Beat Houston/Game Day

[SoCal_Pony]

very frustrating reading this thread page by page and seeing another game slip away.

I have a new goal for this team. Let's win a C-USA tourney game.

Hoopmanx, if given the opportunity, would this team play in the CBI or CIT tourney?

C'mon this team is not going to any post season Tourny....just the CUSA and won't last long. They aren't set up to last long with the shallow bench in a quick game time setting. Besides I would doubt SMU won't even be a .500 team at the end of the year. How does one get invited with a sub .500 record?
Next year.

Well we do have 2 games with Rice as well as a rematch with Tulane, so I wouldn't rule out a .500+ season.

Here is a list of some of the teams that played in the CIT last year:

Bowling Green 16–15
CS Bakersfield 16–14
Drake 17–15
LA-Lafy 16–15
McNeese St 17–15
North Dakota 17–14
Oakland 17–15
Rice 17–15
Toledo 18–16
Utah St 17–15

Also Evansville is 32-31 their past 2 seasons yet they have played in the CBI tourney both years.

and DFfH, Hoopmanx said $$$ can determine who hosts these games, so if invited, I wouldn't rule out home games at Moody. Just don't know what the interest level of LB would be to play in these low-tier tourneys.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

and DFfH, Hoopmanx said $$$ can determine who hosts these games, so if invited, I wouldn't rule out home games at Moody. Just don't know what the interest level of LB would be to play in these low-tier tourneys.

I guarantee we can come up with the $$$ like last time, but Moody will be in the mode of destruction already.

[NastyStang]

and DFfH, Hoopmanx said $$$ can determine who hosts these games, so if invited, I wouldn't rule out home games at Moody. Just don't know what the interest level of LB would be to play in these low-tier tourneys.

I guarantee we can come up with the $$$ like last time, but Moody will be in the mode of destruction already.

Our last game against UTEP is already scheduled in the Garland Events Center. There won't be any tourney games in Moody.

[ponyscott]

Next year.....

[hoopmanx]

houston had a ton of depth - check their box score. lots of points off the bench. we had almost none.

I really like Ryan but both he and Cunningham will get lots of pressure for minutes next year. Ryan is not going to be a point - and he is not enough of a pure shooter at the 2 to rack up minutes there.

I can see Cunningham going to the 4 - i don't see him at center next year - and he may be coming off the bench also.

i think Jones and Russell are a lock for starters but that is probably it. Totally different team next year. the next 3-4 guys on the roster will get meaningful minutes, as opposed to right now when we have a 2 guard on one leg and another one with not enough defense, and a center that plays a bit lost at the moment. That is a shallow bench and the reason for our constant running out of gas. i dont think nick or Ryan came out for a combined 4 minutes in an overtime game. that causes bad decisions, late help on defense (thus the 65%+ shooting percentage for Houston) and no legs for shooting.

all that changes with a bench.

Agreed about a bench. Personally, I think LB could steal more minutes now, but he's not playing for this year, and quite frankly, he has to cut a bunch of guys. He's just gonna run who he knows is staying, into the ground now.

As for Manuel, he's been really good this year. I've heard rumors he'll run some SF next year. After spending a year at PG, w/all those responsibilities, moving off the ball, should be an easy transition. He should benefit greatly from tighter handle, decision-making etc. Meanwhile, all he does is slash and attack.

Anyway, my point is that kids like Crandall Head/Ben Moore/Sterling Brown even Keith Frazier, should that happen, aren't better or more complete players than Manuel right now. Head has to prove something in college, he sucked at Illinois. Great athlete, but Manuel is coming off an 12, 4 & 3 type of year

[PonySnob]

Agreed about a bench. Personally, I think LB could steal more minutes now, but he's not playing for this year, and quite frankly, he has to cut a bunch of guys. He's just gonna run who he knows is staying, into the ground now.

As for Manuel, he's been really good this year. I've heard rumors he'll run some SF next year. After spending a year at PG, w/all those responsibilities, moving off the ball, should be an easy transition. He should benefit greatly from tighter handle, decision-making etc. Meanwhile, all he does is slash and attack.

Anyway, my point is that kids like Crandall Head/Ben Moore/Sterling Brown even Keith Frazier, should that happen, aren't better or more complete players than Manuel right now. Head has to prove something in college, he sucked at Illinois. Great athlete, but Manuel is coming off an 12, 4 & 3 type of year

Regardless of who is starting, it will be good for there to be competition at most positions for playing time - should help keep guys focused on "doing the right things" as long as they don't feel like one mistake is going to send them to the bench like during the Doh era.

[EP Pony Fan]

Bad passes happen when you have no PG on the roster.

next year:
PG: Moore/Head
SG: Manuel/Russell/Bernardi/Brown
SF:Jones/Ofoegu
PF:Kennedy/Williams/Moreira/Moore
C: Cunningham/Dickerson/Blaise

I realize some won't be around, but just a reminder

Aren't Head and Ofuegbu 2-guards?