Does Anyone Care About Wbb

GrandGreen · December 20, 2007

In the last few seasons, there have been a handful including me posting about women's basketball. This year there seems to be even less interest from board posters about Slinker's team. They play a big game tonight against OSU, does anyone care? I have season tickets but have yet to see a game this year other than the great web-casts and will not be going tonight. There are some good players on the team and they deserve support, but frankly I just can't get geared up to make the 2 1/2 hour round trip to see the mediocre basketball being played so far this year.

Edited December 20, 2007 by GrandGreen

SUMG · December 20, 2007

In the last few seasons, there have been a handful including me posting about women's basketball. This year there seems to be even less interest from board posters about Slinker's team. They play a big game tonight against OSU, does anyone care? I have season tickets but have yet to see a game this year other than the great web-casts and will not be going tonight. There are some good players on the team and they deserve support, but frankly I just can't get geared up to make the 2 1/2 round trip to see the mediocre basketball being played so far this year.

Tina's had 19 years to prove herself. And, I've probably seen 80 or more of her team's games over the years. So, I'm with you....on it being hard to get excited about another year of Slinker Ball.

It's time for a change. I'd hire former UTA coach Donna Capps. She took them to two NCAA tournaments...and is now an assistant athletic director for the Mesquite school district.

Green to the Bone · December 20, 2007

For what it's worth, I'm in the Pit right now. We're outnumbered, fanwise, about two or three to one.

First half, 17:17, tied 2-2.

Make that behind, 4-2.

No, wait, tied 4-4, 16:52.

No, wait, behind 6-4.

Keeping it moderately close so far, but I'm going to stop typing now.

Except for this: According to the program, TS is career 232-275. Kurt Budke is only 34-34 in three years at OSU, but his career record -- can this possibly be right? -- is listed as 387-81. Astonishing.

OK, one more update, then I'm out: We're behind 8-7 at 15:17.

Green to the Bone · December 20, 2007

Take a picture of this post for your archives or memoirs:

We're ahead, 17-15, at 9:05. So far I'm sorta underwhelmed by #20 OSU.

Green to the Bone · December 20, 2007

At the half, OSU 36, UNT 26. I'm shutting down the laptop cuz the battery's running out. Which may also describe what's happening on the floor.

NT80 · December 20, 2007

At the half, OSU 36, UNT 26. I'm shutting down the laptop cuz the battery's running out. Which may also describe what's happening on the floor.

OSU was blown out last night by a .500 TCU team by ~25 points. Agree with SUMG, time for Slinker Ball to be dunked.

THOR · December 20, 2007

i just can't get into chic basketball...for whatever that's worth...i have absolutely no interest in chic basketball...sorry

CorinthEagle · December 20, 2007

Except for this: According to the program, TS is career 232-275. Kurt Budke is only 34-34 in three years at OSU, but his career record -- can this possibly be right? -- is listed as 387-81. Astonishing.

Budke was EXTREMELY succesful at Trinity Valley CC and then moderately so at La Tech. I think he won a couple of juco national championships at TV if I remember right.

Green to the Bone · December 20, 2007

Just got back. Final: 77-55.

JayDub · December 20, 2007

Tina's had 19 years to prove herself. And, I've probably seen 80 or more of her team's games over the years. So, I'm with you....on it being hard to get excited about another year of Slinker Ball.
It's time for a change. I'd hire former UTA coach Donna Capps. She took them to two NCAA tournaments...and is now an assistant athletic director for the Mesquite school district.

I will care about North Texas WBB when Slinker is gone. Sad, but true.

Cooley · December 20, 2007

We blew a golden opportunity back in the day when Gary Blair was not even seriously considered! He lead the SOC girls to 2-3 state championships before going to SFA. He later went to La Tech when they were a national power. I believe he went to Arkansas before taking over at A&M. Blair stated that NT didn't want a male coach at the time.

With the exception of Rice & UH, all other major schools in Texas have had great women programs during Slinker's watch:

Texas Tech

SMU

Texas A&M

UT

TCU

SFA

UTA

Baylor

Wayland Baptist (Maybe before her time)

Duncanville Pantherettes

This coach is here until the fans/alums demand better. Hopefully RV will realize some year that the gender-equity sports need to start carrying their weight.

Green to the Bone · December 20, 2007

Hopefully RV will realize some year that the gender-equity sports need to start carrying their weight.

I was with you until this last sentence. I'm not sure what you mean by "gender-equity sports" or by the whole sentence. If you're suggesting that women's sports exist just because federal law requires it, and that a lower level of performance is accepted because of that, you might want to go see the UNT soccer team: Sun Belt champions 2001, 2004 & 2005, and runner-up 2006 and 2007. The softball team is also very good. The volleyball team has struggled, but they currently have one of the best players in NCAA history in Brooke Engel.

This WBB problem is a team-specific problem, not a gender-equity problem. It's fixable the same way any chronic performance problem is fixable: by a change in either coaching performance or coaching personnel. No need to inject the team's lack of a Y chromosome into the issue.

MCMLXXX · December 20, 2007

My choice for a replacement. A native Texan.

http://www.gomocs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPS...p;Q_SEASON=2007

Cooley · December 20, 2007

I was with you until this last sentence. I'm not sure what you mean by "gender-equity sports" or by the whole sentence. If you're suggesting that women's sports exist just because federal law requires it, and that a lower level of performance is accepted because of that, you might want to go see the UNT soccer team: Sun Belt champions 2001, 2004 & 2005, and runner-up 2006 and 2007. The softball team is also very good. The volleyball team has struggled, but they currently have one of the best players in NCAA history in Brooke Engel.
This WBB problem is a team-specific problem, not a gender-equity problem. It's fixable the same way any chronic performance problem is fixable: by a change in either coaching performance or coaching personnel. No need to inject the team's lack of a Y chromosome into the issue.

Not a politically correct thing to say on my part but the facts are clear. The general public prefers the men's game over the women's game. Green to the Bone, surely you would agree with that wouldn't you? The men's sports, in general, (basketball, football, baseball) attracts greater attendence (revenue). As such, it rightfully receives more attention! Would we have a men's basketball coach, with the record of our women's coach, still on payroll for this long? Of course not!

The law does play a major role in the number of sports teams we must field. The hard core fans could care less about women's soccer, volleyball & softball. I can't name one person to ever play any of these sports at UNT or any other university, ever. To this poster, these are recreational sports only. (that we must field) Otherwise, the funding saved would more than likely go directly to the stadium fund.

Women's basketball is the most popular women's sport; that should be expected to help offset the cost of fielding a team. Congratulations to the soccer women and Ms Engel. You've help educate me! I was, however, speaking of my expectations of women's basketball. And yes, it is obvious that we have accepted a lower level of performance from our women's basketball program.

Edited December 20, 2007 by Cooley

GoMeanGreen1999 · December 20, 2007

I don't get excited about it - but then again we have seen the same song and dance for 18 seasons.

GrandGreen · December 20, 2007

We blew a golden opportunity back in the day when Gary Blair was not even seriously considered! He lead the SOC girls to 2-3 state championships before going to SFA. He later went to La Tech when they were a national power. I believe he went to Arkansas before taking over at A&M. Blair stated that NT didn't want a male coach at the time.
With the exception of Rice & UH, all other major schools in Texas have had great women programs during Slinker's watch:
Texas Tech
SMU
Texas A&M
UT
TCU
SFA
UTA
Baylor
Wayland Baptist (Maybe before her time)
Duncanville Pantherettes
This coach is here until the fans/alums demand better. Hopefully RV will realize some year that the gender-equity sports need to start carrying their weight.

Slinker played her college ball at Wayland Baptist.

Green to the Bone · December 20, 2007

I don't get excited about it - but then again we have seen the same song and dance for 18 seasons.

You wouldn't be saying that if you had seen the UNT Dancers' "Santa Baby" routine during halftime last night.

GrandGreen · December 20, 2007

I was with you until this last sentence. I'm not sure what you mean by "gender-equity sports" or by the whole sentence. If you're suggesting that women's sports exist just because federal law requires it, and that a lower level of performance is accepted because of that, you might want to go see the UNT soccer team: Sun Belt champions 2001, 2004 & 2005, and runner-up 2006 and 2007. The softball team is also very good. The volleyball team has struggled, but they currently have one of the best players in NCAA history in Brooke Engel.
This WBB problem is a team-specific problem, not a gender-equity problem. It's fixable the same way any chronic performance problem is fixable: by a change in either coaching performance or coaching personnel. No need to inject the team's lack of a Y chromosome into the issue.

While I agree with the spirit of your post, I'm can't agree with a couple of your comments. The NT softball team has never come close to having a winning year, therefore I don't think they have met the "very good" criteria. Engel is obviously gifted at getting service aces and deserves congratulations but has never made an "All Conference" team much less been considered among the best players in the nation.

Personally I enjoy women's sports as much as men's. The competition is just as intent and the athletes just as gifted. In general most fans care little about non-revenue sports no matter the gender. There are only four sports that gather much fan interest; football, men and women's' basketball and baseball.

Green to the Bone · December 20, 2007

While I agree with the spirit of your post, I'm can't agree with a couple of your comments. The NT softball team has never come close to having a winning year, therefore I don't think they have met the "very good" criteria. Engel is obviously gifted at getting service aces and deserves congratulations but has never made an "All Conference" team much less been considered among the best players in the nation.
Personally I enjoy women's sports as much as men's. The competition is just as intent and the athletes just as gifted. In general most fans care little about non-revenue sports no matter the gender. There are only four sports that gather much fan interest; football, men and women's' basketball and baseball.

All valid points, except that I suspect many coaches would welcome an NCAA record holder; I don't think Jamario Thomas was ever All-American, but I wouldn't have traded him for some who were. My main point is that the WBB situation should be seen in its simplest terms -- as a performance problem regarding a particular coach/staff.

In short, we're in agreement.

UNTLifer · December 20, 2007

You wouldn't be saying that if you had seen the UNT Dancers' "Santa Baby" routine during halftime last night.

Anyone record this?

drex · December 20, 2007

At some point in time North Texas needs to make a decision as to whether they want women's basketball to become a revenue sport. At this juncture, the team does not even draw enough fans to break even. Further, the university needs to come to grips with the embarrassment of year after year fielding a women's team with no possibility of ever making the NCAA tournament in March. If status quo is what they want, then they have the right person leading the program. If they want to really compete at the D1 level of women's basketball, then changes must come.

mwynn05 · December 21, 2007

At some point in time North Texas needs to make a decision as to whether they want women's basketball to become a revenue sport. At this juncture, the team does not even draw enough fans to break even. Further, the university needs to come to grips with the embarrassment of year after year fielding a women's team with no possibility of ever making the NCAA tournament in March. If status quo is what they want, then they have the right person leading the program. If they want to really compete at the D1 level of women's basketball, then changes must come.

VERY VERY VERY few womens basketball teams are revenue producing....i dont even think our mens team produces revenue

Edited December 21, 2007 by mwynn05