November 15, 2004
As the 2004-05 basketball season approaches, there is an air of excitement surrounding the Mustang basketball program. A talented and experienced group of players are returning and a new head coach is at the helm.
Jimmy Tubbs returns to the Hilltop as the Mustangs' head coach, and the former SMU assistant brings with him an exciting style of play and an eagerness to get the SMU program back on the NCAA track.
"I've been very excited about this ever since I was hired," said Tubbs. "It's great to be back in Dallas and it's great to be back at SMU. I'm excited about this basketball team. With hard work and a good attitude, we can be very competitive. Like I said when I was hired, we're going to win at SMU, and we're going to win big. That's a guarantee."
Tubbs is known as a coach who stresses defense, and his SMU squad will be a reflection of his beliefs.
"What I want the fans to see in our team is that we play hard," he said. "That's the most important thing we can show. Diving for loose balls, taking charges, rebounding the basketball; all those things are indicators of a team playing hard. We need to set a tone this year with our style of play, our philosophy and our type of program. It's our signature season. We'll be a hard-nosed, defensive-minded program. Offensively, we'll get up and down the court, but it will be smart up-tempo play."
Tubbs will have an experienced core of players in his inaugural season, as SMU returns four players that have each started for two or more seasons. Seniors Patrick Simpson and Eric Castro are three-year starters, while senior Justin Isham and junior Bryan Hopkins each have two years as starters under their belts.
Hopkins, a preseason favorite for WAC Player of the Year honors, leads the SMU charge. Hopkins flourished as the 2003-04 season came to a close, averaging over 24 points per game over the campaign's final five games. He finished third in the conference in scoring and was named All-District by the NABC. If the Mustangs are to stampede into the NCAA Tournament in 2005, Hopkins will have to lead the way.
"I want Bryan to be a leader," said Tubbs. "He's somewhat quiet by nature, but I want him to be more vocal. He needs to be a leader on and off the court. He's a great talent, but we still need for him to work on improving his game. He's a good shooter, but I think he can be a great shooter. As our point guard, we need him to improve his decisionmaking and assist-to-turnover ratio. It was around one-to one last season, but I want it to be three-to-one or better."
As Tubbs works more with Hopkins, the head coach stresses a mental approach to the game.
"All great players have the ability to really focus and that's what I've been talking about with Bryan. He has to learn to really focus and zone in on the game. With that said, I'm expecting big things from him this year."
Two other key components to any SMU success will be the interior play of Simpson and Castro. Each ranked among the top 20 in the WAC in rebounding, but failed to provide needed scoring punch. While the two have shown flashes of brilliance in their first three years on the Hilltop, they have yet to display the consistency and dominance they will have to assert in 2004-05.
"Patrick and Eric can both score. But what I'm going to look for from them is toughness, both physically and mentally," said Tubbs.
"I will count on Patrick for leadership," the coach continued. "Pat must also become more consistent. I don't want Pat to score 18 on a Monday and come back on Thursday and score six points. He has to be consistent for us. Having said that, he needs to improve his focus."
"I also love Eric's eagerness. He's very motivated. What I expect from Eric is that when we get the ball down to him on the block, I expect him to score or get fouled. He needs to score inside. With that said, Eric is also very capable of hitting the 15- to 17-foot jump shot, and I'm not going to take that away from him. I also expect his leadership to expand."
Isham will also be a big part of the SMU team in his senior season as the guard looks to be the game-changing player he has been during spurts of his career. After scoring 25 points and winning WAC Player of the Week honors in the season opener in 2003-04, the Lancaster native never harnessed the potential he possesses.
"I don't think Justin has tapped his potential yet," echoed Tubbs. "I'm excited about working with Justin and helping him be the best that he can be. Once he does that - watch out. I expect him to be a focal point of what we do, both offensively and defensively."
While the four returning starters would seem to have an inside track for spots in the 2004-05 line-up, Tubbs says all spots are open.
"When we start practice, all positions will be up for grabs," he revealed. "I have no preconceived notions about starters. I'll put the guys on the floor that make us the best team. If I think a player will make us a better team coming off the bench, then he's going to come off the bench. Our leading scorer may come off the bench if that makes us a better team. Just because a guy doesn't start doesn't mean there's something wrong. It's just my decision to make us a better team." Bryan Hopkins looks to lead the Mustangs
In addition to the on-court progress, Tubbs is also monitoring another area of Mustang training.
"Work in the weight room is something that's going to be a big part of our system. I'm going to hold our players and strength coaches accountable. I want to see our bodies change and become bigger and stronger."
Guard play has been a strength for SMU over the past few seasons and the 2004-05 campaign should be no different. In addition to Hopkins and Isham, SMU returns Brian Miller, Ryan Hopkins and Michael Dement and adds talented newcomers Jon Killen and Derrick Roberts.
Miller, a 6-5 sharpshooter, was gaining playing time as a true freshman in 2001-02 before suffering a back injury. After earning a medical redshirt, he is still working to return to the form he showed in his debut season.
"Brian can shoot the basketball," said Tubbs. "I want to focus on an individual's strengths and I want to focus on perimeter shooting with Brian because I know that is his strength. I want good shots from Brian, though, and if he's open, I want him to shoot. That said, he needs to improve defensively."
Ryan Hopkins, Bryan's fraternal twin, has improved in his time at SMU and Tubbs expects input from the 6-3 guard.
"Ryan brings a tough mentality to the table," he said. "He practices hard, dives for loose balls and I expect him to bring us energy." Michael Dement is also back and will continue to provide depth along the perimeter.
"Michael brings energy to the program," said Tubbs. "He's a valuable member of the team."
Jon Killen, a true freshman from nearby Arlington, will serve as a backup to Hopkins, and should be a steady player in his first season.
"We'll need Jon to help stabilize our offense - get the call up the court, get us into our sets and so on. Defensively, I want him to be a bulldog, because your point of attack is you point guard."
Perhaps the most celebrated of SMU's recruits, Derrick Roberts arrives after a senior prep season that saw him lead the state in scoring. He followed that up with a strong showing at the Global Games and seems ready to be the impact freshman SMU needs.
"I look for big things from Derrick as a freshman," said Tubbs, trying to temper unrealistic expectations. "He averaged around 29 points a game as a senior and we'll play to his strength as a scorer. He can really drive with the basketball, and he'll continue to improve as a shooter. I love his mental approach to the game. He's tough and he'll be a good defender, but we'll also need him to score for us."
And while guard play has been a strong point for SMU in recent seasons, interior play has been lacking. With a strong group of returnees and a solid group of newcomers, Tubbs will try to reverse that trend in 2004-05. In addition to Simpson and Castro, the Mustangs return Devon Pearson, Donatas Rackauskas and Christopher Reay.
Pearson, a sophomore, came on strong at the end of last season, emerging as perhaps SMU's top rebounder.
"I like Devon's makeup," shared Tubbs. "I like his attitude, and I think he's got a bit of a mean streak in him - at least I hope he does. From what I've seen he does have that streak and I like it. I want him to be everywhere on the court, on the offensive and defensive glass, just bringing energy to the floor. He gives us that energy and an attitude. I like that toughness in a player."
Rackauskas is back for his junior season after another summer with the Lithuanian Junior National Team and looks to emerge as a big-time threat in the paint.
"Donatas has to work in the weight room," revealed Tubbs. "I know he can hit the 15- to 17-foot jump shot and I expect him to continue to take those shots. I also want to get him down on the block, though, to see if he can play with his back to the basket."
Another player coming off a summer of international play is sophomore Christopher Reay. The Plano, Texas, native whose father hails from New Zealand, was named to the New Zealand Junior National Team and was a finalist for the New Zealand National Team which competed in the Olympics.
Tubbs said, "Christopher brings many intangibles to the table, like setting good screens. Defensively, we need him to be a big force. We need him to really block out and be physical. He's a team player and he brings a certain degree of toughness. Those are his strengths."
Additions to the interior include power forward Paulius Ritter and combo forward Ike Ofoegbu.
Ritter possess a huge 6-7, 255-pound frame and displays nice skill as well. He was also selected to the Lithuanian Junior National Team, but was unable to compete due to scheduling conflicts.
"Paulius can make 15- to 17-foot jump shots, but he's also a tough kid. He's got an edge to him as a player, a kind of chip on his shoulder, and I like that."
Ofoegbu was SMU's final signee, but could be the steal of the class. A 6-9 forward, Ofoegbu was his junior college's conference Freshman of the Year and brings an immediate scoring punch to the Mustang front line.
"Ike is a very skilled player offensively, but he still needs to get tougher defensively," said Tubbs. "I expect Ike to get a lot of minutes and he'll compete for a starting spot."
With such a talented group of players and an energized coaching staff, the 2004-05 season promises to be an exciting time for Mustang fans.
"We need to become a mentally tough basketball program - not just as a team, but as a program," Tubbs closed. "I'm excited about changing the mindset of this program. We will be an exciting team to watch."
