Can someone help me and explain the state of SMU Basketball?

[therack]

I've been always defending the team and I will continue to do so... I am one of the few that understands what these players are going through...

But I have to agree with you guys, this team might be done for the year... It's very simple, there is no one on the team who is not afraid to get in people's faces and put the team on his shoulders... Coach completely took the confidence out of most of the players with his crazy sub paterns... I was hoping that the lineup will be pretty much settled by now but that's not the case... I really do think that the talent is here but we have no leadership among the players... And that's not something you can coach...

On the separate note, there is not a chance that Coach will be fired at the end of the year!!! No way... Maybe after next year but that's also a very slim chance...

[LA_Mustang]

I didn't see the game against UCF so I cannot attest to the effort and heart showed by the team in this one. However, there is absolutely no way that the team quit prior to yesterday. The Marshall game SMU showed nothing but fight and the team played hard in the ECU game as well. If the team quit on Doh, it didn't happen until yesterday's game.

Also, anyone catch Mo Faye's interview that they played during half-time of the radio broadcast? Did not at all sound like someone who had quit on his coach or teammates to me.

Well, if they haven't quit and this is a true reflection of the talent level on the team, they may be the worst that SMU has ever put on the floor. But either they've quit or this is an incredibly bad basketball team. Where are the people who were saying this soph class was the best class ever at SMU? The truth is three years under Doherty with a team made up of almost all of his recruits â€" we are as bad a team as I’ve ever seen at SMU and we’re not even competitive against mediocre teams. Where are the excuses?

[George S. Patton]

I really do think that the talent is here but we have no leadership among the players... And that's not something you can coach...

I do and don't agree with that. You can't coach it, but a coach can identify who he thinks has the qualities to be a leader. The coach can either make subtle or strong overtures about that player becoming one. Or maybe the way he would run his prorgram would encourage someone to approach him to want to take that on.

I have no idea about how Doherty runs this program but if what we're talking about is true -- Doherty governs with complete inflexibility and so forth -- then there really isn't going to be an opportunity for someone to evolve.

Heck, as tough as Bob Knight was, leaders evolved under him including Steve Alford, A.J. Guyton and Kent Benson.

[papawasamustang]

I've been always defending the team and I will continue to do so... I am one of the few that understands what these players are going through...

But I have to agree with you guys, this team might be done for the year... It's very simple, there is no one on the team who is not afraid to get in people's faces and put the team on his shoulders... Coach completely took the confidence out of most of the players with his crazy sub paterns... I was hoping that the lineup will be pretty much settled by now but that's not the case... I really do think that the talent is here but we have no leadership among the players... And that's not something you can coach...

On the separate note, there is not a chance that Coach will be fired at the end of the year!!! No way... Maybe after next year but that's also a very slim chance...

Rack, I'm a former college basketball player also so I respect your opinion & the fact that you are doing the right thing by taking up for your
former coach & players that are probably your friends. I wouldn't expect anything different.

Having said that, the player sub pattern is one of many things about this team that are bad & make no sense. Leadership, Doh's obviously recruiting the wrong kinds of players if he's got no leaders.
That's total crap. Every team I have ever played on, football, baseball or basketball had leaders on the team. Another excuse.

We have all been around long enough to never say never about any type of coaching change. They happen everyday in every sport.
Some expected & some totally out of the blue.

[MustangIcon]

Well, if they haven't quit and this is a true reflection of the talent level on the team, they may be the worst that SMU has ever put on the floor. But either they've quit or this is an incredibly bad basketball team. Where are the people who were saying this soph class was the best class ever at SMU? The truth is three years under Doherty with a team made of almost all of his recruits â€" we are as bad a team as I’ve ever seen at SMU and we’re not even competitive against mediocre teams. Where are the excuses?

Assuming that either the talent level is awful or the team has quit is a flawed argument. There are a lot of other possibilities.

This Soph class was not the best ever recruited at SMU and I don't think I saw anyone claim that- could be wrong though. However, it is unquestionably the most highly touted/well regarded class SMU has had since AT LEAST the '01 class with Simpson, Castro, Isham, Miller. In reality, you would probably have to go back to the '99 class to find one more highly regarded/recruited than the '07 class was coming into college.

[therack]

I agree with you... Coaches are fired and hired every year and some of them are completely unexpected... But i do really think that Coach will stay here next year for sure and most like even the last year of his contract...

I don't really care if you or anybody else throws dirt at Coach... It doesn't bother me at all... All i am saying is that i've been through all losses, some bad ones (Rice by 40 and Boise St. by 40)... I know how the players feel...

As far as the leadership goes, Coach likes to keep complete control of the program... I was a captain my senior year and i can tell you that he would listen to us only as much as he wants to... As soon as we lose a game, he would not listen to anybody (not even assistants)... We were an older group and we had people among us to speak up... But this group seems to be completely without any chemistry or leadership...

[MustangIcon]

Rack, I'm a former college basketball player also so I respect your opinion & the fact that you are doing the right thing by taking up for your
former coach & players that are probably your friends. I wouldn't expect anything different.

Having said that, the player sub pattern is one of many things about this team that are bad & make no sense. Leadership, Doh's obviously recruiting the wrong kinds of players if he's got no leaders.
That's total crap. Every team I have ever played on, football, baseball or basketball had leaders on the team. Another excuse.

We have all been around long enough to never say never about any type of coaching change. They happen everyday in every sport.
Some expected & some totally out of the blue.

The only player on our roster Rack ever suited up with is Bamba, although I know he has met and played pick-up with many of the current players I'm sure. Rack also has a unique perspective being one of only a couple of players to play for the last 3 SMU head coaches- Dement, Tubbs, Doherty. To me, he offers a viewpoint from experience that no other poster on this board can.

[George S. Patton]

As far as the leadership goes, Coach likes to keep complete control of the program... I was a captain my senior year and i can tell you that he would listen to us only as much as he wants to... As soon as we lose a game, he would not listen to anybody (not even assistants)... We were an older group and we had people among us to speak up... But this group seems to be completely without any chemistry or leadership...

So much for the personal change he was thought to have gone through and meeting with the life coach or whoever it was and attending the Wharton stuff.

People have track records for a reason.

[LA_Mustang]

Assuming that either the talent level is awful or the team has quit is a flawed argument. There are a lot of other possibilities.

What then? We're young? The soph class needs one more year? We've caught all these teams we should have beat on their best night? The refs keep screwing us? The program has been compromised by a mole who is sending our offensive plays to other teams and we need Jack Bauer to track him down?

Please enlighten........

[MustangIcon]

*EXCUSE ALERT*EXCUSE ALERT*EXCUSE ALERT*

Taking a step back from specific problems regarding the talent of players, ability of the coaches, and in-game execution, what in general has been our problem in the majority of games we have lost this season?

1. We come out nervous/flat or whatever we do, and dig a big hole for ourselves.
2. After fighting back and being in a position to take over the game or finish an opponent, we aren't able to close it out.

Those facts speak to lack of chemistry and lack of leadership. Call it an excuse if you like, which I alerted everyone to above, but here are facts for you:

A&M (road)- SMU down by 10 at half. SMU within 4 with 3:22 left. SMU Loss.

UTSA (home)- Led for first 14 minutes of 2nd half. UTSA ties with 6 min left. SMU Loss.

UTEP (home)- Down by 7 at half. Within 3 points with 2 minutes left. SMU Loss.

Rice (road)- Down by 15 at half. Pull to within 3 points in second half. SMU Loss.

Marshall (road)- SMU takes first lead of the game at 8min left. Tied from 1:51 until buzzer beater. SMU Loss.

ECU (home)- SMU leads from early second half until 7:52 left in game. Down 1 inside of 3 min. SMU Loss.

These are all losses from this season that came as a result of digging an enourmous hole, not being able to close out the game, or a combo fo the both. In every one of these games SMU either had a lead or was within 4 points late in the game.

I cannot agree that we just don't have the talent to compete or that this is the worst team SMU has ever had. This is a team that either from coaching, lack of experience, lack of chemistry, or lack of leadership is inconcsistent with the way it starts and finishes games.

[jtstang]

Assuming that either the talent level is awful or the team has quit is a flawed argument. There are a lot of other possibilities.

What then? We're young? The soph class needs one more year? We've caught all these teams we should have beat on their best night? The refs keep screwing us? The program has been compromised by a mole who is sending our offensive plays to other teams and we need Jack Bauer to track him down?

Please enlighten........

It's a completely different problem. This team just sucks.

[HB Pony Dad]

It's a completely different problem. This team just sucks.

With no "D" and terrible shot selection...

My SMU Flag stays furled until something positive occurs!

[Cardinal Puff]

I will admit to having hoped for a .500 year. It is so frustrating to compare rosters, expect to be competitive and then fail. The ECU game was the most frustrating experience. To lose at home to a mediocre team with a terrible road record, bad, just bad.

That said, I don't see team leadership as all that coachable. Our likely leaders are Williams and McCoy and they are the new kids on campus. To think others will immediately accept them is not realistic.
Next year is make or break, leadership has to emerge from the experience of this year and they have to capitalize on the athleticism we have glimpsed.

[lwjr]

living in Midland it is very difficult to follow the Basketball team or that matter any basketball. Do we have any talent on this team? Is our coaching really this poor? Does SMU Basketball have a future in its current state? I am just trying to get a handle on things. Cause from out here it does not look very good. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Pony Up!

Have u checked out the Midland JC basketball team this year?
#4 in the nation.
What do you think of Kevon Lytch @ Midland JC?

http://www.midland.edu/athletics/basket ... /Kavon.php

Yes. I have season tickets. Ksvon is a stud. 6-7 241 lbs. -
19 ppg almost 9 rpg. He controls the game. He was raised in Brooklyn and came to MIdland College this year from a JC in Oklahoma. Had some maturity problems it sounds like and had some problems at the beginning of the season. He seems to have his head on straight now. I do not know about his grades, he is enrolled at a JC, but he does have a very strong inside game and he has the body to play D-1 BB, probably would be a big help to SMU if they go after him.

here is a link to an article in the Midland paper about Kavon you might enjoy:

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/200 ... h_read.txt

PONY UP!

[Billy Joe]

Are you guys saying the basketball team is not very good this year? I thought SMU was going to be "Top 25" in everything it does. At least that is what Orsini told me. Maybe Orsini is a liar and a fraud just like his moron predecessor Copeland.