More T-Mitch

UNT90 · June 1, 2013

Several members of our fan base told me in Hot Springs that there was no way Tony would be a lottery pick. One went so far as to say he wouldn't be drafted.
Oh, and there was massive conjecture on their part that players from the 70's (who I'm certain must have gone on to fruitful NBA careers) would work Tony over if they were around.

Not to mention the whole "Tony sucks and is the reason our team sucks" crowd.

Lets see, Tony is a lottery pick before playing one game for Benford, plays a season under Benford and sees his draft stock plummet, and then gets away from Benford and sees his draft stock skyrocket.

I wonder what the variable is in this situation.

Edited June 1, 2013 by UNT90

UNTLifer · June 1, 2013

Not to mention the whole "Tony sucks and is the reason our team sucks" crowd.
Lets see, Tony is a lottery pick before playing one game for Benford, plays a season under Benford and sees his draft stock plummet, and then gets away from Benford and sees his draft stock skyrocket.
I wonder what the variable is in this situation.

I think this is the point that was being made:

Comment from Vito's blog:

Benford has taken a lot of the blame for a disappointing season, but one has to give him credit for helping Mitchell stay focused and improve his habits away from the court during his one year coaching arguably the most talented player in UNT history. Mitchell has credited Benford with helping him mature

I think Mitchell let's this carry over to the floor, and his draft video in the other thread points some of these problems out and provides video as support. Look, I hope Tony gets drafted #1 and has a Hall of Fame worthy career, so maybe we can let all of this die away and just support the young man as he starts his NBA career.

Maybe we can also support Coach Benford and the program heading into his second season here. If we have another season, results wise, like last year then we can go looking for another coach, but let's let the season play out prior to jumping to conclusions.

CMJ · June 1, 2013

I just know that as long as he doesn't end up a Laker - I'll buy a shirt/hat for whatever team he ends up with. From a purely selfish POV, if he ended up with the Clippers, I could even go see him play a few times a year (I doubt he ends up with them).

Let's go Tony.

Andrew · June 1, 2013

He is an NBA talent, but clearly he did not cut it here. That is where the disappointment came from. It is true that scours said he was not an NBA caliber yet, but most people knew once he got to the combine he would turn some heads. Even last year his NBA draft stock slipped. Maybe he was not a good fit in his two years here, or maybe he just did not give 100% effort. Even so he always had the NBA body and NBA ability.

NT03 · June 1, 2013

I just know that as long as he doesn't end up a Laker - I'll buy a shirt/hat for whatever team he ends up with. From a purely selfish POV, if he ended up with the Clippers, I could even go see him play a few times a year (I doubt he ends up with them).

Let's go Tony.

Tony is in LA today working out

I don't have a preference , but I really hope it's not Utah or Cleveland.

UNT90 · June 1, 2013

I think this is the point that was being made:

Comment from Vito's blog:

I think Mitchell let's this carry over to the floor, and his draft video in the other thread points some of these problems out and provides video as support. Look, I hope Tony gets drafted #1 and has a Hall of Fame worthy career, so maybe we can let all of this die away and just support the young man as he starts his NBA career.

Maybe we can also support Coach Benford and the program heading into his second season here. If we have another season, results wise, like last year then we can go looking for another coach, but let's let the season play out prior to jumping to conclusions.

This just boggles the mind. Benford will have less talent in a more competitive league. We all know he isn't going to out-coach anyone.

But we just need to wait and watch the disaster unfold.

It amazes me how many people are willing to let this program be reduced to the 2002 days.

greenminer · June 1, 2013

He is an NBA talent, but clearly he did not cut it here.

?!

Andrew · June 1, 2013

?!

.... Is that difficult for you to understand? He has NBA potential and could do some damage in the NBA but he never showed that here at unt... Not a difficult concept to understand. He never showed his potential here. Not under Johhny and not under Benford and that is fine. He was still a solid player and was better then just about any player who played here. He just never wowed us with his NBA potential that should have taken us to the next level. Playing half a year under Johhny is a weak excuse. Just as week as blaming a single man for the "demise" of our basketball program and Tony. I hope he does well in the NBA and can make UNT look inciting for our top level recruits.

UNT90 · June 1, 2013

.... Is that difficult for you to understand? He has NBA potential and could do some damage in the NBA but he never showed that here at unt... Not a difficult concept to understand. He never showed his potential here. Not under Johhny and not under Benford and that is fine. He was still a solid player and was better then just about any player who played here. He just never wowed us with his NBA potential that should have taken us to the next level. Playing half a year under Johhny is a weak excuse. Just as week as blaming a single man for the "demise" of our basketball program and Tony. I hope he does well in the NBA and can make UNT look inciting for our top level recruits.

Ya, I mean anyone who averages 14 points and 10 rebounds a game his first year in college (one of only 2 players in college that year to average a double double, with the other player with this accomplishment being the 1st overall pick in the NBA draft in 2012) just doesn't show any college potential.

This may be the most stupid statement you have ever made, and that is really saying something.

Your right, Andrew, a first round NBA pick just wasn't talented enough to excell at UNT.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrew · June 1, 2013

Ya, I mean anyone who averages 14 points and 10 rebounds a game his first year in college (one of only 2 players in college that year to average a double double, with the other player with this accomplishment being the 1st overall pick in the NBA draft in 2012) just doesn't show any college potential.

This may be the most stupid statement you have ever made, and that is really saying something.

Your right, Andrew, a first round NBA pick just wasn't talented enough to excel at UNT.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Did he make others better around him? Did her turn our team into a wining team? No one is debating he is a good player but he was not what was advertised when coming here. It was a pretty big hype when he signed and the numbers were decent but overall the team his first year did not standout. Oh wait let me hear the excuses about how we were young, less talented, how we lost some of our very good players due to grades... All garbage from a person who then refuses to see injuries or chemistry (a norm with a new coach) as a reason for a disappointing season last season.

Edited June 1, 2013 by Andrew

UNT90 · June 1, 2013

Did he make others better around him? Did her turn our team into a wining team? No one is debating he is a good player but he was not what was advertised when coming here. It was a pretty big hype when he signed and the numbers were decent but overall the team his first year did not standout. Oh wait let me hear the excuses about how we were young, less talented, how we lost some of our very good players due to grades... All garbage from a person who then refuses to see injuries or chemistry (a norm with a new coach) as a reason for a disappointing season last season.

We lost the other two star recruits and Mitchell still averaged a freaking double double as a freshman who had not played competitive basketball in almost 2 years.

Let me repeat that. HE AVERAGED A DOUBLE DOUBLE AS A 1ST YEAR COLLEGE PLAYER.

Something only the 1st pick in the NBA draft managed match.

But I guess you expect him to be the freaking coach, also, since you want him to make others better. EVERY player on this team had worse numbers under Benford. But that's Mitchell's fault, right?

I really don't know why I bother with anyone who thinks averaging a double double as a freaking freshman is a disappointment.

greenminer · June 1, 2013

We've had a ton of players not be able to cut it at UNT; Mitchell was not one of them.

Andrew · June 2, 2013

We lost the other two star recruits and Mitchell still averaged a freaking double double as a freshman who had not played competitive basketball in almost 2 years.
Let me repeat that. HE AVERAGED A DOUBLE DOUBLE AS A 1ST YEAR COLLEGE PLAYER.
Something only the 1st pick in the NBA draft managed match.
But I guess you expect him to be the freaking coach, also, since you want him to make others better. EVERY player on this team had worse numbers under Benford. But that's Mitchell's fault, right?
I really don't know why I bother with anyone who thinks averaging a double double as a freaking freshman is a disappointment.

So excuses are cool as long as it is you using them? Edited June 2, 2013 by Andrew