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You know, I never really give praise or criticize coaching on a game in game out basis. Especially not in a season with so many games. I might defend or try to rationalize a decision if pressed - but for the most part unless I feel something is totally egregious, there's probably a fairly good theory behind the move (like say the running debate all over college basketball on whether you foul the opponent up 3 at the end of the game). I take a long view to coaches, i.e. season by season (or over many seasons as a cumulative). Coach Jones took awhile to get it going, but since 2007, he wins about two thirds of his games and has won 2 conference titles with a loss in the title game one time. If I recall, he has something like the 2nd or 3rd highest win percentage of any Sun Belt Coach ever in the conference tournament (and that includes his first few seasons where we were 1-5). Looking at his career here, it is nothing if not noteworthy. Whether he retires here, moves elsewhere, or gets fired someday -- there is little question he is gonna be enshrined in our HOF. So, do I cut him some slack when others might not? I probably do, because I look at his trend line, not the blip of a single game(or even a streak of them).

The amount of times you've given JJ credit for wins without some sort of backhanded compliment is almost as rare. BTW - the game thread had a few references to the coaching being partially to blame.

I think it is pretty clear that you dont schedule patsy's like Texas Tech to get you ready for UTA.

I always enjoy when a post begins with "I wasn't at the game" and ends with what the coach NEEDS to do.

California, that would be #18 California, just lost 92-53 to Missouri. Should Cal fire their coach? Should they lament how overrated they must have been? Or, and bear with me, should they realize that occassionally the snowball rolls downhill on you and you take a big loss? I concede that we have a LONG way to go to get where we're capable of being...but I think the ride will have far more smooth parts than bumpy ones when all is said and done.

For what it's worth, the UTA dancers.............woof.

Hadn't beaten SMU in 5 years. WOW! 50-46 FINAL!

Hey guys, I had to work late so I just came in to check the score...

Okay, so UNT loses to UTA 97-64! I didn't watch the game and I just got back home and pulled up the score and thought there was a typo. Wasn't this team supposed to be a top 30 class??? (without Tony Mitchell). I don't care how "out of it" the players may have been or if we played without some starters, this score is completely embarrassing to the program and JJ needs to step it up by making the players realize that their "talent" needs to be SHOWN at the games. They won't win by simply showing up to the games....it doesn't work that way. What a disappointment.

Anyone heard from UNTMike81? After his high expectations this season, I hope he's doing okay after last night.

Well that was insightful...not. Same stuff that's been posted on this board a trillion times.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/smu-mustangs/20111123-women-s-basketball-last-second-fts-lift-n.-texas-over-smu.ece Rick

If that "average" Southland team gets hot from outside like they did in the first half and continues to play the disciplined style I witnessed last night they'll be average and dancing come March. And I'll say it again...the #18 team in the country got beat by 39 last night as well...without starting a team of basically all underclassmen. Sometimes I think football season leaves some of us desperate for redemption and we dive off cliffs when it's not delivered.

Not going to calm down too quickly, after just witnessing the worst half of basketball in my memory including my son's 6 year old YMCA team. Blame it on the eerie stage, UTA takes the rivalry more seriously, lots of newcomers or just bad karma, but there are no excuses for a team to play that bad. This is not a talent problem, you cannot convince me that UTA is the more talented team. More experienced yes but the Dallas Mavericks would have not made NT look any worse. This team looked like they had never seen a press and they thought Shanice Stephens taught good defense. A 32 point run and JJ and staff appear to be too stunned to react. Many mention that games like this happen, but against a Southland conference team. The season is young and the team is going to have growing pains but based on this performance this team is totally unprepared. Seen comments about this class being overrated, but I believe the freshmen are all going to be good and a couple great. The biggest problem through 3 games including this debacle is that the front court is very weak. Some one out of Holmen, Edwards, Hogan, Robinson, Niko is going to have to step way up. Edwards can now move but can he play. Hogans has not shown yet, he is equal to last year's performance, Holmen is Holmen, hot for few minutes and than disappears. Niko at least attempting to provide some offense although abused defensively. Robinson was not unexpectedly lost. Franklin is a tweener but is showing why he mostly sit on the bench at OSU. Hopefully this game will light a fire under this team, and they will move forward and gel.

Actually, it's less. Especially since every freaking loss thread has complaints about coaching (as arguably they should), and often the wins ones do as well (and arguably they shouldn't). Obviously just not as critical as you wish. But since you said that Harry's was the first post you read blaming coaching, I guess reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. From tonight's game thread.

I made the trip, my thoughts about things unrelated to our crappy play and UTA's great night: The officiating was shitty and even when the game was decided (EARLY ON), they found a way to insert themselves into it. If anyone wants to debate Denton's support of UNT, go to a UTA game and feel good about Denton. This brings me to my last point. The city of Arlington sucks ass. It's unfortunate that it has to be in the name of an otherwise reputable institution.

UTA fan here. Not gonna talk noise because I respect UNT and their fans and appreciate ya'll let me talk hoops with ya'll every year. But I must admit, this felt good. UTA is not real tall, but a very athletic team. UNT looked tentative from the opening tip. UTA applied serious full-court pressure--double-teaming the ballhandler and after about 6 or 7 possessions (and UTA making everything we put up, or at least getting the rebounds for what we and UNT missed), the Mean Green could tell they were in for a long night. Coach Cross has been saying for several years we needed to get better defensively, pull down rebounds, get tougher and more athletic. Coach Cross has players that can do that. A lot of UNT turnovers turned into easy points. The one thing, though, that I've wondered the last few years though...with the size ya'll seem to usually have...why don't ya'll play more pick-and-roll or try to establish more offense in the paint? Seems like UNT shoots a lot of 3-pointers and long jump shots, which tend to be easily rebounded. UTA can shoot the 3, but I think just penetrating and getting to the free throw line really helped tonight...Butler, Catlett, Reed, Redmon, Miller, etc. UNT got into foul trouble fairly early, and we didn't really have to shoot the 3 unless it was open. And for UTA, it was nice to see our two big centers Reves and Lagerson blocking shots and getting into the offense. We've got Baylor tomorrow night, so what happened to ya'll tonight could very easily happen to us tomorrow. So I'm not gonna talk noise, but good luck the rest of the way. You've got a young team that can shoot the 3 very well...good stuff in the future for ya'll.

So I'm assuming we played with two players? When you lose by 33 points against a team you were expected to be competitive against, you don't HAVE to watch the entire game to know things need to be addressed. Did I get into specific/technical issues? You tell me...

Is now a proper time to ask for JJ's to be fired? or to have him have to walk back from Arlington?

WTF happened with this game?? I couldn't watch it, but there is NO excuse for such a poor as$ performance! Getting completely manhandled by UTA...really??? Didn't this team have major talent as a top 30 recruiting class??? Wow, I hope this team realizes they need to do something different and fast, starting with coach JJ. This is absolutely embarrassing.

Ladies now up now by 7 with 11:25 to go, 37-30. Rick

NOT WINNING is killing our program. Scheduling LSU and Kansas St next year isn't exactly helping either. We need games were we have a chance to win. (I know we almost beat K ST last year)How about we schedule SFA or Sam Houston. Take a note from Boise State early years, schedule easier teams and start winning.

Obviously, just killing time watching the debates... The Sun Belt Conference as Wright Waters has envisioned it might as well be called the South Belt Conference. Nothing wrong with Wright, but for a non AQ league it really is too far spread out IMHO. Folks, we are not going to make much in TV revenues now or anytime soon, so regionalize into a new conference with a few metro areas in it. I know we lose more in basketball points, but the Big Boy are on the verge of really making us lose more than just points. A consortium of college presidents at some (or all ) of the schools listed below would hire a good "experienced with conference TV packages"" associate commisioner to be this league's new commish' (probably one who is presently employed in an established conference)............. then............. turn him loose. He (she) might then get a consortium of schools in a 4 or 5 state region (Texas, La, NM, Ark, ???). If Wright Waters can get the SBC a bowl game in its 1'st year, I think history can repeat itself in doing that again with a strong, new commissioner. (Maybe one of our new schools already has a bowl in its city or could get a 2'nd bowl a la New Orleans Bowl)? Conference Name? The name "Southwest Conference" is not available and is now housed or headquartered at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Waco. YOU NAME THE CONFERENCE AND WHAT CRITERIA THAT EACH SCHOOL IN IT SHOULD FOLLOW WITH FACILITIES, ACCESS TO AIRPORTS, ATTENDANCE STANDARDS, ETC, ETC, ETC The ___________________Conference (1) UTSA (2) TSU (3) NMSU (4) Ark State (5) La Tech (6) ULouisiana (7) Middle Tennessee (8) North Texas (9) "You name the school if we have to have 9" I know starting a new league has not been the thing to do of late, but what do non AQ programs have to lose at this point in time or in the near future?

so calm down we only got our a$$es handed to us by an average Southland team, geez no wonder RV and company rest on their laurels so often

He can play cb/safety/wr.. Hes a man.... Like ive said before, he will be the best player on the team next year

Well, you said 11 pages on 2 threads, now didn't you? If one of us had said something like that arguing against you, and later admitted they didn't read all of the pages that they insinuated they'd read, you'd be all over their ass.

11 pages on two threads and this is the first time I've seen the coach held responsible for the loss in any of them. Rick

No they weren't, and we didn't lose the game because of them, but that was some of the worst, home cooking I have ever seen. Needless to say UTA was ready to play and they drilled us. We just flat out stank tonight. I just hope the team learns from this quickly.

The entire game performance at the first half was pathetic.

oh wait....neverming, they beat George Mason and rushed the court. http://deadspin.com/5861931/because-any-time-you-beat-the-63rd-best-team-in-college-basketball-you-have-to-rush-the-court

Just plain pathetic.

holy shit...

Brady walked over to Pitino tonight with about 15 seconds left , shook his hand and walked off the court.. Leaving his team out there , not a good night for SUNBELT coaches

Something positive... T this point I think we just have to many talented players and not enough minutes to go around... And Why was everyone so excited about Franklin? I have seen nothing. Now NIko and Holmon have both really impressed me! I would love to see more of them along side the three freshmen as starters? We do not have a set center... So zo and ked need to step it up Where the he'll was the the defense...

Could the reason it was a top 30 class because we had quantity?

I didn't make this game , but I'm wondering if maybe this team is " coasting " until T Mitch joins them ? I know it's only a few games , maybe I'm just thinking outloud and upset Just a thought

This is why people don't like you.

This wouldn't be the place for sound logic. Take it to the Eagle's Nest Bet you he doesn't even bleed green.

Uh, better put the razors away then.

I just hope I don't have to sit behind his granddad at the games.

That is certainly for the best...

3:15 to go, 44-42 Mean Green. Gonna be a barn burner finish. Rick

times 3

5:38 left, leading by 3. SMU making a run Rick

5:38 left, leading by 3. SMU making a run Rick

5:38 left, leading by 3. SMU making a run Rick

39-32 with 7:49 to go. Rick

Careful or you'll end up with an AD that sounds like Plumm.

They have a larger frat base.

Hope they get to beat SMU