Calling This Before I Can Say "I Told You So"

[rojomojo]

I do not understand the confidence many of our fans have going into basketball season. What we accomplished last year was phenomenal, but to expect us to be anywhere near that level of success for this season is a far reach at best. I thought the status of our football team would give insight into how the men's  basketball would perform this season, but apparently not. I am not saying to give up on reaching for the stars, but don't get your hopes up too much

- We've been decimated by graduates and transfer portal action

- Haven't replaced any losses with players that are at least on par with the players we had last season

- While I respect Hodge, he's a new head coach and those can always be unpredictable heading into a new conference

- You're not battling JUST UAB or FAU for conference titles anymore... You are also playing far more established programs such as Wichita State and Memphis 

- UNT struggled last season with consistency and with an injury prone Rubin Jones, and an untrusted shooter with Matthew Stone, it's hard to see how this squad fares against improved competition 

 

Talk all the trash you want, but I will be coming back to this post in early December given the evidence for or against this post 

Final prediction: UNT finishes in 5th place with about 4 games above .500

Edited October 6, 2023 by rojomojo

[MCMLXXX]

20 minutes ago, rojomojo said:

- You're not battling UAB or FAU for conference titles anymore...

Did I miss something? 

[UNTLifer]

1.  Decimated by graduates and transfer portal action: Tylor Perry left via the portal and that was our biggest loss.  Ousmane transferred out but I think Sissoko was more consistent and has a greater upside than Abou.  Huntsberry, Eady, Martinez, and Browne graduated/used up their eligibility.  Finding  replacement for Huntsberry is the key.  Eady, Martinez and Browne are easily replaceable, no offense intended.  Buggs, Edwards, Walker, Noland and Dixon Jr. should fill these roles nicely.  Again, the big key is finding a replacement for Huntsberry's leadership and Perry's scoring/confindence.

2.  See above. Edwards arrives with equal to or better credentials than Perry arrived with a couple of years ago.  Buggs has the ability to replace Huntsberry and the remaining noted above can exceed what their predecessors obtained.

3.  Yes, but he was heavily involved with the team and has been a very successful head coach in the past.

4.  UAB will be there because they are an established program.  FAU returns everyone from a Final Four appearance.  WSU has historically been good, but we also beat them on their floor a couple of years ago.  Memphis will be tough but not unbeatable especially if we can dictate the tempo.

5.  We struggled with consistency?  We were 31-7 and 16-4.  If memory serves, Jones made it through the year without an injury and even if Stone doesn't shoot lights out, he can still fill Eady's role.

Coming back in December with evidence is a pretty small sample to judge your post on considering we only play five games prior to December and ten through December based on the current schedule.  How about letting the season play out before pumping yourself up?

[GrandGreen]

Not sure how you know how good the new recruits are?  Everyone doubts NT recruited anyone close to Perry, but few teams can.

FAU apparently keep their team together, but that is increasingly rare. 

NT recruited a juco guard AA (as was Perry), a multiple year power program starting forward, and a former big time opponent in Buggs Jr.,  plus several experienced transfers. 

NT doesn't return much as noted, however Scott gets better every year and if Jones progresses; his senior year maybe something special. 

The biggest question to me is the new head coach, however I think he was the logical choice. 

FAU was better than any remaining AAC teams last year and should be better this year, not sure how that lines up with your more established teams that were not close to as good. 

There are lots of questions about this year's NT team and conference, however IMO there is a significant chance that NT's 2023-24 team maybe be a continuation of the success of the prior squad.  

[MrAlien]

Under Mac, UNT played long possession, slow pace, and defense first.  If they play that way under Hodge then I think they can run with any of the top teams in this conference.  

[MeanGreenTexan]

[emmitt01]

2 hours ago, rojomojo said:

You're not battling UAB or FAU for conference titles anymore.

The Final Four team that returns almost everyone...that team?  

 

 

 

And PLEASE come back to see how well this post ages.  

[southsideguy]

Hodges took over alot of the team huddles during the season.  I always notice Grant praising him, I think he was setting up to replace him because knew he was going somewhere.   I hope the team is still strong and I will be there for the games.  I think we will be able to compete in the league.  FAU got everyone back and they were in the final four, we played them tough in both games.  Perry is hard to replace but maybe the scoring will spread out among different players who can take up some of the slack.  I dont know if we can win the division but I dont think we be a bottom dweller.

[GMG_Dallas]

Calling this before so I can say "I told you so"

Anybody with this mindset where they get imaginary "I told you so points" if their supposed favorite program struggles needs to re-evaluate their fandom.

[drex]

We need more 'fans' like this.

[NorthTexasSportsNetwork]

5 hours ago, MCMLXXX said:

Did I miss something? 

Forgot to add Memphis, silly mojo

[p_phelps]

6 hours ago, rojomojo said:

I do not understand the confidence many of our fans have going into basketball season. What we accomplished last year was phenomenal, but to expect us to be anywhere near that level of success for this season is a far reach at best. I thought the status of our football team would give insight into how the men's  basketball would perform this season, but apparently not. I am not saying to give up on reaching for the stars, but don't get your hopes up too much

- We've been decimated by graduates and transfer portal action

- Haven't replaced any losses with players that are at least on par with the players we had last season

- While I respect Hodge, he's a new head coach and those can always be unpredictable heading into a new conference

- You're not battling UAB or FAU for conference titles anymore... You are playing far more established programs such as Wichita State and Memphis 

- UNT struggled last season with consistency and with an injury prone Rubin Jones, and an untrusted shooter with Matthew Stone, it's hard to see how this squad fares against improved competition 

 

Talk all the trash you want, but I will be coming back to this post in early December given the evidence for or against this post 

Final prediction: UNT finishes in 5th place with about 4 games above .500

[greenminer]

what did you expect going into last season? What do you expect this season?

Asking about your predicted finishes in the conference race.

Edited October 6, 2023 by greenminer

[Cooke County Kid]

The Mean Green Eagles will be in every game and with their out of conference schedule will be battle tested for conference play and I cannot wait to be there cheering them on!!!

[golfingomez]

9 hours ago, rojomojo said:

I do not understand the confidence many of our fans have going into basketball season. What we accomplished last year was phenomenal, but to expect us to be anywhere near that level of success for this season is a far reach at best. I thought the status of our football team would give insight into how the men's  basketball would perform this season, but apparently not. I am not saying to give up on reaching for the stars, but don't get your hopes up too much

- We've been decimated by graduates and transfer portal action

- Haven't replaced any losses with players that are at least on par with the players we had last season

- While I respect Hodge, he's a new head coach and those can always be unpredictable heading into a new conference

- You're not battling UAB or FAU for conference titles anymore... You are playing far more established programs such as Wichita State and Memphis 

- UNT struggled last season with consistency and with an injury prone Rubin Jones, and an untrusted shooter with Matthew Stone, it's hard to see how this squad fares against improved competition 

 

Talk all the trash you want, but I will be coming back to this post in early December given the evidence for or against this post 

Final prediction: UNT finishes in 5th place with about 4 games above .500

Don't most people call things ahead of time so that they CAN SAY i told you so?

 

question, no info

 

[rojomojo]

I mean... I did say something very similar in regards to Morris the SECOND he was hired and I seem to be correct about that move so far

[greenminer]

3 hours ago, rojomojo said:

I mean... I did say something very similar in regards to Morris the SECOND he was hired and I seem to be correct about that move so far

Doesn't hit the same when you get wish-washy with other predictions.

 

On 9/2/2023 at 5:31 PM, rojomojo said:

I predict we go 2-10 this year... That was before this game even started too

On 8/14/2023 at 3:21 PM, rojomojo said:

QB and defense situation looks concerning to me. I think 5 or 6 wins is the most realistic expectation here.

[GMG_Dallas]

2 hours ago, greenminer said:

Doesn't hit the same when you get wish-washy with other predictions.

 

Throw enough predictions out there and you'll be right with one of them. 

[MeanGreenZen]

This guy just compared the recent UNT men’s basketball teams to the recent UNT football teams. 😂😂😂

One of these things is not like the other…

[glick1980]

This team can win every game they play against any team, anywhere, at any time.  Until that is proven to untrue, that is what I will believe.

[rojomojo]

I grew up a life long fan of Kansas basketball. I went to every home basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse until I was 18... I know a good basketball team when I see one

[emmitt01]

4 hours ago, rojomojo said:

I grew up a life long fan of Kansas basketball. I went to every home basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse until I was 18... I know a good basketball team when I see one

Considering that you HAVEN’T seen this year’s North Texas squad…what’s your point?

[UNTLifer]

5 hours ago, rojomojo said:

I grew up a life long fan of Kansas basketball. I went to every home basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse until I was 18... I know a good basketball team when I see one

[GMG_Dallas]

6 hours ago, rojomojo said:

I grew up a life long fan of Kansas basketball. I went to every home basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse until I was 18... I know a good basketball team when I see one

So from what you've seen so far this season, what makes you think UNT won't be as good as last year?

[Pavlovs Eagle]

On 10/8/2023 at 3:35 PM, rojomojo said:

I grew up a life long fan of Kansas basketball. I went to every home basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse until I was 18... I know a good basketball team when I see one

Cool story.  Glad your parents took you to college basketball when you were in grade school.

Show up to every game and cheer loud.  Bring your fellow students.  Be the change you want to see.  Enjoy college sports as an undergrad, it's a hell of a lot harder to do that win or lose once you're graduated and the real world is pulling you a 100 different ways.