Benford Coaches Show Tonight at 7 from Rudy's

[CurveItAround]

Why doesn't Benford just tell our players to make their shots? I guess we can just chalk it up to more poor coaching.

Please ignore the 1-4 start that Coach Jones started November with last season, that included a 33 point loss to UTA. Also, forget the fact that Coach Jones lost both games to ULL during conference play, because he is obviously 10 times the coach that Benford ever will be.

[H-towngreen]

Why doesn't Benford just tell our players to make their shots? I guess we can just chalk it up to more poor coaching.

Please ignore the 1-4 start that Coach Jones started November with last season, that included a 33 point loss to UTA. Also, forget the fact that Coach Jones lost both games to ULL during conference play, because he is obviously 10 times the coach that Benford ever will be.

That team didn't have Tony Mitchell

[Army of Dad]

Why doesn't Benford just tell our players to make their shots? I guess we can just chalk it up to more poor coaching.

Please ignore the 1-4 start that Coach Jones started November with last season, that included a 33 point loss to UTA. Also, forget the fact that Coach Jones lost both games to ULL during conference play, because he is obviously 10 times the coach that Benford ever will be.

He is at least 10 times the coach Benford is right now. Maybe his next stop (if he gets one) will get him closer to JJ, maybe a stop at a SWAC level school...

[Green Dog]

He is at least 10 times the coach Benford is right now. Maybe his next stop (if he gets one) will get him closer to JJ, maybe a stop at a SWAC level school...

Your not near as funny as Green P1

[GreenGuy123]

I'm still behind Coach Benford.

[Harry]

Amazing factoid from the show...Tony Mitchell took one shot against Lafayette. Benford said Tony is the most unselfish player he has ever been around but they need him to be more selfish for the good of his team.

[Army of Dad]

Your not near as funny as Green P1

I wasn't trying to be funny on that one. There isn't anything funny about having the lowest RPI in the conference even when we probably have the most talent. We used to make fun of how other coaches did less with more. Now our coach is the butt of those jokes. That isn't funny, or fun.

[Green Dog]

I'm still behind Coach Benford.

It's hard when you have to replace an Adolph Rupp or a John Wooden

[Army of Dad]

I'm still behind Coach Benford.

With or without a weapon?

[Harry]

I'm still behind Coach Benford.

Put me in that group too 123. I know, I'm a homer but I think the guy is really sincere and trying to get it fixed. The tougher schedule combined with the injuries... I don't think anyone would have dreamed Tony would have some of the games he has had so far. This thing is far from over yet.

[CurveItAround]

And all the frustrating inconsistent play that included losses to teams we had no business losing to by Jones coached teams? It happens to everyone. Jones did good things here. Not taking that away, but he left on his own.

Benford has stuff to learn that can only be learned by being the man. No question he will make some mistakes. As he said tonight, our defense must improve and our perimeter defenders have to stop playing Michael Finley swinging gate style defense. And we have to improve on 279th ranked shooting percentage.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink (or make a basket evidently). We are starting to get enough tape of these guys playing together to start showing them how freaking horrible they have been and how out of position they frequently are.

If our 3 prima donnas played with half as much heart as Roger Franklin, this would be a moot point.

If Benford's first recruiting class (so far) is any indication of the type of talent he can bring in here, we will be just fine, regardless of how this season turns out. Unlike many on here who have already jumped off, I happen to think we can still do good things this year.

[Harry]

Can you remind us how to use the ignore function?

Sure - - if you click on your profile name at the upper right hand top of the page you will get a drop down menu. Just click on

• Manage Ignore Prefs
  

That will give you the option to ignore specific members.

[TIgreen01]

So, a thought occurred to me this afternoon while reading the "fire him..." thread: has any NT basketball coach been as connected to the DFW AAU coaches as Benford? I can imagine that prematurely pulling the plug on him may hurt us more on the recruiting front than anything else if that community were to turn against us.

We REALLY need him to figure this thing out.

[greenminer]

Why doesn't Benford just tell our players to make their shots? I guess we can just chalk it up to more poor coaching.

Please ignore the 1-4 start that Coach Jones started November with last season, that included a 33 point loss to UTA. Also, forget the fact that Coach Jones lost both games to ULL during conference play, because he is obviously 10 times the coach that Benford ever will be.

Terrible rebuttal. There is a bigger picture here.

[greenminer]

Count me in as a fan who is so tired of losing, and watching others success with less recources and more excuses, that the speeches acknowledging your shortcomings do not bring any sympathy.

Sorry to be Debbie Downer. But things going on the last couple years (and especially the last couple months) have me whipped.

Edited December 4, 2012 by greenminer

[Army of Dad]

And all the frustrating inconsistent play that included losses to teams we had no business losing to by Jones coached teams? It happens to everyone. Jones did good things here. Yes, but many of us called him out on that too. He also earned some leeway. Vito had good reason to form his 'trust in the Johns' mantra. Not taking that away, but he left on his own.

Benford has stuff to learn that can only be learned by being the man. No question he will make some mistakes. As he said tonight, our defense must improve and our perimeter defenders have to stop playing Michael Finley swinging gate style defense. And we have to improve on 279th ranked shooting percentage.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink (or make a basket evidently). We are starting to get enough tape of these guys playing together to start showing them how freaking horrible they have been and how out of position they frequently are.

If our 3 prima donnas played with half as much heart as Roger Franklin, this would be a moot point.

If Benford's first recruiting class (so far) is any indication of the type of talent he can bring in here, we will be just fine, What makes you think he won't waste their talent too? regardless of how this season turns out. Unlike many on here who have already jumped off, I happen to think we can still do good things this year.I thought our season was toast last year after the UTA debacle. The boys gave it a run and out played their conference seeding. I hope you are right, but we weren't looking for good things this season. We were looking for great things. Expectations have been raised.

[oldguystudent]

I'm still behind Coach Benford.

Watcha, um, doin' back there?

Question, no info.

[Green P1]

Can you remind us how to use the ignore function?

Email Benford. He'll have the entire student body using it on his team before Christmas break.

[Army of Dad]

Email Benford. He'll have the entire student body using it on his team before Christmas break.

Hey Green dog, is that better?

[CurveItAround]

So, a thought occurred to me this afternoon while reading the "fire him..." thread: has any NT basketball coach been as connected to the DFW AAU coaches as Benford? I can imagine that prematurely pulling the plug on him may hurt us more on the recruiting front than anything else if that community were to turn against us.

We REALLY need him to figure this thing out.

Of course it would be very detrimental to the program for many years to come. More than any of us would ever really know, which is why sitting at 3-5, as paiful as it is, makes little sense.

[UNT90]

Put me in that group too 123. I know, I'm a homer but I think the guy is really sincere and trying to get it fixed. The tougher schedule combined with the injuries... I don't think anyone would have dreamed Tony would have some of the games he has had so far. This thing is far from over yet.

It wasn't broken until he broke it.

I wouldn't have dreamed Tony would have 0 offensive touches 9 minutes iinto a game against a conference opponent. This has A LOT to do with the coach.

It may not be over, but we will be 3-6 after the butt whoopin that is coming in 2 days, and we have very little chance to beat Lehigh at home. LaLa beat us on our own court. So I would say it is far closer to being over than being turned around, considering defensive, rebounding, and to a certain extent, offensive problems have not been fixed.

Couple that with the fact that Benford doesn't even know who or when he will substitute next from second to second, and I just have a terrible feeling this thing is headed for 12 wins.

I'm not saying Benford should be fired just yet, but it is really clear to see that he was a terrible hire for this situation, no matter how bad your vision may be.

[Andrew]

I am with KRAM, Harry, The players, and a lot of other people. I have benfords back. The educated people I have talked to have had his back and recognize that the players are also at fault.

Pardon my French, but these are grown ass men who have played the game for years. If they cannot hit a free throw or a layup it is never on the coach. This is not middle school or pe wee. these men have played ball for years. They are just failing to live up to the hype. It is very difficult form me to trust a lot of peoples judgement when I do not know their knowledge on basketball. From what I have seen things have not goneour way and the players are not holding up their end of the deal. If Benford is screaming shooter and pointing to a man in the corner and no one covers him that is Benfords fault? I guess people are just waiting for Benford to jump upmof the bench and block it from behind.

[meangreener]

I still think he sucks. This is a Southern Miss style collapse (in football). He talks a good game, but he's a professional coach that can't figure out how to get the ball to Tony or break a zone D. That can't be fixed. That's just stupidity.

[Green P1]

Lets hear more about these educated people. What are they like? How educated are we talking?

[UNT90]

I am with KRAM, Harry, The players, and a lot of other people. I have benfords back. The educated people I have talked to have had his back and recognize that the players are also at fault.

Pardon my French, but these are grown ass men who have played the game for years. If they cannot hit a free throw or a layup it is never on the coach. This is not middle school or pe wee. these men have played ball for years. They are just failing to live up to the hype. It is very difficult form me to trust a lot of peoples judgement when I do not know their knowledge on basketball. From what I have seen things have not goneour way and the players are not holding up their end of the deal. If Benford is screaming shooter and pointing to a man in the corner and no one covers him that is Benfords fault? I guess people are just waiting for Benford to jump upmof the bench and block it from behind.

Dude, how dumb are you? These are 18-21 year old kids who have played the game at a high level of competition for a maximum of 4 or 5 years.

Maybe you are also 19 or 20, but guess what, that absolutely doesn't make you a "Grown ass man".

And you are basketball stupid. Someone had to say it.

Edited December 4, 2012 by UNT90