Cooley

Coaches have been known to lie! (especially in building up their current kids) James Hamilton is not on the radar with William Cole. (i.e., Cole had offers from most major D1's while Hamilton is trying to decide between us and Kentucky) In each case, to play a different position. Just this time last year, McGuire was so upset that Cole was not recognized as the Player of the Year in 5-A and second team to Riley Dodge as 1st Team All-State QB. I'd gladly take Hamilton but Cole would have been the biggest recruit ever for UNT.

You spent a lot of time talking about teams and programs. The better athletes are in DFW, Houston & East Texas (period)

I think the Metroplex, Houston & East Texas produces the better HS athletes in which to build a winning program. Nothing personal against kids from other areas of the state.

Am I the only one on the board that thinks that Dodge's stock is down right now? (opposed to this time last year) I understand that this was just idle talk from a few SMU posters but how could any D1 AD justify hiring TD after his first year at the college level? On another note, how devoted and loyal would Dodge be to DC Mendoza if another school told him he had a 7 figure salary but he couldn't bring his Mendoza with him?

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=273420249

Especially real ugly?

Way too early but I'd vote for Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech. (Dallas Carter) Of course Tech will not be a nationally ranked team so that kills his chances. Dad has gone on record as saying that if he has another year like this year, he's gone. During Crabtree's senior year at Carter, (QB) I posted that he would be our solution at quarterback (when we needed help there) I also felt that he would have been a two sport star for us; by starting at the 2 for our men's team. Hell, how bout Casey Fitzgerald for Heisman?

You gotta love kids out of South Oak Cliff! Actually, he didn't make that big of impression on me in HS. But then again, I've always found it difficult to evaluate safeties.

Buford has. He caught a game in Wichita Falls. He posted his thoughts about 2 weeks ago. I'm definately planning on scouting this signee. (Before I make a comment)

Build it and they will come! (as well as a better conference invite)

Last Season 13-18 (.419) Conference Record 6-10 (t-6th) Starters Lost/Returning 3/2 Coach Dan Leibovitz (Pennsylvania '96) Record At School 13-18 (1 year) Career Record 13-18 (1 year) RPI Last 5 years 168-235-300-268-228 COACH AND PROGRAM Dan Leibovitz had two goals he wanted to achieve by the end of last year, his first as a head coach after spending 10 years as an assistant to John Chaney at Temple. No, they weren't to win the America East Tournament, or make the NIT. Leibovitz, who graduated from Penn in 1996, is smarter than that. His goals were: A) to establish a team identity so that when he hit the recruiting trail he would have something to pitch other than beautiful West Hartford; and to teach his players as much as possible so they would be able to impart their wisdom on this season's incoming freshmen. Although the Hawks didn't exactly get straight A's learning Leibovitz' style of play, and suffered from more than a few identity crisis along the way, Leibovitz believes he accomplished what he set out to do, which should make this season not only more enjoyable, but more successful. ''Last year, there weren't any seniors who could say to the younger guys, 'hey, this is how you do it,' '' Leibovitz said. ''Everybody was on the same page. Now we have some guys who have gone through a season and know what we're doing. Some things we didn't get to last year, but the work ethic has been established.'' If you listen long enough to Leibovitz talk about work ethic, heart and leadership, you can almost envision him in gray, hooded sweatshirt and a headset, coaching Hartford's football team, if only it had a football team. He has that type of mentality. Perhaps it's fitting the Hawks are led by a pair of guards with impressive football resumes. PLAYERS Last year's scouting report on 6-0 sophomore guard Joe Zeglinski (12.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) included as much about his family (his older brother Zack played running back at Penn State and younger brother Sam is a freshman point guard at Virginia) and football career (he was a 3,000-yard rusher at Archbishop Ryan in Philadelphia) as it did his basketball career. Zeglinski, however, made basketball the main issue by starting all 31 games and earning a spot on the America East's All-Rookie team. Zeglinski showed he can be a big-time scorer, pouring in 24 against Vermont and 23 against Stony Brook, and that was a year removed from an ACL and meniscus injury. Leibovitz believes he's capable of even more. ''He'll improve his lateral quickness and do a little more off the dribble,'' Leibovitz said. ''He probably shot more threes than he was comfortable with. ''I was thinking today that one of the best things I did was recruiting him.'' With Zeglinski established at the off-guard position, Leibovitz hopes that another former football player with surgically-repaired knees -- 6-2 junior Jared Von Rosenberg (10.5 ppg, 2.5 apg) -- will emerge at point guard. Von Rosenberg, who was a high school football standout in Texas and tore his ACL twice, shared point guard duties last year with 6-1 senior Rich Baker (5.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg). The pairing wasn't disastrous, but it wasn't ideal. ''When he pushes the ball, there aren't a lot of people who can keep him in front of them,'' Leibovitz said. ''His nature is to attack, which is good. But we're trying to get him to be more of a floor general.'' Even when he doesn't have the ball in his hands, Von Rosenberg is valuable defensively. ''He never stops on defense,'' Leibovitz said. ''We had a number of games where we came back from double digits and won. Jared was always the guy out there pressuring guys and turning people over. I hope we're not in that position, where we have to come back that much. But it's great to have somebody with that energy level.'' Baker, who was a captain last year, will be part of the rotation if he can remain healthy. He missed 10 games last year with a stress fracture in his foot and missed the entire 2004-05 season with a quadriceps tear. Brian Glowiak (4.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg), a 6-3 senior, will add depth. Although the Hawks will have a serviceable backcourt, their frontcourt might struggle with no player taller than 6-7. One player who should help bolster the unit is 6-6 forward Warren McLendon, a transfer from The Citadel. McLendon, who weighs in at 250 pounds, averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds his freshman year at The Citadel and was chosen to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team. He was also won Georgia's players of the year his senior year in high school. Leibovitz is enamored by McLendon's physical attributes -- he claims he leg-pressed 1,000 pounds over the summer -- but knows it's hard to tell how he'll perform. McLendon sat out last year and didn't receive much individual attention because the coaching staff was busy preparing eligible players. ''He's a physical specimen and he knows how to score down there,'' Leibovitz said. ''It remains to be seen, when the lights go on how he handles it. But he has a great chance to make a huge difference for us on the boards and as a scorer.'' Leibovitz knows he'll receive a contribution from 6-5 junior Michael Turner (5.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg). Turner, who started 24 games last year, can score, but his true value is on defense and as a leader. ''He's our defensive anchor and he's a great communicator,'' Leibovitz said. ''He's an essential guy for us; he's our glue guy. We'll rely heavily on him.'' The frontcourt will be further bolstered if Leibovitz can receive contributions from 6-7 junior forward Fabrice Tafo (3.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg) and 6-7 sophomore forward David Bookman (0.9 ppg, 0.6 rpg). Tafo can play interior defense but needs to continue to develop offensively. ''With us playing so many young guys down there, we need an anchor,'' Leibovitz said. ''Fabrice has a chance to be that.'' Bookman played in only nine games last year, but averaged a double-double in high school. With a glut of guards already on the roster, Leibovitz focused on recruiting post players. Not surprisingly, one who could contribute right away was also a pretty good football player. Kevin Estes, a 6-7 forward from Richmond, Va., was recruited heavily as a tight end but chose to stick with basketball. His older brother, Pat Estes, is a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers. Anthony Minor, a 6-6 forward from Philadelphia, isn't as big as Estes but has more athleticism and could also play guard. ''He's kind of sneaky athletic,'' Leibovitz said. ''He looks skinny and he kind of floats around, then all of a sudden he'll dunk the ball in a crowd.'' Turner will have somebody to talk to in 6-7 forward Morgan Sabia. The San Francisco native played in the same high school league as Turner, earning player-of-the-year honors last year. The lone guard in the recruiting class, 5-10 Andres Torres, will do his best to further muddle what is already a jam-packed rotation. Torres hails from Puerto Rico and represented his country in the FIBA America U18 championships, averaging seven points and three assists. ''He's one of these guys who's been a point guard since he was four or five,'' Leibovitz said. ''He just commands respect from his teammates. He runs the show. He's a great guy to have in our program.'' Leibovitz doesn't have the most talented team in the America East, but he might have one of its toughest with a collection of former football-playing guards and wide-body forwards. Alas, basketball is not a street fight. The Hawks are going to have a hard time defending and rebounding in the post with no player taller than 6-7 and very little in the way of game experience outside of Turner, who's probably more comfortable playing a wing position. McLendon could give the Hawks a huge lift, or he could be overwhelmed by the stronger competition. At first glance, the guard position appears to be an area of strength, but there are so many guards, and most of them don't have defined roles. Leibovitz would like Von Rosenberg to emerge as the point guard, but Baker might be better suited if he can stay healthy. Torres is probably a year away from being the No. 1 option. If heart won games, Hartford might be in the running. But its talent will keep it near the bottom of the standings. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: A- BENCH/DEPTH: C FRONTCOURT: C INTANGIBLES: B

Odufawa is a player! I see him as a 4 though on a good team. (Q's replacement) He will get minutes at the 5 but I would like to see a true mid-major center. (like Wooden)

Foul trouble is part of the game. We don't have a replacement for Wooden when he is not in the game. If the guy has an off night, injury, foul trouble or need a blow, we're toast! JJ needs to find a big time juco center to replace him next year.

Mentioned this kid before, but appears that offers are starting to come. He's right here in our back yard and would be a great backup to Josh White next year. I really like this kid! Forecast: Weathers is on the rise! December 3, 2007 Blue Zertuche TexasHoops.com Recruiting Analyst It's at the point of the season already when questions of which point guards from the class of 2008 are on the rise. One of the most frequent names being mentioned is Lewisville's, Will Weathers. He is in second full season as the Farmers lead man. At 9-2 this season, Weather's play has been a big reason why the Farmers are in championship mode once again. "Importance of this year is getting to state," said Weathers. "The more we win and the further we go, the more colleges will come and watch us." Weathers is constantly performing at a high energetic level that he hopes colleges will see what he will be able to contribute. "Hopefully colleges will see that I am one of the leaders on this team. I want to show that I can be a true point guard that the colleges need. Not only that, I want to prove that I can step up in the big moment and hit the big shot in a game. Whether it is a three or coming off the dribble, or look for a man that's wide open." Every one knows that the Farmers offense is fueled by athleticism and quickness up and down the court.-But Weathers says he can play in any kind of system, but he does like the up tempo game. "The offensive system we run here is fast pace. It suits the type of players that we have since we have a lot of guards. I like this system and its fun, but I will do what is asked of me as a point guard. I can stabilize the team and play half court ball." During his junior season, Weathers opportunity to take the long distance shot wasn't always there, but this year, he feels the need to step up and get himself in more of a position to make the perimeter shot. Still, Weathers doesn't deny his what he does best. "Last year I didn't get many opportunities to shoot from the outside. This year we don't have as many shooters show I am trying to step up and make the shots when I can, I want to prove that I can come down and hit the three. I don't want to get away from penetrating though. I know that I can't get by the defense and finish in the lane or find the open man. That is my strength." There are college coaches asking about point guards from around the state and some have contacted Weathers. It is a mixture of levels, but Weathers isn't concerned with the list of colleges just yet. "Well recruiting been picking up a little bit, and a couple of schools been calling, but right now I am focused on my team and winning. Offers will come later." Weathers did have one early offer from Northern Colorado, but they signed a point guard. Texas Hoops Analysis:WILL is a quick and fast penetrating guard who is a nice athlete. He can create for his teammates, is good at penetrating the defense and either finish with a floater in the lane or dish the ball to the open man. He is starting to come off the dribble and draining the 18 footer, he will knock down the open three, and he is very fast in the open court and likes to push the ball up court. He has quick hands on defense and is a good overall defender.

Gray, most point guards lead the team in turnovers! (or at least the player who has the ball the most) Look at the stats in any NBA game. I believe Steve Nash leads the entire league, followed by Jason Kidd.

Absolutely! CBL, I appreciate all the information you have provided on this board. I understand that you are out of state and can't make the games. If you have not seen each game live or attended practice, I would imagine that it would be extremely difficult to analyze this team from afar. First of all, let's not get too hung up on stats! No way in hell do I put Collin Dennis on the bench in favor of Ben Bell. Bell's inability to make a shot against UTA killed this team. (And, Collin Dennis not playing) . If you want a guy that does not penetrate, hit open shots and continuously pound the ball, Bell's your guy. This is clearly Josh White's team to lead. Unfortunately for him, he is having to score more, as a true point guard, because Bell's is a liability when they both are on the court. Dennis, however, is a scorer who needs starter minutes. Having seen the kid several times in HS, I was elated that he landed back in N. Texas. He has not been a disapointment. Dennis & White are the best guard tandem on this team. JJ, like most coaches, will not bench their senior who had a hand in last year's title run. I like my starting five against any other that someone would like to propose. (3 assists and all)

Everything begins and ends with the guys up front. (Offensively & Defensively) A good defensive line would disrupt or take away the first option in the backfield; allowing LB's & DB's to focus on the QB and/or trailing back. I only pointed out the Navy game because it was clearly our worse performance against the run. Quite frankly, our defensive front sucked most of the year. Our DB's were equally weak, but you have to ask your guys up front to put more pressure on the QB to help inexperienced DB's out. Hey, I don't mean to bash our guys. They did put out max effort every game. Are they talented enough to dominate an opponent? No! I really do like Gilmore's size & quickness as D1 DE. If he continues to work hard in the off seasons, he could be a nice undrafted free agent possibility. The other guys had some moments throughout the year but they would be decent backups behind a great line. No disrespect H-towngreen but why should we be satisfied with returning members of the 119th ranked defense in the country? Sure, we need to replace Chapman but that would mean that we will still role out the same defensive front as this past year. Imagine how strong this team would become if these guys were backups to better players? There are a lot of holes (needs) on this team. I understand your point that maybe we should not devote many more scholarships to the front. I just feel that championships are won on defense, in which you must have a great Dline.

Were you at the Navy game?

Not disagreeing with the failures of our Juco's, but when we consider the fact that we have been one of the worse teams in the country the last few years, I'd say that a great number of our HS kids have been bust as well. Keep in mind that you still have to put 22 kids out there. (So despite many getting PT, they still aren't good enough to get us from the bottom) A good indicator is whether they could start for most mid-majors. I don't think so! I would not stop recruiting Juco's. We just need to do a better job screening them as well as HS kids! We remain at the bottom because it seems that we always appear content with our returning starters and only recruit to replace the holes left by our seniors.

Take Hogans out of the mix and it's my starting five.

The decision shouldn't be made now or even possibly in the spring. May the best man win! Vizza is not much bigger than Riley and could go down with an injury. Your better backup would not be eligible to play; (possibly for a significant amount of time) based on this redshirt theory. Riley is not coming here to play some other position and sit on the bench. (He chose to not sign with UT to avoid this situation) We should put the best starters and backups on the active squad Now (and not worry about 3-4 years down the road) Starting school in January and attending summer school, Riley should graduate before his senior year. He would have only played 1 year before deciding if he wanted to play his senior year. When did this team become a BCS caliber program where we can assure a true freshman a starting position for his entire 4-years. Todd Dodge and his offense, will always be able to recruit good quarterbacks opposed to a Darrell Dickey type rushing game. Put your better people on the field. We have been one of the worse teams in America for the past 3 years. Too many new coaches are being paid too much money and too many older coaches are being fired. Dodge can't afford to wait 3-4 years for a big payday or a pink slip. Upgrade the entire roster (and 2nd string depth every possible opportunity!

He should mop up on great running backs as most schools have abandoned the traditional running game for the spread offense. I was impressed that SMU raised close to 10 million over a very short period of time to make the offer attractive. I think the entire metroplex wins when all the locals are doing well.

Maybe close relatives only at this game (going up against the Cowboys & Green Bay)

Pete Rose!

Another Lifer classic!