Hawaii game

[Charleston Pony]

haven't heard why Roberts didn't see any action in 1st half. I assume the knee is still bothering him. Good run to end the 1st half. This is one the Ponies really need to win. These guys have an opportunity to put together a nice little 5 game run, if they can keep enough bodies on the floor. I've never seen a team so hobbled by injuries.

[Charleston Pony]

looking good coming down the stretch. Ponies doing a great job on the boards tonite and sounds like we are being patient and looking for good shots. Hop's 3 puts us up by 10, 59-49.

[Charleston Pony]

good win tonite, but this team has to shoot FTs better or they will not be able to hold onto those 10 pt leads.

[Original Frank]

The truth is, SMU put on a clinic: How to try to blow a ten point lead in the final minute. Start by missing 6 of 10 free throws and follow up with allowing them simple layups over and over agian. This game should have been in the bag with 2:30 left but the Mustangs kept it interesting until the very end. It was excrutiating and brutal to watch the last 1:30. If the lead had only been 5 or 6, Hawaii would have pulled it out.

More truth, this team will not gel until Hop is gone. I bet he has the ball in his hands for 70% of the time SMU has possession. When one guy is toting so much of the load, the rest of the team tends to sit back and watch. Best stretch was midway through the second half when Killen was playing point and Hop was playing the 2. At least Killen mixes it up and, during this stretch, SMU incresed its lead with some great inside passes and layups. Everyone was in the game instead of just watching Hop go 1-on-5.

I still think the best home game of the year was Boise when Hop was in street clothes. Everybaody was in the game and Simp, Castro, DRob, and Pearson all had 12 to 19 points. Tonight, Hop has most of the shots, most of the points, and most everyone else was only slightly in the game.

Offensively, this team is not playing well. Defensively, they look much better than last year.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Nice win tonight, and played pretty good defense. But I have seen Jr. High teams shoot better from the free throw line!!!! ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGG!!!!!!

[youngalumpony]

The team played much better tonight than they did against Boise, MUCH BETTER. It wasn't perfect, but they made big plays at important times, got lucky a few times too, like the Bhop 3 with about 3 min to go, but overall I thought it was one of the more complete games we've played at home all year, certainly one of the top few. Considering the nagging injury situation and no Roberts, great effort and a very nice win against a dangerous Hawaii team.

[youngalumpony]

One more thing: I agree the free throw shooting was very weak, but cmon Frank, that game was never in question in the final minute.

[Hoop Fan]

so we give up layup after layup, but it will all be okay once Hopkins is gone? The guy is by far our most dependable free throw shooter, yet it will all be good when Hopkins is gone?

The Boise game and and the few minutes in the second half that Killen was in shows you we are better off without Hopkins? Try going on the road or playing a good team for an entire game without Hop. He gives you 27 points, but SMU would be better off without him? You said the same thing about Sasser. The exact same thing. Maybe these guys carry the load because no one else can or will for any extended period of time. We did win tonight didn't we? Quit taking out years of frustration on this kid.

[Original Frank]

You are correct, HF. I did say the same thing about Sasser. And Hancock, too. And Sasser (and Hancock) took us ot the same place Hop will take us...nowhere! You make my point. SMU relied on Sasser and Hancock too much exactly as it relies on Hop too much. I submit that a basketball team that has a single dominant player who plays 1-on-5 while the others watch will never lead his team to any place of distinction. Somehow, someway, the team must incorporate more than 1 go-to guy. If you will pay attention, I did not beat on Hop, I simply said the team will be better when he is gone (ie: no more incessant dribbling and 1-on-5 stuff). We need three or four dependable guys, not just Sasser or Hop. It is a losing strategy that has proven itself so at SMU repeatedly over the last 15 years.

And, by the way, one reason no one else can make free throws is because they all think that is Hop's job. It is the players who rely on him too much thus lessening their own roles on the team. They don't have the ball in their hands, they don't take the big shot, they don't expect to play a key role. That is the job for Hop (or Sasser or Hancock). And another dissappointing season slips quietly away. Deja vu!

[Original Frank]

The [deleted] player I referred to above was Damon Hancack (sic).

[Hoop Fan]

I agree that we rely on Hopkins and Sasser too much, but the debate is whose fault is that? I happen to think if you had Sasser and Hopkins at the same time along with some guys who could at least defend and rebound in the post, you'd have something. Pearson is coming on and Roberts has promise, but Isham hasnt held up his end and it puts more pressure on Hopkins. But no one ever recognizes that. And, is it really Hopkins fault that Castro cant make his free throws? Castro doesnt think he needs to because its Hopkins job? I don't get that.

[Stampede]

You are right, Hoop Fan. No player thinks they do not need to make free throws because it "is somebody else's job". Assinine staement. BTW, we shot free throws very well against Boise (and are decent for the year).....and last night it was really only Isham that had the "shorts" on his free throws.

Hop played really well and is really benefitting from Coach Tubbs ... I believe he had one turnover and 27 points. Several assists (one great one which Castro slipped on)

It is all good...SMU wins.

[Stallion]

what in the hell is wrong with relying on your point quard to control the ball? Obviously, I'm in the camp that SMU's problems lie much more in the supporting cast than it does in Hopkins. I've got some information for some of you-not every National Top 100 player makes it to the NBA. Last I checked only about 15 Americans were even picked in the First Round of the NBA Draft last year-and that's including Seniors, Juniors, Sophmores, Freshmen and High School Seniors. Hopkins is contributing a hell of a lot to this program which becomes obvious when he doesn't play. That being said I'm confident that Dez Willingham has the ability to take over at point guard next year and perform at a very high level if Hopkins doesn't return. Willingham's problem will be the lack of a supporting cast. Get the Picture. SMU needs to win some recruiting battles preferably in the Metroplex before this program goes anywhere.

[Stampede]

you are right on this point, Stallion.

The supporting cast is short...even with a full bench of our players when healthy. Save Roberts.... the previous SMU coach did not recruit well the last two (2) years he was here.

Coach Tubbs will win big by recruiting some "big time" talent to SMU and them coaching them to the big dance. Looking forward to next season, it will take Dez, Hop, Rogers, Pearson and a lot of hard off season work by "the Rack" to meld us into contenders.

Until then, let's keep winning this season while getting healthy going into the WAC tourney.