Yep, more Tony Mitchell & UNT pre-season ink. It is good for the conference that a Belt player & team is getting quite a bit of pre-season ink.

North Texas-Amongst all these familiar faces, we have a fresh one, as the Mean Green of North Texas make the list because of the return of star Tony Mitchell. Mitchell, a former standout high school player originally committed to Missouri but enrolled at North Texas after eligibility concerns made him ineligible for the 2010-11 season. Last season Mitchell became eligible after the 1st semester, averaging 14.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3 blocks in 23 games played.

This season the 6’8” forward is eligible from day 1, making the Mean Green the favorite in the Sun Belt Conference and a possible Tournament Cinderella. Mitchell, who could have been a 1st round pick had he declared for the draft, is an elite frontcourt talent and will be far and away the best player in the Sun Belt this season.

While Mitchell is the key cog for this team and a player capable of singlehandedly carrying the Mean Green, he is not alone as North Texas returns everyone from a team that came up 4 points short of reaching the NCAA Tournament. In fact, North Texas returns 6 players in all who averaged over 8 points per game, led by the backcourt trio of Chris Jones (14.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.3apg), Jordan Williams (10.9ppg) and Alzee Williams. The Mean Green were a very young team last season with their top 4 players all being freshmen or sophomores, but this season with a year of experience and a star like Tony Mitchell, expect even more out of North Texas.

North Texas does have one major loss to deal with, as they lost head coach Johnny Jones to LSU and have replaced him with Marquette assistant Tony Benford. Playing for a new head coach is always an adjustment but with a talented group led by a bona fide star and future pro in Tony Mitchell, get familiar with North Texas basketball.

Look for North Texas to have a big year as they are big favorites in the Sun Belt due to their returning starters, headlined by Mitchell. If North Texas has a flaw it is perimeter shooting as the Mean Green struggled from downtown last season, shooting an anemic 32% from 3-point range. Despite this flaw, the Mean Green are a team to be reckoned with, as their strength rebounding the basketball(17th) and scoring balance will make them a pesky mid-major to deal with.

FULL ARTICLE
http://tshq.co/2012/07/last-year-it-was-...n-2012-13/

I'm going to have to ask why is returning everyone from last year good when last year wasn't good enough? Honest question.

(07-31-2012 01:07 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  I'm going to have to ask why is returning everyone from last year good when last year wasn't good enough? Honest question.

Losing two of their high scoring guards mid-season due to ineligibility didn't help their chances last year. Having them back plus Holy Mitchell is a good thing.

Still won't help them when they come to the Cajundome to face whatever is left of our basketball program.

(07-31-2012 01:07 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  I'm going to have to ask why is returning everyone from last year good when last year wasn't good enough? Honest question.

"In fact, North Texas returns 6 players in all who averaged over 8 points per game, led by the backcourt trio of Chris Jones (14.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.3apg), Jordan Williams (10.9ppg) and Alzee Williams. The Mean Green were a very young team last season with their top 4 players all being freshmen or sophomores."

(07-31-2012 01:07 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  I'm going to have to ask why is returning everyone from last year good when last year wasn't good enough? Honest question.

That is a good and fair question. The hype is through the roof. On paper the potential is there but games aren't played on paper.

Mitchell is an absolute game changer but the pieces around him have yet to gel (or stay eligible). You can see the huge upgrade in athleticism but we lacked good perimeter shooting and a true post player lat year.

Sophomore PG Chris Jones is a stud athletically but definately needs to be coached up on shot selection and limiting turnovers. Has the poetential with his size and speed to be all conference this year.

Sophomore SG Jordan Williams has shown flashes of the hype surrounding him but it has only been flashes so far. Again, needs better shot selection and needs a few more to drop in the bucket.

Senior? SG Justin Patton - transfer from Grambling should help some of the shooting woes. He certainly filled it up at Grambling.

We signed a couple of bigs so hopefully one works out to take the pressure off Mitchell and allow him to play the 4 where he is better suited.

Maybe we get a SG from Marquette but I don't even know if he can play this year.

Lot's of other role players that any team in the Sun Belt would want.

If we don't have eligibility issues, if the injury bug doesn't bite us, if a big works out, and if the freshmen show just some improvement this legitimately could be a special year.

Lot's of if's, but at least there are enough core peices to make it possible.

Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

(07-31-2012 03:45 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

middle will return to their rightful place without dendy.

in the middle. mediocre.

it's what kermit does best.

(07-31-2012 04:51 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 03:45 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

middle will return to their rightful place without dendy.

in the middle. mediocre.

it's what kermit does best.

Don't be so sure. MT will be in the top of the SBC's basketball ranks again. Dendy was Middle's only loss, other than our backup guard Oden. We've got talented JuCo and recruits coming in... so I expect another 25+ win season and another SBC championship, with the final coming down to MT and UNT. Fan support is on its way up and our game against Vanderbilt at Bridgestone should be interesting, especially if we manage to sell it out (the last time Vandy played there they brought less than 1k fans. lol.)

(07-31-2012 01:53 PM)MG61 Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 01:07 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  I'm going to have to ask why is returning everyone from last year good when last year wasn't good enough? Honest question.

"In fact, North Texas returns 6 players in all who averaged over 8 points per game, led by the backcourt trio of Chris Jones (14.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.3apg), Jordan Williams (10.9ppg) and Alzee Williams. The Mean Green were a very young team last season with their top 4 players all being freshmen or sophomores."

So were a lot of other teams in the Belt. No one else is going to improve?

Thanks greenflag for a legit answer.

(07-31-2012 09:15 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 04:51 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 03:45 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

middle will return to their rightful place without dendy.

in the middle. mediocre.

it's what kermit does best.

Don't be so sure. MT will be in the top of the SBC's basketball ranks again. Dendy was Middle's only loss, other than our backup guard Oden. We've got talented JuCo and recruits coming in... so I expect another 25+ win season and another SBC championship, with the final coming down to MT and UNT. Fan support is on its way up and our game against Vanderbilt at Bridgestone should be interesting, especially if we manage to sell it out (the last time Vandy played there they brought less than 1k fans. lol.)

it took kermit 10 years and a one year player of the year txfer to win 20 games for the first time.

you must be drinking gallons of kermit kool-ade. kermit's players end up hating him by the end of the season every year and swooning as regular as the swallows of san juan capistrano.

9 years as a mediocre coach is not negated by one dendy led run. which still ended in a mini-swoon.

(07-31-2012 02:50 PM)GreenFlag Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 01:07 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  I'm going to have to ask why is returning everyone from last year good when last year wasn't good enough? Honest question.

That is a good and fair question. The hype is through the roof. On paper the potential is there but games aren't played on paper.

Mitchell is an absolute game changer but the pieces around him have yet to gel (or stay eligible). You can see the huge upgrade in athleticism but we lacked good perimeter shooting and a true post player lat year.

Sophomore PG Chris Jones is a stud athletically but definately needs to be coached up on shot selection and limiting turnovers. Has the poetential with his size and speed to be all conference this year.

Sophomore SG Jordan Williams has shown flashes of the hype surrounding him but it has only been flashes so far. Again, needs better shot selection and needs a few more to drop in the bucket.

Senior? SG Justin Patton - transfer from Grambling should help some of the shooting woes. He certainly filled it up at Grambling.

We signed a couple of bigs so hopefully one works out to take the pressure off Mitchell and allow him to play the 4 where he is better suited.

Maybe we get a SG from Marquette but I don't even know if he can play this year.

Lot's of other role players that any team in the Sun Belt would want.

If we don't have eligibility issues, if the injury bug doesn't bite us, if a big works out, and if the freshmen show just some improvement this legitimately could be a special year.

Lot's of if's, but at least there are enough core peices to make it possible.

One more little problem solved. The kid got his release and is eligible this year.

(07-31-2012 04:51 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 03:45 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

middle will return to their rightful place without dendy.

in the middle. mediocre.

it's what kermit does best.

Not going to happen. We will be very good again this season. I think Kermit may have finally turned the corner believe it or not. Either way he still owned you guys the last couple of years.

North Texas.

(08-01-2012 08:05 AM)MT FAN Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 04:51 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 03:45 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

middle will return to their rightful place without dendy.

in the middle. mediocre.

it's what kermit does best.

Not going to happen. We will be very good again this season. I think Kermit may have finally turned the corner believe it or not. Either way he still owned you guys the last couple of years.

Kermit owned McDummy. Most rec league coaches could own McDummy, it's really nothing to be proud of. Last year Harper took a bunch of freshmen that lost to IUPUI and Furman and in just a few weeks split the series with you in two close games, against one of your best teams ever, on the way to another NCAA tournament. So you all might want to continue to bask in your ownage of us while McDummy was here because you will not have anything else to celebrate as usual.

I would be more curious on how good of a X's and O's coach Benford is and what is the style of play he brings to that team.

I loved JJ for what he did, but it seemed like he could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with the under 2 adjustments, clock management and play calling.

From what little reports that are leaking out of practice, it is looking more and more like he is trying to instill an extreme defensive mindset with multiple looks, tough defense and a solid mix of press and trap schemes. More than likely UNT already is the most athletic team in the Belt. Putting them in a defensive scheme that maximizes that will cause headaches for the entire league.

Unfortunately, I agree.

I hope they (Kermit and crew) prove me wrong but I'm still not convinced based on last years run. I have no faith in Kermit. I expect NT and WKU being in the top two positions of the belt.

(07-31-2012 04:51 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 03:45 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

middle will return to their rightful place without dendy.

in the middle. mediocre.

it's what kermit does best.

(08-01-2012 10:23 AM)wkuengineer Wrote:  

(08-01-2012 08:05 AM)MT FAN Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 04:51 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 03:45 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

middle will return to their rightful place without dendy.

in the middle. mediocre.

it's what kermit does best.

Not going to happen. We will be very good again this season. I think Kermit may have finally turned the corner believe it or not. Either way he still owned you guys the last couple of years.

Kermit owned McDummy. Most rec league coaches could own McDummy, it's really nothing to be proud of. Last year Harper took a bunch of freshmen that lost to IUPUI and Furman and in just a few weeks split the series with you in two close games, against one of your best teams ever, on the way to another NCAA tournament. So you all might want to continue to bask in your ownage of us while McDummy was here because you will not have anything else to celebrate as usual.

You guys hired "McDummy" so that's your own fault. I see us sweeping the series with you guys next year.

(08-01-2012 08:20 AM)TampaKnight Wrote:  North Texas.

Why are you so gung-ho about North Texas? I have no problem with you saying they will be champions in football and basketball; I'm honestly just wondering why you're backing them.

(08-01-2012 11:25 AM)MT FAN Wrote:  

(08-01-2012 10:23 AM)wkuengineer Wrote:  

(08-01-2012 08:05 AM)MT FAN Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 04:51 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(07-31-2012 03:45 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  Sorry, still not going to beat MT.

middle will return to their rightful place without dendy.

in the middle. mediocre.

it's what kermit does best.

Not going to happen. We will be very good again this season. I think Kermit may have finally turned the corner believe it or not. Either way he still owned you guys the last couple of years.

Kermit owned McDummy. Most rec league coaches could own McDummy, it's really nothing to be proud of. Last year Harper took a bunch of freshmen that lost to IUPUI and Furman and in just a few weeks split the series with you in two close games, against one of your best teams ever, on the way to another NCAA tournament. So you all might want to continue to bask in your ownage of us while McDummy was here because you will not have anything else to celebrate as usual.

You guys hired "McDummy" so that's your own fault. I see us sweeping the series with you guys next year.

What reasoning are you using to predict a sweep besides just being a :homer:? We split this year and you lost the piece that made your entire team run.

UALR returns a lot of bigs but lacks pg's. I still think we will have a pretty solid year. I did not think we would win a division last year but Steve seems to win the division every year or so, just hope it does not take a life time to win the sbc tournament again.