On a scale of 1 to 10...How would you rate this season so far?

[wardly]

A 9, which is about where we were projected to be in the AAC in preseason polls. Unless UAB upsets Memphis I expect Hodge to be AAC coach of the year. And who knows. If we have a better team next year maybe fewer fans will shown up than this year.

[CMJ]

13 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

 

Giving a 6 is not a shot at our program but if you score rate this season a 7 or higher, what would you have rated a team that won the conference auto bid but lost in the first round of the big dance? What about a team that made a run in the big dance?

 

I gave us a 7, which would be the same score I'd give if we lost today to Memphis.  Winning the autobid...an 8.  Any win in the Dance makes it a 9.  Two wins or more...an unqualified 10.

 

If we were to win to make the NIT semis or final...probably an 8.  Winning the NIT, the season is probably a 9.

[GMG_Dallas]

3 minutes ago, CMJ said:

I gave us a 7, which would be the same score I'd give if we lost today to Memphis.  Winning the autobid...an 8.  Any win in the Dance makes it a 9.  Two wins or more...an unqualified 10.

 

If we were to win to make the NIT semis or final...probably an 8.  Winning the NIT, the season is probably a 9.

Fair. I'd have given a 7 for winning the regular season AAC title and/or making today's game. Two things I think were necessary to be a strong at-large candidate. Contention for an NIT home game is below what I think we're capable of at this point. With all that McCasland and Hodge accomplished here, I think it's fair to draw the line at NCAA at-large bids when evaluating how successful the season was. We haven't been an at-large yet but getting such a bid would be a clear indication of national respect.

[MeanGreenTexan]

I think there’s a lot of emotional posting after a disappointing loss happening here.

In looking at preseason expectations VS what actually happened… so far, I’m at least at an 8 with this over-achieving team.

We lost so much from last season’s team, brought in a bunch of new faces, gel’d quickly, & finished 2nd in conference behind 21-ranked Memphis.

We still have the NIT to play (no way we get left out of that), possibly with a home game or 2.

How is that not an incredible success… so far?

It’s also important to baseline what grades are.    
What is a 10?    
A national championship?  The 20-21 Tourney win team?  The 22-23 NIT champs?

What’s a 0?    
The 16-17, CUSA 14th place, Benford-led team?  Worse?

[MCMLXXX]

8.33 a solid B-

[BleedingGreen]

I agree with an 8 due to over achieving on external expectations.  

[NorthTexasWeLove]

1 hour ago, greenminer said:

Something I'm chewing on: if we are perpetually 20-25 wins, without championships, only one-and-dones (NCAA/NIT) are we okay with that and keeping Hodge indefinitely, or do we call it after 1 or 2 more of these (hypothetically) and start looking for someone else?

Probably too soon to dig too much into that, but I worry it will be the case if Hodge doesn't figure out some more offense.  Either with the team/scheme, or just find an individual that gets us over the hump.

Final 0.02: I want us pushing hard, trying to figure out how to get to the S16.

Incredibly asinine to consider. If we can sit on 20-25 wins/year under GM/GMs coaching tree/RH, you go do that for as long as possible. 

[Green Lantern]

7 - Finishing 2nd in AAC behind a ranked Memphis is a good season and progress forward from last year with an almost complete roster overhaul. Still going to be playing meaningful post season NIT basketball which is and should be the expectation.

8 - would have been for an AAC Tourney win and making the NCAA Tournament field without a win in the dance.

9 - would be making the NCAA Tournament field as an “at large” from the AAC and/or winning first round NCAA Tournament game.

10 - More than 1 win in the NCAA Tournament.

[NT80]

2 hours ago, greenminer said:

Something I'm chewing on: if we are perpetually 20-25 wins, without championships, only one-and-dones (NCAA/NIT) are we okay with that and keeping Hodge indefinitely, or do we call it after 1 or 2 more of these (hypothetically) and start looking for someone else?

Seriously?   How soon we forget what it was like before Grant and Ross.   I still remember the Benford years...and do NOT want to go back there!

[wardly]

8 minutes ago, NT80 said:

Seriously?   How soon we forget what it was like before Grant and Ross.   I still remember the Benford years...and do NOT want to go back there!

Hodge is just passing thru.

[NTXDJ]

1 hour ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

Incredibly asinine to consider. If we can sit on 20-25 wins/year under GM/GMs coaching tree/RH, you go do that for as long as possible. 

Agree with this.  Achieving 20-25 wins per year is a successful program when just measuring win totals.  Most programs would love to have that level of consistent success.  That type of consistency used to be attractive to recruits back before the NIL. 

I would give this season a 7 at the moment, but that could go up with a strong NIT run, or could go down if we lose the first NIT game. 

[NM Green]

As most coaches are. You build the culture the identity and reload with the competent coach who knows the system is a good recruiter understands the place and accomplishes. New Mexico San Diego State and FAU come to mind. We are doing that.  

I was so bummed last night after another deflating loss in the tourney. Barely made UAB sweat. And Memphis is beast. Then I woke this morning with perspective. Many programs envy our disappointed place on 3.16.25. The runs after January 1 are going to be fun. Lean  into it enjoy it and build. Maybe we make a plank fall our way one day. Either way I wouldn’t trade the fun spring ball in Denton and in conference play gives us. These guys fight as coache’s leadership dictates. 

Taking prisoners NIT 25.

GMG

[RBTX]

Currently a 7. Not getting a win against either McNeese or High Point was a bummer and the losses against Temple and UTSA hurt. Still haunted by that UTSA loss. But other than UAB in the semi finals each loss was by signal digits.

Hopefully will be in the NIT and make a run to the championship there.

[greenminer]

1 hour ago, NT80 said:

Seriously?   How soon we forget what it was like before Grant and Ross.   I still remember the Benford years...and do NOT want to go back there!

Benford was awful. Just asking, is this our ceiling for goals? We wanted more than Benford’s trainwreck.  Then we wanted 20 wins.  Then we wanted bids.  But, now that we are here, anything after that - like S16 - is just a bonus, and not a new reasonable want?

I’m happy right now.  just trying to see where this is going.  I get that the next step is exceptionally hard and difficult to maintain.

[NorthTexasWeLove]

1 hour ago, wardly said:

Hodge is just passing thru.

Aren't they all? 

[BigChiefGMG]

Probably Jase Herl since he’s been an interim at Colorado state. 

[NM Green]

Hodges replacement is either a coach at Tech or at Baylor. If Hodges leaves and we go outside the box. The Grand Canyon coach looks legit. 

I think Hodge is back in Mean Green in 2025. 

GMG

[NT80]

38 minutes ago, greenminer said:

Benford was awful. Just asking, is this our ceiling for goals? We wanted more than Benford’s trainwreck.  Then we wanted 20 wins.  Then we wanted bids.  But, now that we are here, anything after that - like S16 - is just a bonus, and not a new reasonable want?

I’m happy right now.  just trying to see where this is going.  I get that the next step is exceptionally hard and difficult to maintain.

I understand. 

We wanted more than the way the conference tourney finished for us.  We wanted our ice cream with our cake!  It was a deflating way to end.

20-win seasons are still the gold standard for college basketball.  Maybe our mojo will come back when we see where we're going next in the NIT or elsewhere?

I agree with Wardly that "Hodge is just passing thru".   Is he mentoring a replacement coach internally?  I've not heard any names of primary assistants as his go-to-guy on the bench for advice like Ross was to Grant.

[CMJ]

1 hour ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

Aren't they all? 

[GMG_Dallas]

29 minutes ago, NM Green said:

Hodges replacement is either a coach at Tech or at Baylor. If Hodges leaves and we go outside the box. The Grand Canyon coach looks legit. 

I think Hodge is back in Mean Green in 2025. 

GMG

The Grand Canyon coach? You mean Bryce Drew, brother of Baylor coach Scott Drew? Yeah, I'd say he's pretty legit.

[wardly]

36 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

The Grand Canyon coach? You mean Bryce Drew, brother of Baylor coach Scott Drew? Yeah, I'd say he's pretty legit.

Grand Canyon averaged 6,700 attendance  per game this year playing in the WAC. They are moving to the MWC next year where I would expect their attendance to be about double ours. They have no university football program and are actually in a major city as opposed to being 45 minutes away. If coaches income is comparable I would sit tight and see what unfolds .For example, UNLV is looking for a coach, and I think the New Mexico coach is moving upward but not really sure.

[Matt from A700]

I am happy with the season but disappointed in the lack of progress from the NIT. But, 24 wins from a completely rebuilt team aside from Mou, Dello, and Stone, who gave us less than 10 PPG last year should be commended.

What doomed us was not getting a true #1 scorer from the portal. Atin showed several glimpses even before his 42-point game, but then dropped a goose egg at Memphis and was benched with 8 minutes left. Meanwhile, Atin was the only green light from 3-point land in the starting lineup. Jasper, Dello, and Newell appeared to have yellow lights.

Besides the increased win count, we also held off teams and won close games that we would have lost last year. The focus next year has to be to finish those games we did lose against the Tournament teams.

I'd like if Jasper returned and we could retain B Lo. Otherwise this rebuild will be an even bigger job than last offseason.

[Censored by Laurie]

season - 6...with room for upward mobility with NIT success

program growth - 8.5

Hodge has proven he can make two entirely different rosters into winners. we're going to our 4th straight NIT, which betters our last best streak of post-season appearances by...uhh...oh, ya...4. we have an identity as a program. 

there are things to clean up from season to season, but we're living in the best era of UNT basketball history hands down. enjoy it. 

[NorthTexasWeLove]

2 minutes ago, Censored by Laurie said:

season - 6...with room for upward mobility with NIT success

program growth - 8.5

Hodge has proven he can make two entirely different rosters into winners. we're going to our 4th straight NIT, which betters our last best streak of post-season appearances by...uhh...oh, ya...4. we have an identity as a program. 

there are things to clean up from season to season, but we're living in the best era of UNT basketball history hands down. enjoy it. 

I hate that phrase. 

It implies that better is not attainable, and reality is only temporary. 

We have to do anything and everything to protect UNT Basketball.