can't believe I'm in here talkin' 'bout practice), and some of those who hate on Doh forgive other coaches for losses without their best player.

by **Junior** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:30 pm

2ndandlong wrote:
Junior wrote:Why are we talking about this game?

to invite haters to continue to bash the program

gotcha. why focus on what's currently going on in the program, such as the game friday, when we can focus on games several weeks ago.

i also feel we got screwed by Penn State in the rankings in 1982.

by **Hoop Fan** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:31 pm

Papa, you watched him at Collin County, what is your evaluation of Losh? I would say disappointing as would most people I think. We've already gone from hearing about the Fab 5 to hearing about the Fantastic 4 now. Losh is bordering on being out of the mix completely. He lacks confidence as a 21 year old and Doh doesn't trust him even though he built him up as a semi savior when he got cleared in January. One thing I wanted to see in this CIT was more Losh, but i dont think he got off the bench in the second half last night. He only has one year left. JFrog has been an offsetting surprise to the upside, but it drives me crazy the way Doh starts the defense for offense substitutions with him with 10 minutes left in the game breaking any rythm.

by **Prairiepony** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:55 am

Not that it matters, but:
1. ORU played Rice on December 23 and won 80-78, and
2. Santa Clara played Rice at Santa Clara and won 66-65.
We can do this.

by **ponyscott** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:36 am

Hoop Fan wrote:Papa, you watched him at Collin County, what is your evaluation of Losh? I would say disappointing as would most people I think. We've already gone from hearing about the Fab 5 to hearing about the Fantastic 4 now. Losh is bordering on being out of the mix completely. He lacks confidence as a 21 year old and Doh doesn't trust him even though he built him up as a semi savior when he got cleared in January. One thing I wanted to see in this CIT was more Losh, but i dont think he got off the bench in the second half last night. He only has one year left. JFrog has been an offsetting surprise to the upside, but it drives me crazy the way Doh starts the defense for offense substitutions with him with 10 minutes left in the game breaking any rythm.

I saw him at CCCC twice and he was very good and much more confident. He is 23 BTW not 21 and he will get better, but just not this year. He didn't practice with the team until mid January so am sure he doesn't exactly know what his role is. He did hit a 24 footer the other night, AFTER the defense just completely ignored him. He can play PG but is a good SG that will either thrive next year or will be lost at the end of the bench. He will be playing with these guys for the next 6 months so he will have to figure out his role and gain confidence. He can do special things but just hasn't shown it.
On another note even though we have sparse crowds, Losh never played in front of any size crowds at CCCC and if you watched his clips from Europe there weren't any crowds at those games either...he may be a little shy in front of the 900 we bring...IMHO.

by **papawasamustang** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:01 am

Hoop Fan wrote:Papa, you watched him at Collin County, what is your evaluation of Losh? I would say disappointing as would most people I think. We've already gone from hearing about the Fab 5 to hearing about the Fantastic 4 now. Losh is bordering on being out of the mix completely. He lacks confidence as a 21 year old and Doh doesn't trust him even though he built him up as a semi savior when he got cleared in January. One thing I wanted to see in this CIT was more Losh, but i dont think he got off the bench in the second half last night. He only has one year left. JFrog has been an offsetting surprise to the upside, but it drives me crazy the way Doh starts the defense for offense substitutions with him with 10 minutes left in the game breaking any rythm.

I went through something very similar to what Pats had to do this season & its a very difficult transition mentally. I don't think we even got a sniff of his talent this season. I expect him to contribute next season similar to what we saw from Mangrum this season.

by **hoopmanx** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:24 am

If u ask those close, first thing they do is talk about the ncaa completely screwing him, how it messed w him, and he just doesnt know his role. Hell be fine when he actually feels part of the team