Game thread: MBB at Temple

[PonyPride]

FINAL: Temple 64, SMU 57

[well travelled pony]

FINAL: Temple 64, SMU 57

Unacceptable

[mustangxc]

I feel sick. I was thinking about making the trip for the Memphis game, what was I thinking?

[crazy horse]

There are times I hate being a Mustang fan.

[Screck]

Davis or not this was awful on all fronts

[DC-Pony]

There are times I hate being a Mustang fan.

I hear you.

[Charleston Pony]

Pretty pathetic execution down the stretch for the more experienced team in this game. Really missed KD as Zhuric pretty much disappeared. I give Jalen credit for taking the open three late but he rushed it a little. That shot could have put this game away. Turned into the Weathers brothers vs Temple and just got really ugly down the stretch.

I agree this team probably now has to win out in the regular season or win the AAC Tourney to get into the NCAAs. Sure hope they can rebound and beat a red hot Memphis team but based on SMU basketball's recent history, I don't think any of us will be surprised to witness another late season collapse and end up hoping for the NIT

[Dark Horse]

Take a deep breath. Lost by 7 on the road with AAC's best player sitting at home (yes, Owls were missing guys too). Weathers brothers missed 4 shots in last minute they usually make -- it happens. Temple took 24 free throws, SMU took 9. Going cold at the end sealed it. Beat Memphis.

[Charleston Pony]

This team lives and dies by the three and is never going to win a road game hitting only 4-17 threes. Give Temple credit for completely taking our guys out of their game. Our guys actually shot better than Temple but 13 turnovers vs Temple's 5 and only 7 made FTs vs Temple's 19 (even though Temple's total was inflated there at the end) were killers

[DC-Pony]

Take a deep breath. Lost by 7 on the road with AAC's best player sitting at home (yes, Owls were missing guys too). Weathers brothers missed 4 shots in last minute they usually make -- it happens. Temple took 24 free throws, SMU took 9. Going cold at the end sealed it. Beat Memphis.

We can breathe all we want. Losing to a 13-9 team when youΓÇÖre on the bubble isnΓÇÖt going to get it done.

[SoCal_Pony]

ItΓÇÖs funny, i looked at SMUΓÇÖs schedule and thought theyΓÇÖd go 5-4 over their last 9 games.

2 losses to Houston, and 2 losses between (Temple, Memphis, Cincy & Wich St)

I still hold that view, lose at Houston, and 1 loss at home, so for me, this game wasnΓÇÖt the heart-breaking loss some are making it, although i certainly understand the frustration.

The Silver Lining for me is I just want Jank to leave.

[Charleston Pony]

ItΓÇÖs funny, i looked at SMUΓÇÖs schedule and thought theyΓÇÖd go 5-4 over their last 9 games.

2 losses to Houston, and 2 losses between (Temple, Memphis, Cincy & Wich St)

I still hold that view, lose at Houston, and 1 loss at home, so for me, this game wasnΓÇÖt the heart-breaking loss some are making it, although i certainly understand the frustration.

The Silver Lining for me is I just want Jank to leave.

Being realistic, I also feared an ugly finish because the schedule is "back loaded". If this team somehow finds a way to rebound from this loss and can finish strong (which to me means only losing a closely contested road game at Houston), there might still be hope for the NCAAs. Road wins are tough and Temple is a uniquely competitive program with their brawling style of play.

Had to check again this morning and see that our guys only made 1-5 threes in the 2nd half as they allowed Temple to slowly gain momentum for that stretch run. Just the fact SMU took only 5 threes and the three ball was a much lesser part of the offense was very telling of how Temple lured us into a slugfest game. I'm a little surprised Jank didn't give Agunnane some minutes to bang down low. His game seems to fit Temple's style of play.

[BUS]

Dark Horse hit it right on the head.
They got how many shots at charity stripe, and we got no offensive foul calls. At the start of the second half, I told my wife this was going to happen.

Hometown cooking.

[GHammond]

Not only Agunnane, CP, but I feel like Clark is almost Jasey 2.0...clumsy, ineffective, not the same cat he was as he plays only 9 minutes with 2 points...plus, Bando with 6!!?!, are you kidding me, after a six 3ΓÇÖs 20 point plus night V ECU..like shooting a 68 and following it up with an 81....if Smith, Young, and Nutall are all going to play 15 - 20 minutes each, we are going to need more than a combined 2 points from those dudes. Strange night. Still battling for a conference title, but obviously need more UH nights V WSU / Temple evenings. POnyUP! Long Live Eric Longino.

[DC-Pony]

Dark Horse hit it right on the head.
They got how many shots at charity stripe, and we got no offensive foul calls. At the start of the second half, I told my wife this was going to happen.

Hometown cooking.

CanΓÇÖt argue with possibility that pressure from hometown fans impacted the psychology of the refs. Because no way to confirm or refute.

What I do know is that Temple - over the last 10 mins of the game - was consistently aggressive going to the rim. And, SMUΓÇÖs defense didnΓÇÖt effectively adjust (eg pack the lane). We did switch to a 1-3-1 zone at one point which I argue is exactly the wrong zone defensive formation to defend against a team beating you off the dribble. Thus, SMU wasnΓÇÖt in a great position on those drives to defend, and they resorted to lots of fouling.

When we drove the lane during that time period, it was often with zero motion in our offense and without any ball screens and we were driving into a pack of Temple defenders in good defensive position.

With those circumstances, more fouls on us than Temple is a logical and expected outcome.