SMU breaks ground on new Crum basketball center

by PegNews wire

Ever wanted to see coach Matt Doherty in a Devo hat shoveling salt? This is sort of what it looks like.

SMU broke ground Friday, Dec. 8, on the Crum Basketball Center, a state-of-the-art facility for the men's and women's basketball programs that will open in October 2007.

"The SMU Basketball Center will allow us to attract and develop the very best student-athletes from across the country and help return Mustang basketball to national prominence," said Matt Doherty, SMU head men's basketball coach.

The $13-million, 43,000 square-foot center, located at SMU Boulevard and Dublin Street, will include two full-size practice courts, players' locker rooms and lounges, a fully-equipped training and rehabilitation room with in-ground hydrotherapy pools, a strength and conditioning room, coaches' offices and film editing rooms. A tunnel will link the center to Moody Coliseum.

"The strong commitment SMU has made to basketball will be evident in this new facility. The SMU Basketball Center will provide a definite edge in our recruiting the best players to SMU," said Rhonda Rompola, SMU head women's basketball coach.

The Center is made possible by a leadership gift from Sylvie P. and Gary T. Crum.

Check out the photo gallery here.

Source: SMU

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jenn, says:

Too bad SMU thought that making a strong commitment to basketball meant hiring Doherty...any bets on how long he manages to stay on good behavior before disillusioning the mustang faithful?

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2 years, 11 months ago
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Blair Lovern, says:

I don't think you're alone in your thinking, Jenn. I was skeptical of Doherty's hiring at first myself, but I've since warmed up to it. He's not the same person or coach he was at UNC, although I'm curious how he'll lead the program.

On a side note, I and a few friends met him at Campisi's this past summer. He was sitting at the bar and as I was leaving, I walked by and just wished him luck for the new season. He got out of his chair, looked me in the eye and shook my hand firmly like a good hand shaker should. He asked me if I'd be at any games, talked to us for a minute or two. He was a genuinely nice guy. This doesn't mean anything about being a good coach, of course. Just my brush with SMU greatness this summer.

<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/stewart_mandel/02/27/matt.doherty/index.html">Here is a good story in SI</a> about him from earlier in the year I'd recommend.