Censored by Laurie

Your Pops coming? I'd love to talk TCU and UNT football with him again

Hands, touching hands, reaching out, touching me, touching you...Sweet Caroline...bum, bum,bum...good times never seemed so good...SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD! Beckett is the new Mr. October...Papelbon is lights out...Papi is baseball's all-time clutch hitter...Manny is Manny...hell, I even like J.D. Drew...LETS GO SOX!!!

A bit rushed as I just saw the Vito's blog post and I want to get this out before I read the SBC coaches preview. East Division: 1. Florida Atlantic - While USA and WKU bicker back and forth about who is the class of the SBC, Carlos Monroe and Rex Walters may have just passed them. 2. South Alabama - The best backcourt in the conference, and arguably the best coach won't let USA collapse like last season 3. Western Kentucky - Courtney Lee is a proven star, Darrin Horn isn't...and this may be his last season on the Hill 4. Florida International - Alex Galindo will once again play out of position for the Panthers. 5. Middle Tennessee - Adam Vogelsburg will not return...a team with no seniors will need another year to reach its potential. 6. Troy - O'Darien Bassett may end up leading the SBC in scoring...Troy however, won't. West Division: 1. UL Monroe - Orlando Early will have some help up front for his four guard line-ups...and a healthy Brandon Roberts will captain the Warhawks to a division title. 2. North Texas - The best frontcourt in the conference...questions to be answered in the backcourt. 3. Arkansas State - Isaac Wells departure will put all the scoring pressure on Adrian Banks. 4. Denver - Joe Scott will bring a new concept to the Sun Belt, defense. 5. Arkansas- Little Rock - Too many new pieces and too much youth, Steve Shields will take what he can get this year...but watch out in 08. 6. New Orleans - There's Bo McCalebb...and not much else. The same story will be told in New Orleans, lots of tough, close games; few wins. 7. UL -Lafayette - A team of slashers with no shooters or post pressence...Elijah Milsap is a star in waiting. All SBC Honors- Player of the Year - Courtney Lee Western Kentucky Defensive Player of the Year - Quincy Williams North Texas Newcomer of the Year - Brandon Patterson Arkansas - Little Rock Freshman of the Year - Treymane Russell Florida International Coah of the Year - Joe Scott Denver First Team: G/F. Courtney Lee 6'5" 200 Sr. WKU* G. Bo McCalebb 6'0" 185 Sr. UNO G. Adrian Banks 6'3" 200 Sr. ASU F. Carlos Monroe 6'9" 245 Jr. FAU G/F. Demetric Bennett 6'4" 210 Sr. USA Second Team: F. Alex Galindo 6'7" 220 Jr. FIU F. Quincy Williams 6'8" 225 Sr. UNT G. Kevin Kanaskie 6'2" 185 Jr. MTSU G/F. Elijah Milsap 6'5" 205 Soph. UL-L G. Tony Hooper 5'11" 165 Jr. UL-M Third Team G. O'Darien Bassett 6'1" 185 Sr. Troy G. Daon Merritt 5'10" 190 Sr. USA G/F. Brandon Patterson 6'6" 195 Jr. UALR F. Desmond Yates 6'7' 220 Soph. MTSU G. Tyler Bullock 6'1'' 190 Soph. UD All Defensive Team F. Quincy Williams 6'8" 225 Sr. UNT* G. Bo McCalebb 6'0" 185 Sr. UNO F. Jeremy Evans 6'9" 200 Soph. WKU G/F. Daniel Hayles 6'4" 205 Jr. USA G/F. Shawn Morgan 6'6'' 215 Sr. ASU All Newcomer Team G/F. Brandon Patterson 6'6" 195 Jr. UALR* F. Yima Chia-Kur 6'6" 225 Jr. ASU G/F. Demetrius Green 6'4'' 190 Jr. MTSU G/F. Daniel Hayles 6'4" 205 Jr. USA G. Collin Dennis 6'2" 185 Jr. UNT All Freshman Team G. Treymane Russell 6'2" 175 FIU* G/F. Tristan Thompson 6'5" 185 UNT F/G. Steffon Pettigrew 6'5" 225 WKU F/C. D.J. Magley 6'10" 260 WKU F/C. Jaroslav Tyrna 6'10" 220 UNO Key Non-Conference Games East FAU - 11/12 @ Boston College; 11/28 @ Kansas USA - 11/13 @ Ole Miss; 11/29 @ Vanderbilt; 12/15 vs. Mississippi State WKU - 11/22 vs. Gonzaga (@Great Alaska Shootout with Butler, Michigan, Texas Tech, Al-Anchorage, E. Washington and Virginia Tech); 12/15 @ Tennessee; 12/22 @ Southern Illinois FIU - 12/8 vs. Miami; 12/29 @ Purdue; 12/31 @ Kentucky MTSU - 11/20 @ Tennessee; 12/1 @ Houston; 12/15 @ Memphis Troy - 11/9 @ Alabama; 11/27 @ Ole Miss; 12/1 @ TAMU C.C. West ULM - 11/9 @ Kansas; 11/24 @ Ole Miss; 11/30 @ Iowa; 12/29 @ Arkansas UNT - 11/14 vs. Oklahoma St.; 11/21 @ UTA; 12/5 @ Texas ASU - 11/16 @ Tulsa; 11/20 @ Memphis UD - 11/27 vs. Colorado; 12/5 @ Colorado State; 12/28 @ Santa Clara UALR - 12/18 vs. Pepperdine; 12/22 @ Creighton UNO - 11/18 @ N.C. State; 12/12 @ Colorado ULL - 11/27 vs. UAB; 11/30 @ Tennessee

A season late, but Johnny Jones finally delivered on the promise he made when he took over the reigns of the Mean Green in 2001...a birth in the NCAA tournament. And it certainly didn't come easy as 2006-2007 proved to be an up and down, tumultuous season. The team started hot, winning 6 of their first seven games...the one loss came at the hands of a buzzer beater by UTA forward Jermaine Griffen. UNT then looked outclassed by a mediocre Nebraska team and lost a double overtime thriller in their conference opener with New Orleans and post season hopes seemed doubtful after an early January road trip to Arkansas (L 86-75 UALR, L 84-60 ASU). But the team found stride at the right time...in the SBC tournament...capped by a remarkable shooting performance by Calvin Watson (9-18, 6-7 3pt) against Arkansas State and a date with Memphis in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Three senior starters return from last years team, and add what many experts are calling Johnny Jones' best recruiting class, and there are plenty of reasons for optimism for the 2007-2008 season. Projected Starters PG. Ben Bell 6'3" 185 Sr.SG. Collin Dennis 6'2" 185 Jr.SF. Tristan Thompson 6'5" 185 Fr.PF. Quincy Williams 6'8" 225 Sr. C. Keith Wooden 6'9" 245 Sr.Frontcourt: UNT will boast what few in the Sun Belt can...a talented, deep and experienced frontcourt. UNT returns their top three rebounders from a team that out-boarded their Sun Belt opponents by nearly 200 total rebounds. Quincy Williams (6'8" 225 Sr.) has improved every season in Denton and is poised for a strong senior campaign. 2006-2007 was a breakout year for Williams, more than doubling his career scoring output (10.5 ppg), leading the team in rebounding (7.1), double doubles (8) and blocks (35). A 12 and 12 season is not out of the question for Williams if he can stay out of foul trouble, however this was an issue for Williams, fouling out four times last season and reaching 4 nine other games. Keith Wooden (6'9" 245 Sr.) delivered arguably his best game on UNT's biggest stage last season with a 16 point performance against Memphis. Consistency was an issue however as Wooden fought injuries and weight issues throughout the year. Wooden under-delivered (9.0ppg, 5.5rpg) on some high expectations after transferring from Arizona State, and will be looking to make a statement his senior season. Wooden was a solid compliment to Williams in the post last season; 26 of 34 games at least one reached double figures, however only seven times did they manage to do it together. The post should be more of a scoring focus this season, and Williams and Wooden should put together more double figure games and will form the most formidable frontcourt duo in the Sun Belt. Harold Stewart (6'8" 195 Jr.) should once again be the first big man off the bench again this season. Stewart was steady (4.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) in a reserve role and probably won't see any significant jump in minutes or production with Williams and Wooden in front of him, but his energy will once again be key for 18-20 minutes per game. Stewart's numbers also may stall out with the hopeful continued development of Justin Howerton (6'10" 240 Jr.) Howerton will be the only true post available to Jones off the bench, and many big men figure things out in their junior season (see Quincy Williams). Statistically, Howerton didn't do much (1.8ppg, 1.3rpg)...and while his line in the Memphis game is no more impressive (2pts, 1 rbs)...his 11 minutes of defensive presence were key to keeping the game close and he demonstrated a level of basketball competency that will hopefully carry over into his junior year. Kendrick Hogans (6'7" 195 Fr.) was signed late by Johnny Jones and was the second Louisiana All-State player to ink with the Mean Green this class. Hogans is an athletic and active forward, yet with limited range and undersized for the four (think Harold Stewart or Harold Edwards), but with a corps of experienced front court players in front of him he should be given a year to develop and will provide depth off the bench. Backcourt: Four key members of last years SBC championship team are gone, all of them in the backcourt, including the top 3 scorers. Calvin Watson (15.8ppg), Kendrick Davis (13.2ppg), Michael Sturns (12.4ppg) and Rich Young (5.9ppg) are gone. Yet there is anything but doom and gloom in the Mean Green backcourt. Ben Bell (6'3" 185 Sr.) returns to run the show at the point for his second season in Denton. Bell was steady last year in filling the shoes of the very popular Isaac Hines. Bell was primarily a fifth scoring option when he was on the floor, and embraced the role of the pass first point guard by dealing out a team leading 100 assists to 68 turnovers. But it would be Bell's scoring in the SBC tourney which would endear him with North Texas fans, averaging 12.5 points in the four tourney games, including back-to-back career highs of 15 against ULM and MTSU. If Bell has a hole, it is at the line, shooting just 59% from the charity stripe. All the other guards contributing this season saw no action on last season's squad. Collin Dennis (6'2" 185 Jr.) made the trip to New Orleans, but had to sit out all last year due to NCAA transfer rules, and is the most likely candidate to start at the two. Dennis is a product of Richland High School who began his collegiate career at South Florida. He was an immediate impact player as a freshman for the Bulls (6.6 ppg, 25 point career high vs. UAB) and was ready for a breakout season as a sophomore before an Achilles injury limited him to just 16 games and 4.4 points per game. Dennis is a streaky outside shooter who never found his touch after his injury (7-27 3pt. 26% in 2005), but UNT will bank on him to fill much of the backcourt scoring void. Dez Willingham (6'0" 180 Sr.) is the latest addition to the Mean Green roster and should ease the burden heaped on both Bell and Dennis. Willingham is a lightning quick combo guard who will be joining his third school in the fall...he originally signed with Kansas State out of high school, listed as a four star rival recruit, but transferred after a season to SMU, played two season and will make his way to Denton courtesy of a NCAA transfer loophole. Willingham hasn't lived up to his hype, and can be just as streaky a scorer as Dennis, but the benefit of adding a senior to the backcourt while some kids develop can not be overstated...and will give Johnny Jones versatile line-up options. Two highly touted freshmen will join the team this year and be expected to contribute immediately. Tristan Thompson (6'5" 185 Fr.) has the inside track to start at the three. Thompson prepped last season at Brewster Academy in Maine after leading Angleton High School to their first trip to the State Tournament. Thompson has the size to be a significant impact player on the wing, and how quickly he is able to adapt to the college game will be a key measuring stick for UNT's success this season. Josh White (5'10 167 Fr.) will have the luxury of three upperclassmen ahead of him and a slower learning curve, but still much is expected from the All State Louisiana point guard. If White is ready for the college game, Willingham and Dennis will be able to focus on scoring while White backs up Bell at the point. White is the point guard of the future, the first who will have the chance to contribute four seasons since Jerome Rodgers, but Jones has the ability to bring him along at a slower pace than Thompson. Filling the role behind Thompson will be Mesa C.C. transfer Adam McCoy (6'4" 190 Jr.). McCoy is an uber-athlete (42'' vertical) who can also knock down the outside shot with consistency (48.7%) and will be valuable in the role of sixth man for the Mean Green at both the two and three spots. Collin Mangrum (6'4" 185 Soph.) will sit this season as a medical redshirt after numerous off-season surgeries, and Coby Ray (6'1" 190 Sr) will once again join the team as a walk on and maybe see some minutes this year. Overall: UNT will put out the best frontline in the Sun Belt...and on paper at least, it will be complimented by a comparable backcourt...but there are many questions that nee to be answered before a return NCAA trip ticket can be punched. Backcourt continuity and shot selection; there is no star in the backcourt so striking a balance between scorers will be a key responsibility that will fall to Ben Bell to improve upon both his scoring (7.4ppg) and his assist (3.0apg) totals. Johnny Jones must reinforce team goals over individual accolades...it is doubtful that anybody on this squad will put up more than 12-15 points per game, yet 6 or 7 are capable of double figures so keeping everybody happy and the team winning will be a delicate task. The frontcourt is set, and this team should once again lead the conference in rebounding, and the inside game should open up outside scoring from the newcomers. I picked ULM to win the West, and I'm sticking to it...just too many questions in the backcourt in a guard dominated league, but this year could be similar to last if the team gels late and makes a strong tourney push.

Thank you!!! Thats like saying go find some great, authentic ribs at Chili's.

Cheap plug.

Friday can not come soon enough...I'll be back to finally watch my first game of Dodgeball...would love to meet some of you...especially those who bring both humor and practicality to this board (Greenminer, Quoner and Tasty come to mind)...should be bringing about 10 folks or so to the game on Saturday...can't wait!

Their win against us impressed 3 voters!!!!!

Wow...very well put.

I feel you misunderstood...they can run 1000 referendums out there to vote for an albino squirrel mascot...and they will all be shot down...either by the students, the BOR or the president. We will never have a squirrel mascot. Its a non-issue...there will be a small portion of the campus population that supports it...let them. And perhaps the sarcasm was missed in my second sentence... as for the brothers and sisters...I must be missing something there, Kit.

Not sure about the Austin reference, but let those who want to try and promote the albino squirrel mascot do what the want...it won't happen and atleast they're making some sort of effort to identify with the university. Maybe an albino squirrel section at Fouts would boost attendance

Well played...have fun in Austin and remember to ask for Paige at Vivo. See ya next week

Yup...and I have photographic evidence of them doing it... I love how a squatting Barnett is taller than half your team.

Ya heard Me! So what thinly-veiled phallic referencing custome will you be sporting this year? a cucumber? the washington monument? or maybe just go as a dill? Dear Admins, Please post this topic with all posts after my reply to untgeorge removed...but wait for the file to turn light red because this could go on for a while.

Damn...thats my checkdown reciever next weekend...if the first or second options aren't open down the field I'll be throwing it to her out of the backfield.

I'm not sure how this is not over when I hold the ultimate trump card...and who would you throw out there...so far as I know you know two of my girls...and I'm not exactly embarrassed by any of them, would like to punch one, but not embarrassed. Nice blog by the way...

As long as you appreciate how difficult it is for me to resist.

Valid point...my next basketball analasys will venture to the world of intramurals.

Bo Wishes he still had moves like that...unfortunantly:

Bo Knows Sarcasm

Williams knew the situation he was walking in to...and he knew at the end of last season whether or not those "promises" were going to be kept. If the answer was no, he should've stepped down after the season. As to UNO's ability to stay as a D-1 program...I really hope they can. In terms of notaritiy, UNO is one of the more respected SBC basketball schools and their collapse would hurt the respectability of the Belt. I've always kinda wanted Denver to leave, but with Joe Scott and his successes, Denver may become an asset worth the geographic disconnect...however their pressence makes it harder to add a football school or two. George, you said it best, tough situation. UNO has been a team who has no business beating us four straight times...Bo has gone for big games because UNT has always had to match up taller guards on him and he can get his shoulders under KD, Watson or Young and get to the buckett. This year he'll have to try and penetrate on guys who can get under him, Dennis, Willingham and Bell and getting to the tin will not be as easy. Tyrna might be the most intriguing player in the SBC...nobody else in the Sun Belt has really ventured into the European player...its just going to be a matter of if hes physical enough for a conference whose bigmen are really just bruising rebounders and defenders.

Agreed...but how much would moving Korey again stunt his effectivness? I know a lot of players make position changes throughout their careers, but if you move Korey back to corner it would be the third straight season he would have to learn a new position and adjust to new coaches...and that gotta be tough and may prevent him from reaching his full potential at either spot. Greg Garden is 6'0" 190 and played linebacker at Ryan so I'm assuming he's a safety.

I don't really think this speaks to Patterson's ability to coach...though I do agree that TCU is an ideal fit for Patterson and he wouldn't be as successful at a BCS school. TCU simply has no offense...and has to really way too much on a very good defense...just poor timing really, had this defense been paired up with even last season's mediocre offense with Lonta' Hobbs, Robert Merrill and Jeff Ballard this is still a top 20 team. I still have a soft spot in my heart for TCU...it mainly comes from seeing number 5 put up 250 rushing yards per game on all 15 teams of the giant WAC in the late nineties...and I hope TCU can continue to build a strong program...and that UNT continues to build around Papa Todd so that a yearly match-up between with the Frogs becomes mutually beneficial...I would fly home for that game every year, whether it was at Amon Carter or Beth Marie's Homestyle Field at Eagle Point

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you haven't posted this same request on the Arkansas State board...Corey Leonard is currently third.

I'll start the slow clap for you on that one. Oh...and great article.