Best Bball Team Ever?

[MeanGreengdub]

Is this team better than the 88' team that went to the NCAA Tourney? Just curious to those who saw the team play in 88'. I was only 2 so...(not to make anyone feel old!)

[island eagle]

Is this team better than the 88' team that went to the NCAA Tourney? Just curious to those who saw the team play in 88'. I was only 2 so...(not to make anyone feel old!)

The 88 team could put on one of the more devastating full court presses that I've ever seen at North Texas and they got to the dance, so I'd have to day the 1988 team was better, though this team has more quality depth. On the other hand, neither of these two teams could top the Blakeley teams from 1975-1978 nor probably the Spika teams of 1968 through 1970.

However, just having come back from seeing the game against ULM in Lafayette, I can say that this team has improved over the past couple of years and when they are playing smart and with enthusiasm are pretty good. When they are playing dumb and without much enthusiam they lapse back into mediocrity. I'm hoping that their new-found intensity will carry on through tonight and tomorrow night.

[greenminer]

However, just having come back from seeing the game against ULM in Lafayette, I can say that this team has improved over the past couple of years and when they are playing smart and with enthusiasm are pretty good. When they are playing dumb and without much enthusiam they lapse back into mediocrity. I'm hoping that their new-found intensity will carry on through tonight and tomorrow night.

...and into next season.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

---Blakely** had three teams during the mid/late 70's that likely would have made the NCAA tournament several times (if not all three) under today's rules. During that era only 32 or maybe even still 24 teams made it. 64 teams went in 1988.. NT had won more total regular season games during that that 3 year stretch than any other NCAA D-I team, but never played in a tournament. The NIT for a while cut theirs to only 8 teams and all games were in NY. Later they went to 12 with 4 games at local sites and now I think they take 32 with a lot of local-site games.

---Some of those last NT teams while in the MVC were very good as well . Spyka? was coach I believe. The league was extremely tough and only one MVC team could be taken (the champion) due to the smallest of the tournament during that era.. The format completely changed sometime during the 80's (I believe then) and went to 64 teams. The number of post-season conference tournaments increased greatly during the 80's as well.

**His assistant later became the head coach of Oklahoma and was there when they lost in the NCAA final game to Kansas. Three players in that game had played JC ball here in Midland.. two for OU [Ricky Grace and Mookie Blaylock] and one for Kansas [Lincoln Minor].. Spud Webb made been here the year before those arrived.

_________________-

The lack of fan support and therefore media support, has cost us several Bowl games during the Fry era and maybe when Joe Green was here also. It may have been a factor as well in us not making the NCAA basketball tournament during the 70's...... This is another reason I hate it when I see how many people fail to show up for meaningful games. I wish our students had more pride in our university and would support them much better and at least as well as several other state universities in our state, some of which are actually smaller. Basketball-wise this seems as about as bad as it has ever been for good or at least decent teams.

Edited March 5, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[SUMG]

I wasn't around during the Spika years so I can't comment on those. But, having followed UNT since 1975, I'd say the Blakely teams (75-76, 76-77, and 77-78) were the best I've seen.

Back then, only 32 went to the NCAA and 16 went to the NIT. So, now there are 48 more spots available for postseason action, than there used to be.

As for the next best (that I've seen): I'd say that the 87-88 team and this one are pretty close in talent. I may be wrong on this, but I think the 87-88 team only had to win two games in the SLC tournament to advance (we may have had a first round bye in the tournament). So, if this current team makes it, they will have had a tougher path to the Big Dance: They will have had to win 4 SBC tourney games (with only one of those at home), while the 87-88 team had to only win two SLC tourney games, with both of those at home.

The 88-89 team of Jimmy Gales also hosted the SLC tourney, and lost in the championship game at home, to McNeese State.

[MeanGreen61]

I'd say the Blakely teams (75-76, 76-77, and 77-78) were the best I've seen.

Ditto & Blakely himself put on a show that was worth the price of admission !

[GoMeanGreen1999]

The 88 team could put on one of the more devastating full court presses that I've ever seen at North Texas and they got to the dance, so I'd have to day the 1988 team was better, though this team has more quality depth. On the other hand, neither of these two teams could top the Blakeley teams from 1975-1978 nor probably the Spika teams of 1968 through 1970.

However, just having come back from seeing the game against ULM in Lafayette, I can say that this team has improved over the past couple of years and when they are playing smart and with enthusiasm are pretty good. When they are playing dumb and without much enthusiam they lapse back into mediocrity. I'm hoping that their new-found intensity will carry on through tonight and tomorrow night.

I wasn't around during the Spika years so I can't comment on those. But, having followed UNT since 1975, I'd say the Blakely teams (75-76, 76-77, and 77-78) were the best I've seen.

Back then, only 32 went to the NCAA and 16 went to the NIT. So, now there are 48 more spots available for postseason action, than there used to be.

As for the next best (that I've seen): I'd say that the 87-88 team and this one are pretty close in talent. I may be wrong on this, but I think the 87-88 team only had to win two games in the SLC tournament to advance (we may have had a first round bye in the tournament). So, if this current team makes it, they will have had a tougher path to the Big Dance: They will have had to win 4 SBC tourney games (with only one of those at home), while the 87-88 team had to only win two SLC tourney games, with both of those at home.

The 88-89 team of Jimmy Gales also hosted the SLC tourney, and lost in the championship game at home, to McNeese State.

I would have to say Ditto to both of those teams. Some of those Blakely teams where good and we had some very good crowds....anyone remember that time Memphis State came in when they were ranked pretty high? That Gales team was pretty good too. Too bad we ran into a very good UNC team lead by JR Reid in the NCAA's that year.

[CMJ]

That Tourney run was the 1st year I ever really kept up with NT basketball....I was like 9 years old. But since my folks were both NT alums AND I lived in Denton, naturally I knew about it. I remember watching us play UNC pretty well that March. I know the final score was lopsided, but weren't we in the game till the last 8 minutes or so? That might be my childhood mind remembering things differently.

I give that squad the nod in my lifetime as the best NT squad ever. If JJ and the boys pull thru tonight(and Tuesday) I'll start to change my mind.

[MeanGreenBuzz]

When they are on they could probably beat any team in NT history, but the problem is they can't put it together night after night, half after half. If they make it to the dance that would put them up in the top 7-8 teams if they win a first round dance game then I would put them #1.

[MeanGreen61]

Here's how Blakeley's teams did vs some familiar programs during that 3 years.

Texas A&M 1-0

Baylor 2-1

SMU 2-0

Missouri 0-1

Kansas State 1-1

TCU 2-0

Rice 1-0

Houston 0-1

Syracuse 0-1

Pepperdine 1-0

Hawaii 2-0

(8-2 vs old SWC)

Edited March 5, 2007 by MeanGreen61

[UNT_92_Fan]

This team is better than the team of looney toon characters on Space Jam....

Remember three years ago when we bitched all the time about Space Jam still playing in the Pit???

Thanks JayDub for revealing to the AD how to load music on the 'puter

[NT80]

Here's how Blakeley's teams did vs some familiar programs during that 3 years.

Texas A&M 1-0

Baylor 2-1

SMU 2-0

Missouri 0-1

Kansas State 1-1

TCU 2-0

Rice 1-0

Houston 0-1

Syracuse 0-1

Pepperdine 1-0

Hawaii 2-0

(8-2 vs old SWC)

Fry's teams were good at the same time back then. NT fans had some fun times during the mid-late 70's.

Edited March 6, 2007 by NT80

[NorthTexasFan]

Did Blakely's teams shoot FTs better back then?

[island eagle]

Did Blakely's teams shoot FTs better back then?

Not significantly better. 2 of his teams shot better than 70% at the line with the 75-76 team coming in third in NT history with a .731 FT average. Ironically the best FT shooting team in our history came with Robbins as coach with .740. The team only won eight games. 3 of JJ's teams have shot better than 70%, which actually puts his teams pretty much among the top overall in FT shooting. I don't know what THIS year's team average is, but it has got to be way under 70%.