North Texas Basketball: Could Mean Green win the AAC in its first year?

[Coach Andy Mac]

The North Texas Mean Green achieved their crowning moment, defeating conference rival UAB to secure the first NIT title in program history. The championship springboards the Mean Green into an offseason of massive upheaval.

In an instant, their coach was gone, though that wasn’t much of a surprise. Grant McCasland had the inside track for the Texas Tech job for some time and quickly snatched when he was done leading the Mean Green to glory.

North Texas wasted no time filling the job, handing it to longtime associate head coach Ross Hodge. He’s been a big part of what McCasland has built and the program shouldn’t regress too much under the first-time head coach.

That transition is far from the biggest the program is going to have this offseason. The Mean Green will no longer be Conference USA Rivals with the Blazers; instead they’ll be rivals with them in the AAC.

The AAC will be virtually unrecognizable next year. Can North Texas fill the void and take the conference crown in its first year as a member?

read more:  https://bustingbrackets.com/2023/04/03/north-texas-basketball-mean-green-win-aac-first-year/

[HoosMeanGreen]

A middle of the pack finish would be considered a "win"!

[UNTLifer]

Pretty old article with some poor research considering he was wondering if Huntsberry would return.

[MrAlien]

I think its going to be a very tight conference, several schools will be riding some positive momentum heading into the season.  I hope to see the entire AAC do well in OOC play, and solidify this league as a multi-bid conference. 

[cousin oliver]

I would like to think we can at least compete in this 1st year and would take a top half finish as a good sign.  There are some very talented teams, Memphis comes to mind that will be very difficult to beat on the road.

[Wag Tag]

If we do, we may become a BB school?

[MGNation92]

Feel like FAU and Memphis are gonna be hard to overcome. Anywhere from 3-5 seems likely and I'd be happy with that. Would be incredible to win it, but it's an uphill battle

[UNTLifer]

[greenminer]

48 minutes ago, MGNation92 said:

Feel like FAU and Memphis are gonna be hard to overcome. Anywhere from 3-5 seems likely and I'd be happy with that. Would be incredible to win it, but it's an uphill battle

You know what else would be incredible? Hiring a guy that has a 146-24 record as a HC.  Yet, here we are.

[GrayEagle]

YBYSA!

I didn't think so a few weeks ago but I like our odds now.  We have most of any frailties covered now.  We also got who I think was the best player available C J Noland.  We have four 40% 3-point shooters.  The position that I worried about most was center.  The improvement of Sissoko and the addition of Allen shored up a lot of my concern.

There's still FAU and Memphis, either of whom could be the favorite but I like our chances.

[Harry]

And Memphis just added another good player.

 

[MrAlien]

his 4th school in as many years?  does he need a waiver?  did he graduate? 

13 hours ago, Harry said:

And Memphis just added another good player.

 

 

[Glory to the Green]

20 minutes ago, MrAlien said:

his 4th school in as many years?  does he need a waiver?  did he graduate? 

 

Looks like he graduated. He’d be a grad transfer.  Pretty solid pick up for Penny. Still hope we get to see his sweet throwing motion at the Super Pit. 😂

[TIgreen01]

Considering recent history, why on earth would anyone doubt we can compete.  Memphis will have a talented roster.  They will have to overcome less than great coaching.  FAU should be the early favorite.  Memphis, based on talent alone, will be expected to either win or be runner up to FAU.  I would expect most preseason predictions to put us somewhere near the middle just due to uncertainty around how our coaching staff will respond to the promotions and how the talented new guards will fit in with our historically grind it out style.

Personally, I expect us to compete for a top 3 finish.  Barring a slower than expected start, I'd still look for us to make some noise in the conference tournament.  With the shooters we've just brought in, we're going to be everyone's nightmare matchup in a tournament bracket.

[BleedingGreen]

We need one more big 6-7 to

7-0 for depths in the front court . Guards have good size.  One more F or P.

[greenminer]

Have to think the addition of Brown makes Memphis big contender. I think it’s gonna be Memphis, FAU, and shoot! I’ll drink the green koolaid. I think Hodge puts us the convo with them. Andy Kennedy staying at UAB could be huge.  I need to look at the Blazer roster, because I’m not sure what they will have.

[MGNation92]

On 6/28/2023 at 11:12 PM, greenminer said:

Have to think the addition of Brown makes Memphis big contender. I think it’s gonna be Memphis, FAU, and shoot! I’ll drink the green koolaid. I think Hodge puts us the convo with them. Andy Kennedy staying at UAB could be huge.  I need to look at the Blazer roster, because I’m not sure what they will have.

https://www.jucorecruiting.com/2023-juco-top-100

He got two of the top 10 JuCo players in the country. They graduate a lot, but a lot of their key role players return like Gaines and Toney

[bstnsportsfan3]

its going to be a really fun basketball conference

[UNT Family Man]

Will this continue to be a 2 bid league or will it be 3 or dare I say 4?????

Edited July 6, 2023 by UNT Family Man

[Jonnyeagle]

2 hours ago, UNT Family Man said:

Will this continue to be a 2 bid league or will it be 3 or dare I say 4?????

I think 3 is very realistic.

[Jdawg48]

They will be in the top 3.

[JT Hammons]

I think they could win it all!

[UNTLifer]

Just now, JT Hammons said:

I think they could win it all!

I agree.  Memphis will be tough as will UAB and FAU.  We were only a couple of points away from beating FAU twice last year and they now have a target on their back.  It won't be easy by any means, but it is doable.