Mid-Major Madness

jdennis82 · September 20, 2012

Haven't seen it posted. Curiously, TM not ranked a clear-cut #1. Can't say I have expertise enough to dispute or validate this ranking, so those who think they can, have at it...

1a. Tony Mitchell, North Texas - 14.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, .567 FG%, .439 3PT%

Your early favorite for conference player of the year, and last season's Freshman of the Year, Tony Mitchell. He posted ten double-doubles last season, though some of his more ludicrous lines (34/16 vs USA, 30/17 vs DU, 21/22 vs FAU) were bolstered by overtime periods. There's no reason for Mitchell to slow down this season, and he may even be exiting for the NBA at the same time his team as a whole exits the conference.

http://www.midmajormadness.com/2012/9/19/3359426/mid-major-top-10-sun-belt-conference

Censored by Laurie · September 20, 2012

Haven't seen it posted. Curiously, TM not ranked a clear-cut #1. Can't say I have expertise enough to dispute or validate this ranking, so those who think they can, have at it...

This guy is simply writing from stat lines and maybe a few highlight reels.

Rubit has put up very impressive and consistent numbers for the past 2 seasons. He's a very good player, but in terms of overall talent and ceiling he is no where near Mitchell.

Right now, Mitchell is the only clear cut NBA prospect in the conference...and he may well be a lottery pick. That should better illustrate the gulf of talent between Mitchell and anyone else in the conference.

GrandGreen · September 20, 2012

Mitchell is clearly and without a serious challenge the MVP of the Belt, he actually was last year. Chris Jones and probably a couple of other NT players will also be in the Belt top ten.

meangreenfan65 · September 20, 2012

This guy is simply writing from stat lines and maybe a few highlight reels.

Rubit has put up very impressive and consistent numbers for the past 2 seasons. He's a very good player, but in terms of overall talent and ceiling he is no where near Mitchell.

Right now, Mitchell is the only clear cut NBA prospect in the conference...and he may well be a lottery pick. That should better illustrate the gulf of talent between Mitchell and anyone else in the conference.

Unbelievable! Maybe we can forward this article, to the writer, this just might give him, a better perspective.

2012 LeBron James Skills Academy: Top College Prospects

Top 5 Prospects

Tony Mitchell1. Tony Mitchell6’8.5/236 7’3 (Dallas, TX) North Texas -- Mitchell was easily the top prospect in the event. He's an absolute beast and he took his aggression out on the rim on multiple occasions. He also had some jaw dropping rebounds in which he went way above the rim to bring the ball down. He's similar to Thomas Robinson (almost identical measurements) in that he has a chiseled physique and loves to play physical in the paint. He's also got excellent versatility with the ability to knock down mid range shots and also pass the ball. One scout told me he had Mitchell top 15 had he entered the 2012 draft. He could duplicate T-Rob with a monster sophomore season (he redshirted as a FR) and be taken as high as 5th overall.

Edited September 20, 2012 by meangreenfan65

MeanGreenTexan · September 20, 2012

This guy is simply writing from stat lines and maybe a few highlight reels.

Rubit has put up very impressive and consistent numbers for the past 2 seasons. He's a very good player, but in terms of overall talent and ceiling he is no where near Mitchell.

Right now, Mitchell is the only clear cut NBA prospect in the conference...and he may well be a lottery pick. That should better illustrate the gulf of talent between Mitchell and anyone else in the conference.

Right. He keeps referencing "looking at last year's stats...", and "this guy's stats from last year...". Gotta think he just found a SBC cumulative stat sheet somewhere along with a copy of last year's all conference teams and just threw something together. 30 minutes max spent on researching that writeup.

Nicolas Lewis · September 20, 2012

Writer of said article here...

I will admit that the media guide for this season was my jumping off point, having minimal experience with the conference prior to this season outside of whatever national blips and blurbs existed about Mitchell.

That said, with a full on reading, cover to cover, of that media guide, I created a list of players that I think is fair and accurate outside of your contention of Mitchell as a clear-cut #1. You are absolutely correct that, at this point in time, Mitchell has a much higher ceiling than Rubit. But I'm not writing a top ten list based on how good these players could be, I'm writing it based on how they have produced thusfar.

Mitchell is superior to Rubit in terms of potential NBA talent, but Rubit - partly due to two years of production (he was Frosh of the Year right before Mitchell, remember) is only a shade behind Mitchell in terms of ability right now.

I'm assuming it's the distribution and not the sequence you are at odds with, and I will admit I initially had it as a clear 1-2, but later changed my mind. Feel free to hop on over there and comment, and also keep an eye out later this week for an interview with USA coach Ron Arrow about the upcoming season.

CMJ · September 20, 2012

Thanks man....I have read MMM since the last person who ran the site. Hope to see much more Belt coverage this year!

kalebschumann · September 20, 2012

Writer of said article here...

I will admit that the media guide for this season was my jumping off point, having minimal experience with the conference prior to this season outside of whatever national blips and blurbs existed about Mitchell.

That said, with a full on reading, cover to cover, of that media guide, I created a list of players that I think is fair and accurate outside of your contention of Mitchell as a clear-cut #1. You are absolutely correct that, at this point in time, Mitchell has a much higher ceiling than Rubit. But I'm not writing a top ten list based on how good these players could be, I'm writing it based on how they have produced thusfar.

Mitchell is superior to Rubit in terms of potential NBA talent, but Rubit - partly due to two years of production (he was Frosh of the Year right before Mitchell, remember) is only a shade behind Mitchell in terms of ability right now.

I'm assuming it's the distribution and not the sequence you are at odds with, and I will admit I initially had it as a clear 1-2, but later changed my mind. Feel free to hop on over there and comment, and also keep an eye out later this week for an interview with USA coach Ron Arrow about the upcoming season.

I think Tony Mitchell's ability to dominate a game is clear cut.

I think that looking past stats will show that there is nobody in the league even close to his ability level.

I think the Lebron James Skills academy got it right. I think you did not.

Grant.UNT · September 20, 2012

BTW, those incredibly long shorts look ridiculous!

Mean Green 93-98 · September 20, 2012

Writer of said article here...

I will admit that the media guide for this season was my jumping off point, having minimal experience with the conference prior to this season outside of whatever national blips and blurbs existed about Mitchell.

That said, with a full on reading, cover to cover, of that media guide, I created a list of players that I think is fair and accurate outside of your contention of Mitchell as a clear-cut #1. You are absolutely correct that, at this point in time, Mitchell has a much higher ceiling than Rubit. But I'm not writing a top ten list based on how good these players could be, I'm writing it based on how they have produced thusfar.

Mitchell is superior to Rubit in terms of potential NBA talent, but Rubit - partly due to two years of production (he was Frosh of the Year right before Mitchell, remember) is only a shade behind Mitchell in terms of ability right now.

I'm assuming it's the distribution and not the sequence you are at odds with, and I will admit I initially had it as a clear 1-2, but later changed my mind. Feel free to hop on over there and comment, and also keep an eye out later this week for an interview with USA coach Ron Arrow about the upcoming season.

Fair enough. But rest assured, there will be no lower case letters about it at the end of this season.

CMJ · September 20, 2012

I think Tony Mitchell's ability to dominate a game is clear cut.

I think that looking past stats will show that there is nobody in the league even close to his ability level.

I think the Lebron James Skills academy got it right. I think you did not.

He also writes about more than ten leagues. He can't know all that we do about the Sunbelt when he has to cover everything from the Patriot, to CAA, to the Horizon to the SWAC.

Harry · September 20, 2012

Writer of said article here...

I will admit that the media guide for this season was my jumping off point, having minimal experience with the conference prior to this season outside of whatever national blips and blurbs existed about Mitchell.

That said, with a full on reading, cover to cover, of that media guide, I created a list of players that I think is fair and accurate outside of your contention of Mitchell as a clear-cut #1. You are absolutely correct that, at this point in time, Mitchell has a much higher ceiling than Rubit. But I'm not writing a top ten list based on how good these players could be, I'm writing it based on how they have produced thusfar.

Mitchell is superior to Rubit in terms of potential NBA talent, but Rubit - partly due to two years of production (he was Frosh of the Year right before Mitchell, remember) is only a shade behind Mitchell in terms of ability right now.

I'm assuming it's the distribution and not the sequence you are at odds with, and I will admit I initially had it as a clear 1-2, but later changed my mind. Feel free to hop on over there and comment, and also keep an eye out later this week for an interview with USA coach Ron Arrow about the upcoming season.

Hey you make a valid point in that if you go off last season, Tony's offensive game is still evolving. Part of that is he was playing out of position, and I think he will get to be more comfortable this season due to 6-10 big Keith Coleman being here. I just disagree with your article from the standpoint that Tony was SUCH a dominant rebounder and shot blocker last season and right now.. I expect his offense game will improve a lot this season. But tht said I like your site and will place it in my bookmarks. Thanks for coming on here to clarify.

Nicolas Lewis · September 20, 2012

Thanks for the discussion, guys. Nice to visit a message board where folks have their heads screwed on straight and feel no need to be crude.

I have no objection to your objections, and I welcome them. I'm eager to see what the season brings.

Proud North Texan · September 20, 2012

How far are we going in the NCAA this season?!!? :lolu:

GrandGreen · September 20, 2012

Writer of said article here...

I will admit that the media guide for this season was my jumping off point, having minimal experience with the conference prior to this season outside of whatever national blips and blurbs existed about Mitchell.

That said, with a full on reading, cover to cover, of that media guide, I created a list of players that I think is fair and accurate outside of your contention of Mitchell as a clear-cut #1. You are absolutely correct that, at this point in time, Mitchell has a much higher ceiling than Rubit. But I'm not writing a top ten list based on how good these players could be, I'm writing it based on how they have produced thusfar.

Mitchell is superior to Rubit in terms of potential NBA talent, but Rubit - partly due to two years of production (he was Frosh of the Year right before Mitchell, remember) is only a shade behind Mitchell in terms of ability right now.

I'm assuming it's the distribution and not the sequence you are at odds with, and I will admit I initially had it as a clear 1-2, but later changed my mind. Feel free to hop on over there and comment, and also keep an eye out later this week for an interview with USA coach Ron Arrow about the upcoming season.

Appreciate your view, but I guarantee you that Rubit and Mitchell's ability was not close last year and unless Rubit has gotten a lot better and Mitchall a lot worse, it is not close right now.

You admit you have not seen either one in person, so I can understand your take. However, you are projecting who is going to be the best player in the league which is not the same as who has produced the most so far. Rubit is a good player but no one that has seen both play several times is going to pick him over Mitchell. One game does not mean a lot but in the USA vs NT game last year, Rubit had 2 points and 6 rebounds; Mitchell 34 points and 16 rebounds.

I don't know if you realize that Mitchell did not practice with the team prior to becoming eligible in the second semester last year and a couple of weeks later NT loses their starting point guard, who by the way led the conference in scoring and assists at the time so he should definitely be in your top ten" and another key player. So Mitchell was rusty not having played regularly in two years, and the team was hampered playing the last semester with only three scholarship guards. Team chemistry was definitely a problem.

Silly to question the right decision because you thought it was close, but talent like Mitchell doesn't come around often for 300 plus teams in div. 1.

Edited September 20, 2012 by GrandGreen