Tony Benford is a home run hire

[bono]

I was able to attend the UNT team camp yesterday as I coached a HS team during the event. I would say that I was impressed with Benford and staff, but that would be an understatement.

first of all, I remember benford being in pinkston to recruit tony mitchell. i know he would get out and recruit, and i think that tony's interest in marquette was primarily due to benford.

with respect to the camp - benford was constantly engaging with the coaches and asking about them, their teams, offered to share any drills or help he could give them, etc. he very impressive and engaged.

the 1 hour practice that the UNT team went through was high paced, purposeful, and engaging. benford was constantly coming over to talk to the HS coaches to explain what they were doing, and he was also very involved in coaching the kids to the point where he was sweating his a$$ off by the end of the practice.

he also had tony mitchell speak to the HS kids, and he did that on purpose to force tony to be accountable. he has to live up to the standard he is setting.

and then you have a veteran like rob evans out there getting after the kids, and bringing his years of knowledge to the staff.

benford did one thing that really impressed me, besides being engaging and extremely knowledgable. he told the coaches that tony averaged 4 turnovers per game, and they were going through drills that would force tony to work on his foot work and be purposeful. the things that keep tony from complete domination are turnovers and fouls. benford has already identified these issues and is addressing them and coaching tony like he needs to be taught. i told tony that he needs to listen to those guys because they know what they are talking about.

benford discussed their offensive philosophy, primarily to get a target # of post touches. I think this should be a beneficial strategy for this team with the talent on the roster. with paint touches and good player and ball movement this team should be virtually unstoppable in the sun belt.

benford stated that all practices will be open.

I think benford was a fantastic hire who can take this program to another level with the move to CUSA.

[Green Crazy]

Thanks for the info bono!

Just curious, who were some of the teams in attendance?

[bono]

Thanks for the info bono!

Just curious, who were some of the teams in attendance?

Frisco Heritage HS

Wilmer-Hutchins HS

Denton HS

Hillcrest HS

Crowley HS

Denton-Guyer HS

Lovejoy HS

Ponder HS

Boswell HS

Pinkston HS

Houston Prospects

Believe 1

Believe 2

Wiley Elite

TX Dream 2014

Texas Blue Chips

Wichita Falls Rider HS

Burleson Centennial

Denton-Guyer 2

Ponder HS 2

Milsap

Liberty Christian

Houston Prospects 2

Argyle HS

Believe 3

TX Hoopsters Elite

Houston Phenoms

Boswell 2

[bono]

Talent at UNT

Tony - former Mizzou

Franklin - former Ok State

Coleman -former Nebraska

PJ - former Mississippi State. a coach yesterday told me that he went head to head with yogi ferrel (indiana) in a game he saw and held his own.

Norris - former Memphis

Williams - high major talent w rivals listed offers to Baylor, Arkansas, Ok St, Kansas St, many more

Jones - high major talent and under ranked. best offers were colorado, new mexico, tcu, smu, uta

Alzee - dont know offers just know he can play

[GrandGreen]

Way to early to put Benford in the NT Hall of Fame, but he has been ultra impressive to this point. There is a strong possibility that NT has made a coaching upgrade.

[bono]

Way to early to put Benford in the NT Hall of Fame, but he has been ultra impressive to this point. There is a strong possibility that NT has made a coaching upgrade.

just a personal impression from someome who has no prior ties to UNT.

[NT03]

Much love Bono!!! Basketball season can't get here soon enough

[Green Otaku]

I hate Kool-aid talk and just ignore it or roll my eyes, but when you point out specifics it gets my attention. Its great to hear that he is working on ball control and fouling with Mitchell, instead of just "going through some drills." It means our staff is focused and that working individually with our guys. Great to hear and I'm glad all those schools where there. Hopefully we got those kids some free tickets.

[Harry]

All hail Bono. --- always enjoy hearing from you!! Damn this basketball season has me drooling!! GMG!

[NT03]

benford stated that all practices will be open.

Yes !!

[Mean Green 93-98]

Thanks for the encouraging post. This jibes with everything else I'm hearing about Coach Benford, the way he conducts practices, and the way he interacts with area coaches. He may indeed be a coaching upgrade, but time will tell. I think we can all be thankful that if JJ was going to leave, he left UNT at the perfect time.

[GrandGreen]

just a personal impression from someome who has no prior ties to UNT.

And it is appreciated.

[KRAM1]

Great stuff from bono. Thanks for taking the time...what you said about Mitchell is EXACTLY what many of the Mean green faithful were commenting on last season...turnovers, fouls and poor footwork. Good to see the emphasis already starting in those areas from Coach B.

I think we are all pretty darn excited about the upcoming BB season...I have a sense that as many or even more GMG.Com folks are pumped about BB as FB this time around.

Pretty exciting indeed!

[akriesman]

When JJ took the LSU job, I immediately thought "here we go again". I certainly expected us to lost TM, CJ and a few others. Its difficult to not think that way given our overall program history.

However, not only has Benford come and kept things from falling apart, he is adding more "potential" top notch talent to the program. I am even more excited about our potential in the next few years than I was 6 months ago. I know it is early. But, Benford has really impressed all the way around.

Of the 3 programs in the area that just changed coaching staffs, I can't help but feel that we have the best.

Thanks already for all the hard work you put in Coach Benford.

[KRAM1]

When JJ took the LSU job, I immediately thought "here we go again". I certainly expected us to lost TM, CJ and a few others. Its difficult to not think that way given our overall program history.

However, not only has Benford come and kept things from falling apart, he is adding more "potential" top notch talent to the program. I am even more excited about our potential in the next few years than I was 6 months ago. I know it is early. But, Benford has really impressed all the way around.

Of the 3 programs in the area that just changed coaching staffs, I can't help but feel that we have the best.

Thanks already for all the hard work you put in Coach Benford.

I think the same thing could be siad about when Coach Aston departed so quickly...I know, i know...hwer dream job, but still.....looks to me like Coach Petersen is a "keeper" as well if the early returns are any incication. To me, it looks like UNT hasd a fine new set of BB head coaches. Pretty darn excited about the season to come...both men's and women's BB.

[UNT90]

I think the same thing could be siad about when Coach Aston departed so quickly...I know, i know...hwer dream job, but still.....looks to me like Coach Petersen is a "keeper" as well if the early returns are any incication. To me, it looks like UNT hasd a fine new set of BB head coaches. Pretty darn excited about the season to come...both men's and women's BB.

Are you even allowed to mention women's basketball??

[emmitt01]

I'll believe he's a keeper when we open the season with North Carolina AT THE SUPER PIT. After ten plus years of JJ obviously refusing to return their phone calls, I think we should have a top 25 home slate.

We used to play Depaul and Cincinnati dammit!!!! Mark Aguire came to Denton in 1952!!!

[KRAM1]

Are you even allowed to mention women's basketball??

[irish01]

None of the posters have mentioned Bart Lundy. From what I read on his bio it indicates that he has had great success and from what I hear from friends in Milwaukee what he did at Marquette was pretty good.dare good . Lundy has more wins as a head coach than anyone on staff and has been to the NCAA tourney, on one level or another, 7 times.

[oldguystudent]

30 wins or Johnny Jones is totally fired.

[oldschoollefty]

30 wins AND a sweep of the Miami Heat in the Finals or he's toast.