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North Texas (175) hosts UAB (140) Thursday evening. (Latest KenPom.com ratings)

North Texas is 10-8 on the season and 1-3 in conference. Their two best wins were over Portland (104) in double OT, and 20-point victory over Texas A&M (113). Their two worst losses were a home loss to Tulane (280) by 11 points, and another 11-point loss to Idaho (262) on a neutral court.

Pomeroy has North Texas favored 72-71.

They play their home games in The Super Pit, which has a capacity of 10,500, or the 81st largest basketball arena in D-1.

The Mean Green are 7-3 at home, but lost both conference home games to USM and Tulane. Home attendance average is 2,035.

Important game if we want to stay in the race for CUSA.

I know they've said Foz will play, but, I wonder if he'll start?

EDIT--Drew said he is about to post an update.

I'm with MB. I'm worried about Faz's potential for diminished performance. Hell, even breathing is harder with a broken nose. Ready or not, I think Mehenti is going to see his minutes increased.

(01-22-2014 12:09 PM)Smaug Wrote:  I'm with MB. I'm worried about Faz's potential for diminished performance. Hell, even breathing is harder with a broken nose. Ready or not, I think Mehenti is going to see his minutes increased.

Maybe this is good for the team in a weird motivational way. I hope it will really spark the urgency.

North Texas related... If we ever go play North Texas in football on the road, make that trip. They probably have the best new stadium in football. It's a masterpiece.

(01-22-2014 12:23 PM)thebernreuter Wrote:  North Texas related... If we ever go play North Texas in football on the road, make that trip. They probably have the best new stadium in football. It's a masterpiece.

perhaps you should post some pictures of it... they really love seeing it on the CUSA board also, do it there too.

No no, everyone has The Internet.

North Texas's only conference win was at Marshall, who has become a Dumpster fire. Marshall has fallen to 4-13 with a 300+ RPI. This is a game that we can and should win, even if Foz is limited.

Marshall and ECU both are tanking in basketball. They were buzzsaws in football.

We could and should've won against MTSU and UTEP as well. This game is a must win, otherwise this season may start going down the tank quickly. We have to go at least 1-1 on this road trip.

North Texas is the anti-UTEP as far as size. Their top eight in minutes played are 6-7 or shorter. Their ninth, tenth and eleventh guys are taller, but only combine for ~34 minutes per game. CJ should have some good matchups again, and this is probably a good game for Foz to test out his mask.

Despite the lack of size, they are a good rebounding team. 28th in the nation. They have a couple of wings leading the team with ~6 rpg each. They shoot a similar FG% as us, but are very bad in assists per game. Bottom 20 bad.

They are led by their backcourt, reminds me of UTSA. Probably a similar talent level too.

The North Texas fans on the main board seem to hate their coach Benford. I think they don't mind losing if it leads to him getting fired.

(01-22-2014 02:12 PM)HSV_BLAZER Wrote:  North Texas is the anti-UTEP as far as size. Their top eight in minutes played are 6-7 or shorter. Their ninth, tenth and eleventh guys are taller, but only combine for ~34 minutes per game. CJ should have some good matchups again, and this is probably a good game for Foz to test out his mask.

Despite the lack of size, they are a good rebounding team. 28th in the nation. They have a couple of wings leading the team with ~6 rpg each. They shoot a similar FG% as us, but are very bad in assists per game. Bottom 20 bad.

They are led by their backcourt, reminds me of UTSA. Probably a similar talent level too.

The North Texas fans on the main board seem to hate their coach Benford. I think they don't mind losing if it leads to him getting fired.

I hope you're right. We need this win in a bad way.

This UAB team does not blow anyone out. I would expect most home games and every road game to be decided by single digits. Even a should-win like North Texas will probably go down to the wire.

I agree. We've either been blown out or won/lost close games. I don't count 20 point wins against a d2 team or 300+ in the RPI as a true blow out.

Here's a fun fact that didn't make the TIBH cut.

North Texas's head coach Tony Benford played high school basketball for the legendary New Mexico high school coach Ralph Tasker. Tasker has been credited by Nolan Richardson for inspiring his "40 minutes of hell" brand of basketball, a version of which was brought to UAB by Mike Anderson.

Another fun fact:
One of North Texas's assistant coaches is Rob Evans, former head coach at Ole Miss.

The arena looks pretty nice based on the photo tweeted out. I wonder how much student/fan support they get.

(01-23-2014 12:51 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  The arena looks pretty nice based on the photo tweeted out. I wonder how much student/fan support they get.

According to KevMo, they only get 2,035 a game to fill up a 10,500 seat stadium.

(01-23-2014 01:58 PM)Iron Ore Wrote:  

(01-23-2014 12:51 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  The arena looks pretty nice based on the photo tweeted out. I wonder how much student/fan support they get.

According to KevMo, they only get 2,035 a game to fill up a 10,500 seat stadium.

That's what I get for not reading all the information posted.

Speaking of students (UAB),

Their turnout seems pathetic so far as a whole. IMO