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I prefer to stay focused on the Big Picture and that's building the program. If anything is overrated, it's having a bunch of seniors on a ball club. Is it possible that we overachieved in years past or guys peaked? Becoming the target and/or not slipping up on anyone. Maybe hitting a wall due to a lack of depth while playing heavy minutes. I really don't care how many games this team wins in any given year or whether or not we win the conference. (Been there, done that) My concern is if the program is getting better. Unlike football, the Sunbelt champs will always get a 14, 15 or 16th seed. This will ensure we play a top 20 team (out of over 300) The odds, at this time, are not great of beating a top 20 team. In football, the Sunbelt champ will play a 3rd or 4th place team from another mid-major conference or slightly above. The chances of a bowl victory are much better in football for the Sunbelt champs (playing a top 60 team) For us to continue to get better each year, we need better players. TT maybe the only guy on this team that would start for a Top 30 - 40 team. So why should we expect them to beat one of these teams in the NCAA tournament? On paper, does it look like we are bringing in better talent? I say yes. We are a perimeter team without a threat down low. This must be addressed! Geore Odufawa has played out of position, out of necessity, the whole season. One of our better players is a 5-9 shooting guard playing point guard. As Dan MacCarney would say, "Are You Kidding Me"? Should we look for a 5-9 guard to carry us each game? In my opinion, we have a few more guys that should not even be playing in the Sunbelt. We are a .500 team because we can easily lose to any team just like we can beat any team. Is help on the way? I think so. Within the past 2-3 years, JJ has done a much better job in getting the attention of top recruits. Most have not signed but we appear to be in the game. The program has taken longer than I would have liked but I see an upgrade in who we go after. Conversely, we've signed a few that I did not understand. I know there are all types of fans in each program. I personally like to see recruits play (football and basketball) while they are still in high school. I also try to attend as many of our games as possible. Additionally, our opponents. As such, I don't have to rely on what others have to say, what I read or what some recruiting service said. I can not be disapointed in this team or believe they are overrated or underrated. This team has not quit. I have never felt that we needed to tear up JJ contract for a better one or worried that he may leave. Overall, I like the direction of the program; whether we win 24, 22, 20 or 18. Don't understand why the expectations are so much higher for the basketball team than football. When we recruit a team of highly sought players and/or obtain a top 20 ranking, my expectations for the team will increase.

but.. after talks with both kedrick and shannon (they just commented on how they dont mind the media and previous losses, they still believe and stated we will win in hot springs) i still believe... now when i say believe im not saying win any ncaa tourney games or even the confrence championship game but what i do think is, is that were going down fighting, that were coming back home gonna beat S. Alabama gain confidence and carry it for a bit... knowing a 1st rd bye is gonna be really hard to get in Hot Springs a ncaa berth will be hard. Notice how i didnt say impossible, and if we happen to win out and get hot and somehow get a bye heck yeah i do believe we have as good as shot as anyone in hot springs... i might get jumped all over by the non believers and what not but thats ok this is just what i beleive... p.s - the last thing this team needs is us as UNT faithful not showing up and failing to support... you might say they have given up on eachother, jj, etc. but if they see us still believing and showing up (yes even to hot springs if we dont get a bye) then maybe just maybe we can get something sparked up here and get something rolling for a memorable finish...

This game pretty much summed up the disappointment the conference season has been. I don't know what has happened but we are playing the worst we have played in at least 5 years. This team needs someone to step up and become a leader very quickly. Josh White played very bad today, we played with no agression and got his pocket picked a couple of times in the 1st half. He played better as a freshman than he is playing right now. A guy that has scored more than 1500 points in his career needs to be taking more than 7 shots in the game. I don't want to pick on him but he is a senior point guard and should be the leader of the club. Our defense was absolutely horrible today. We have been giving up way too many points, its like we can't stop anyone on the road. The alley oop backwards dunk given up right before the half was terrible, no one within 10ft of Patillo. Any chance we had of coming back was sunk after Tristan missed his 3rd and 4th ft of the 1st half and the desperation 3pt shot rattled in at the buzzer of the half, you could see it in JJ's face at the beginning of the 2nd half. After fighting back to get the lead to 2 after a horrid start, we give up 12 straight pts in the last 2 min of the 1st half. Shannon Shorter has been pretty much nonexistant lately, he is definitely not playing near as well as he did last year. Odufuwa got in early foul trouble again and couldn't contribute in the 1st half and had a terrible offensive game. Tristan Thompson, hit some good shots but went 1-6 from the line. Domo really didnt contribute much at all today, he is usually good for a couple of big shots but that didnt happen today. On to the 2 guys I thought played fairly well. Kedrick Hogans played hard and had a good game. He has played better this year than I had expected, without him he would have no other big guy besides Odufuwa to consistently contribute. Jacob Holmen also played well today, I think it is a good sign to see him playing better this year, because early in the year I thought he looked horrible an might not be asked back next year. My next topic is Alonzo Edwards. Is he still hurt?? He has been a total fail so far as a juco transfer, the only thing he has done this year consistently, is foul. No offense to Ben Knox, but he can't even take his minutes away. And if he can't get his knee right, JJ needs to let him finish his career somewhere else. I see people saying this team has quit on JJ, you can say that, but if they are quitting on anyone, it is themselves. JJ is going to be back next year and most of the guys playing are not, they are the ones that are going to look back one day regret how they are finishing their basketball careers. I also saw someone say we burnt ourselves in non conference play, if that is so than we weren't very good from the start of the season, our SOS was in the 200s and the teams we beat are not very good. The 2 bcs schools we beat both suck, we have beaten 2 teams with a winning record this year, Jackson St and Texas Southern of the SWAC, which is the worst conference in the nation. So if you look at the body of work we were so excited about earlier in the year, it really wasnt too much to be excited about. Bottom line is we under .500 in the 24th ranked league in the country which equals NOT VERY GOOD. My opinion is that our team has never recovered since JJ benched Tristan, since then we have been playing like we did today. There is also a lot of talk of us still having a chance to get a bye in the tournament, I just want us to win another game first. Best case scenario would be that we win 4 of 5 going into the league tournament to give ourselves a little confidence going to Hot Springs. But but bottom line this season is a disappointment and was going to be a disappointment if we didnt make the NCAA tournament. Even though we have no shot now, I saw people talking NIT earlier this year, but NIT means Not Important Tournament. Overall the things that really hurt us is our defense sucks, if we aren't hitting outside shots we are in trouble and we aren't athletic enough down low and have no depth. The best thing that has happened to this program in the 2011 calendar year is Tony Mitchell enrolling and there is no guarantee he will ever play for us.

Yes, and they seem to gravitate to fan websites!

For a program like ours playing in the NIT would be a honor , but that's just me.

Correction 5 missed free throws and 3 turnovers

Tristants man has had at least 2 open 3's and he has missed 3 free throws with no defense... both of them should be in the dog house Josh passes up on KNox when the man is wide open! What a joke

Here's a thread on Cyclone Fanatic about Dan Mac and your recruiting class in general. I thought you guys might be interested in some opinions. http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/general-college-sports/113519-mccarneys-first-recruiting-class.html

I went to the San Diego State vs UNLV game yesterday in the Thomas and Mack and it was probably one of the most fun inspiring games I have ever been to. The Rebels played their hearts out and the fact they made a comeback to take a 1 point lead with a couple of minutes left was something else. I had never heard the T&M so loud and the experience of was a blast. San Diego state also brought a large contingent of fans to the game, a short 5 hour drive for them. The experience watching the Lobos in the Pit a few years back. Some observations: SDSU is for real. They have a legitimate shot at making a deep run and possibly winning the title this year. They are huge and agile. They couldn't miss in the beginning and they just mow you down with their size and strength. SDSU reminds me of UNT. Their fans have gotten crazy this year, selling out their usually empty arena the entire season. They traveled in force to Sin City, into the teeth of the enemy and chanted the whole game long. When UNT goes on a serious run in football or basketball and enters unchartered territory like SDSU is doing this year, the Mean Green train is going to be speeding down the track at rapid pace. OUR fans will support a winner and sellout the Superpit and our field when our team makes some serious national waves. I never would have thought SDSU could get a following like they have, but they were a dormant large university hungry and craving for something to cheer for. The Aztecs have arrived in basketball and with the new MWC I easily see SDSU and UNLV becoming monster hoops rivals. Throw Nevada entering the picture and their tragic obnoxious fans and all of a sudden UNLV has some really great rivalries to fill the BYU and Utah voids. This leads me to our future conference affiliation. I really hope we get serious consideration for an invite to the MWC. I know our hoops are struggling right now, but lining up against some mean competition in the Pit, the coast, in Sin City, the mountains and the biggest little city in the world would be cool. Trips to Vegas, ABQ, Reno, San Diego and Fort Collins for basketball would be sweet and challenging. Trips to CO Springs, Fresno and Boise in football would be challenging. It is just a really solid league that I hope we get a chance to grow our programs in down the line. Now lets get these hoops back on track and make another run to the dance. We need to continue to show our worthiness, and a fresh dance appearance would continue to help us build our case. GMG

To Iowa, though? Hayrides are not all they're cracked up to be. (Sorry, Quoner.)

(Sorry, didn't see this was previously posted) The Mavs and Spurs will honor former NT Coach Bill Blakeley at an NBA minor league game in Frisco Feb. 21... http://www.meangreensports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1800&ATCLID=205094814

Seriously, ever since Tyler Hall has gone to the end of the bench with an Injury we have not really won a game... Perhaps it is just like the Knox factor of a couple months ago haha

You have a life ahead of you , throw your partner in the fire and I'll light the match. Let's get this done asap

I blame the Peach Basket.

Wright Waters, in a video interview on the SBC official site, referred to them as Western Kensucky a couple of years back.

KY is both the abbreviation for Kentucky and a popular brand of sexual lubricant commonly used in homosexual intercourse. Referring to the school as WKU is a tricky way of suggesting that all who attend or support said school are in fact homosexuals. Just fyi...

If Florida Atlantic wins they will not be in a play in game... any one else and yea sadly its a toss up.... but no one in our conference should ever get below a 15 seed

As I watched that debacle yesterday afternoon I was about as angry and disappointed as I have been in a long time as a Mean Green fan. Why? Because there appeared to be no care, no want, in this team. I stayed mad for about 15 minutes after the game ended though. Fifteen minutes. That's it. I've come to realize that this is because I am no resigned to the fact that this team is not what many of us wanted them to be. Some of us looked at them as the aspirin to the headache that was Dodgeball. Some looked at them as the point of pride that we could boast to friends and potential North Texas bandwaggoners about. They are none of the above...and that's strangely settling. I make no secret of the fact that I believe Tristan should be on the court as much as possible. Is he a defensive liability? Yep. Is he the only consistent scorer lately? Yep. Sure, Josh will have spurts, Holmen will get his and someone else will have the occasional "spurt." But Tristan is the only one who brings his offense consistently...IF you let him play. Do I think TT is perfect? Hell no. His free throw shooting was abysmal last night (just like the team). And I think that even if Tristan were scoring 40 a night it wouldn't make up for the other weaknesses...not completely. I just see him as a Toyota Camry on a car lot of Ford Focuses. There is no Ferrari on this team...sorry. Josh is who he is. And I truly believe Sun Belt teams have figured it out. Put a larger guard on him and keep him from shooting from the perimeter. If he blows past you, no big deal, just let your bigs take care of the rest. He hasn't been that player that we all remember from the Oklahoma State and Tech games since conference started. I'm not trying to bash Josh. I'm just trying to temper the "he's a first ballot NT Hall of Famer" talk with a little reality. If there is anyone on this team who should step up and be that "senior leader" it's this guy. I haven't seen it. George does what George can with what he's got. He's a legit double double guy in this league...with zero margin of error this season. Without Tramiel he has to be THE big man. Kedrick isn't the true big man that George needs as a compliment. George also can't get into any foul trouble. Knox isn't even close to being a serviceable stop-gap. So a whole lot falls on Odufuwa's shoulders. We don't have a bench. That about says it. I used to talk to Courtland all the time about why USC would blow out ranked teams in the OOC in football...then turn around and lose to a weak Pac 10 school. Same for Duke or UNC or all of the Big East in basketball. Conference teams just plain know you. Whereas Texas Tech came into the Super Pit to play us once and LSU had a visit from us once, FAU, WKU, ULL etc. have played Josh White, Tristan, George, and the rest at least once a year and often twice. Preparation is so much more in depth on the part of their coaching staffs. Because our offense is so vanilla and stale...and our defense so, well, absent...our talent can be overcome by a decent game plan. I don't believe this team will "turn it on" in the tournament. Not the confence tournament and consequently certainly not in the NCAA tournament. Fifteen minutes. That's all it took to come down off the ledge because I know now we are who we are.

1) At this point, I don't know who is overrating us. 2) The "beating a team of significance" thing is tired and meaningless. Utah State is ranked 17th, and who have they beaten? Diminishing the wins we do have doesn't seem as relevant a point (to me, at least) as seeing the terrible losses we have for what they are. The only "team of significance" on our schedule, if Tech and the road win at LSU don't count, was Kansas. They're 2nd in the country and only one team has beaten them. We can't beat teams that won't play us in worthwhile series. If the day ever comes that the football team manages to beat two BCS teams in the same year, I promise I won't swing by the football forum and talk about how meaningless the wins are because they came against teams that were 5-7. 3) I'd put money on us still winning 20 games. Not saying it ought to be a goal that makes this season satisfying, but despite it all I think we'll get there again.

Dominique did make it to double figures. I thought he played decent enough - at least in comparison to some of the guys. I don't feel Josh has to score to be effective, so I don't agree he needs to take more than 7 shots. Some of the best games of his career (IMHO) were in his sophomore year where he didn't score much because of his injured hand. Nonetheless, I do agree he was not up to snuff today. Both he and DJ had issues against WKU's guards. Otherwise I pretty much agree with you on the team. However, I think it's ridiculous to slam the National Invitation Tournament. There are 340 teams in D1 basketball or so. That means only 1 of 5 makes the Big Dance. It's still pretty big for schools (especially schools outside the power 6 leagues) to make the NIT.

Darn. A while back I was put down for giving Marlin some due.

If Thompson is not playing well, I would like your review of White, Oduduwa, Johnso and Shorter. Yes Thompson is forcing some shots but with this stagnant offense, someone has to score. As far as defense I haven't seem much from anybody. Thompson may not be the best defensively but that could be said for just about the whole team. Johnson and White try but their size is too much to overcome particularly when they are not any quicker than bigger players. Holman is far from a good defensive player but he does seem to have improved effort. Odufuwa generally played good defense but he is getting overwhelmed by more balanced front courts. Hogans makes some great defensive plays but is not overall that good of a defensive player. He has some great blocks but also get beat a lot. Ever Shorter which is supposed to be NT's best defensive guard is often matched against ether bigger or quicker players and is having a tough time with both.

Unless we win out in Hot springs I almost hope we don't. Kinda tired of 20 wins being our brag rag around here.

A number of wins should never be the goal. Winning conference, winning the conference tournament and winning some games in the NCAA tourney should be the goals and the wins will take care of themselves.

Thompson is not disciplined offensively. He throws up more junk and forces too many shots, plus he is a defensive liability. I don't know if he is trying to do too much, but he is not playing well. WKU passes to players in position to shoot and runs a true offense. We force shots most of the time and rely on a one-on-one, playground style offense.

You can point the finger at any coach or player right now. It's time for everyone to look in the mirror and decide how they want to finish out their season

Even if we did this season is still a disappointment. It's time to set our goals higher than just 20 wins

Why aren't you on George's case? He has been even more of a ghost than Josh. Besides...the leading scorer today is Hogans. Can't say Tristan is the only offensive threat. I'd say Hogans has been best in show by far today actually.

Tristan has had hi issues to go along with being the ONLY offensive threat. Josh has had nothing, nada, zip.

Seems like I've been reading Pettigrew's name on WKU rosters since '99. I am ready for him to graduate.

I'd say Holmen is playing very well, but yes, Josh and Domo haven't shown up as of yet.

Wish we'd retire out road "tuxedos"

It's WKU, not WKY. We're not NTU, and if there's any school in this league that deserves the respect of a properly stated name, it's Western Kentucky. Side note: WKU fan and occasional visitor Dahbeed has taken to calling MTSU "Mediocre Tennessee". I'm a fan of it and suggest we borrow the phrase when appropriate.

Actually, Hitler was an environmentalist. Ennnndddd Thread.

Problem is about 4,500 of the 5,700 go home every weekend.

Former Dentonite Garland Warren honored by Texas State with helmet sticker. Garland graduated from Denton high, was a star player for the Broncos, lettered 3 years at NT and was a CFL All-Star player. Heard that years back, something happened to make him disconnect from North Texas. Bobcat fans article http://bobcatfans.com/archives/2458

Imagine that! Better get some -1's going for the poor fella...I guess he just has no respect for that team. HeHe....

Is it unfair to say he has completely disappeared? Meanwhile, TT is showing to be the only one who DOESNT belong in the dog house.

What? How dare you!!!!! Rick

I missed the game today. Thought it was scheduled for later start. Glad I missed it because watching it would have depressed me to no end. I can't believe we're missing FT's. Somethings a miss with this team and I don't know what it is. JJ has coach these same players for years so it's not like the team doesn't know what JJ expects. It's not like they haven't delivered in the past. This team must really be tired!!! We were lights out until conference play. Maybe this team felt like they could sleep walk through regular season SBC play. I thought they could have too. Boy was this team mistaken along with me. Now I've given up on everything, but prayers. I though this was going to be our break out year. Boy was I wrong. Maybe this team has a ton of injures JJ kept them under wraps. Or, better yet this team will begin to preform down the stretch!!! Just at a lose to put this into words!!!!

I hate to say this, but I think we are overrated. Poor defense, no true leader and the same playground offense we've always run, plus we haven't beaten a team of any significance this year. I never thought I would say this when conference started, but we will not win 20 games this year. Why? Because every team in the SBC is getting better as the season goes on, and we are getting worse.

I think we will start to pull 1 or 2 Iowa kids each year in our recruiting class.I also hope DMac can set up a home & home w/ Iowa State in the future

How about "UNT ALUMNI (THE ONES THAT GIVE A DAMNED THAT IS)STADIUM".

I like the ones I took the liberty on your post to highlight in black, untjim; that is, a 9 team conference. Acutally, the jist of this thread was not re-alignment at all; that is, from one existing conference to another, but was about the forming of a brand new conference period. OK, Neinas! Help us do some cherry pickin' before some of the leagues we steal from to form this brand new conference knows what hit 'em! I'm sure there would be at least one bowl who would take our football champion over an under .500 school of which some thread says a few bowls may have to take this year. Of course, like most all threads and posts on GMG.com--merely speculation. GMG!

I am pretty sure we have/had more beds than that number. I am confident it is over 6000.

Oldy but a goody.

Given up on JJ? No. Given up on regular season? Maybe.

What are your opinions on Alonzo Edwards? A failed experiment as I pointed out earlier?

Or they're working to keep from racking up a lot of debt. I don't have numbers to back it up, but I always got the feeling that UNT students came from more middle/working class families and rely on loans and scholarships, rather than those who might have mom and dad paying a good portion like UT or A&M.

The 5 years that I attended UNT. The people who I've met in my life that have attended such schools. I never said poor kid, I said more likely to come from Euless or East Plano or Garland rather than Highland Park or Southlake.