Let me preface this by saying the loss to UAH was unexpected and very disappointing for all of the Mean Green nation. It was embarrasing and should not be taken lightly.
It also allowed for a opportunity to finally vent over the huge loss of Johnny - a great coach who was here a decade and accomplished so very much. I do not think in the whirlwind that occurred with Johnny leaving for LSU, Benford's hire and Tony's decision to stay we ever actually had a good chance to grieve/vent over that loss and the response seen after UAH only verifies that fact.
As many have vocalized their disappointment in Benford, I want to remind everyone that he was very instrumental in keeping this program together AFTER Johnny left. Let us not forget this. Benford was able to convince Tony Mitchell that staying at UNT for another year made the most sense. He convinced Tony that his staff and their experience would make him a better player.
He also was able to get Chris and Jordan and the whole academic picture back on track. Of course the players had a lot to do with this as well but it was under Benford's watch that it occurred.
Landing Keith Coleman to replace Odoh was another good move although we have yet to see that pay off on the court, Coleman has shown some good signs.
Benford did an exceptional job keeping the recruiting pipelines strong post-Johnny with TJ, Friar, Nunn, Wesley... that should not be forgotten either.
Benford is a new head coach -- I think he will be a good one before all is said and done but he will make mistakes along the way. The UAH loss was a gut punch and certainly took a lot of the optimism away from the season that we had expected. I am saying you have to take the good with the bad. People on here seem to quickly forget the good.
There is a LOT that can be accomplished this season which will fade the ugly memory of UAH. Winning the Belt and getting to the NCAA's to start. What about Lehigh or St. Louis. Would victories in those games ease the pain of the UAH loss? How about watching this talent develop more as a team? Is that not something that a fan could or should look forward to at this early point of a long season?
Last point, Tony Benford and Coach Robb Evans didn't shoot 22% against UAH, the players did. At what point do they take some accountability for the loss? If they had made just a few more shots we could have easily won that game and this travesty would have never happened.
GMG
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