Official SMU/UTEP Thread

[ALEX LIFESON]

Just another nail in the coffin.

[Hoop Fan]

Hmanx, can Blaise defend the post? Starting to think Blaise might be a make or break recruit for us.

[JasonB]

Travis the Troll Said on Spin Manx thread at 11:45 a.m. today

Keys to win

1. 12 or less turnovers - Didn't accomplish this
2. Shoot 48% from the field - Didn't accomplish this .467
3. Get to the line 15-22 times and make 80% - Didn't accomplish this. 16-26 .615
4. Rob N gets between 15-22 shots - Didn't accomplish this: 3-9 from the field
5. Win the battle on the boards: Didn't accomplish this.

If we just accomplished 1 out of these five things, we win. Glaring Stat - got to the line 26 times and converted just 16. BALL GAME! Don't tell me about last second shots, young athletic players, slashers, etc. The game is simple - get to the line ( LA. Tech 22-29) and convert. Our leading scorer is J-FROG who shoot a decent percentage.

Just to nitpick a little bit, at the end of regulation we had number 2 covered.

young teams blow close games at the end.

[GiddyUp]

Can't win if Rob doesn't show up. Leslee can't be our primary big on the blocks. He's going to be good, but he can't guard their biggest player always

Rob is becoming a ghost this year. Should be 15 pts every single game.

[hoopmanx]

Hmanx, can Blaise defend the post? Starting to think Blaise might be a make or break recruit for us.

He's really long, alters shots, but wouldn't call him a position defender in the post. Truth be told, I'm not sure he's an impact guy right away.

[hoopmanx]

Can't win if Rob doesn't show up. Leslee can't be our primary big on the blocks. He's going to be good, but he can't guard their biggest player always

Rob is becoming a ghost this year. Should be 15 pts every single game.

He's just one dimensional and not diverse enough to be a go to guy. Really good player for us, but he'll end up being statistically better than he is good.

[Mitch McConnell]

RN's season is becoming the big fizzle. Teams know he's our lone legit scorer and no one else is quality second scorer. So double team him and say I dare ya to the rest. No one has stepped up. Too inconsistent.

Losh PT has to end NOW!

[hoopmanx]

Losh PT has to end NOW!

It did, he had like 4 minutes. Manuel was good, as was Frog & Jalen. Smith & Cunningham showed life too. a lot of kids played pretty well, just no win

[LHS81]

I agree. Make the FT's and this game is a win. I also agree with Mitch. I've seen this replay over and over for the past 5-6 years, that I've become numb from the results.

[RGV Pony]

. I've seen this replay over and over for the past 5-6 years, that I've become numb from the results.

That's it. The sour milk isn't going to sweeten up.

[mr. pony]

damn, should be 3-0 but instead we are 1-2.

We lost to Rice by 16. They didn't show up that night.

could just as easily be 0-3.

[Charleston Pony]

I was actually encouraged by what I saw last night. The guys played with energy after the Rice debacle and although Rob got in early foul trouble and UTEP did a pretty good job denying him good looks, a lot of guys stepped up and we spread the scoring around last night. Gives me hope as the season wears on. This looks like a .500 team at best in CUSA. Just hope we keep improving and come on strong at tourney time.

One of these nights, the team is going to get hot and make a high percentage of those treys. We had a lot of good looks; just not a lot of confident shooters. They miss one and then turn down a couple of good looks before attempting another shot. Of course, part of that might be fear that coach is going to pull them for missing 2 consecutive shots.

[sowhat]

Yes, Charleston, too many guys on this team play as if they are afraid to make a mistake.

[smubrooks]

Yes, Charleston, too many guys on this team play as if they are afraid to make a mistake.

They play that way b/c Doh will get all over their [deleted] if they do make a mistake. A better coach would harness what talent we have and get them playing at a higher level!

Fire Doh, drop the Princeton offense and we will see a dramatic improvement!

[Mitch McConnell]

I was actually encouraged by what I saw last night. The guys played with energy after the Rice debacle and although Rob got in early foul trouble and UTEP did a pretty good job denying him good looks, a lot of guys stepped up and we spread the scoring around last night. Gives me hope as the season wears on. This looks like a .500 team at best in CUSA. Just hope we keep improving and come on strong at tourney time.

One of these nights, the team is going to get hot and make a high percentage of those treys. We had a lot of good looks; just not a lot of confident shooters. They miss one and then turn down a couple of good looks before attempting another shot. Of course, part of that might be fear that coach is going to pull them for missing 2 consecutive shots.

I'm not coming after you on this CP. I'm only singling this quote because it has been such a repetitive theme from those of us who follow the program and have seen these kinds of results consistently for the last 4-5 years. It's just tiresome to read this. And I'm guilty of it as well.

Lost to Jackson State by 1 -- led by as many as 10
Lost to OSU in 2 OT by 6 -- led by 6 with 1:05 to play in the first OT
Lost to Ole Miss by 2 -- led by 2 with a little more than a minute to play
Lost to UTEP in OT by 6 -- led by 8 in the second half
Lost to Fresno State by 2 -- led most of the way

The Ole Miss game is debatable because it's on the road and a 2-point lead is practically nothing. But this song has lost its tune. I'm just worn out on the coulda, shoulda, woulda.

HOW ABOUT JUST DOING IT INSTEAD OF SCRAMBLING TO COME UP WITH THE EXCUSES.