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Tony Mitchell under an inspiring coach and quality nucleus.

1: One big problem with the NIL (aka pay for play) is that the universities are what draw the fans, not the players. People argue that "they deserve a piece of the pie", etc., but the big money comes from rabid fans and alumni of the schools, not from fans wanting to watch certain players. I wish they would form a minor league football and see how much interest there is...wait, we already have that. It's called the XFL, USFL, UFL and the players don't make much money ($5,500/wk) and there aren't many fans at the games. Put the Rengades in Alabama uniforms and the Stallions in Auburn uniforms and you'd sell out AT&T stadium. Why, because the players don't matter, the universities are what matter (as it pertains to attendance). Another example is the NBA D-League. What kind of money are those guys making? (I'll save you the Google search, they make $25K/yr). I have to assume that's peanuts compared to many of the NIL deals players are getting. If you want to get paid, go pro. Nobody is making you go to college to get a free education that will benefit you for the rest of your life. 2: I hate the argument that "coaches make big money and can leave for another job whenever they want to." See the last two sentences of the previous point. If you want to be able to do that, go pro. Make it your career just like the coaches have done. There are a very limited number of head coaching jobs at the college level and these coaches have put in LONG hours and worked their way up to the positions that they are in. Nobody was giving them millions of dollars when they were a GA busting their tail for nothing.

Recent Past With all the excitement over Tylor Perry we quickly forgot about the best player from our recent past. The stats and awards bear it out. In my mind the answer is Javion Hamlet. No other player has accomplished what he has. https://meangreensports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/javion-hamlet/4731 Imagine what he would have accomplished if the 2020 NCAA Tournament had not been cancelled. We won the Conference in 2020 and arguably that was the best team we have ever had.

This is 100% the best way to move this thing along. Even with all of the terrible rules in place. However, the legislators at schools that are alum of flagship universities wouldn't dare push this along in fear of their precious darling school possibly slipping into the cellar and possibly being victim to this relegation model. That's the challenge. Everyone knows relegation is the best and most purest form of parity that would create a somewhat even playing field over a long period of time. But 'they' don't want an even playing field. They want to show up to the poker take with a mountain of chips and bully the others. There is a tremendous amount of pride and ego associated with all of this.

That's right they'll shuffle them "DOWN" In this new world, who is SMU more aligned with? Rutgers, Vandy, NW and a few others? or Ohio St, Bama, Texas, USC (I didn't want to turn this into an SMU topic but you just can't seem to accept reality...)

But I don't see this a move down....more of a "not moving up" For this to take shape, you have to assume that the "highest official classification" is going to change. It's gonna be 30-40 teams. This isn't like going FCS in the '80s. It's not even close....the entire landscape has changed. NIL, transfer portal, ESPN, media.....nothing today resembles 1988. The "highest official classification" is just a label. It's unofficially the SEC/Big 10 now...even the Big 12 is not stable...P5 is going to P2. We have to stop thinking that because an Oregon State has "always been a Power conference school" that they will continue to be one. Boston College? SMU? LOL. The math has changed. Alabama, Ohio State and Texas are so far removed from the lower P5s and G5s that snow ball is moving at warp speed down the mountain. Them along with ESPN run college football now and what they want, they will get. I don't think Ohio State really cares about Washington St.... We (current G5 plus the P5 "hanger ons") aren't going to be able to keep up with this new world... I think this proposal is a new classification...not moving down to an existing one. Just my humble opinion....

word. missed that. then I hope it's Johnell Davis

Two big names set to visit North Texas this week. 1. AAC Starter 2. NCAA Tourney Starter https://www.patreon.com/posts/north-texas-mbb-102974428?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Eventually, one of those four teams will be in the top group. The other three will be down with SMU and UNT

THE SPHERE IS 30-ISH SCHOOLS!!! The debate is should we continue with this charade or be proactive and put something together that could benefit the rest of the left overs. I happen to think a regional direction for the rest of us will be good...both in eyeballs and costs. Especially compared to what we have now. For crying out loud, Cal is going to North Carolina for conference games. That's dumb.

Yes, I am aware of all that, and remember when they were very good back in the 80's or so. But, as you said, they haven't been very great lately, and had pretty much fallen off the radar until a long-past-his-prime Pitino went there.

returning (so far) 1. Rondel Walker - 6'5" 180 Sr., wing 2. Matt Stone - 6'4" 200 Sr., wing 3. Moulaye Sissoko - 6'10" 250 Sr., post 4. Terrance Dixon - 6'8" 235 Jr/Soph?, post (scholarship?) 5. Alex Cotton - 6'5" 195, Fr., wing transfers 6. Johnathan Massie (Longwood) - 6'6" 190 Sr., wing ... 11.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 35% 3pt% 7. Jasper Floyd (Fairfield) - 6'3" 195 Sr., guard ... 9.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 4.1apg, 2.4 steals/game (9th in nation) 8. Latrell Jossel (SFA) - 6'1" 185 Sr., guard ...12.9ppg, 2.3apg, 37% 3pt% 9. Brock Vice (Creighton) - 6'10" 245 Fr., post ...redshirted '23-24 season freshmen 10. Tyron Mason (Plano) - 6'6" 185 Fr., wing if we assume Dixon is on scholarship. there should be three more to play with. apparently 2 D1 transfers are on campus this week. there's not a ton of size, but a lot of length on the wings which could make up for not having a legit 4. Floyd's numbers present him as a true PG...no clue on Jossel, but looks more like a scorer...I think either way, we need bare-minimum one more ball-handler. Vice/Dixon are both pure wild-cards...I'd say at least one more 6'8"-6'10" player no matter what...if either/both can contribute next season, then my last ship goes to another scoring guard...if not, go big

Ain’t nobody leaving the Big 12 for a bizarrely configured ACC. You’ll get American squads but not Big 12 peeps. GMG

Would like to see an association with the MWC. This could give us some separation from the C-USA and MAC they can form their own group. Both could have playoffs and a championship.

Time to consider how much our piss-poor NIL and attendance issues resonate with the players.

Forget it, if NT moves down from D1. Competitive or not; being in the highest official classification has benefits. NT was in a league like this in the old 1aa days, and it was a nightmare in terms of coverage, support, and financially. I don't see any rationale why an official separation between P and G teams should happen. The P's already get most of the money and coverage. What do they have to gain?

St. John's is a top 5 Big East team (a "High Major" conference). They play big home games in MSG. It's a great landing spot for him. He'll get a ton of eyeballs on him there.

Some musings. First, G5 realignment for efficiency? HAHAHAHA yeah that's been bandied around and ain't no one ever bit on it. I'm very happy with what Sun Belt West looks like, odds are a shuffle gives me something I don't like especially since every let's draw a pretty conference on map nerd out there is convinced Arkansas State belongs in a Texas alignment when its basically same distance to Atlanta as Denton and there's a LOT of schools closer than UNT, the closest G5 in Texas. Now as to a playoff. To quote former Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters when someone asked him if the flavor of the day G5 consortium idea would work, "You only need one network to love you." If you can get CBS, Fox, NBC, or even ABC/ESPN on board to go all-in and carry the bulk of this tournament on over-the-air TV on Saturdays, then it's going to deliver better audiences than virtually every G5 v G5 bowl game that ever existed. Bundling a 7 game or 11 game or even 15 game tournament is going to be more efficient and more marketable than TV rights to a bunch of single game bowls and same for sponsorships. Financially it is more cost effective to send Toledo to Jonesboro on Friday to play Saturday than to send A-State and Toledo both to Montgomery and make them both spend four nights there. You will sell more tickets presumably to UNT hosting Utah State in Denton than you likely sell for the same game in Tucson or Albuquerque. The finances start making sense fairly easily. Here's the critical element to me. Third Saturday in December has long been G5 Bowl-a-Palooza on TV, that's now first weekend of the CFP with one game Friday and three on Saturday. If ESPN bothers to put any bowls that day, they get swamped and they are probably on ESPN2 or ESPNU. Fourth Saturday is likely to be flooded with games like the Liberty Bowl and Alamo Bowl P4 vs P4 games. Again if G5 get that slot, it's probably ESPN2 or ESPNU. Maybe get to play bowl games the Saturday after New Years but the competition isn't just NFL, it's NFL playoff football. The likely outcome is the Texas Twister Tyler Texas Bowl pitting AAC #6 and MAC #3 is going to be played a 2pm on Tuesday before Christmas or such. G5 is likely getting shifted to more weeknight bowl games and maybe more weekday games during work hours. If that's what's coming down the pike, then fine. Find me a network that will commit to Saturday over-the-air broadcasts in addition to cable channel broadcasts during the four Saturdays that CFP isn't playing. Probably best scenario is play one week, take a week off then play the next two in consecutive weeks in a 7 game format. No rocket science involved, top team from each G5 (so four champs plus whomever from the league getting a CFP berth) and three at-large based on whatever arbitrary and senseless ranking one cooks up or if 12 then 7 at-large. Bowls pretty much fade out and coaches getting laurels for 6-6 and 7-5 not so much any more.

I fixed it for you and added SMU when the ACC folds!

My initial reaction is “Please let this happen.”

From the looks of things....maybe a PWO?

I'm hoping we at least reached out https://247sports.com/player/carlton-linguard-46098057/college-288895/

Your delusion would be funny if it weren’t so sad.

If you actually think that Louisville, NC State, VT, PITT, and GT are going to willingly commit financial seppuku to join an inferior Big 12 then there is no reasoning with you. The ACC isn't going anywhere b/c (thankfully) the commissioner isn't a total idiot. Sorry champ but them's the breaks.

Javion was my pick as well followed closely by Mitchel, just to see what he could accomplish under a good coach.

Odufuwho?…. Odufuwa!

Damn, we should have a separate forum for these conference realignment discussions.

I am fascinated that May will take the chance.

Maybe I missed something, but I thought this playoff idea was not about moving down.

https://nypost.com/2024/02/22/sports/st-johns-receiving-nil-lifeline-from-billionaire-alum-mike-repole/ https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/news/new-mens-college-basketball-event-to-offer-2-million-in-nil-deals-matt9

This new proposed contingency ACC sure walks and quacks like a non power conference. Why would anyone allow them to stay a Power conference without the teams that make them a power conference? I have an idea: when the PAC 12 goes away, let’s change the name of the AAC to the PAC 12: Boom, now we’re in a power conference.

You seem to think clickbait is a derogative, I would assume everything posted is meant for someone to read.

Jossell is only 5-11, but yes to more guard size overall. Now we need to add some 6-7 or 6-8 PF/wing types.

6'3" guard who gets you 6 boards a game, a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, 87 steals last season (Rubin, our best on-ball defender, had 127...for his career). yes please.

My father graduated from what was then called Edinburg Junior College in 1937. It was started by the Edinburg ISD and the shared campus and buildings with the school district. The town made a very big deal out of them changing from Pan American College to Pan American University sometime in the 60s. I'm told by friends who still live down there that the support in the area is still mixed but growing slowly.

As it stands now, I think it’s a valid question. What needs to happen is that the top 30 form their own league. That leaves the G5 with a lot of really good teams that would draw lots of interest. For example, if aTm and UT are the only “big boys” in Texas, there will be plenty of interest from Tech, Baylor, TCU, etc. Now, will my scenario ever happen? I doubt it as it’s too good to be true.

It’s a no brainer. In the old days I knew Dickey’s Sun Belt champion teams weren’t realistically going to get a shot at a national title, but we were at least playing in the same league…a home run recruiting class and a friendly schedule and we had a chance to have a Boise State type string of seasons. With this new system, there is ZERO chance of building a competitive squad…the second we show potential with all-conference type players, they’re gone. A Brandon Kennedy would be a one year player in today’s landscape. So, why wouldn’t the G5 schools try to form their own system? And, I would jack the price for a visit to a P4 stadium up to a $3M minimum that ALL G5 schools hold firm on. If Texas wants to go 12-0 they either have to play the other “big boys” or pay the piper💰

I think you are vastly underappreciating what A-Scott brought to the table

Denton is not a stand alone city, it's part of DFW. More people come to DFW than ABQ for tourism. But this is not about tourism and not about UNM. For Nolan it's only about the $. That's what it's about for all of them. Most came to UNT from another college, which tells me we can draw other players again after they leave. There's always more players wanting opportunity.

Money is in playoffs and championships. Get it done.

I just don't see how the general consensus is that UNT cannot compete at a high level under the current system. Who in the AAC has a better combination of location, facilities, financial infrastructure, etc.? You could maybe argue Tulane and Memphis. That's it. UNT should be cleaning up in the portal with guys from DFW looking to finish out their career and/or get more PT. That's how you build a competitive advantage over schools like UTSA, Rice, Tulsa, UAB, FAU, etc. And as Denton aptly stated you've got hundreds of thousands of living alums in DFW. You can't find a few thousand to donate $100? Maybe one less trip to Applebee's or Olive Garden and you'd have a roster than can compete at the top of the G5.

I may ruffle a lot of feathers here, but he and his team won tourney championships, regular season championships, CBI championship, NIT Championship, and an NCAA game, and it still didn't move the needle. Attendance was still poor, and those players deserved better support.

Recent Records/Success: 22-23 Season UNM: L 1st round of NIT NT: Won the NIT 21-22 Season UNM: 13-19 NT: 25-7; L 2nd round of NIT 20-21 Season UNM: 6-16 NT: 18-10; Beat #3 Purdue in opening round of NCAA before falling to VIllanova 19-20 Season UNM: 19-14 NT: 20-11 Post seasons cancelled.

We get you are a closet New Mexico fan but noone l know cares that much about them. Sure they have more fans at games but there is frankly nothing else to do there. We have fielded a much more competitive program than they have recently.

After much thought, I have decided to enter the fan transfer portal. I have already been approached by universities that offered money, as well as lots of comp tickets...the one in Dallas is the chief bidder, but I have not made up my mind to commit.

Once they move on, we need to as well. Let's focus on the guys that WILL be here not the guys that choose to leave. That is the new college landscape. I don't care about what they do at whatever school they choose to go to. I care about the guys that are here. Again, it is going to be a year-to-year situation with most of these guys.

Yes. But not that that means anything any more.

That's the attitude of someone resigned to defeat. UNT is in a better location and I'm certain has deeper pockets than UTSA. You don't see UTSA using excuses of why they can't be successful despite some pretty clear limitations. Allowing the past to determine your future is silly to me. Find the right mix of people who capitalize on the strengths and mitigate the weaknesses. UTSA did it. Don't tell me UNT can't.