Censored by Laurie

MTSU - 76 USA - 70 - Desmond Yates scored 26 and Kevin Kanaskie added 18 as the Blue Raiders handed South Alabama their second conference loss of the season. USA star Demetric Bennett was held to just 9 points on 4-13 shooting, 1-7 from 3 point territory and no free throw attempts...it was Bennett's lowest scoring night since he scored 8 in the Jags November 22nd loss to Miami (OH). MTSU dominated the first half, taking a 43-29 lead into the break. The jags managed to cut the lead to 3 in the second half, but could get no closer. Yates and Kanaskie combined to go 8-15 from three...Daon Merritt led the way for USA with 16. UNO - 79 ASU - 78 - Bo McCalebb went coast to coast for the go ahead layup with 20 seconds to go, and ASU failed to convert three game winning shots and the Privateers snuck out a one point win. McCalebb finished with a game high 31, the third time this season and third time in the last four games hes eclipsed the 30 point mark. McCalebb leads the SBC, and is 10th in the nation in scoring. Yima Chia-Kur and Ryan Wedel finished with 18 and 17 respectivly or the Indians. ULL - 67 ULM - 65 - Tyren Johnson took and made just one shot last night...a wide open three with 6.6 seconds to go to give the Cajuns a 2 point win. ULL starters finished with just 15 points, meaning the bench picked them up to the tune of 52, led by a career high 17 from LaRyan Gary and 16 from Randall Diagle. Jordan Payne tried to keep the benches even for Monroe, leading the Warhawks with 20.

he could sort of slur the joey into june when talking to recruits...he's a great recruiter who will take all of our recruits away...

That looks like a collagen goatee...hot. And I'll spill the actual facts...the big time player is Joshua Maldanado and the doctors misdiagnosed him with insular dwarfism. He's just short.

I think he's still on the team...just as a medical redshirt.

If it makes you feel better I was working on a Reggie Lewis tie in but I got distracted at work...with...work.

Houston Nimitz HS junior and Baylor commit

Its hypnotic

I think he's sort of a Longar Longar types...I use post sort of liberally to describe any 4 or 5 type...I don't think Uchendu is a back to the basket sort of player. The Collin we're referencing is Mangrum, not Dennis...Mangrum shot 18% (3-17) from 3 last season

I played with Flemings and a good portion of the team when he first came to UNT for a visit with coach Steadman in I guess what would've been the summer of 06 (I think)...and his game reminded me of Ty Thomas...a very nice athlete with a very mediocre jump shot, a nice handle but a questionable basketball IQ. He could've been pressing or simply had a bad day...and that is really my only first hand knowledge of his abilities. The numbers hes putting up at WC and the schools looking at him make me believe he's better than my first impression. I think Collin will prove to be a fine player...and I too doubt JJ is the type of coach to make a move like my scenerio...just trying to stir some conversation. Do you happen to remember who else was recruiting Collin?

Odufuwa would average 20 minutes in a line up like this...fouls and fatigue would kill his effectivness. Flemings is 6'7" 215...he's a true 3...and it would be both a disadvantage to the team and for Flemings to play out of position. I don't think we need a dominant big man...I think Odufuwa will be our post scoring option, so I would love a strong rebounder and defender (like Ikeakor)...a sort of keith and Quincy 1-2. The SBC is getting bigger: FAU signed former Florida recruit Jimmie Sutton (6'10" 250) to play the five next to Carlos Monroe (6'9" 245) FIU signed former Miami recruit Freddy Aspirilla (6'9" 260 to play the four next to Russell Hicks (7'0" 240) ULL has signed 3 strong and talented big men; Lester Fergeson (6'10" 230), Jeremy Barr (6'8" 265) and UNLV transfer Emmanuel Adiefe (6'10" 220) UALR signed former Purdue post Johnathon Uchendu (6'11" 215) UNO signed a very solid JUCO post in Jacolby Pittman (6'9" 230) 6'8" 240 and 6'7" 215 up front just won't cut it...and you're being an irrational homer if you believe that Justin Howerton is capable of starting at the 5...yes, he's improved...but in 10 to 15 minutes per game...not 30. Flemings would certainly be a nice addition...but not at the expense of ignoring our other areas of concern. On Collin...is it simply the fact that hes a white guard that makes people think he's a lights out shooter? I think he's a solid player, a good defender and very tough competitor...but in practice and games I saw no indication that Collin is a sniper. Just playing devils advocate with his scholarship...if the choice is between Flemings and Mangrum for the last scholarship, there are times you have to set aside loyalties in exchamge for better and healthy talent.

Let me preface...this is more of a "bored at work" post than it is a "our season is done, this is a young team, lets think about the future" post. And with signing day just passing, and the talk of Roderick Flemings resurfacing...I've got recruiting on the brain. Departing Players PG. Ben Bell (6'3" 185) OG. Dez Willingham (6'0" 175) PF. Quincy Williams (6'8" 230) C. Keith Wooden (6'9" 250) Returning Guards / Wings PG. Josh White (5'8" 170) W. Tristan Thompson (6'5" 185) SG. Collin Dennis (6'2" 180) W. Adam McCoy (6'4" 190) Returning Forwards / Centers C. Justin Howerton (6'10" 240) SF. Harold Stewart (6'8" 195) SF. Kedrick Hogans (6'7" 190) 2007-2008 Redshirts / Transfers SG. Collin Mangrum (6'4" 185) PF. George Odufuwa (6'8" 240) 2008 - 2009 Committed Scholarships PF/C. Ben Knox (6'10" 215) My 2008-2009 Available Scholarship Wish List in order of importance PF. Obi Ikeakor (6'8" 240 Blinn Junior College) PG. Cardell McFarland (6'1" 170 Brighton Acadamy) W. Chris Babb (6'5" 200 Arlington Oak Ridge) Player I'm hoping the Bobby Knight resignation will cause to re-think his commitment SF/PF. Corbin Ray (6'8" 215 Katy Taylor) Ikeakor played his freshman season at St. Louis before transfering to Blinn and would be a great compliment starting next to Odufuwa. A ready to go power forward/center is the key to this recruiting class. McFarland is a true point with the advantage of prep school experience...important because he would be pressed into immediate action for 15-20 minutes per night. Babb is the most talented freshman on our board...he would be joining a crowded back court next season, but a starting backcourt of White, Thompson and Babb in 2010 is VERY appealing. On the off-chance that Ray de-commits...I'd take him over Babb in a heartbeat. As for Roderick Flemings...I wouldn't mind him coming back here...I'm just not sure where the scholarship comes from. Power forward an point guard are MUST gets. If presented with the Babb vs. Flemings question...I have to lean towards Babb if for no other reason than he's a freshman who could contibute for 4 seasons rather than 2. Seeing the way White and Thompson have contributed as freshman makes me think that the nature of recruiting may be changing at UNT...they we're now able to sign stars as freshman rather than as transfers. The other thing on my mind...and I mentioned it in another post...is the status of Collin Mangrum. He played sparingly in 06-07 and then red-shirted all this season with injury. With the glut of wings and shooting guards on our roster, I'm wondering where he fits into future plans...and if Flemings and Babb both want to come here, would JJ not renew Collin's scholarship?

He sat because of Division 1 transfer rules...not as an academic casualty. I would like a player of Flemings talent...but if the scholarship choice is between Flemings or Babb/Russell/McFarland...Rod comes in fourth.

Horton has his associates...there seems to be a worry that Flemings will struggle to get his. And the reason its more dangerous to pursue a grade risk in basketball rather than in football is that football rosters have 70 players...basketball gets 13. Losing a star in football isn't as significant as losing a star in basketball. I'm still hesitant on Flemings. I've met him and played against him when he was visiting with Jai Steadman and his personality was very similar to Harold Edwards...he drifts in and out of his own world. I was also under-impressed with his ability...but that was after just one look...and based on his numbers at WJC I'll chalk that up to an off night.

Flattered...really. UALR is a strange team. Sheilds expects a strong commitment to defense...to the point where it may cost them offensivly. Their leading scorer is 6'5" wing De'Andre Eggins...but he's averaging just under 9 points per game and it hasn't been 8 one night and 10 the next. Eggins dropped 22 on WKU and followed that up with 4 against MTSU. The entire team has been like that this season. Early in the season it seemed like two or three different players would step up every night and UALR was winning (against some lesser compitition as well)...now it seems IF 2 or 3 can step up they can win...its just been very inconsistant. I think the guy to really be weary of tonight is forward Shane Edwards. Edwards is a JUCO transfer who looked like a steal in the beginning part of the season, averaging nearly 10 points and five board and leading the team in scoring 4 times including their win against Pepperdine. Since he's seen his minutes and production drastically cut, until the MTSU game when he led UALR with 12 points. CMJ is right...this is a young team (only 2 contributing seniors) and like us they're sitting on a very athletic D1 transfer big man so they should be much improved next year.

No...I don't make any of the games...35 bridge is a big time hastle coming from New Haven. However, there have now been 3 posts dedicated to motivating our Universtity "spirit" group to either A. show spirirt...or B. move out of the front row and allow "spirited" fans to sit there. None of that is based off of my past experiences with the Talons as being a psuedo-greek organization who present themselves as the voice of UNT athletics...despite being sports ignorant with no real concept of how, what or when to cheer. Wish I could be there next Thursday though buddy...you seem aces.

Perhaps my earlier advice (which appearantly was vile enough to merit warning) was a bit extreme...but seriously, you need to be in the ears of those sitting in the front rows...don't let them just sit there mutely...and if it takes being an ass to do it...then be an ass. The Talons have been pathetic since I started (sorry CMJ...I think you were active with talons before I was at UNT though). The fact that the Pit Crew has expanded to the point of needing a third section excites me about its future...don't let the Talons ruin it.

Don't forget about Greg Garden at safety as well

How long have you been going to the games? You'd be very hard-pressed to find more inconsistant officiating anywhere in college basketball outside of the Sun Belt. Its something that you sort of have to learn to deal with and have confidence that the karmic world eventually balances everthing out. Steve Welmer, who did not call last night, is really the only SBC official worth a damn

We should still have 3 ships available with our four departing seniors (Willingham, Bell, Wooden and Williams). Two 6'8" and 6'7" would be fine if they were tipping the scales between 225 and 250...not 195 like Hogans and Stewart. I hope Hogans can add weight...but this league is getting bigger and Odufuwa would be very prone to foul trouble and fatigue if he's our starting 5. Howerton has looked improved over the last month or so, but still in fewer than 15 minutes a game...do you trust him on the floor for 30? I still have to think the Knox signing is a ploy to get his teammate Nick Russell, who could be who JJ is after to back up Josh at the 1 next season (though Russell is more of a combo). If we're not even on Russell's radar...then I'm as perplexed as you.

Considering the A-10 will probably put more teams in the tourney than the ACC...I'd say they have a legit argument.

What position need do we not address then, back up point guard or a JUCO post? Flemings at 6'7" 215 could possibly play sparingly at the 4 in SBC play...but he is by no means the interior pressence we need...and we've seen what can happen when you ask a 2 guard to play the point. If we do land Babb and Flemings...it raises a question I've been wanting to bring up: with the above needs still requiring 2 scholarships, and Babb and Fleming leave just 1...what are the chances that Collin Mangrum isn't offered a scholarship for next season? Just throwing it out there

Sea Bass?

Why not... 1. Alonzo Horton 2. Riley Dodge 3. Nate Jenkins 4. Gabe Hollivay 5. Dez Brigham 6. All three JUCO DB's 7. DeWaylon Cook 8. Coleman Feeley 9. Willie Taylor 10. Royce Hill All seven JUCO's start next season IMO...Brigham will fill the role Casey Fitzgerald will vacate after next season...and I think of all the freshmen, Cook will see the most time.