UNT - One of the five biggest disappointments so far this college bask

Coach Bill Lewis · December 4, 2012

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-...25z;_ylv=3

5. North Texas (3-5)

Losses: at Creighton 71-51, Alabama-Huntsville 78-75, at Virginia 80-64, Texas-Arlington 72-59, Louisiana-Lafayette 80-76

Why they've disappointed: Before the season began, Tony Mitchell told me he wanted to leave a legacy at North Texas. Right now, however, the only thing this year's Mean Green will be remembered for is underachieving. Despite having a potential lottery pick in Mitchell and a talented supporting cast, North Texas is off to a disastrous 3-5 start.

Some of those losses have been one-sided yet forgivable like a season-opening 71-51 loss at Creighton. Others have been downright head-scratching like a loss to Division II Alabama-Huntsville or home setbacks against Texas-Arlington and Louisiana-Lafayette. In the Louisiana-Lafayette game, Mitchell scored only three points, took only one shot and fouled out in 25 minutes.

Can they recover? Any hope of North Texas living up to its hype as a dangerous mid-major and the preseason Sun Belt favorite probably depends on whether its anemic offense improves. The Mean Green are shooting 40.2 percent from the floor and an anemic 26 percent from behind the arc.

Compounding the problem, they're also turning the ball over too much. Mitchell's 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game are pedestrian for a super-athletic forward with first-round potential. He needs to take at least 15 shots per game, something he has only done three times this season. And with 12 turnovers and no assists in North Texas' last three games, he needs to do a better job dealing with double teams and his teammates must more consistently sink open shots.

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GRN-WHT · December 4, 2012

This idiot writer should realize we need to give Benford some time.

foutsrouts · December 4, 2012

This idiot writer should realize we need to give Benford some time.

State or federal?

glick1980 · December 5, 2012

Damn you Coach Bill Lewis!

Rudy · December 5, 2012

Benford has to get his players in.

Green P1 · December 5, 2012

State or federal?

Post of the season.

meangreener · December 5, 2012

Bare cupboard.

emmitt01 · December 5, 2012

He actually had a piece with a positive outlook written...but then substituted this one in at the last second.

filmerj · December 5, 2012

Post of the season.

Agreed!

UNT 90 Grad · December 5, 2012

He actually had a piece with a positive outlook written...but then substituted this one in at the last second.

I think it's the same piece. He just over-edited it and the constant word substitution made the whole thing go negative. Maybe that's where you were going.

CurveItAround · December 5, 2012

No doubt this team has fallen on its face. I this has been much more of a blip nationally, but obviusly a lot of people around here feel let down tremendously.

kalebschumann · December 5, 2012

If Benford loses to Jackson State.. Do we need to fire Johnny Jones (to bring him back here?)

wardly · December 5, 2012

I do not claim to be a basketball x&o fan, but it looks like our new coach is trying to put a square peg in a round hole. The team does not like his style on play, and it shows on the court, both in play and attitude. If Tony Mitchell's apparent bad court attitude carries over into the classroom he will be gone by December.I would have thought we would have hired an experienced head coach whose style of play mirrored the existing team's ability. This reminds me of a football head coach installs a rushing offense with players recruted to pass. Nothing good will come of that until he flushes out existing team and replaces them with players suited to his style. I don't think anything good is going to come out of of our mens basketball team this year. Bedford may turn out to be a good long term hire, but not for the team he inherited.

UNTMike81 · December 5, 2012

Seems like RV won't take correct action to reverse what Benford's doing to us. After Blakley was fired we brought in a "gas can" of a coach and our ship wasn't back in the right direction until 10 years of exhaustive work by JJ. Maybe RV didn't appreciate JJ, his style of coaching, recruiting, or team play. Wonder if RV was even mildly appreciative of JJ's and team wins over Oklahoma State, or Texas Tech? Based on UNT's current situation an appearence of lack of action to remove Benford, RV must be happy with his recent men's BB coaching hire. Realty be dammed!!!

As we always do, UNT fans will have to suck it up once again for a promise of better times ahead. Maybe in another 30 Years.

UNT athletics never deals with really...always some pipe dream us fans need to wait on for another 30 Years or so. The Mean green nation is pissed because we've been down this nightmare road before. The only difference is we have an "all world" talent and UNT will probably not ever see grace our door again.

Truly a sad day, turning into weeks, and months of being a UNT faithfull. Nothing RV doesn't believe we can endure. RV's moto: "They've let me kick them many times in the past, their accustomed to it, so here goes!!! Bend over, I'm going to smack you with this paddle one more time!!! Treat a coach like RV treats fans...fat chance!!