Tony Mitchell comments from yesterday

[bono]

One of the reasons I am such a big fan of Tony is because he was the most humble and gracious kid at Pinkston, even being an absolute freak on the court and basically a superstar during his time there. He has always gone out of his way to give thanks to teammates, coaches, etc. You can even see it in his game, as I would argue that he passed the ball way too much in the 1st half last night.

After the game he had 2 public comments that tell you a lot about his character:

1. on twitter he call UNT fans the best in America. Tony has posted before that he "loves everyone" and all the support while he was out. that is the kind of young man that he is. I hope UNT can start to fill the Pit more and more as the season continues.

2. Coach Jones had emphasized the importance of playing WKU at home, and Tony took it to heart. Again, because he feels an obligation to others - former players, the program, etc:

Head coach Johnny Jones made sure to let Mitchell, Franklin and the rest of UNTs eight newcomers who played know just what an unusual opportunity the game presented.

To get them back here and have an opportunity to compete was good, Jones said. They are what we considered the team with the most tradition when we first arrived in the league 11 years ago. Our fans were excited to have them here on our floor.

Josh White and Tristan Thompson, who finished their careers as two of the best players in school history a year ago, had just one shot to play WKU at the Super Pit in four years.

Mitchell was just one of UNTs players who were motivated by the tale.

Coach Jones told us that the old guys like Josh White and Tristan Thompson [almost] never played against them in this gym, Mitchell said. We have to give a shout out to those guys. We did it for you.

Just wanted to give Tony some props for his character off the court now that everyone is starting to see what a fantastic talent he is on the court.

Keep it up T Mich!

Edited January 13, 2012 by bono

[KRAM1]

Excellent...very thoughtful comments from Tony.

[MeanGreenTexan]

...

“Coach Jones told us that the old guys like Josh White and Tristan Thompson [almost] never played against them in this gym,” Mitchell said. “We have to give a shout out to those guys. ‘We did it for you.’”

...

I love this. Giving a nod to probably the most prolific team to come through here in a long time (if not ever) wins points from me.

[Green Lantern]

You can even see it in his game, as I would argue that he passed the ball way too much in the 1st half last night.

Totally agree with the above statement but you can see that he's making a concerted effort to get his teammates involved and attempts to elevate their game early. Sign of a selfless player that knows how to excel in a TEAM sport. You can see the marked improvements this team is making as the season moves along and Tony is a huge reason for it.

Last night was the first game in person this year the resembled "JJ's Mean Green style of basketball". Loose offensively, scoring at a pace that took us to JJ's magic number of 80 in regulation and always had an answer for WKU's momentum shifting plays.

[Mean Green 93-98]

I have noticed that he is very unselfish both on and off the court, and that is rare for someone of his talent.

[UNT90]

I have noticed that he is very unselfish both on and off the court, and that is rare for someone of his talent.

Really needs to look for his shot a lot more. JJ was talking to TM qui..te a bit last night. I wonder if he wasn't telling TM just that.

Edited January 13, 2012 by UNT90

[GRN-WHT]

Where are all the people who said he looked disinterested and lethargic just a few weeks ago?

Loved seeing him celebrate big plays by his teammates.

[Green P1]

As soon as this team realizes that every man on the floor needs to look for the ball when its in Tony's hands... look out. It happens 3-4 times a night with Tony whipping a pass to a teammate not paying attention only to see it sail out of bounds.

[Censored by Laurie]

As soon as this team realizes that every man on the floor needs to look for the ball when its in Tony's hands... look out. It happens 3-4 times a night with Tony whipping a pass to a teammate not paying attention only to see it sail out of bounds.

You mentioned this in the chat last night and I didn't have a chance to respond, but I felt Tony's bad passes were more on his indecision and his playing a bit too quickly at times than they were on his teammates not looking or finding themselves in the right spots. Tony threw one that split Alzee and Walton in the corner...they may've had some poor spacing, but that looked like indecision from Tony...and he threw a couple away in the backcourt after he took a dribble or two in space and then abruptly picked up and looked for a guard who probably felt TM was going to just bring the ball up himself (which he did a few times last night).

Not a knock on Tony, per se, I just didn't come away with the same impression that his turnovers were more on his teammates than himself.

[Army of Dad]

Really needs to look for his shot a lot more. JJ was talking to TM qui..te a bit last night. I wonder if he wasn't telling TM just that.

Maybe, but I think it might also have been trying to get him to pick his spots defensively and be smarter with his hands. #22 had nothing for Tony last night, but Tony picked up a silly foul (his 2nd) guarding him in the post. I don't think Tony need to try so hard to deny that guy the ball in that situation (still 1st half, no need to really stop them on that possession and he already had one foul).

[CMJ]

Our leading rebounder by far.

Our 2nd leading scorer.

Unselfish.

Shout out to former NT greats.

What's not to like about this kid?

[GangGreen]

Really needs to look for his shot a lot more. JJ was talking to TM qui..te a bit last night. I wonder if he wasn't telling TM just that.

I think he was telling him to jack up more threes.

[Green P1]

You mentioned this in the chat last night and I didn't have a chance to respond, but I felt Tony's bad passes were more on his indecision and his playing a bit too quickly at times than they were on his teammates not looking or finding themselves in the right spots. Tony threw one that split Alzee and Walton in the corner...they may've had some poor spacing, but that looked like indecision from Tony...and he threw a couple away in the backcourt after he took a dribble or two in space and then abruptly picked up and looked for a guard who probably felt TM was going to just bring the ball up himself (which he did a few times last night).

Not a knock on Tony, per se, I just didn't come away with the same impression that his turnovers were more on his teammates than himself.

If we're talking about last night individually, I completely agree. Of his 5 turnovers it seemed like 4 were all on him. In general he just really seems lazy with the ball when he's in open space... which is infuriating.

From my experience watching him with the ball on the wing or down on the blocks he's constantly finding the open man who either stops running, changes direction, or receives the pass so unprepared to do anything with the ball that any advantage is lost. I might be seeing it wrong or misinterpreting scripted movement, but its happening night in and out.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Green P1

[MeanGreenTexan]

You mentioned this in the chat last night and I didn't have a chance to respond, but I felt Tony's bad passes were more on his indecision and his playing a bit too quickly at times than they were on his teammates not looking or finding themselves in the right spots. Tony threw one that split Alzee and Walton in the corner...they may've had some poor spacing, but that looked like indecision from Tony...

I remember this one. It looked like Tony was looking for Alzee to pop out to the corner and spot-up for a 3, but Alzee started to cut to the basket just as Tony sent the ball to the corner. Simple miscommunication. Happens to the best of them.

Soon, these will begin to minimize as these guys figure out not only the offensive system, but their teammates' styles.

and he threw a couple away in the backcourt after he took a dribble or two in space and then abruptly picked up and looked for a guard who probably felt TM was going to just bring the ball up himself (which he did a few times last night).

Yep. I remember this one too... although I only remember it once. Close to the end of the game. Totally caught Trey off guard with his pass. Trey was on his way up the court with Tony, not looking for a pass.

These guys just need time.

[CaribbeanGreen]

If we're talking about last night individually, I completely agree. Of his 5 turnovers it seemed like 4 were all on him. In general he just really seems lazy with the ball when he's in open space... which is infuriating.

From my experience watching him with the ball on the wing or down on the blocks he's constantly finding the open man who either stops running, changes direction, or receives the pass so unprepared to do anything with the ball that any advantage is lost. I might be seeing it wrong or misinterpreting scripted movement, but its happening night in and out.

Loosely related, there was a play late in the game where Jones whipped a pass straight out of bounds ahead of a break, but it was pretty clear that the ball whizzed 2 feet in front of Niko, who was leading the break and whose head never looked back for even a half second. It was 100% Niko, but of course was credited to Jones.

These are the kinds of things that familiarity will help with.... but I totally agree with GreenP1 on Tony's open floor ball handling - just think that a lot of that stuff gets ironed out as we move forward.

Edited January 13, 2012 by CaribbeanGreen

[Censored by Laurie]

Loosely related, there was a play late in the game where Jones whipped a pass straight out of bounds ahead of a break, but it was pretty clear that the ball whizzed 2 feet in front of Niko, who was leading the break and whose head never looked back for even a half second. It was 100% Niko, but of course was credited to Jones.

These are the kinds of things that familiarity will help with.... but I totally agree with GreenP1 on Tony's open floor ball handling - just think that a lot of that stuff gets ironed out as we move forward.

Very salient basketball discussion points.

Makes you wonder why we made the list, huh?

[Green P1]

Very salient basketball discussion points.

Makes you wonder why we made the list, huh?

Because you fail to realize that JJ clearly doesn't have them working out these kinds of kinks in practice.

[CMJ]

Very salient basketball discussion points.

Makes you wonder why we made the list, huh?

We just get under the infidel that puts out fires' skin. Some of us because we can be jackasses, some because we defend JJ, and some because we disagree in humorous ways with his politics.

It amuses me that someone who feels compelled to sign his name has an alter ego where he makes blacklists.

Edited January 13, 2012 by CMJ

[MeanGreenATO]

I'm really hoping the Pit gets packed when everybody gets back from break. If only Tony could have thrown down that windmill on the fast break.

[Mean Green Matt]

I'm really hoping the Pit gets packed when everybody gets back from break. If only Tony could have thrown down that windmill on the fast break.

Honestly, if this team gets on a winning streak, and once the dorms are back to 100% full (I doubt they are even 50% full at this point) we could be seeing crowds of 5-6k for Sun Belt games.

What I would really, really like to see is a couple thousand mean green fans making their way to Hot Springs.

EDITED to take out the extra "would" that I added the first time I edited it. Fail.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Mean Green Matt

[golfingomez]

I mean... yeah TM is unselfish.. but how come we don't have any threads about how unselfish Chris Jones is?

[Army of Dad]

I mean... yeah TM is unselfish.. but how come we don't have any threads about how unselfish Chris Jones is?

Speaking of, CJ had a sweet pass last night in the second half to Roger. If Roger didn't catch it he would have been off to get his nose rebuilt. Thing was a bullet through a small window and led to an easy bucket for Roger.

[greenminer]

I haven't dug around yet, but I'm willing to bet CJ's turnovers are starting to dwindle.

Last night's assist sum looked incredible.

Does anybody have any insight into CJ's assist-TO development the last 3 - 5 games?

[GreenBat]

C.J. Assist-T.O. in conference

A-T

UALR 9-2 (15-9)

Troy 10-4(15-17)

USA 3-5(11-19)

ASU 5-3(15-17)

WKU 7-2(22-15)

Team Assist-T.O in ()

[Censored by Laurie]

34:16 in his last 5 games.