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During his year with Gillette College, Ahmeds New York-sized heart and intensity were on full display. On several occasions when opponents went on scoring runs, the Bronx bruiser would be the one to respond, whether it be with a long-range bomb or a rim-rattling slam. Division I coaches were paying attention. Denton, Texas, population 113,383 Among those watching were the coaches at North Texas. But they turned their attention to him well before Ahmed became a fixture in Region IX. They were recruiting me the whole year, Ahmed said. They showed that they were really interested and wanted me. I was their No. 1 overall recruit and the first one they brought onto campus. The Mean Green coaches, in part, can thank their association with Gillette College assistant coach Tony Schamber. He and North Texas assistant coach David Anwar both coached at Nebraska when Iowa State assistant Doc Sadler was the Huskers head man. North Texas coach Tony Benford and Anwar also gave Ahmed the impression that they needed the many skills he possessed, friendship between the two staffs or not. (It was) not just that they wanted me. They needed me also, he said. They said that they were missing a player like me to help them get to the tournament. The tournament that Ahmed refers to is the NCAA Tournament, which started Final Four play on Saturday. His longtime goal has been to play in it and he is willing to do what it takes for the Mean Green to go from 16-16 to Conference USA champs, which would give them an automatic berth into the field. The goal is to make the tournament, he said before correcting himself, to help them make the tournament. In his travels from New York City to Gillette, Ahmed has met plenty of players who have already taken part in that tournament. He knows Daytons Scoochie Smith another player with a New York pedigree who helped propel his team to a first-round upset of Ohio State and a Sweet 16 appearance less than a month ago. Hes also crossed paths with players from UConns Final Four team. Many of those hes met he has stayed in contact with, as hell do with his Pronghorn teammates. But Ahmed just wants the chance to follow their lead and fulfill the dream all major college basketball players have, to go dancing figuratively as a part of March Madness. North Texas gives him that chance, but his travels across the country havent hurt, either. I feel like everywhere that Ive went, Ive improved, he said, looking every bit the 6-foot-7 Division I-player hell soon be while sitting in a small coaches office in northeast Wyoming. All my coaches, everywhere, helped my game. His game made its mark on Gillette College hoops too. No question. Read more: http://www.gcpronghorns.com/newsdetail.php?id=175

I would start this out by asking UNT90 and others to allow us a moment to move away from the Benford bashing and discuss this coming year in terms of who we lose, who we have coming back and what we need. Player graduation losses Alzee is a big loss obviously. He was a great defensive player as well as going to the basket. He was not a great shooter. He brought some leadership that will be missed and gave a lot in his time with the program. Brandon Walton had his moments certainly in terms of shooting the three point shot and could be good defensively. He was a nice role player for this program. Vertrail Vaughns -- it's just hard to give an accurate assessment of him, he was here for such a short time. I understand he was a good leader although I question how a one year guy can truly lead. I expected him to provide a little bit more than he did but Benford's substitution pattern had a lot to do with this. Returning players Maurice Aniefiok - He had moments of brilliance and then disappeared at times. Clearly has some great shooting ability and will have two more years to play. Good size for a guard. Good pickup. Keith Coleman -- Big disappointment. Still is a physical specimen that just struggles to use his natural tools. Inconsistent -- but I don't know if you can give up on a guy with his size when you are struggling so badly to get any type of post production. He he could be a better role player if he works hard in the off season? Colin Voss -- Voss is a good player that is undersized in the post. I don't think you can expect him to produce every game in the post but he could be a good role player for us next season. I see him as a good addition to the program. Kelvin Gaines -- his health was a big concern, but even bigger then that is can he really help us? He just didn't play very much and when he did he didn't play very well. Armani Flannigan - I hate to say it but Flash was a bust. He is athletic but just struggled to find a role on the team. If he can't at least provide rebounds or defensive shot blocking he does very little for this program. Chris Jones - Chris hasn't been the same since his freshman season. That said, he is still a guy that could help you, but as a backup point guard or 2-guard. Need to work on his shot. Jordan Williams -- one of the few bright spots on the team. Has improved his defense and rebounding. Will be a major contributor next season. TJ Taylor -- had injury issues, but showed flashes of great ability. Taylor could help this team win next season if he stays healthy and gets more consistent with his jumper. New Additions Forward Greg Wesley (6-7) - Had to sit out for academics (why this wasn't revealed early on stil bothers me) but ranked 9th in the state coming out of high school. Very athletic, with big jumps, but will he be able to help out in the post where UNT was dominated in C-USA? Certainly should provide some instant help as he is a more well rounded athlete than what UNT has down low right now. Forward Jeremy Combs (6-7) -- Very talented player who will be making the transition from high school select ball to D-I. I don't think there is any doubt he will help UNT right away, but like Wesley can he make a difference as a rebounder and paint scorer/defender as a true freshman? Guard Carrington Ward (6-4) - Big time shooter that is averaging about 17 a game at San Jac. 30% three point shooter, was a star on a losing juco team. DeAndre Harris - Juco athletic shooter that sat out a season with medical issues. Will have 3 years to play. What we did UNT was middle of the pack in C-USA in scoring (8th out of 16 with 67.4 average). We were next to last in scoring defense (15th 72.4 a game). In rebounding we struggled, showing 11th in offensive rebounding and 12th defensive. We were 14th in the C-USA out of 16 in rebounding margin!!! Another huge need area is assists. UNT was 2nd to last in the league in assists this past season, with a 10.31 average... we need point guard help desperately. Our assist to turnover ratio was 12th in the league, at .83. Rebounding - Offensive rebounding was reasonable at 10th in the league (11.3 average) but our defensive rebounding was atrocious at 22.63 which was 14th in thr league. Lastly, we hoped that our 3-point shooting would improve this season but it did not. We were 14th in C-USA in 3-point shooting at 4.94 average a game. Here is a link to the season stats in case you would like to review: http://www.conferenceusa.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2013-2014/confonly.html What we need Clearly we need a point guard and I could possibly see them sign two, one being a juco that could come in right away as well as a young high school that you could work in more slowly. Wesley and Combs are both long and athletic so they will help the rebounding and defense in the paint -- but is that enough? I have no faith in Gaines or Coleman but I am also realistic enough to know that we will not be able to easily land an impact big man. Perhaps bring in a big body guy that is raw but coachable? You lose both of your big guys after this next season to graduation so you need to have something working in the wings. Benford and the program can't endure another mediocre to poor season so you have to make some good personnel decisions here. The lack of a big rebounder, and a great defender is evident to me. I think you have to really work with Flannigan in the offseason to make him become more of a focused rebounder/defender. If Gaines is not healthy then he needs to move on. Coleman either needs to contribute or do the same. Too many guys are taking up valuable scholarships and not providing anything in return. Injuries happen but we have to develop more consistency in rebounding in our bigs or we will be near the bottom again. I am interested to hear other fan thoughts. I am more of a football guy so I apologize in advance for my caveman analysis. Again, please do not use this as an opportunity to make your case against Benford as a coach. This is meant to be a realistic discussion on where we are and what we need. GMG