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I'm really hating this Andrew character. Not as much as Benford, but same ballpark.

Yup, that horrible JJ system that won 2 conference titles and came within a shot of 2 more. Yeah, he sucked.

I listened to a scout obn the way out say Benford is trying to implement a serious system but doesn't have the disciplined players to do it as opposed to Lehigh where their star player went down and someone else stepped into his place. He said he needs to get his own players for HIS system. I tend to agree...our players ESPECIALLY Tony act like they don't even care out there. The smaller less athletic team out hustled us and played with confidence on every play...our guys are some over-hyped brats and they didn't want it bad enough. It was so embarrassing sitting with my friends from Lehigh having to watch tonight. Smh.

All proceeds from tickets go to the fire Benford fund.

I agree with Andrew. I never saw brilliance from Tony last year. He was rarely the best big man on the court. we lost to ULL twice with Johnny. Benford is the coach this year and more. The "fire the coach" BS after a few games is bush league. I haven't been a member of this site long, but it makes me sick every time I come here. I have been going to NT games since 1961, attend ever game I can, listen on the radio tp away games. Been to Hot Spings the last 3 years, going this year. I watch 20 plus games every week. All of which i plan on continuing. And don't bother telling me I don't know basketball. I won't be back to read it. What if a potential recruit read this site. Most of you are a disgrace to NT

Does he look good in a suit?

The scout os right. Tony is a dunker, not a basketball player. He can't create his own shot against marginal defenders. He has zero post game. He doesn't have the necessary skills to succeed at the next level. He is an athlete with potential. He is basically a microcosm of this entire team. Athletically a ten, basketball IQ a zero.

Just to add fuel to this fire - the scout I dealt with thought that Benford had no clue how to utilize Mitchell. He also questioned Mitchell's competitiveness, bball IQ, footwork, body language, and hustle. He thought he was athletic but questioned how that might translate against others of similar ability. Said he needs to be on a team with good coaching (presumably here talking about in the NBA). (mic drop)

NO, Tony Mitchell has cost Tony millions! Chris is a streetballer while JW and Tony M are lazy and don't have the heart to even compete for a Sumbelt Championship. If they are as talented and were the winners most of you here make them out to be, then they could win a Sunbelt Championship in any system. This conference is not the AAC!

You are right Andrew. Someone needs to give it up already. Look in the mirror and see who it is.

RV this is on you! I have never been against you but what a horrible hire! And benford...... I honestly don't know what to say besides please leave.

You've got to be wearing a cup at all times. You think this is bad... just wait until we have a baseball team kicking us in the nuts as well.

Remember when we gave Benford the keys to a new Ferrari? Remember when he switched out the transmission for one from a Ford Taurus...because it fit his "system" of driving? Remember when he made sweet love to Andrew in that Ferrari? Ahhhh, those were the days.

Or the JJ system that has LSU at 7-1. A team he has never known or coached is 7-1 in his first year and has two top 20 guys comming in next year. Yeah that JJ system doesn't work.

Right now the dumpster fire has one of any number of explanations or a combination of many. 1. Benford is totally out of his depth, and there was a reason he was a 20 year assistant 2. The team is undisciplined and a bunch of street ballers, who need a lot of slack to just run free and are constricted by whatever Benford is attempting to run 3. After the early season losses, the team got dejected and has not recovered from the funk. 4. The team has no leaders. 5. CJ is having a ridiculous sophomore slump and is dragging the rest of the team down with him. 6. Brandon Walton is showing he was the team MVP by his absence, as we now have NO outside threat, and teams play us that way. 7. The alleged, day of game practices are killing the team....we do seem to fall apart of exhaustion in the second half. And probably some others I am not thinking of. Really though, given our talent level there is no legitimate reason we should be struggling this much. A team without their best player just blew us out of our own building. I am not someone who gives up on coaches easily. But, as I have said before, Benford walked into a fantastic situation and it is crumbling. Whatever the reason, he is the man at the top. If he didn't want scrutiny, he should have tried to get a reclamation project like Johnny Jones did when he first took over here. Learning the job on the fly works out very well in a place that has won 20 games in four seasons....not one that expected to compete for a conference title and a decent tournament seed.

Forget this website, I don't want recruits to see our W-L record or watch us play.

Watching benford tonight and he reminds me of the elf from bad Santa....always looking around with a confused look on his face. As for Mitchell...he seems to pout every time he doesn't get the ball or foul...lackluster effort on his part...one of the last dozen the court to get back on defense....damn disappointing team. Franklin is a joy to watch...always gives his all...also Holman...like watching that dude play as well

George, Tristen and Josh could beat any combination of five Benford puts on the floor. What we have now is just of bunch of kids who play for themselves, unlike the teams over the last 6-7 years who played for the team and the University first. They gave everything they had in the classroom, on the street and certainly on the court. They made us all proud and they made us feel good. They were and still are family. All I see now are some kids who wear our uniforms, nothing more. Any Tradition that might have been established over the last several years by the hard work and dedication of former players has been wiped out. These current kids dropped the baton. Yes, there are a few exceptions. Not many. These current players have no heart, no soul. I don't know who they are and what they are doing here at our University.

Your constant berating of the refs does not help Info, no question!

Seems to be that you may have overheard the same guys I did...or maybe they had similar opinions of what they saw...but, you know those guys don't know anything about basketball. They just need to talk with all the BB experts here on GMG.com. Man, those NBA guys are just basketball dummies!

Well I asked where he sees Tony in the draft ad his answer was.... "I see him staying in school"

I get the Dodge and Stephens comparisons, but I don't think they're entirely accurate here. The football program was floundering when Dodge took over...both in terms of performance and marketability...so RV took a chance on a splash hire that commanded both local and national attention and put a more entertaining product on the field. The major mis-fire here was allowing Dodge to bring a high school staff...had that not happened I think Dodge would've at least cracked double figures in wins... The logic behind the Stephens hire was actually sound as well...again, you have a struggling program in need of re-vitalization...there is a case history for well-thought-of assistants coming in and jump starting something with their energy and dedication in their first head coaching job. RV just clearly picked the wrong assistant. When you have a program that has already established a level of success, though, and you need a new coach because your program builder has moved on to greener pastures...that is not the time to take a chance...there are three logical routes to take...the preferred is you nab the hot coach at the perceived next rung down (Scott Cross for example), you grab an experienced head coach who has shown some success in difficult situations (Doc Sadler) or if you go the assistant route, its because you know you have a gem in-house (see Mark Few, Brad Stevens). I like RV. I like the work he's done here...the stadium, right or wrong, will stand as his crowning achievement and he has done a fantastic job in building facilities and the periphery sports. But if this hire ruins the one major sport that has given this AD any shred of credibility over the past decade...RV needs to be held accountable for his catastrophic mistake.

hahah...i thought that you intentionally did that and that your writeup was 'not found'...sorta like the play and coaching this year...

Pardon my French, but seriously, what the f**k is wrong with you?

So after reading all of this, I actually think both Andrew and UNT90 are right. Weird I know. But, UNT90 and others often questioned JJ and his system how we would struggle during the season often losing to lesser teams that were seemingly better coached see Bob Marlin et al. We'd finish in the middle of the pack in the SunBelt. I mean we were never a team that went 14-2 in conference. We got to 20 wins by beating 8-10 terrible teams in non-conference, winning half or slightly better of our games in conference and have 20 some odd wins with a few wins in the conference tourney. We never had a season like MTSU last year is my point and many people questioned the JJ scheme. It's maybe possible that the Benford system is requiring a lot more discipline and effort, so maybe Andrew is onto something But the problem is and where Andrew and others defending Benford are wrong is, a better coach wouldn't have lost this team and that has clearly happened. And by better I just mean more experienced. Look every coach has problems and strengths. But you have to have the players on board. If they aren't you're sunk regardless of talent, system or any other factor. And no one is on board at this point.

Couldn't agree more. If only one or more of these kids were part of a team that went to the conference tourney final last year. Now THAT team had heart!!! Remember when we had a kid that many were predicting would be a North Texas HOF'er before he was ruled ineligible? Too bad that guy transferred...he did transfer, right? If only Benford was coaching a group that JJ coached before he left, then we could make a comparison...too bad we'll never get that chance.

We won't be in the tourney. People like you with your mentality are part of the problem we have with athletics at UNT.

I'm glad I stayed home and wiped my ass with the free tickets and punched myself in the balls, I'm sure I had a better time.

I spoke with Clubber Lang after tonights game and he said we were just a "paper champion"

Well the teams that are picking in the lottery are there for a reason...

I was at NTSU in back half of the sixties when the school was in the Missouri Valley Conference and played before 4,000 fans in the bleachers of the gym ("snake pit"). NTSU dominated football '66 thru '68, but basketball was much tougher in the MVC. Still, the Eagles were competitive, and the gym was packed nearly every game. Living in Dallas and later back in hometown of Richardson after graduation, I had season tickets for the Cowboys for 19 years (until JJ bought the club), and the Mavericks for ten years. Pro sports ticket prices were already getting ridiculous by the time we moved to Flower Mound seven years ago, and the move made it easy to get reattached to UNT athletics. We have been football season ticket holders for several years now, and my recent retirement makes it easier to attend most basketball games. Was this last football season frustrating? Sure. Is this basketball season a major letdown? Sure. Do I keep my loyalty to my alma mater and hope for better days ahead? ABSOLUTELY!

Because some of us are able to put college sports in the context and perspective in which it should be placed. It really is pretty simple. It has never ever embarrassed me to support UNT, and it never will. I joke with friends about it who try to make more of it than it really is, I go to games and support the program with my money and my time because I want to and I enjoy doing so. I know my funds go to help some very worthy student athletes and to build facilities the likes of which can make us all proud. Check out the plaques on the press box side of the Super Pit Concourse level sometime and you will see the names of some of us "old timers" who donated to convert the seats in the arena from orange to green. So, proof that some of us go back a bit in time with our support and have found a way to keep it all in perspective. Yep...tough day, but have already had a lively discussion...all in fun...with a guy who works in my building and rags on me about UNT and my support all the time. The guy is an Aggie...so, he knows what it is like to be teased a bit. All in fun...all in good fun. It's really not that hard and if you try to keep a glass half-full perspective on it, you will probably be able to "survive".

My favorite part of that was the 15 second PGA tour preview. Can't wait for golf season.

Why don't we take Fouts apart piece by piece and sell it as scrap? Lots of copper in that old gurl. That field turf should be worth a pretty nickle. The old scoreboard would look nice at some area high school stadium. Everyone needs bleachers. Auction off the big picture of Mean Joe. Its a green solution to this green turd of a problem.

I really don't think Andrew is Skiver...I realize the two have never posted in the same thread, but Andrew is actually spelling his inane and ridiculous words correctly...something Skiver couldn't do. They're just both really, really basketball stupid. Also I'd like to point out for those not in the chat last night that Benford's ineptness actually had FFR and I getting along...we actually found common ground. I can't express just how monumental that is.

Like I said, the one sitting next to me commented that this wasn't the same Tony Mitchell that he saw at the Lebron Camp. That Tony Mitchell was a beast against FAR better competition. Let's see... What is the one common denominator? Tony Benford. I'm telling you, this thing is headed toward a crash of epic porportions, one that will make Todd Dodge's reign look like the second coming of Vince Lombardi. Another quote "Does he just sub in at random in every game?" If you wanted to see how a head coach SHOULD act with his team on game day, all you had to do is look down to the other bench at the Lehigh head coach, who wasn't insulting his team loud enough for fans 20 rows back to hear it, who wasn't substituting at random, who was ACTING LIKE A FAN ON THE BENCH. Trust me, the players see this. They know. Please, Lord, let something, anything happen to stop the disaster that is headed for this basketball program.

Stalk much?

You dont go from being one of the top players at the Lebron and Stoudemire camp to a scrub... Let alone rated a top 10 player in the NCAA to a mid 2nd round draft pick at best right now... Im sorry but this has more to do with Benford knowing how to control his team and actually coach... The players have 0 trust in him and when you dont trust your leader, things go down hill real fast

A player who sucks. The same player that led the team and conference last year before exiting in ppg and assists and was in the top 10 rebounding. The player that is playing injured now. The player that got yanked out of the game at least twice tonight for minor errors. The player that had 7 of 10 NT assists tonight. The player who IMO is being so mishandled by his coach that he may never get back to where he should be.

Coached 15 years in North Texas area and 5 years in Houston area. Years were split as both and assistant coach and head coach, levels 2A-5A. Can' t tell you were I coach "at". Sorry, I graduated from NTSU. We were taught not to end sentences with a preposition.

I'll cue the band to pay tribute to you

Remember when we hadn't been Bendord'd yet? Remember when we still thought JJ would be here to lead this team? I remember the day I heard the news of JJ leaving is for LSU. It ws the last time I ever got a phone call from my best friend(2) Peyton. Now he's recovering from a brain tumor and in far better shape than our basketball team. Remember when things didn't suck absolute balls?

Well one would assume that this is common sense but of course to our fan base this makes no sense. People just act like if you have talent you are going to win. Benford is actually running a system an these kids are not disciplined enough to care. Sure we could run a JJ system and win a few more games and have some fancy dunks, but as for me I rather see some change and someone who wants to win the meaningful game.

Well...look at the bright side..no home games for a bit. We can all chill and get ready for the second half of the season run. Enjoy the holidays...and forget this stuff for a few days. Still got Hot Springs...win it and it will feel much better. You got to believe or you might jump off a bridge somewhere. Safe and happy holidays to all...and to all a good night.

Is it not the coach's job to prepare his players to be ready to play? Our team is not prepared and the players are not motivated to play hard. It is the coach's job to put his talent together and make sure they perform on the court. You think this team would be 5-7 if JJ was still here? I think not...

I watched the Sunbelt championship games last year. Tony wasn't lazy and showed plenty of heart. He was gutted by the loss, he gave everything he had. Same as 90 asked, what has changed?

I can't call it a terrible hire. With Dodge, it was a stupid move. I wasn't a fan at the time, but remember being flabbergasted that a FBS school would call up a HS coach. Here, Benford was at Marquette, highly respected...and this happened. It looked like a good hire.

Why the big difference from his play last year to this year Andrew? What's changed? He even has a better supporting cast around him this season. After last season he was a top 15 pick. At this point I doubt he's a first rounder at all. Andrew, please answer, what has been the biggest change for tony and this team from last season to this season?