Observations & Ramblings...

Lovesto Pumpfake · February 2, 2004

A couple of observations by a non-student & non-alum, but someone who goes to every possible college & HS game in the area.

1. - What is with the UNT cheerleaders? Unless they are all suspended for grades or drinking (?), there is no excuse for only 3 or 4 to show up. And those that do show up do the basics until the last 5 - 8 minutes of the game, then they sit on their hands & watch. That's when they need to be up & yelling, leading "DEFENSE!" chants, encouraging the students and especially the alums to get off their butts & make noise. Hey, the routines are great, but they gotta get more people up out of their seats.

2. - The Super Pit Ushers - Are they all sedated? Have they been told to speak to no one, help no one unless asked, and, for heaven's sake, not be outwardly friendly & outgoing, especially to UNT students? There are a few on the west side that seem to enjoy being there & helping, but most act like they are prisoners on work furlough. Have they always been that way?

3. - The ShoJo factor has been exposed. He is a great offensive talent & shot blocker, but the SB teams have scouted him and seen that if he is double-teamed he becomes a non-factor. He has to learn to pass out of the double team or make his move quicker, before the extra defender gets there, or he becomes a liability. The rest of the team stands around when he is thrown the ball, therefore hanging Shawnson out to dry. When Barnett is in the game the ball moves more, it still goes into the post, but the other 4 keep cutting, resulting in passes for lay-ups & dunks, rather than the ball being thrown out to half-court with 6 seconds left on the shot clock. I would love to see the plus/minus stats on the UNT team, because as much as some of the guys are athletic & flashy, the offense suffocates when they are in the game together.

4. - I hope the coaches are recruiting hard, because we are losing a LOT of size and experience after this season. Replacing DeGrate, Smith, Rogers, and Johnson will leave a big hole in the stat sheet & the front line. Barnett is improving (still only a soph), and Thomas & Harris just need more PT.