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First two of the season! We put it on TV and then got a shout out by Michael Gruber on his Twitter. Thanks for the suggestions! Niko Suave is next up. This post has been promoted to an article

I don't think any of us understand the amount off pressure TM is putting on himself. He wants to do great things here and people are expecting him to walk on water. All that pressure and the fact he hasn't played in nearly 2 years will wear down a body pretty quick. Let's all just be patient and let time work it out. As far as the NBA , TM will have to play a SF at the next level. He has to work on his outside game if we wants to be a lottery pick. I hope that the wrong people don't get in his ear and tell him he ought to go pro. The longer he stays here , the more it will benefit him in the long run

The upcoming draft is loaded and his performance tonight against a good, not great, LSU squad was not NBA ready.

Too many knee jerk opinions in this thread...the dude hasn't been a member of the team for even a week. I say we hit 'pause' on this thread and reconvene in mid-February.

Thanks for your thoughts on Mitchell. It's clearly only the UNT super fans who think he's got a shot at the NBA. I mean it's not like ESPN's draft Guru has him rated 40th in the country or NBADRAFT.NET has him slated to go with the #8 pick in the 2013 draft or anything like that. It's clearly just our fans pumping our players full of praise as usual. Also if you think players like Mitchell are a dime a dozen...then you must only watch teams like UNC, Duke, Syracuse etc. Also really hard to call Jordan Hill a bust when he is only starting his 3rd season and spent his first season split between two teams.

3rd game in 5 days for the guy who hasn't had the luxury of preseason practice or the previous games. No excuses for tonight, but I anticipate him being less lethargic going forward.

Was Paige with him? You openly wondered why people didn't respect your basketball opinion...this is why. One of the dumbest things I've read on this board...and seriously, that takes work. You go 2-3 because your opponent is considerably bigger than you and/or you've little regard for their outside shot. The 2-3 prevents entry passes to scoring positions in the post...it's down-sides are that it will eventually lead to an open perimeter shot (which LSU wasn't hitting) and the lack of a man block-out assignment which creates easier offensive rebounds (which LSU killed us on). To think the 2-3 shuts down a team's perimeter game may well be the dumbest sports point ever.

Im very confused by the master of basketball... 2-3 zone is used to shut down the perimeter??? Im not a genius like skiver or anything but im pretty sure thats the weakness of the 2-3 zone. But we cant be wrong because skiver knows everything about basketball. By the way does it look like skiver created a new userid to give him +1's... they were all +2...

Right. The 2-3-1-2. Stifling.

Does going to a zone allow us to double 3 guys?

Just double them too. Idiot.

My complaint is about Super Pit concessions. The water is too wet and the ice cream is too cold.

See, that's why I don't understand why a hardship waiver ("medical redshirt") hasn't been pursued for Steven Ford. He played a short enough portion of the season in 2010 that there should be no problem getting one for him. Whether or not you think he's a starter next year, he's experience and pretty solid play on the depth chart. Agree with the comments about Dequarius. He sounds like a monster athlete. "It's the age of Dequarius" at UNT.

According to the meangreenball breakdown, we set season lows for assists, steals, field goals made, and rebounds in this game. And yet, with around 4 minutes to go we still had a shot to steal this one. Against a RPI Top 50 team mind you. Compare this team to the one that got blitzed by UTA and you have to think we're gonna be really tough in a few weeks (once Tony gets his legs).

Finally got to introduce TheTastyGreek to one of our all time great 3 point bomber specialists, George "The Archer" King tonight. Always wanted to get you two rapping some basketball some time down the road. Really had a great time tonight, especially when we were winning. The LSU fans were pretty nervous till the end. And speaking of their fans. Met a father and his two sons tonight who live in Corinth. He grew up in Baton Rouge, went to LSU now works abroad for an oil and gas company. Both his sons, looked to be about 13 and 9, had LSU hats on. But he said because they live close by, whenever he is in town they try and come to the basketball games and have enjoyed the football games too. After the game I asked the 13 year old if he was thinking about wanting to go to college some day and he said without hesitation, "Yes, I want to go to North Texas because it seems like a really good school". There are countless folks like these people all over Denton County who are transplants looking to support a second team. Its my hope we can continue to tap into this source of fans and grow our base of support from there. Rick

My main question is where was NIKO!?!?!

I have a dirty mind

You should know what to expect on GMG by now. Idiot.

I want my 15 mins back for going through this thread. Idiot.

Along with those crucial T/O's by CJ and JW, we lost the game because we got killed on the offensive boards. I suspect we'll have trouble against big teams all year. Unless of course we can just plain start shooting the ball at a decent percentage and out score the opponent.

Friggin basketball elitists...

Well, not the dumb zone you are thinking of, but the kind I saw once does. Idiot.

Honestly? I think we go something like 10-6 or 11-5 in league play with most of those losses coming in the first eight games. By March we'll be rolling and will be the 4 or 5 seed, and considered to be the dangerous floater in the draw that no one wants to play --- ala our 2007 championship squad.

Tell that to the 2 UCLA kids who left last year and were picked in the 2nd round. Happens more than you'd think.

The HardLine was constantly referring to TCU as little ole during their run to the Rose Bowl last year.

Because of his height. You don't see 5'8" safeties in FBS football. You'd have to have spectacular leaping ability which I'm told that he has. I also thought that he would be a corner but it's been posted more than once that he will play safety. I believe that we got a very good corner. He's a 3-star athlete who should be very good until we can fare better with future recruits. Davis and Kelly are potential starters but they won't be ready as freshmen. I'm glad that the coaching staff recognized that Warner needed experienced help and went the JUCO route.

I had heard talk about that as well, maybe just here on this board. It sounds like he has the ability to be a lockdown corner. But he played safety at OU, and indications are he will be a safety

Kram, you would stay on the bandwagon for a box of Kleenex wearing a North Texas jersey, but I'm sure tony appreciates the reassurance. I agree with a lot of what UNT90 and you just posted. I doubt we're still having these same conversations about Tony and the offense in 2-3 weeks and I'm optimistic last night taught these kids a great deal. You bet your Aston I can't wait to get back out and see them keep improving next week. Oh, and if we are still having these issues in 2-3 weeks, I hope the forum allows for solid, intelligence and constructive criticism.

Double update: pinenet has just discovered that radar can be spelled the same way backwards. Sources within the department are calling it "the coolest thing ever"

I know there will be some who post here that will disagree with you. I will not be one of those. You pretty much nailed my observations on the team so far. This is going to be..."going to be" being the operative words here, a very exciting team to watch develop over the next couple of years. In the meantime, the Mean green faithful will just need to be patient and enjoy the ride...win or lose. This team will lose games it should have won...last night against LSU being a prime case in point...and it will win some games it probably should have lost. This is a bunch of young players surrounded by a couple of solid, but not spectacular experienced players. AND, it will take time. How many missed jumpers last night? How many turnovers? How many missed open shots? So, really, this will be a case of the "good, bad and ugly" for awhile all wrapped up in a nice package of exciting and fun basketball to watch. Frustrating, yes indeed...but, fun none the less. Everyone just needs to be patient and enjoy the ride. So far, Chris Jones is showing that he is the "real deal" while Jordan William and Tony Mitchell have some work to do on those jumpers and in adjusting more to the college game. A year playing rec ball where you are clearly the best player going is showing as Tony tries to adjust to the speed and pace of the college game. These other players are simply not rec ball players. They are good, fast and skilled....pretty much all of them or they would not be on a D-1 court. I am having a blast watching this team and realizing that every game will show some signs of improvement while I await the "experience factor" that can only come with time. I left the game last evening both happy and sad. Sad that UNT lost a game it could definitely have won, but happy to know that this is a team and a program that will be something to watch for some time to come. AND, the "good news" is that the "time" will definitely come. GREAT crowd of over 6000 last night at the Super Pit. Got to hand it to the student section...pretty darn good showing for a holiday break period. Well done! And, the "alumni and fan" crowd...while seeing transfere a few in purple and gold...are to be commended as well. Two observations from the crowd for me...ONE: It shows what can happen when UNT plays "known" teams, and TWO; It shows the size crowd that should be filling the Super Pit each and every game. No reason why this team should not average 5000+. Good start on the support this season folks...keep it coming. Yes, it will take some time and some patience from the fan base, but have no doubt about the abilities of this team and the coaching staff to get it done. UNT is on the rise, and some folks are definitely beginning to take notice. Yep, lost last evening...yep, should have won...could have won, but it was a great evening at the Super Pit and the hint of many good nights to follow in the Super Pit. SHOUT OUT TO THE BEST SIGN (Well, maybe the only sign)...two young women holding a sign that read: "You Have Just Been MITCH Slapped". No where near as great if it were being held by two guys. Nicely played, ladies! Thanks to all who made it to the Super Pit last evening...great fun, great atmosphere. You helped to make it so!

That is not the first time, I have done that and probably not the last.

That is because our players our standing there watching the ball in flight instead of looking at their man and getting in position to BLOCK OUT - the Zone works - it would be nice if we tried a 1-3-1 and did some trapping on the wing and create some turnovers of our own.

There isn't a good basketball coach in the world that thinks a 2-3 zone shuts down the outside shot. Now you're just making stuff up.

jez louise... I have had this argument before... but I guess people from this area just assume there is one type of zone so it is really not worth arguing anymore. I know I am right and whats more important is that we played a decent game tonight and it should be on cruise control from here on out!

I completely agree... He could still play the 4 like Brandon bass did under sized but he is most profitable as a 3. I would love to see a back court of jones, williams and mitchel!! He is definitely ridding himself hard and I can see him getting frustrated with the amount of touches he gets in the post

The zone was successful? I'm not sure we got a rebound the entire time we were in zone, and the big white guy tore the zone up. I was not a fan. We are WAY too athletic to run zone. Also, at least 2 of Tony's fouls came while in the zone.

Hey, I am in that photo!!!! Nice...

Attendance: 24,607 Not many fans from either team wanted to be there. Pathetic attendance.

Steven B had a stat that baffled me...maybe b/c I've never heard a break-down like that, but the numbers just seemed so jarring...at one point at the start of the second half LSU had taken 19 shots to UNT's 5...a credit to both their defense which turned UNT over and their second and third chance opportunities. Always hate to send a good crowd home with an L, but I think anyone who knows basketball saw more than enough from the boys tonight to come back and keep supporting them.

Leave it to the "usual suspects" to hijack serious whore talk.

Big George and Shannon in the house tonight.

At the game. The line at gate A is still extremely long, five minutes before tip off. One of the reasons being explained to those standing outside is the gate folks are currently having to PRINT TICKETS FOR PURCHASE??? WTH???? Did we not expect a crowd when LSU rolled into town? Rick

Didn't most on here recently praise our President for his letter to the editor which was half about SMU/TCU?

All this is assuming Patton doesn't gain his eligibility...but my take on who I'd like to see on the floor and for how long during conference play. PG - Chris Jones - 30, Trey Norris - 10 I think this is pretty clear cut, Jones needs to be on the ball when he's on the floor and Norris is developing into a nice pass-first point guard (he hasn't taken a shot in his last 4 games) to drive the bus while Jones rests. SG - Alzee Williams - 30, Brandon Walton - 5, Jordan Williams - 5 Alzee lets the game come to him better than anyone else on the roster...he takes advantage of scoring chances, plays great on the ball defense without fouling and has been going to the glass more of late as well. I'd put Walton on the floor, if he knocks down a few shots keep him on, if he goes 0fer have him grab a seat. I don't think Jordan should see extended time at the 2, but a few minutes with maybe Franklin, Holmen and Mitchell on the floor could cause some real match-up problems SF - Jordan Williams - 20, Franklin - 10, Holmen - 10 Jordan is inconsistent, especially with his shooting, but he's starting to use his athleticism in other areas and if he gets his stroke going he would be a ridiculous 3rd option in conference. PF - Tony Mitchell - 15, Franklin - 15, Holmen - 10 I'll get to Mitchell in a moment...Franklin and Holmen bring completely different games, but I think are interchangeable at the 3 and 4 spots...I'd like to see them on the floor together a bit more, especially to bring offense for the stretches when Mitchell needs a blow C - Ked / Zo / Niko - 25, Mitchell - 15 I think Mitchell closes most nights at the 5...CJ, Alzee, Jordan, Franklin or Holmen, Mitchell...for the other minutes we've a three-headed monster who I've plenty of faith in to average a double-double between them.

I would shorten the rotation with major minutes to Jones, Williams, Williams, Franklin, Hogans and Mitchell. I would give Norris at least 10m, I think he is really coming on. The others I would put in if the game dictates by players tiring or fouls but certainly wouldn't make minutes for them. I really think this team is so talented that most of the players left out of my rotation could have started for the majority of NT teams. Niko, Holmen, Edwards and Walton have all had moments but IMO are going to have to get a lot more consistent to play more than single digit minutes. Most team plays 7 to 8 regularly, but that has never been JJ's style unless he is short handed like last year. There are reasons to play everyone but it is my belief that NT's core group is just better with 6 of them capable of being all conference players. The team is not very good right now and I think that is primarily because of inexperience, more playing time should help. Once the rotation gels than more substitutions may be better.

holy crap... UNT has bandwagon fans? this is a great day for UNT... wait a minute... maybe this is what that announcement on Feb. 13 is about... we are going to unveil the official bandwagon!!!

Have a hard time heading to the Hilltop with a coach that has shown he is looking elsewhere, lied regarding why the Arizona State job fell through and has a fanbase that doesn't care for the head coach. Seems to be a tense situation over there. Why would you want that when we have a very stable coaching staff and more to offer in the future?

As someone 3 years in on payments for a BMW I can tell you one thing wrong with owning one - the payments. Ain't cheap. I would love if someone just gave me one and I didn't have to use my own money. I'd even let some SMU students Daddy buy me one.

There are going to be UNT fans that hate and SMU fans that are arrogant. Hopefully the rest of us can find common ground and keep the debate/discussion civil.

All I can say is I'm glad we didn't hire Leach- who was a controversial but frequently mentioned fan consideration for head coach at North Texas,