Charlotte (1/18/14)

[UNT90]

Let's win our last 12 games and get one of those double byes!

We wil get a double bye in the first round.

As in bye bye.

[Andrew]

We wil get a double bye in the first round.

As in bye bye.

This team is still full of potential. Players and coaches. They have grown and have continually gotten better. Yea they make mistakes and the subbing patterns are odd... But the product on the court is better. Just go back and watch the OU game, or the first half of the BYU game. We can run with anyone. Our players need the opportunity to get into a rythem (coaching) and they need to make smart decisions (players). I am feeling more confident heading into the UAB and Middle games. We could lose by 20 or we could win. It depends on what team shows up. The one that played SFA or the one that played OU or Texas A&M. Edited January 19, 2014 by Andrew

[greenminer]

This team is still full of potential. Players and coaches. They have grown and have continually gotten better. Yea they make mistakes and the subbing patterns are odd... But the product on the court is better. Just go back and watch the OU game, or the first half of the BYU game. We can run with anyone. Our players need the opportunity to get into a rythem (coaching) and they need to make smart decisions (players). I am feeling more confident heading into the UAB and Middle games. We could lose by 20 or we could win. It depends on what team shows up. The one that played SFA or the one that played OU or Texas A&M.

Benford would not be human if this wasn't getting better. You don't start from scratch, make tons of mistakes, and NOT learn along the way.

There is so much back and forth about Benford because our program was left in pretty good shape and we ended up at a point where you are -as of that post - content with the "We're learning!" mantra.

We can have another 25+ page thread about whether our woes are because of Benford learning vs. because the players need to learn the system. Or, we can all just agree that this program did not need 2 years of learning from scratch. Then we go on to the next logical questions: How much more learning is there and, how long are we willing to suffer wait?

Edited January 19, 2014 by greenminer

[Andrew]

Benford would not be human if this wasn't getting better. You don't start from scratch, make tons of mistakes, and NOT learn along the way.

There is so much back and forth about Benford because our program was left in pretty good shape and we ended up at a point where you are -as of that post - content with the "We're learning!" mantra.

We can have another 25+ page thread about whether our woes are because of Benford learning vs. because the players need to learn the system. Or, we can all just agree that this program did not need 2 years of learning from scratch. Then we go on to the next logical questions: How much more learning is there and, how long are we willing to suffer wait?

I can wait forty years... I will still show up to every game and cheer on the team. There will always be a transitional time when you bring in a new coach. Always. Now two years... No... But there is no question that we are showing progress and have the ability to win the conference tournament. We do. I believe Benford came in a little loose and had a more open play book where it was on the players to make plays. He was too buddy buddy and it cost him. This year it is different and they at least have a system with options. Hopefully it only gets better. It was clear the past two games that players are looking for shots and not being stagnant or passive. Edited January 19, 2014 by Andrew

[UNTFan23]

I can wait forty years... I will still show up to every game and cheer on the team. There will always be a transitional time when you bring in a new coach. Always. Now two years... No... But there is no question that we are showing progress and have the ability to win the conference tournament. We do. I believe Benford came in a little loose and had a more open play book where it was on the players to make plays. He was too buddy buddy and it cost him. This year it is different and they at least have a system with options. Hopefully it only gets better. It was clear the past two games that players are looking for shots and not being stagnant or passive.

40 years?!?

[Andrew]

40 years?!?

I have already waited 27. No matter what happens I will continue to go to games, support the team, and enjoy myself. I have enjoyed every home game I have gone to (which is all of them).

[GMG24]

I can't enjoy the ones we play poorly in…. guess thats the coach in me.

[Andrew]

I can't enjoy the ones we play poorly in. guess thats the coach in me.

I just enjoy the game. It's much more entertaining than football and other sports. Edited January 20, 2014 by Andrew

[CMJ]

I just enjoy the game. It's much more entertaining than football and other sports.

College basketball is probably my favorite sport too. But, I enjoy winning most of all.

[greenminer]

I have already waited 27. No matter what happens I will continue to go to games, support the team, and enjoy myself. I have enjoyed every home game I have gone to (which is all of them).

What the heck? I wasn't questioning your fandom. We're talking about the business of college basketball here. About the AD perspective here. You dont' just hire a guy and say, "thanks for loving UNT!" pat him on the back and give him all the time he needs.

If I went into my corporate job and flopped through 30 of my first 40 monthly reports, why the hell would my employer keep me? Because the 10th was a little bit better structured than the first?

I'm signing out for the night. You're making me internet angry lol.

[GMG24]

I will disagree with you on this point Andrew. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is worse (for me) than bad basketball. I use to go to SMU games with my father-in-law, and I would be crawling in my skin. Now I thoroughly enjoy going to SMU games with him. They have some serious talent. GMG

[NT03]

Nothing, absolutely nothing, is worse (for me) than bad basketball.

Agree

Edited January 20, 2014 by NT03

[Andrew]

I will disagree with you on this point Andrew. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is worse (for me) than bad basketball. I use to go to SMU games with my father-in-law, and I would be crawling in my skin. Now I thoroughly enjoy going to SMU games with him. They have some serious talent. GMG

I rather watch bad basketball then football. Do not get me wrong I also never miss a UNT football game but I just love the sport. I do get frustrated and on rare occasion might yell out, but I never lose the feeling of enjoyment. Good seats, decent arena, and a great sport. It's just all around enjoyable. Yea the SFA game was brutal to be at, but I stayed through the whole game and had fun. Not as much as if we won... But fun nonetheless.

[GMG24]

Agreed, I am a basketball coach first then a football coach (could be shot for saying that in TX) but, I do like attending games where I can watch and take stuff. I stole JJ's 4 up wheel set from years ago. My middle school kids think its so cool they run a "college" offense

[UNTFan23]

We've seen a drop of about 2,000 fans since JJ left. We use to get 4,000+ for Sun Belt games on a regular basis once the students got back into town. I don't see Thursday's or Saturday's game to be anywhere close to that. We also haven't had a solid home court advantage except for the Central Arkansas game where the DISD elementary students attended the game. The crowd is largely apathetic right now. The Pit is not the hostile environment like it was under Johnny.

Today, college sports is a business. You can't afford to keep a coach if there is an extended record of losing.

[GMG24]

Add some renovation, and beer sales and you'd see an increase in attendance.

[Censored by Laurie]

Add some renovation, and beer sales and you'd see an increase in attendance.

Not even beer can save this thing

[CMJ]

Not even beer can save this thing

[Green Dozer]

Gotta keep concessions open after halftime, seriously.

[oldguystudent]

Gotta keep concessions open after halftime, seriously.

Yeah, when did that stop?

[Rudy]

Not even beer can save this thing

Maybe bringing a flask into the Pit will help

Yeah, when did that stop?

When all of the concessions stands, ok well the 2 or 3 that are open, are operated by high school kids, you have to get them home early.

[KRAM1]

Gotta keep concessions open after halftime, seriously.

Agree with you.

But, if folks want them to stay open, maybe they should buy something. I saw, at the women's game, Saturday that they were closed...don't even know if they opened them at all, but it is hardly worth the time and effort to open them if no one buys anything. Sort of a chicken-egg thing I guess, and as previously stated...run by HS volunteer kids trying to earn some money for their school stuff...like orchestra, etc.

Really does need a review. I think the concessions are run by the Super Pit folks and not athletics as athletics does not run/control the Super Pit (yes, that's a bit of a problem as well, but another story).

More fans attending games would help. But, we all know that story.

[Greendylan]

Not even beer can save this thing

Sir, now you have gone too far.