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Post by ionagrad83 on Dec 20, 2022 8:50:55 GMT -5
SMU has an interesting history. I remember their MBB program being largely irrelevant for most of my life, and then when Larry Brown took over they became a very good team. They were on the cusp of becoming a power, and then Brown got hit with various NCAA infractions and they were forced to rebuild. They did a good job bringing the program back to respectability under Jankovich, but now it seems like they are undergoing another rebuild period. They were good in the Eighties. Jon Koncak was on the legendary '84 Olympic team. |
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Post by GuyF on Dec 20, 2022 9:05:22 GMT -5
Best guess is that a path to a championship would include SMU followed by USU and then Hawaii in the finals. Obviously have to take it one game at a time, but if we can string together 3 wins in Hawaii would have to imagine our NET ranking would be somewhere in the low 30s. Did you not listen to my pod? (*sniff*) |
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Post by gregcrow on Dec 20, 2022 9:23:26 GMT -5
SMU has an interesting history. I remember their MBB program being largely irrelevant for most of my life, and then when Larry Brown took over they became a very good team. They were on the cusp of becoming a power, and then Brown got hit with various NCAA infractions and they were forced to rebuild. They did a good job bringing the program back to respectability under Jankovich, but now it seems like they are undergoing another rebuild period. A very interesting history. A relatively small school with a bunch of high roller Dallas donors. Their sports teams have been largely irrelevant in the 30 years following the scandal, but the NIL thing is bringing back the money and it seems SMU may be one of the winners in the NIL wars. |
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Post by gregcrow on Dec 20, 2022 9:24:10 GMT -5
Best guess is that a path to a championship would include SMU followed by USU and then Hawaii in the finals. Obviously have to take it one game at a time, but if we can string together 3 wins in Hawaii would have to imagine our NET ranking would be somewhere in the low 30s. Did you not listen to my pod? (*sniff*) Hope you get over your cold |
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Post by hawaii bill on Dec 20, 2022 12:19:52 GMT -5
A couple of things:
1) This team is talented and coached well enough to win the tournament in Hawai'i. Just have to take care of business. A couple of breaks in Hawai'i wouldn't hurt either. I see palm trees and I think I'm on vacation and look for a beach and some rum. But I'm a MUCH older guy not starting out in my career. My best career days are behind me. I had to sacrifice early on to get to where I wanted to be, and it paid off in a lot of ways. That would be a nice piece of silverware for the trophy case with the players names on it.
2) I think we are head and shoulders above most of the MAAC. But some team will probably emerge during conference play and find its stride. It could be late down the stretch like St. Peter's last year. I actually think their COVID break last year when they had to take a couple of weeks off in January I believe, when the starters all could practice but they couldn't play games and didn't have to travel, helped them late in the season. I think they had a little more gas in the tank. I don't expect an undefeated MAAC season. It is hard to play 20 games against teams that know you and what you want to do inside/out, and not put up a stinker here or there. If we are going to lose some games, let's do it on the road v. the top half of the league. Then we would have done our job and let the chips fall where they may.
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Post by cpman6 on Dec 20, 2022 13:24:06 GMT -5
One game at a time. SMU only important game now.
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Post by Super on Dec 20, 2022 13:27:31 GMT -5
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Post by GuyF on Dec 20, 2022 13:41:21 GMT -5
Yup, good info on there for sure. Erik Haslam is a really good guy. |
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Post by hawaii bill on Dec 20, 2022 15:56:56 GMT -5
One game at a time. SMU only important game now. Always is the right approach. |
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Post by IONA86 on Dec 20, 2022 18:06:45 GMT -5
[/quote]Mascot story, true or checking to see if anyone's reading?[/quote]
Supposedly true but I can not find the exact year it happened.
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Post by IONA86 on Dec 20, 2022 18:14:24 GMT -5
Two things: 1. ESPN Gamecast shows us with about a 86% chance of winning. 2. 86, this must be close to a mortal sin. You show numerous alums but not Doak Walker.  It was between Doak Walker and Jane Mansfield.... this won it for her... even Sophia Loren was impressed.   |
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Post by ic59 on Dec 20, 2022 20:34:30 GMT -5
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Post by Super on Dec 20, 2022 21:19:34 GMT -5
Team has a fairly heavy daily workload, but are enjoying themselves.
Travel day yesterday from NM was not as bad as the trip from NY, but the turbulence was pretty serious for most of the trip with the flght attendants in their seats for some of it. (Winds last night & today 20-30 mph)
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Post by gaelsiona on Dec 20, 2022 23:26:49 GMT -5
So SMU being 287 in NET would technically be a worse loss than if we were to lose to Canisius. Maybe they can pick off Houston this year 😅
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Post by buckets3 on Dec 21, 2022 0:03:40 GMT -5
New Mexico visited and defeated SMU 84-63 back on November 15th; probably doesn't hurt to have that intel and tape as part of the scouting report. Hope to see the Gaels defend their hearts out. This Iona team appears to have quality depth. Go Gaels!
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