We need a "splash" hire for BB

[LA_Mustang]

Not to get away from the coach talk but I don't think enough is made of Moody as an asset. In my nearly 20 years of being an SMU student/alum/fan, nothing gets me more hyped than a competitive game in front of a nice crowd (as rare as that has been) at Moody. It can be a magical place. If the renovations are handled correctly, and I'm sure they will be, a Big East game in that building against UConn or Georgetown will have an environment unlike anything we've seen on our campus in a long time.

[ponyinNC]

LA - did you see the espn doc on Chris Herron?? It was great, and one of the best parts was Herron's Fresno St team coming to Moody to play SMU right after he had been in rehab and such. Think it was '96 or '97. I was there , and I believe it was a nationally televised game on ESPN.

Moody was packed, and we were really giving it to Herron. Coach Tark even said it was one of the loudest and most hostile places that he and the team had to overcome. Herron killed us that night, and made a lot of gestures to the crowd..some pointed at me and my friends who were seriously giving him the business.

When we get people in there to see games, Moody can be every bit as raucous as Cameron.

[Hoop Fan]

Have to find the money. Donor fatigue sets in when there is no return on investment. If people see real results and get excited, there is enough money in the SMU community for both basketball and football. The problem is when you spend money and don't get results. Turner wants to balance the budget huh? How, by cutting staff? No, you have to spend money to make money. Bottom line is you have to play a high quality D-1 schedule, win your share, play a quality brand of basketball that people respect and every few years you HAVE to go to the NCAA tournament. Thats the only way to generate true excitement. The 18 year drought we are on is unforgivable.

[LA_Mustang]

LA - did you see the espn doc on Chris Herron?? It was great, and one of the best parts was Herron's Fresno St team coming to Moody to play SMU right after he had been in rehab and such. Think it was '96 or '97. I was there , and I believe it was a nationally televised game on ESPN.

Moody was packed, and we were really giving it to Herron. Coach Tark even said it was one of the loudest and most hostile places that he and the team had to overcome. Herron killed us that night, and made a lot of gestures to the crowd..some pointed at me and my friends who were seriously giving him the business.

When we get people in there to see games, Moody can be every bit as raucous as Cameron.

I did see that and I was there. It was an unbelievable environment and Herron was unbelievably good. He couldn't miss. The games with Fresno and Tark at Moody were always great. Our late 90s team was my favorite - Sas, Woods, Willie D, Hancock, Elsey, Floyd (he has so much talent) and that LSU transfer guard, can't remember his name. That team should've made the tourney. Even though it was only half full, the crowds at Moody then were great then. A lot of students went, the alums were loud and into the games. And that roster was almost entirely made of Dallas area kids so we got more support from the non-SMU walkups.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

The LSU transfer was Renaldo Bratton.

The 1997 game v. Fresno State was the first SMU basketball game I ever attended. It was a hugely fun night and a big-time college atmosphere (even though we lost). Ironically, I walked away from that experience with exactly the wrong impression of what it would be like to follow SMU hoops. Here I am 15 years later still hoping to re-create that atmosphere at Moody.

[LA_Mustang]

That's right, Bratton. I remember when he hit a running game-winner in the WAC tourney against UTEP in Vegas. Then I think we beat UNLV for the third time that year in the next round. And that UNLV team with Trix was pretty good.

[Hoop Fan]

that was Shawn Marion's UNLV team wasn't it? Ah, the good ole days when we were at least somewhat legit. Say what you want about Dement, there was a whole different energy around the program in his first five or six years than there is now.

[StallionsModelT]

Something has to change. This program cannot go into Big East play with the level of apathy surrounding the program that we have right now. Clean house.

[lwjr]

"thanks for the perspective 83...hadn't thought about donor fatigue and other spending.

However, I thought moving to the Big East was supposed to include a much bigger payday for us. If we cannot compete with the coaching salaries in the Big East, why are we even joining?

Examples of Salaries in Big East: (just base salary, not including other bonuses)

Pitino - $4MM
Boeheim - $1.2
Huggins - $1.7
Wright - $2MM
Dixon - $1.1"


I think this is what makes it such a difficult issue. You're right that at this point we are totally uncompetitive with the top BE programs in terms of coach salary. If we want to consistently win in the BE that's going to have to eventually change. The question is, is that a change we can make right now? How do we make the math work to close the gap? My only point is that it may not be as easy as Orsini just waltzing up to the doners for another $10 million commitment.

You're also correct that the BE will mean a lot more revenue for the department. But it sounds like that money is already spoken-for when you talk about: (1) eliminating the athletic deficit (currently around $5 million per year); (2) creating a marketing department; and (3) upgrading facilities. The BE will be a big jump in revenue, but its not SEC money.

If I had to guess, I would think that a BB coach search (with associated fundraising) is exactly what Orsini did not want to have to get into this year. If he can't get the donors on board, then we may have to ride Doh for another year simply as a math issue. Personally, I think its time to make a change if financially possible. But you can only do what you can raise the money to do.

It is my opinion that is why Doh is still coaching and a change has not been made.

[ponyinNC]

We had some legit local players in those days too - sasser, willie davis, Q ross. We had guys get drafted by the NBA. We played Stanford in the preseason NIT (we lost pretty badly but still). This was all done under the old model as well. Trying to imagine what Dement could have done with looser academic restrictions. Man I miss Dement and his cropped sideburns!!


We've been saying Doh must go for years now, and we are always given the same BS - young kids, system change, good incoming recruits. The coaching ability just is not there. He had a crummy record at FAU. He got run off at UNC. His biggest accomplishment to me was his stint at Notre Dame, but for whatever reason he just hasn't been able to recreate that success anywhere else.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Dement always reminded me of an angry Romulan from Star Trek.

The Stanford preseason NIT game was brutal. I was hopeful Sasser and Co. could pull an upset. But that was just a massive beat down from beginning to end. It really brought home to me the difference between SMU and a legitimate NCAA tourney team.

I watched that game with a friend who attended the University of Arizona back in the Lute Olsen days. So he was used to watching top-tier basketball. Needless to say, I was embarrased. He never again expressed interest in watching SMU hoops.

[gostangs]

i dont even know who is at Az state - but I say we go get them.

[CoxBizGrad]

Love the recent article about "Doherty screaming in the faces of his players." It's pretty sad when even the media is commenting on his abuse. Bye Doh.

[lwjr]

Love the recent article about "Doherty screaming in the faces of his players." It's pretty sad when even the media is commenting on his abuse. Bye Doh.

Source or link?

[CoxBizGrad]

Travis=Doh's Spin Doctor. No amount of spin is going to save Doh's job. It is a foregone conclusion. His performance has been horrendous. The record speaks for itself. The search for his replacement... has begun.