PonyFans.com

Don't bother counting until quality recruiting starts-this is Year 2 in the rebuilding process-another solid recruiting class with a sprinkling of difference maker(s) will result in a pretty solid program in 2009-2010. Think NIT rather than NCAA in 2009-2010.

I agree. SMU will require longer rebuilding time than most teams...I think. We really started out from ground zero, not much to leverage. Most of recruits are really interested in programs and coaches that would get them to another level. And we don't really have a solid record in doing so. Until then, be hopeful and thankful of these recruits and coach Doh. Another solid recruit class will be great.

atleast a winning record will work for me

Stallion wrote:Don't bother counting until quality recruiting starts-this is Year 2 in the rebuilding process-another solid recruiting class with a sprinkling of difference maker(s) will result in a pretty solid program in 2009-2010. Think NIT rather than NCAA in 2009-2010.

Gospel truth.

SoCal_Pony wrote:Coach Doh is laying the RIGHT groundwork by bringing in top talent, the only way to succeed in college athletics.

Papa Dia â€" Oklahoma and Louisville offers
Tomasz Kwiatkowski â€" Virginia and Baylor offers
Paul McCoy â€" Virginia and Kentucky offers
Derek Williams â€" All Conference and All-region JC point guard
Mouhammad Faye â€" Georgia Tech transfer

We should see marked improvement this season.

We are 2 Dia/McCoy caliber players away from post-season play.

Don't forget Ryan Harp - Texas Tech, Wake Forest, Arizona State, Stanford, Northwestern, Iowa State

If he can find that nearly 50% 3pt shot from high school, he could make a huge jump this year.

Stallion, anyone - how long has it been since our team had this kind of depth with BCS talent? Starting to think Doh was the perfect hire to infuse this program with some real players...

Doherty's goal of flipping our record, 10-20 last year to 20-10 this year, is a good one to set for this team. I think the team comes a little short on that goal this season but I do think we will have a winning record and something to continue to build on.

-----"what kind of impact Faye will have"-------

People around Georgia Tech were fairly giddy about Faye's potential based on things like alley-oops and shotblocks in pickup games. His freshman year he was a good rebounder in games. He also had high rates of blocks and steals, and that combo is an indicator of talent. His offense was not efficient, though.

The second year he didn't play much and did less with the opportunities he had. I wonder if he was sulking because of the number of guys ahead of him on that very deep team, and already planning to leave.

So it's not a sure thing, but he could develop into a high-level player for SMU.

PonyPatrol wrote:Don't forget Ryan Harp - Texas Tech, Wake Forest, Arizona State, Stanford, Northwestern, Iowa State

If he can find that nearly 50% 3pt shot from high school, he could make a huge jump this year.

PPatrol,

I believe Harp's only 'BCS' offer was from Northwestern and he was actually hoping for one from Stanford.

I agree that we could really use his HS 3pt ability.

SoCal_Pony wrote:

PonyPatrol wrote:Don't forget Ryan Harp - Texas Tech, Wake Forest, Arizona State, Stanford, Northwestern, Iowa State

If he can find that nearly 50% 3pt shot from high school, he could make a huge jump this year.

PPatrol,

I believe Harp's only 'BCS' offer was from Northwestern and he was actually hoping for one from Stanford.

I agree that we could really use his HS 3pt ability.

You may be right SoCal, I'm just reading his list of offers from Rivals. Regardless, he was another fairly high profile recruit that should provide depth beyond rebounding and hustling this year.

The biggest weaknesses of last years team were the long periods of time the team would go without scoring, no legit go to guy (scorer)& they were the worst ballhandling team I have seen in a long time.

I thought the strength of the team was having Bamba & Papa on the court @ the same time. The problem was the team was so young & couldn't handle the ball so they couldn't take advantage of the mismatch they had versus many teams.

I hope to see a much improved ball handling team with the additions of McCoy & Williams and the maturity of Walker & Harp. I hope to see an uptempo team with easy buckets in transition but also a team that will be more productive in the half court set taking advantage of the size we have down low. Also, I hope that Williams, McCoy, Malone, RN, Otis or somebody will emerge as a legit scorer in the half court set so we don't see so many long stretches in the game were we can't score in our offense.

I really believe this team is going to surprise some folks. They had a chance to win several games last year despite the terrible ball handling/turnovers. If that one problem can be corrected than much better things will happen.

I can't wait to see an SMU team that is not "one of the youngest in the country." Granted we will still be young but all those freshmen from last season will be sophmores!

The PonyGrad wrote:I can't wait to see an SMU team that is not "one of the youngest in the country." Granted we will still be young but all those freshmen from last season will be sophmores!

don't worry, we'll still hear it anyway

5 returning lettermen. ( between the 5 they started 74 games last year).

1 senior.

4 sophomores.

4 true freshmen and 2 redshirt freshmen.

2 juniors who did not play here last year.

The XtC wrote:5 returning lettermen. ( between the 5 they started 74 games last year).

1 senior.

4 sophomores.

4 true freshmen and 2 redshirt freshmen.

2 juniors who did not play here last year.

I believe that count should actually be 5 sophs and 1 redshirt freshman.

Dia, Malone, Harp, Walker obviously are sophs but I believe, according to the roster on smumustangs.com, that TK is also (although he did not play much last year). Nayakundi was redshirted.

I could be wrong, but just wanted to check.

[quote="MustangIcon"][quote="The XtC"]5 returning lettermen. ( between the 5 they started 74 games last year).

1 senior.

4 sophomores.

4 true freshmen and 2 redshirt freshmen.

2 juniors who did not play here last year.[/quote]

I believe that count should actually be 5 sophs and 1 redshirt freshman.

Dia, Malone, Harp, Walker obviously are sophs but I believe, according to the roster on smumustangs.com, that TK is also (although he did not play much last year). Nayakundi was redshirted.

I could be wrong, but just wanted to check.[/quote]

True enough, Tomasz did play in 3 games last year, and couldnt get a redshirt, but I thought the reason he never played again was so that they could try to get him a medical hardship year ? If not, then last year was simply wasted by those 8 minutes of court time. 0 points, 3 rebounds, 5 fouls.

My point was a lack of experience on this years team, and I think that still holds true, regardless of wether Tomasz is technically a RS-F or a Soph, considering that he played fewer minutes than the walk-ons.