SMU-Tulane

[Charleston Pony]

No excuse for the lack of perimeter D. Lack of effort

I do think SMU's future teams will be expected to play intense defense for 40 minutes...or mor if games go to OT, but it's unrealistic to expect that from guys playing more than 30 minutes. If you've ever played for a defensive minded coach, you would know that it wears you out and takes awayu from the offensive end.

I think to play LB's brand of hoops, we are going to need to be 10 deep and it looks like we will be next year.

These guys play great D in spurts, but it's the same story every game...the D fades as the legs fade and it impact s us on the offensive side of the ball as well.

I look at this team and wonder how many guys will start next year...but think we are going to have a heck of a bench.

[Charleston Pony]

I like the fact that we had all 5 starters in double figures; these guys share the ball well and we shot well and rebounded well today. Just didn't have the defensive intensity to keep up with Tulane and once they started hitting those treys, it was all over. All of out careless turnovers didn't help, either (we really miss having a true PG).

I watched Ed Conroy's Citadel teams and have always been impressed with their spacing and ball movement on offense. They make you work hard defensively and we just don't have the depth to stay with them on their home court where they are more comfortable

[PonyFan]

depth is not our main problem. Its that our starters are soft mentally and physically. depth is the secondary problem by far.

I couldn't disagree more. Russell, Jones, Manuel, Cunningham and sometimes Williams have been worked to death this year. They're far from perfect, but calling them "soft" seems unjust to me.

Golf is on.. Much better. See ya

That's just sad. Your team is on, you watch.

No excuse for the lack of perimeter D. Lack of effort

Or maybe just lack of legs because of the minutes these guys have logged. I hope it's the latter.

[WildBillPony]

so bad and ugly. can't blame everything on depth.

People won't say it, but Brown has been out coached a ton this year

Wow...you really just say that? Really? That's just dumb. Period.

[GiddyUp]

so bad and ugly. can't blame everything on depth.

People won't say it, but Brown has been out coached a ton this year

Wow...you really just say that? Really? That's just dumb. Period.

I don't think that is far fetched, he has been away from the college game forever. Doesn't know the Zone defense or how to play against a Zone defense as he said today...

I sure wish we had someone who could shoot at all, a 3 point master like Woods or someone. This is so painful to watch lately. Will any of these guys next year be able to hit a jumper consistently Hoopmanx?

[ALEX LIFESON]

We shouldn't have been tired today, we haven't played for a week, and 19 and 20 year olds shouldn't ever get tired. lol

[RGV Pony]

We shouldn't have been tired today, we haven't played for a week, and 19 and 20 year olds shouldn't ever get tired. lol

Exactly what Rhonda said after the women had a sluggish start Marshall after the overtime adventure in the previous game.

[Junior]

Good to see our bench again put up a whopping 4 points. Are any of then even on the squad next year? They are all generally awful.

[PonySnob]

Good to see our bench again put up a whopping 4 points. Are any of then even on the squad next year? They are all generally awful.

At least 3 of them won't be..........

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

so bad and ugly. can't blame everything on depth.

People won't say it, but Brown has been out coached a ton this year

Wow...you really just say that? Really? That's just dumb. Period.

Saying he's been outcoached a ton may be a little bit of an exaggeration, but we also havent seen too many examples of the brilliant X and O work that some expected from LB. The end of regulation against Houston is really the only moment I can think of when he sent the team back on the court with a play drawn up in the huddle, and it actually worked. Even the Houston game though, might be used as an example of LB being outcoached, as Houston's halftime adjustments wiped out an 18 point lead in relatively short order, and SMU did very little to respond.

Brown has the team playing at a much more exciting pace, and he runs a very efficient and well organized practice, when compared to his predecessor, and the team plays very tight agressive man-to-man defense, until their legs get tired, but this team has also had a fairly ridiculous number of mental lapses at crunch time. Its been an improvement over what we used to see, but I couldnt call it genius, and the final season record wont be much different than last years.

All of that being said, I am still a fan of Larry Brown, I just dont think he has been above criticism or realistic observations.

[mrydel]

For those that get to see some of the practices, how much time is being spent on the transfers? Is Brown spending time with them that could be spent with the current players thus not giving enough attention and time to the current team?

I would not be against this since next year and forward has been the target all along, but I do wonder if perhaps some of the mental lapses may be due to not enough time with the ones that are on the floor at game time.

Just curious.

[birddogger]

Some observations from Saturday's game:

1. We lack depth.
2. We played a very aggressive man defense that requires depth.
3. We were beaten because we didn't have outside shooters. I can only recall one 3-pointer, although there may have been another one or two. On the other hand, Tulane did a very good job of working for the open 3 and they made 'em.
4. LB is coaching, but something's not getting through. He speaks directly to his players, so I'm not sure why there isn't better execution. The inbounds passing snafus are simply unforgiveable.
5. Offensively, we only have a couple of players who attack.
6. Some of our starters will be excellent back-ups next year--lots to look forward to.
7. I may ban myself permanently from attending SMU-Tulane events in NOLA. Neither went particularly well this year.

[RGV Pony]

#4 drives me nuts. From the end of Tulsa and Wyoming I just don't get it

[hoopmanx]

Saying he's been outcoached a ton may be a little bit of an exaggeration, but we also havent seen too many examples of the brilliant X and O work that some expected from LB. The end of regulation against Houston is really the only moment I can think of when he sent the team back on the court with a play drawn up in the huddle, and it actually worked. Even the Houston game though, might be used as an example of LB being outcoached, as Houston's halftime adjustments wiped out an 18 point lead in relatively short order, and SMU did very little to respond.

Brown has the team playing at a much more exciting pace, and he runs a very efficient and well organized practice, when compared to his predecessor, and the team plays very tight agressive man-to-man defense, until their legs get tired, but this team has also had a fairly ridiculous number of mental lapses at crunch time. Its been an improvement over what we used to see, but I couldnt call it genius, and the final season record wont be much different than last years.

All of that being said, I am still a fan of Larry Brown, I just dont think he has been above criticism or realistic observations.

This is a better synopsis than my one-liner. The reality is that we all see a better future, but the guy isn't batting 1000 off the court or on. I'm not discouraged, but I'm certainly someone who knows ball and watches the games, so I don't have to defer to LBs rep. The end of the Tulsa game may haunt me till next season. Furthermore, considering the staff & salary, we aren't scorching the recruiting trail either, just doing well. Frazier would help in that regard, at least in terms of class ranking, but I'll never be convinced he's a good fit. Of course, I thought that about Crandall Head & Josiah too

[lwjr]

hoopmanx
having read many of your post i have no doubt when it comes to the world of college hoops, when it comes HS recruiting and the college game itself you know what you are talking about. I can't comment on coaching, don't know the ins an outs of it that is why I respect and defer to your opinion.
As far as recruiting, I think we are light years ahead, or it appears that way, of where we have been in many many years. All I have read about for many years was how SMU continued to shoot themselves in the foot when it came to building recruiting inroads to the Dallas HS and AAU, club or whatever the correct term maybe, coaches and players. Larry Brown has a recognizable name to most of these kids but as a coach on the NBA level. SMU basketball like football is so irrelevant, who would wants to play here to begin with? Here comes LB and his highly regard assistant coaches, all of sudden we seem to be in the mix for players that we would not have been in the past. I think even with this coaching staff in place it is going to take time to build up the SMU brand. But I do think with Larry Brown and his staff, they can and will do it, to what level who knows since our "new conference" seems to be struggling a little (sarcasm).
I don't have SMU blinders on, I am not drinking the Kool Aid, you can read some of my post about our football head coach to prove that point.
I am told LB is being paid a very nice salary. I am willing to give him a couple of years to get his college coaching game back and recruiting as well. I will say it seems it is not from lack of trying. I will continue to look forward to reading your post and the insight you bring to them.