Meet today's 2024-25 Mean Green???

[UNT Family Man]

Either a true point guard (with multiple years of eligibility remaining) or the best available talent that won’t be a cancer to Chemistry 

[Jonnyeagle]

Best available talent all things being equal a pg.

[Matt from A700]

12 hours ago, JT Hammons said:

Great post but I disagree, it seems to me like our ball handling is already improved significantly with the new signees.  I would love to have one more big shot blocker and rebounder.

I think with the latest two additions we are already bigger than we were last season. We lose Aaron, Robert, and two benchwarming bigs in Morgan and Dixon, but gain two bigs who played in all their respective team's games last year plus Vice who looks promising to me. So now I think you've got four bigs who will get minutes instead of three.

I would have liked to get someone who will be a clear #1 scorer, even if they came from the JUCO ranks. Someone who averaged 18+ per game. This year's transfers are higher scorers than last year's transfers like Noland, Walker, Buggs, and Allen, but none of them were the first option. Who's not going to be afraid to have the ball in their hands with the game on the line in the final minutes?

[Censored by Laurie]

14 hours ago, Matt from A700 said:

I think with the latest two additions we are already bigger than we were last season. We lose Aaron, Robert, and two benchwarming bigs in Morgan and Dixon, but gain two bigs who played in all their respective team's games last year plus Vice who looks promising to me. So now I think you've got four bigs who will get minutes instead of three.

I would have liked to get someone who will be a clear #1 scorer, even if they came from the JUCO ranks. Someone who averaged 18+ per game. This year's transfers are higher scorers than last year's transfers like Noland, Walker, Buggs, and Allen, but none of them were the first option. Who's not going to be afraid to have the ball in their hands with the game on the line in the final minutes?

to paragraph one...agreed. this team had a +2 rebounding differential (+1 on both ends), good for 122 in the country. so above-average. -1 in blocks, so that would be nice to see go up. we we +1 in assists, but -1 in turnovers...and I put a lot of that to not having a legit PG. 

to paragraph two...I think that dude is Atin Wright. 14ppg last year as the secondary option to a 20+ ppg scorer in Tucker DeVries (who just transferred to WVU). Wright averaged 16.7ppg in his last season at Cal-Northridge as their lead volume shooter...went to Drake and took 2 fewer shots a night. I bet he's gonna be looking to get those shot numbers back up and if his improved percentages stay pretty consistent, that tracks for a 15-20ppg player.

[Glory to the Green]

👀 👀 👀 

 

[BleedingGreen]

I think we need another 6-7 to 6-10 F who can Board and relieve in case of injury or foul trouble 

[Censored by Laurie]

7/13 Update

1. Rondel Walker - 6'5" 180 Sr., wing
2. Matt Stone - 6'4" 200 Sr., wing
3. Moulaye Sissoko - 6'10" 250 Sr., post
4. Alex Cotton - 6'5" 195, Fr., wing

transfers

5. Johnathan Massie (Longwood) - 6'6" 190 Sr., wing ... 11.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 35% 3pt%
6. Jasper Floyd (Fairfield) - 6'3" 195 Sr., guard ... 9.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 4.1apg, 2.4 steals/game (9th in nation)
7. Latrell Jossel (SFA) - 6'1" 185 Sr., guard ... 12.9ppg, 2.3apg, 37% 3pt%
8. Brock Vice (Creighton) - 6'10" 245 Fr., post ... redshirted '23-24 season
9. Atin Wright (Drake) - 6'1" 185 Sr, guard ... 14.1ppg, 40.6% 3pt%, 38 steals
10. Grant Newell (Cal) - 6'9" 220 Jr., post ... 5.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 30.5% 3pt%
11. Brenen Lorient (FAU) - 6'9" 200 Jr., post ...2.2ppg, 1.3rpg, 13 blocks

freshmen

12. Tyron Mason (Plano) - 6'6" 185 Fr., wing
13. Baron Smith, Jr (Haltom) - 6'9" 215 Fr., post

- my best guess on a starting five / rotation - 
Starters
1. Jasper Floyd
2. Atin Wright
3. Rondel Walker
4. Johnathan Massie
5. Moulaye Sissoko
Bench Rotation
1. Latrell Jossel (1/2)
2. Alex Cotton or Tyran Mason (2/3 ... maybe Mason some time at the 4)
3. Grant Newell or Brenen Lorient (4/5)
4. Matt Stone (2/3/4)

on paper, this roster looks deeper than what we've worked with over the last few seasons...10 players with at least some D1 experience. we're replacing basically all last season's scoring...I think Atin Wright is gonna be a monster...Massie, Jossel, Floyd and Newell look like nice complimentary pieces...if Walker's end-of-year uptick in shooting continues, that's another 5 guys who should average in that 8-12ppg range. again, on paper, this looks like a good team

I think this steps into a title contender if Mason or Cotton forces their way into the starting line-up/25-30 min/game rotation and is a 2nd/3rd leading scorer and/or if one of the bigs (thinking Vice) is just a level above and relegates Sissoko to the reserve role he should probably be in. 

[NTWL20]

Team is gonna be scary good with all this size. Excited!

[Matt from A700]

I am curious if one of the bigs works their way above Moulaye in the rotation before the season starts. We all can agree Rob Allen was the better of the two last year but I felt Ross wanted a little bit of continuity in the starting lineup after losing several players. But would he do it for a second straight year, especially after Moulaye had a bad 2023-24?

I compare it to the TP situation. He started the season off the bench and it worked so they didn't change it up. But Year 2 they came to their senses and TP started like he should have been all along.

[UNTLifer]

On 7/13/2024 at 11:48 PM, Matt from A700 said:

I am curious if one of the bigs works their way above Moulaye in the rotation before the season starts. We all can agree Rob Allen was the better of the two last year but I felt Ross wanted a little bit of continuity in the starting lineup after losing several players. But would he do it for a second straight year, especially after Moulaye had a bad 2023-24?

I compare it to the TP situation. He started the season off the bench and it worked so they didn't change it up. But Year 2 they came to their senses and TP started like he should have been all along.

Or, maybe Moulaye improves by working his arse off this off-season.

[Matt from A700]

41 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

Or, maybe Moulaye improves by working his arse off this off-season.

That would appreciated, too. We need 2023 Sissoko back.

[Censored by Laurie]

19 minutes ago, Matt from A700 said:

That would appreciated, too. We need 2023 Sissoko back.

2.5ppg, 2.4rpg ??

[Matt from A700]

4 hours ago, Censored by Laurie said:

2.5ppg, 2.4rpg ??

Forgot the "NIT" after 2023.

[Censored by Laurie]

9 hours ago, Matt from A700 said:

Forgot the "NIT" after 2023.

oh I know...but let's revisit that too:

- Alcorn State: 14 mins, 7 points (3-3 FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds
- Sam Houston: 14 mins, 0 points (0-1 FG), 1 rebound, 1 block
- Oklahoma State: 35 mins, 12 points (6-9 FG), 15 rebounds
- Wisconsin: 28 mins, 7 points (3-4 FG, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds
- UAB: 34 min, 6 points (3-4 FG), 9 rebounds, 1 block
NIT Stat Line: 25min/game, 6.4ppg (71%FG, 50%FT), 6.8rpg, 0.4bpg
without OSU Game: 22.5min/game, 5.0ppg (75%FG, 50%FT), 4.8rpg, 0.4bpg
23'-24' State Line: 16.2min/game, 3.0ppg (49%FG, 53%FT), 4.6rpg, 0.2bpg

that OSU game is such an outlier...it's his only career double-double and 12 and 15 are both his career highs for his entire career, including Dayton, Sissoko has cracked double figures in scoring 3 other times...once as a Sophomore at Dayton v. App St (12), and twice last season v. Omaha (10) and MVSU (10). he's done it rebounding one other time, last season v. Wichita State (11). 

I like Sissoko...I think he works hard, seems like a good kid, his teammates seem to like him...but he also is what he is, a max 5 and 5 guy who should probably be a reserve big...and save for a pretty magic three game stretch and one game in particular, that is all he has ever been. 

[Matt from A700]

24 minutes ago, Censored by Laurie said:

oh I know...but let's revisit that too:

- Alcorn State: 14 mins, 7 points (3-3 FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds
- Sam Houston: 14 mins, 0 points (0-1 FG), 1 rebound, 1 block
- Oklahoma State: 35 mins, 12 points (6-9 FG), 15 rebounds
- Wisconsin: 28 mins, 7 points (3-4 FG, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds
- UAB: 34 min, 6 points (3-4 FG), 9 rebounds, 1 block
NIT Stat Line: 25min/game, 6.4ppg (71%FG, 50%FT), 6.8rpg, 0.4bpg
without OSU Game: 22.5min/game, 5.0ppg (75%FG, 50%FT), 4.8rpg, 0.4bpg
23'-24' State Line: 16.2min/game, 3.0ppg (49%FG, 53%FT), 4.6rpg, 0.2bpg

that OSU game is such an outlier...it's his only career double-double and 12 and 15 are both his career highs for his entire career, including Dayton, Sissoko has cracked double figures in scoring 3 other times...once as a Sophomore at Dayton v. App St (12), and twice last season v. Omaha (10) and MVSU (10). he's done it rebounding one other time, last season v. Wichita State (11). 

I like Sissoko...I think he works hard, seems like a good kid, his teammates seem to like him...but he also is what he is, a max 5 and 5 guy who should probably be a reserve big...and save for a pretty magic three game stretch and one game in particular, that is all he has ever been. 

Look at that difference in FG% difference though. Although with few opportunities, he was finishing them. You're right that we shouldn't rely on him to be our top scorer, but oh how it frustrated me many times this year if he found himself with the ball at the basket, whether off a pass or offensive rebound, he would not be ready to score.

I can't gripe about him too much, because finishing at the rim seemed to be a problem for us as a whole, whether it was Sissoko, Aaron, Rubin, or Jason.

[GrandGreen]

On 7/16/2024 at 8:17 AM, Censored by Laurie said:

oh I know...but let's revisit that too:

- Alcorn State: 14 mins, 7 points (3-3 FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds
- Sam Houston: 14 mins, 0 points (0-1 FG), 1 rebound, 1 block
- Oklahoma State: 35 mins, 12 points (6-9 FG), 15 rebounds
- Wisconsin: 28 mins, 7 points (3-4 FG, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds
- UAB: 34 min, 6 points (3-4 FG), 9 rebounds, 1 block
NIT Stat Line: 25min/game, 6.4ppg (71%FG, 50%FT), 6.8rpg, 0.4bpg
without OSU Game: 22.5min/game, 5.0ppg (75%FG, 50%FT), 4.8rpg, 0.4bpg
23'-24' State Line: 16.2min/game, 3.0ppg (49%FG, 53%FT), 4.6rpg, 0.2bpg

that OSU game is such an outlier...it's his only career double-double and 12 and 15 are both his career highs for his entire career, including Dayton, Sissoko has cracked double figures in scoring 3 other times...once as a Sophomore at Dayton v. App St (12), and twice last season v. Omaha (10) and MVSU (10). he's done it rebounding one other time, last season v. Wichita State (11). 

I like Sissoko...I think he works hard, seems like a good kid, his teammates seem to like him...but he also is what he is, a max 5 and 5 guy who should probably be a reserve big...and save for a pretty magic three game stretch and one game in particular, that is all he has ever been. 

It will be great, if he gets better and contributes.   He definitely has the physical tools to be dominating.   

However, with all the size, NT has recruited; Sissoko's progress has lost importance.  

I am much more concerned about NT's guard play than the frontcourt.