Identity Basketball

NorthTexasWeLove · Thursday at 09:37 PM

Is more important than it has ever been due to the high majors taking who they want and stacking talent. Mid majors absolutely have to do things differently. We cannot roll the ball out there and do what everyone else does and expect to be different... There are few choices:

1. Our current Identity: Defensive minded with a slow methodical offense. As we all know, the last decade we have been a slow paced defensive minded basketball program. That is a niche we fell into and it works. I don't hate it. Recruit guys that WANT to play defense with length and land a guard here and there that can score it.

2. Fast paced 3 point shooting attack. Shoot thirty threes a night and tempo your opposition into tired legs. Go find the absolute best shooters you can nab at all 5 positions with little regard to size, run, play 50 ball on offense and a chaotic scramble type of defense.

We have to continue to be different as different is where the success is located. So, the names that we're seeing... Are they different?

BigWillie · Thursday at 09:38 PM

How about we do both? 😏

3 and D as it's referred to in the NBA.

The 3 was the only thing really missing in this team.

NorthTexasWeLove · Thursday at 09:42 PM

On 3/27/2025 at 9:38 PM, BigWillie said:

How about we do both? 😏

3 and D as it's referred to in the NBA.

The 3 was the only thing really missing in this team.

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Programs with elite resources landing elite athletes with great depth are generally the one's able to do both. It's difficult. Not saying if you're running 30 three attempt team you can't play decent defense, because you can.

BigWillie · Thursday at 09:51 PM

On 3/27/2025 at 9:42 PM, NorthTexasWeLove said:

Programs with elite resources landing elite athletes with great depth are generally the one's able to do both. It's difficult. Not saying if you're running 30 three attempt team you can't play decent defense, because you can.

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Oh yeah, of course, just have to be very, very, efficient with your shots. Which is really hard. Even one of the best teams in the nation, Houston, isn't quite that efficient, but I feel they are the best example of both sides.

CMJ · Thursday at 10:15 PM

I think Duke is the only team in the team in the top ten of both adjusted offense and defense.

Edited Thursday at 10:15 PM by CMJ

wardly · Thursday at 10:15 PM

On 3/27/2025 at 9:51 PM, BigWillie said:

Oh yeah, of course, just have to be very, very, efficient with your shots. Which is really hard. Even one of the best teams in the nation, Houston, isn't quite that efficient, but I feel they are the best example of both sides.

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Do they have a top assistant ready to make the move up?

NT80 · Thursday at 10:24 PM

On 3/27/2025 at 9:51 PM, BigWillie said:

Oh yeah, of course, just have to be very, very, efficient with your shots. Which is really hard. Even one of the best teams in the nation, Houston, isn't quite that efficient, but I feel they are the best example of both sides.

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Yes, we need to steal Houston's Ross Hodge. Do they have a guru assistant?

MeanGreenTexan · Friday at 04:36 AM

On 3/27/2025 at 10:24 PM, NT80 said:

Yes, we need to steal Houston's Ross Hodge. Do they have a guru assistant?

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They did, but LALa just hired him.

Glory to the Green · Friday at 01:40 PM

I agree with @NorthTexasWeLove. We’ve had a niche and have been successful with it. We won’t be able to go toe to toe with Memphis in recruiting battles, so we need to be creative. I love the defense first mentality…I almost take pride in how we play. GMG!

GMGGWBG · Friday at 01:57 PM

Finding and getting elite shooters willing to reduce possessions, guard, and keep shooting % high is harder to do unless they are one and done. Like Jason Edwards. Elite shooters is what the big boys want and elite shooters want the green light to take any shots they want. Shooters come at a premium these days.

But getting good players from lower tier teams to buy into playing defensive minded basketball to win games is definitely possible as we have seen. Or seniors that want to win at any cost that can't reach the high majors or have spent time on the bench at high majors.

We have a proven formula that a new coach can follow to keep us from becoming Charlotte next year.

Ross Hodgeson · Friday at 02:08 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 1:57 PM, GMGGWBG said:

Finding and getting elite shooters willing to reduce possessions, guard, and keep shooting % high is harder to do unless they are one and done. Like Jason Edwards. Elite shooters is what the big boys want and elite shooters want the green light to take any shots they want. Shooters come at a premium these days.

But getting good players from lower tier teams to buy into playing defensive minded basketball to win games is definitely possible as we have seen. Or seniors that want to win at any cost that can't reach the high majors or have spent time on the bench at high majors.

We have a proven formula that a new coach can follow to keep us from becoming Charlotte next year.

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Solid post. Glad to have your thoughts here.

NorthTexasWeLove · Friday at 02:10 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 1:57 PM, GMGGWBG said:

Finding and getting elite shooters willing to reduce possessions, guard, and keep shooting % high is harder to do unless they are one and done. Like Jason Edwards. Elite shooters is what the big boys want and elite shooters want the green light to take any shots they want. Shooters come at a premium these days.

But getting good players from lower tier teams to buy into playing defensive minded basketball to win games is definitely possible as we have seen. Or seniors that want to win at any cost that can't reach the high majors or have spent time on the bench at high majors.

We have a proven formula that a new coach can follow to keep us from becoming Charlotte next year.

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Yes... but if you're willing to give up some size you can go get elite shooters. High majors often can't afford to give up size across their roster...they'd get crushed..

And I'm not saying we need to revert away from our defensive minded approach. If we can nab a guy that can come in and keep doing what we've been doing then do that.

Edited Friday at 02:11 PM by NorthTexasWeLove

GMGGWBG · Friday at 06:47 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 2:10 PM, NorthTexasWeLove said:

Yes... but if you're willing to give up some size you can go get elite shooters. High majors often can't afford to give up size across their roster...they'd get crushed..

And I'm not saying we need to revert away from our defensive minded approach. If we can nab a guy that can come in and keep doing what we've been doing then do that.

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Good point. Did you see Jason Edwards get beat up in the SEC and not get the call this year? I felt for the guy and wish him success, but they really exploited his size and the refs didn't do him any favors.

NorthTexasWeLove · Friday at 06:55 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 6:47 PM, GMGGWBG said:

Good point. Did you see Jason Edwards get beat up in the SEC and not get the call this year? I felt for the guy and wish him success, but they really exploited his size and the refs didn't do him any favors.

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He got attacked on the defensive side of the floor pretty often. But he did improve his glaring flaw on offense, efficiency.

NT80 · Friday at 06:57 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 1:57 PM, GMGGWBG said:

Finding and getting elite shooters willing to reduce possessions, guard, and keep shooting % high is harder to do unless they are one and done. Like Jason Edwards. Elite shooters is what the big boys want and elite shooters want the green light to take any shots they want. Shooters come at a premium these days.

But getting good players from lower tier teams to buy into playing defensive minded basketball to win games is definitely possible as we have seen. Or seniors that want to win at any cost that can't reach the high majors or have spent time on the bench at high majors.

We have a proven formula that a new coach can follow to keep us from becoming Charlotte next year.

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We shouldn't be worried about carrying on a system.

We need a coach like Ross who is skilled at using the portal and finding undervalued talent.

I'll take a recruiting coach over a system guy anytime..

GMGGWBG · Friday at 06:59 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 6:57 PM, NT80 said:

We shouldn't be worried about carrying on a system.

We need a coach like Ross who is skilled at using the portal and finding undervalued talent.

I'll take a recruiting coach over a system guy anytime..

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It is the system that made it possible for Hodge and McCasland. More the culture actually.

NT80 · Friday at 07:01 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 6:59 PM, GMGGWBG said:

It is the system that made it possible for Hodge and McCasland. More the culture actually.

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Look at our losses. They were to coaches that simply recruited better.

They didn't have a better system and ours didn't stop them.

GMGGWBG · Friday at 07:02 PM

We will never have the money and visibility to build teams that can run with high-major teams or Memphis level mid-majors.

GMGGWBG · Friday at 07:03 PM

What did they pay for those teams?

Edited Friday at 07:04 PM by GMGGWBG

NT80 · Friday at 07:12 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 7:02 PM, GMGGWBG said:

We will never have the money and visibility to build teams that can run with high-major teams or Memphis level mid-majors.

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On 3/28/2025 at 7:03 PM, GMGGWBG said:

What did they pay for those teams?

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They are G5 programs... McNeese, High Point, Utah St, UAB, UTSA, Temple.

They don't have more of anything than we do.

GMGGWBG · Friday at 07:18 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 7:12 PM, NT80 said:

They are G5 programs... McNeese, High Point, Utah St, UAB, UTSA, Temple.

They don't have more of anything than we do.

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I'm pretty sure they do. Did you see High Point's broadcast when we played them? UAB probably does and Utah State definitely does.

I'm not sure about the others but I wouldn't say they are better than we are anyway. We split with UTSA, UAB, and Temple.

Andy Kennedy makes $1.3M this year. Ross Hodge made $750k.

NT80 · Friday at 07:21 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 7:18 PM, GMGGWBG said:

I'm pretty sure they do. Did you see High Point's broadcast when we played them? UAB probably does and Utah State definitely does.

I'm not sure about the others but I wouldn't say they are better than we are anyway. We split with UTSA, UAB, and Temple.

Andy Kennedy makes $1.3M this year. Ross Hodge made $750k.

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A coach like Andy Kennedy is what we need. He recruits athletes, he doesn't really run a system. But he can adjust his strategy as games go on. They beat us 2/3 this season.

GMGGWBG · Friday at 07:24 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 7:21 PM, NT80 said:

A coach like Andy Kennedy is what we need. He recruits athletes, he doesn't really run a system. But he can adjust his strategy as games go on. They beat us 2/3 this season.

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They might have beat us again if they would have won. I am excited to see what we can do against UC Irvine.

And UAB beat us twice, but they are home now.

NorthTexasWeLove · Friday at 07:25 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 7:01 PM, NT80 said:

Look at our losses. They were to coaches that simply recruited better.

They didn't have a better system and ours didn't stop them.

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And those coaches will always recruit better than us at UNT. Andy Kennedy will always out recruit us, as will Memphis. Tony Benford was our recruiting guru in basketball. He ended up being awful. Coach O was our recruiting guru in football... lol...

You are dying on this hill... this strange hill...

NorthTexasWeLove · Friday at 07:28 PM

On 3/28/2025 at 7:21 PM, NT80 said:

A coach like Andy Kennedy is what we need. He recruits athletes, he doesn't really run a system. But he can adjust his strategy as games go on. They beat us 2/3 this season.

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He does run a system. He's an offensive guy that wants to run hence why he recruits athletes.