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Out of the 124 current athletic programs that field BCS (Division IA) football in addition to men's and women's basketball, only North Texas, South Alabama, and New Mexico State have had neither a bowl appearance nor a basketball postseason win (NCAA or NIT) since 2004. South Alabama hasn't really had a chance yet in football, and they did receive an at-large NCAA bid during that span, which we never have. New Mexico State had three NCAA appearances to our two during the past eight years. Granted, this is only one way of measuring athletic department performance, and I'm kind of arbitrarily picking a year for obvious reasons. Furthermore, I'm neglecting all other sports. Still, I think the facts above show why some of us are starting to get really frustrated with futility in the major sports--especially now that it looks like we're married to a men's basketball coach who may sink the program for years to come, if he's allowed to continue.

I cant help but wonder if the tearing down of Tony's game by some here is some type of sub-conscious effort to justify Tony staying at UNT to "improve" his game... Look folks. Here's the plain fact. Tony is infinitely better than what he did this season at UNT. The proof: The reviews from his time at the Amare and LeBron summer camps. When in the hands of NBA people who understand his game and what he does well, he excels. Do you know why he's even still considered a 1st round pick by some? It's certainly not because of his statistics at UNT. He needs to go pro now so that he doesn't hurt his chances in the future by being associated with this team which is hemorrhaging badly.

This athletic department has never done anything but the bare minimum. The last straw for me was a couple years ago when billboards went up for the new stadium, obviously designed by the same inept designers of all our other marketing material, where "Mean Green" was completely illegible from more than a few feet away. Even when we finally had the funds to do something to get the name out there even a little bit, they couldn't be bothered to spend more than a few minutes in Photoshop. They can't hire, we know that for sure. But add on top of that they can't market or advertise, fundraise, or sell tickets. They miss opportunities to make money and provide a fun environment for fans. Instead of trying to swell community support by sending someone out to local businesses, they expect those businesses to come to them, etc. Living in Ft. Worth, I see TCU everywhere. I was honestly shocked. A lot of that is going to be due to TCU being incredibly successful in football, sure. On the other hand, there's a lot more to it than that. I'll see schedules, posters, uniforms, apparel, you name it at restaurants and other businesses, and I'm practically in Keller. Not once in Denton did I feel like UNT's reach went beyond the square outside of Rudy's, and sometimes even then it was lacking. Some of it is about winning, but a lot of it is about effort and persistence. Point of the post is that this athletic department is not a quality department. I'm sure there are some people doing their jobs or even going above and beyond, but from the outside looking in, the organization as a whole appears to do the bare minimum. RV took over the program 12 years ago, and outside of a student-funded stadium, we're not much better off today than we were when he first started. We had some level of success under Dickey and Johnny, but JJ won more games in his first year than Benford, and DD had the same record in RV's first year as McCarney did in 2012 without having to beat an FCS team to get there. I'm just tired of this department getting a pass and defended to the death by this board when there's not a single thing that we can point to in recent history that shows improvement. We haven't won a bowl game since 2002 and we've still yet to advance in the NCAA tournament. Doesn't look to change anytime soon on our current trajectory.

It's just funny to see a certain element on here attempt to defend Benford by pointing out how our previous coach has only barely turned around LSU in his 1st season... And never mention the top 10 recruiting class that ex-coach has coming into LSU next year. It's truly Andrew worthy. Edit: LSU plays #1 seed Florida tomorrow. If JJ wins, will he still be that stupid ex-coach who didn't discipline players or make them play defense in practice? Will some still be glad he is gone? I was often a very vocal JJ critic. I would give my left testicle to have him back on the UNT bench next year.

Very depressing to read... Winning the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Award in 2012, Tony Mitchell was touted as one of the best low-major prospects in the country. With his sophomore season coming to a close, where does Mitchell stand heading towards the 2013 draft? The offensive end is where Mitchell's regression this season was most pronounced, and the reasons why become fairly evident early in most possessions, as Mitchell is often content to stand and wait on the perimeter, not moving much without the ball and spending far less time trying to get open in the painted area. North Texas’ team chemistry was obviously extremely poor this season, as it appeared that the team gave up on competing at a very early stage, which Mitchell played a major part of. Jump shots accounted for roughly one half of Mitchell's half-court shot attempts this season according to Synergy Sports Technology (compared to a much more reasonable one third last season), but more concerning is his points per possession on those jumpers nose-dived from a very strong 1.153 last year to a very weak 0.754 this year. Mitchell is taking more jump shots of higher difficulty this season and seems to be less focused on consistently using good mechanics in all situations, and it's caused him to become a far less effective and efficient player overall. Lots more depressing stuff... From DraftExpress.comhttp://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz2NctrvT6j http://www.draftexpress.com

Wrong forum. Try www.gogreenbrigadepageantry.com

He needs to go now while he's still projected in the 1st round.

I don't remember Jordan taking the kinds of shots he took near the end of this season last year. last year, Jordan was very hesitant with the ball, unless on the fast break. He took VERY ill-advised 3pointers, and at times looked completely lost with the ball. The mid-range game he was flexing at the end of the year was virtually non-existent last season. Jordan certainly did improve. I think Benford & staff deserve a little credit for this. And for me, that's about where their player development credit ends. And for all of the credit they get for helping Jordan develop, they lose it in the lack of development of Coleman. I think this guy was handled all wrong this year.

Look, OU and Texas complain about Bob Stoops and Mack Brown. Indiana and Texas Tech both eventually gave up on Bob Knight. Every coach everywhere is on the hot seat for one reason or another at some point. We don't taste much sporting success as UNT alumni. But, what are you going to do? I'm sure there is a healthy faction of UT fans unhappy with Rick Barnes these days. Look over at "The Hill." Ol' coach Brown's Mustangs took a first round dive in the C-USA, and that after a season that petered out quickly once C-USA ball kicked in. Benford, he's not great. Marquette had some basketball success while he was on the staff. RV rolled the dice in the right direction. The problem is, you just never know if a guy is going to work. And, you know what, when we broaden the topic to football, I'm not sure really what the answer is. I used to be a firm believer in hiring experience. But, after two seasons, I really don't see a significant change in the competitiveness in our football program. I respect Dan McCarney for what he did at Iowa State, considering the competition. The Sun Belt is not competitive in football. I'm disappointed that the recruiting hasn't been better. I'm disappointed that the wins haven't come sooner. And, the competition isn't getting easier next season. I'm truly at the point of not caring much anymore again. Benford could stay or go. McCarney could stay or go. I've set my bar at: as long as they are doing well in the classroom and children aren't being molested, we're doing something right. And, doing the right thing never works in big time college athletics. Don't believe me...run a drug test over at TCU. You pay a price for selling your soul. If we ever become consistent winner, I hope and pray we become the only instituion to do it without ending up on the front pages because of marijuana busts, sexual assualts, and the like. Yes, I'm completely stupid for believing it can be done because it can't be done. So, I just enjoy what we have. A pretty clean little program in all areas. As disjointed as my post is, it's as good a time as any to make the annual plea for RV to hire Kathy McConnell Miller...if not as the women's basketball coach, something. If we're going to lose and be nice, can we at least have something decent to look at besides the "action" on the field/court? We won't win at football because we don't understand yet the importance of a defensive line. So, let McConnell Miller coach special teams. Why not? Teams will be running roughshod over us anyway. Our kick returners can't do any worse under her than they did with the guy Arkansas State wisely stole from us. And, then, let her be an assistance on the men's and women's basketball program when football season ends. It can hurt nothing.

Nope... Tony didn't improve this year. Neither did CJ. Neither did Alzee. Neither did Keith. Neither did Niko. Neither did Clarke. PJ got better as the season went along but you could easily argue that he was just getting acclimated to the level of competition. Franklin, the kind of player that gets by on pure hustle and heart without need of an offense or system, had a great great senior campaign. Jordan made some nice strides late in the year to basically get back to the level he was at before suspension last season. Give Benny a bronze star sticker for that I guess.

And I actually tried clicking on the link . . .

..if only.....

Sounds like a questions for those in the College of Music.

Who can keep up with conference realignment anymore... If you wanna see an even bigger screw up, check out my sad attempt at a uniform thread,

Sort of reflects number who say they would buy stuff vs the number who really do as well. If stuff sold at any pace at all, more retailers would carry UNT stuff. This is now and always has been a "chicken or the egg" sort of thing. If you want to see how this really plays out...even in Denton...then watch and see if the new UNT apparel shop just off the square in Denton is successful or not. They do a great business in Stephenville (Tarleton State). let's see if UNT folks support them here in Denton. These folks have taken the time and expense to open a shop dedicated to UNT and TWU apparel, and they are trying to get relationships built within the community and on campus. Will UNT and it's "fans" do more than talk about buying UNT apparel? We'll see...sure hope so. I have been to the shop and already spent some cash with them. Thanked them for being here and offered to help any way I could around town and campus. What about you? Been to the shop yet? BAREFOOT ATHLETICS 207 N. Elm Denton, TX 76201 940-422-5855. Talk won't pay the light bills. You want folks to carry and produce UNT "stuff"...support those that do with your pocketbook. Sort of put up or shut up time for the UNT fan base in this area.

This is the most brilliant portion of any post in this entire thread. I stand tall at full mast in support of it.

NT Sports are much easier when you go in with no expectations. I say that in all seriousness.

How about Dodge-a-vu?

Until you are willing to give the right one, I call this disingenuous. Please don't bench me coach. /Benford'd

And ESPN just showed a brief highlight of a team wearing leopard print shorts! Leopard print!! I hate Nike and ESPN. I hope the new Fox channel puts ESPN out of business.

Vito should of titled this "UNT men's basketball: A look back... to the Trilli years."

Or one could say he got a big lead over a team seeded higher (that beat them in their only previous meeting) in the first place?

I learned the hard way during the reign of Southlake Asshat that it is very, very verboten to make public criticisms of coaching staffs here at ole' UNT. Later, this past season, I made what I thought was a passing, innocuous remark about the other team scoring against us effortlessly, for which I received a bit of an, um, reprimand from a nearby offensive player's mother. Bottom line, when in Denton, speaking criticism of the green, its players, its coaching staff, its parking, its available food choices, the weather, the structural soundness of the fraternity houses, the decisions of Lee Jackson, all of them, absolutely forbidden. I also learned that beer tasted just as good at home on a Saturday afternoon as it did sitting on a cold, metal bench watching the arrogant tomfoolery, surrounded by the high school sushi crowd and the ardent supporters of all things green. Now, I'm not advocating pulling your dollars or anything. Nope. But I've come up with this formula for myself to keep myself sane in times of turmoil. I give the money that I give. UNT was good to me, and I am committed to giving back to it. My dollars aren't going to change, but when fecal matter hits the turbines, I'm not going to waste my entertainment hours holding in opinions. Life's too short to fight that battle, and it saves me the time and hassle of enduring yet another night at the Royale Inn. Go mean green, I'll see all of you in the fall, and I will most certainly see you for first pitch, whenever that may be. As for basketball, even when we were mopping the super pit floor with the Sun Belt under Johnny, meh, still basketball. So when we become the mopped, I'm just not interested. Not mad, not critical, not pointing fingers, just plain disinterested. (FTR, Denton is still the go to place on the weekends when the kid and I don't have any other concrete plans, even when there is no UNT events. We love hanging out on the square and stuffing her full of Beth Marie's. )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Day Anyone else "celebrate" at work by bringing and eating lots of pies?

Ok, ignoring your classless description, once again, one game for them versus a WHOLE season for us. I guess their "raping" is equivalent to our UAH game.

Well, let me put on my Tasty hat and lets take a look at the numbers, shall we? First, I think many of you forget how well Jordan was playing right before he and Chris were suspended. Anyway, here we go: Last six games of 2011-12 season before suspension: .482 FG% from the floor. .346% from 3 point range 2.8 RPG (.117 rebounds per minute played) 1 APG 2.3 TOs per game 12 Points PG in 24 minutes PG (0.5 points per minute) Last 6 games this year: .437 FG% per game .444 FG % from 3 point line (good improvement) 3.6 RPG (.106 rebound per minute played) 1 assist. Not per game. 1 assist in the last 6 games. 2.8 TOs per game 17.5 PPG in 34 MPG (yep, 0.5 points per minute). So it took Benford a full year to get JW back to the level he was playing at when he was suspended last year. That's coaching right there. Now lets look at the year end stats: 2011-2012: .410 FG%. .274 FG% from 3 .778 FT%. 4.0 rebounds per game 10.9 PPG. 1.31 assists per game. 2.2 TOs per game. 25.3 minutes per game (.436 points per minute played) 2012-2013: .416 FG%. .341 3P% .732 FT%. 3.7 RPG. 0.7 APG 2.2 TO per game. 31.7 MPG. 14.2 PPG (.447 points per minute) Marginal improvement at best. When you figure in assists per minutes played, that stat is actually quite concerning in its direction. Like I said, I think a lot of you forget how well Jordan was playing right before his suspension last year. This is not a shot at Jordan at all and I like him as a player (but he does need to get his ass on the boards, play better D, and mature, as that bad Technical in Hot Speings showed), this is just breaking down the raw numbers to show that his last 6 games last year and this year were pretty much a wash. Keep working, Jordan.

Fake can get a little rambling and wordy, but his posts are usually worth a read and a laugh or two.

It's funny. As I was watching the last few moments of that game I knew you'd be sprinting to the nearest keyboard. Nevermind that TWO of our university's THREE trips to the Big Dance were under JJ. Nevermind that he led LSU to the best SEC season they've had in a while. Nevermind that all he did was do BETTER with someone else's kids...and has highly ranked kids lined up to come in (I'd say his needle is pointed up...Benford's?). Nevermind that their fan base (Mostly) likes him. Read their boards. Nevermind that he got "raped" by a top 15 team. That's comparable to a 19 point loss to ULL, right? But hey, keep relishing the minor stumbles of a guy who lowered the hurdles at North Texas...meanwhile our administration has managed to trip face first over the mole hills he left as if they were mountains.

What are the odds anything improves in the three majors in the next 3-4 years?

Then I shall have 3.14159 pies today.

Thank you. Will that be regular or light ?

I will buy a beer at Apogee (first game) to the first person that can post a picture of Jon Trilli. Good luck to both Trillis. GO MEAN GREEN

There's a movie that has something to do with Apple Pie ... Can't quite quote it as it's NSFW.

I guess you're referring to me with that. I don't really think I tore down Tony's game. . . . I was just observing what that video pointed out for all to see, and it pointed it out to a degree that I had never noticed it before. As far as wanting Tony to stay . . . sure, that would be nice. But I'd also be the first to admit that this past year hurt his draft stock, and failed to develop the few areas he needed to develop before the season. I agree that he's a lot better than he showed this past year. I disagree that the proof is to be found in reviews from his performance at the camps. Tony has always had the "wow" factor, and can certainly impress when called to impress in certain situations. But the proof will be when he can prove it over the course of an entire season playing with a team. IMO, his time with the U.S. Under-19 team proved far more than the camps proved. His performance the half of the 2011-12 season that he played proved more than the camps proved. Can't really disagree with any of that. If he can go in the first round now, he'd better jump on that ship before it sails.

awesome link! thanks for sharing. wow, that was 100 years ago!!

Double Crust Apple, with a home made apple filling I acquired through a recipe trade with a retired FF years ago. Rick

Banana Cream and Vanilla Cream Combo. Rick

....or make them AT work. Lattice Crust Cherry Rick

The selfish part of me wants him to stay and end his college career on a positive note, but after experiencing what happened this year, I don't know if next year will be much better.

I wish nothing but the best for Tony going forward. Am sure he will make his decision known very soon.

I know! All of these videos were just from three games... Missed shots on bad looks and lazy defense. I believe the WKU and SL game were both close. If he gave half an effort maybe we would have won those games who knows. I am really not trying to rag on Mitchell, but it is inexcusable to jog up the court as every offensive player runs by you.

Honestly, that one at the 7:48 mark . . . what is he doing? Just getting ready for a fast break the other way? But this video does a tremendous job of pointing out and analyzing Tony's weaknesses. I'm sure it's painful for him to watch. I hope he and his coaches can get those weaknesses improved upon. . . . whether that takes place at North Texas or in the NBA.

How about these uni's? This is from 1912......one year before we had organized football. http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth60980/m1/146/?q=baseball

Thanks, Smitty. This has been a lot of fun, and I appreciate that the fans have gotten at least a say in the All Century Team winners. Looking forward to seeing the results at the spring game on April 13th. Thanks to everyone who worked to make this vote happen.

We can do better. Hire Stacy Johnson-Klein or anyone from the Fresno State women's basketball staff. Of course then, we'll open ourselves to lawsuit and fan restraining orders.

I prefer to go in with Jack Daniels.

http://espn1420.com/sun-belt-tournament-preview-bracket-one-from-the-birds-nest/ Forgive and delete if this has already been posted.

And this is the part the apologists don't get. You and I, and the 2,000 who are masochists like us, will show up next season for NT basketball and football. It's the hundreds of thousands in Denton County alone and several million in DFW who look at NT, the consistent hiring blunders, and shrug us off as "same ol' NT". We can build all the practice facilities, stadiums, ballparks and center hung scoreboards that we want. If we can't put butts in the seats (anyone EVER got a straight answer on season tickets or MGC membership? Was it at the last quarterly meeting that I missed?) then it is all for naught. Name the last promotions idea that made you stand up and say "wow!" Sunglasses maybe...an idea straight off of this board. But hey, our games "sell themselves". The things I've heard concerning the "success" of some of our fundraising alone make me sigh. This thing is STRUCTURALLY broken. I'm sure the usual suspects will now rush to their -1 buttons to protect the current regime because they somehow feel like they are part of the "inner circle" and telling the emperor that he is, indeed, naked would be to fall out of lock step.

LSU was 12 - 36 in the SEC the past 3 seasons. So yeah , a coach who comes in & is 9-9 his 1st season must be a bad coach

bingo