Censored by Laurie

I think most people have missed your point. UNT is more than capable of attaining a level of national respectablity, including a top 25 ranking. TCU and Rutgers are good examples...but perhaps Boise St is the most comparable program with which we ought to set our goals. Boise implimented a solid system and began recruiting patterns...targeting not 5 star guys, but 2 and 3 star quality individuals who fit their system. The groundwork of this philosophy has been laid here by TD...he is very specific about the types of players he's targetting (quality players from quality programs) and has implimented a fun offensive system that is both appealing and familiar to many high schoolers. UNT's respectablity does hinge significantly on the improvment of the SBC. Troy is leading the way...the Florida's know that they have a wealth of talent to pull from...UNT has the best recruiting ground in the country...the rest may be a step behind. Boise plays in the second worst conference in the country, but the WAC is still a severe step up from the SBC...and unless WKU can find similar success to Troy...the SBC will only get worse. That leaves non-confernce games: An upset against Oklahoma, Texas or Arkansas is years away...it starts with respectable showings; a 14-13 halftime lead...comfortably covering the spread...these types of occurances will start the wheels of national recognition. It's a long journey...7-10 years minimum...but it is quite possible.

Thank you Rick...the purpose in having a uniform color isn't just so its appealling on the field, but also so that its fans look "uniform" in supporting their school...at home and especially on the road. Having gone to the tourney game in New Orleans...what made our mediocre fan base even worse was the fact that there were 4 or 5 different shades of green in our crowd...as if our fans had just gone to walmart and grabbed random green shirts in support...and being an alum who missed out on the color change I take part of the blame in wearing my older shirt. I like our new uniform "kelly green" (tshirt on the far left of ricks pic) and hate the lighter version "toothpaste?"(other 2 tshirts) but the University must be 100% firm on its belief that if it sanctions a product that it doesnt settle for a close representation of that color. We talk of trying to build tradtions and we can't produce a uniform color?

Would somebody please explain to me what South Alabama has done to get themselves involved in the coaching carousel. First, John Pelphrey's skins include one NCAA tourney and a first place regular season finish in the Sun Belt that netted them a first round exit from the conference tourney. Second, Ronnie Arrow literally built the TAMUCC program and got them to the NCAA's in their first year of eligibility...had South Alabama made the NCAA's, they would've been a 13 or 14 seed...TAMUCC was a 15, not a huge step up. If Arrow is Billy Gillespie-ing (my new term for a coach who stays put for two years and moves up...replacing the old the previous term of "Larry Brown-ing") I think he could've held out another year and found something a bit more prestigeous than South Alabama.

Oh...forgot to point out...Middleton plays at Akron...one of the schools Thompson is visiting...if we pointed out the Watson to McCoy connection...I guess that needs to be pointed out as well

Oh...forgot to point out...Middleton plays at Akron...one of the schools Thompson is visiting...if we pointed out the Watson to McCoy connection...I guess that needs to be pointed out as well

Landing Thompson would be a major boon to this program. Prep school players are typically more mature and more college-ready because they've had that intermediate level of experience between high school and college. Brewster has produced some solid players in the past few years who have typically been solid role guys at big programs and counted on players at the mid-major level: Damion Grant 6'11 260 North Carolina Armon Gates 6'3 215 Kent State Joel Smith 6'4 195 Washington Cederick Middleton 6'0 180 Akron Adrian Joseph 6'7 205 Virginia Chris Lutz 6'2 190 Purdue Weyinmi Efejuku 6'5 205 Providence Jeff Adrian 6'8 225 Connecticut Xavier Silas 6'5 195 Colorado Will Harris 6'6 230 Virginia Mike Freeman 6'8 220 Hampton This is a list of the players who have passed through Brewster since 2001 who have made an impact on a significant college basketball program. Jeff Adrian is a star at UCONN; Lutz was all freshman Big 10; Silas averaged 13 ppg at CU; the others we're either starters or key reserves. Brewster produces good basketball players...and seemingly quality individuals as there is no record of any of these players being in trouble or even headaches to their respective clubs. If Thompson is anywhere near the level of these players...he is a steal and a huge recruit for us.

Mike Conley, Jr. had similar numbers from the line...thats certainly not to compare the two, just an example...Bell definently needs some work at the line. Transfers may be the way to go for the next 2 or 3 years...with the new NBA rule preventing any player from going H.S. to the pros I think your going to see a lot more 3 and 4 star out of high school kids transfering out of big programs as those programs continue to bring in new 5 star recruits every year who they know will play a season or two and then bolt. Programs in those mid-major conferences; Mountain West, Missouri Valley, West Coast and the Sun Belt have had lots of success by adding D-1 transfers to compliment solid players who were recruited as freshmen. And I think the number of those transfers will increase until these guys realize that going to a mid-major and contributing for 4 years is the best way for them to get a look at the league in the future. I was hoping that Texas may sign some 5 star big man and cause Connor Atchley, Matt Hill or Dexter Pittman to transfer. But in order to have a successful program for an extended period of time, our ability to recruit freshmen needs to improve. Quincey looks like he's panning out...you know my feelings on Sturns; Stewart is a contributor...Howerton is goofy...and Edwards is gone; Mangrum has a chance to contribute next season...thats our roster of freshmen recruits. I want whoever we pull in for the wing this year to be a frosh...doesn't need to be a stud...just a guy who contributes on both ends and understands the philosophy JJ is running

...and where to go with them. I think the answer is dictated on two major factors...Johnathon Jackson's health and Marquez Haynes interest. First Haynes...if Haynes wants UNT...he should be priority number one...he would be a dynamic player in the sunbelt...and create an 08-09 backcourt of himself, Collin Dennis and Ryan McCoy...two scoring combos and a true point and whether all 3 are on the court together or on a rotation...that would be the best backcourt in the Sunbelt hands down. On to Jackson...if he's healthy enough to be a quality reserve (15-20 mins, 5ppg, 5rpg) the second ship goes to a D-1 transfer big man...if a quality big is available. This leaves next years front court with Keith and Quincey starting and Stewart and Jackson as two quality reserves. If Jackson isn't healthy...and barring that Justin Howerton learns how to walk, then run, then play basketball...the second scholarship needs to go to a JUCO or ready-to-play freshman post. JUCO fowards have been hit (Jeff Simpson, Michael DeGrate) and miss (Curtis Muse)...but our luck with freshmen hasn't been much better. The last ship needs to go to a wing...scorer or defender...obviously both would be nice. Our two "swingmen" next year are an unproven sophmore in Mangrum and the cancer of the past 3 years Michael Sturns...who's experience against Memphis should've humbled him...but by all accounts hasn't. 07-08 has the potential to be a rough season...if Dennis isn't the scorer as advertised, if Quincey's development stalls, if Keith is still inconsistant and if Sturns gets 20 shots a game we're looking at a middle of the road finish in the Sun Belt. I don't feel next years success hinges on this recruiting class...those choices and mistakes were made 2 and 3 years ago. However the potential for an outstanding 08-09 season is here if these ships go the right places. My best case for next year: Frontcourt: Keith Wooden is a consistant contributor night in and night out; Quincey Williams development continues and he averages near a double double; Harold Stewart provides good frontcourt energy for 20 mins a night; John Jackson is healthy and can bang and rebound for 15 mins a night. Backcourt: Ben Bell continues to run a steady ship and looks for his offense a bit more; Collin Dennis is the scorer hes touted as; Michael Sturns' ego has shrunk and he plays within the offense; Collin Mangrum is a solid bench contributor; Ryan McCoy is solid enough to make sure Sturns goes nowhere near the point guard spot; "New Wing player" contributes Rich Young- like numbers. Marquez Haynes and a quality transfer big man sit out for a killer 08-09 season. These things happen and there's a good chance we're dancing again in March...and an almost guarentee we are the following year.