SMU’s basketball recruits are now in a state of limbo following the firing of head coach Matt Doherty.
SMU, which will join the Big East for all sports in 2013, has two local signees in 6-foot-3 Xaverian shooting guard Brian Bernardi and 7-foot center Blaise Mbargorba of the Peddie School. Uche Ofoegbu, a 6-5 small forward from San Antonio, is also part of the 2012 recruiting class.
“Right now I’m still going to SMU and am going to talk to my family and coaches about the situation,” Bernardi told SNY.tv by text.
Mbargorba and Peddie coach Joe Rulewich were not immediately available for comment.
CBSSports.com first reported the news of Doherty’s firing after six seasons.
The former North Carolina player went 80-109 during his tenure with the Mustangs, including a 13-19 record this year and an 11th place finish in Conference USA. His lone 20-win season and postseason appearance came in 2010-11 when the team went 20-13 and competed in the CollegeInsider.com tournament.
Laken Litman, the SMU beat writer for Fox Sports, reported on Twitter that the school has sent out feelers to Texas-Arlington’s Scott Cross, Texas-San Antonio’s Brooks Thompson and Indiana State’s Greg Lansing.
West Virginia assistant Larry Harrison would also have interest, sources told SNY.tv.
With the Mustangs set to move to the Big East in 2013, they will need to hire a coach who can compete at the highest level against the UConns, Louisvilles, Georgetowns and Notre Dames’ of the world.
Another interesting question is whether or not the Big East would release signed players to another Big East program.
Photo courtesy NY Post)
