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UVa fan checking in…very interested in the matchup Sunday evening. I’m sure the media talking heads will beat the “slow pace”, and “first team to 50” storyline to death, so I’ll stay away from that one and just break down our team. It’s been a up and down season for us. A lot of new pieces, but not many fans are thrilled with the NIT 3 years removed from a national title. That said, still an opportunity to get some tournament experience and play some teams we don’t normally see. Season highlights were winning at Duke, beating Providence and sweeping Miami. Lowlights were losing to Navy & JMU, and getting smacked twice by UNC who we usually handle. We’ve got 7 guys in our regular rotation, and all have the ability to hit double figures on a given night, but rarely is it clicking for everyone on the same night. Backcourt is a 3 guard starting lineup of Reece Beekman, Kihei Clark (who made “the pass” against Purdue in the Elite Eight) and Armaan Franklin. Beekman is a soph, but likely has an NBA future. He’s quick, doesn’t turn it over, is an elite defender, and a good enough shooter to keep the defense honest…I wish he looked to score more. Clark can look all-world one sequence, and commit a bad TO and take a bad shot the next 3 sequences. He’s a pest of defense, but not Beekman level. Overall his positives tend to outweigh his negatives, but he’s hot-and-cold. Same with Franklin…if he makes his first couple of shots, look out…if he misses them, it could easily end up being a 1-10 night. Our most consistent frontline player is Jayden Gardner. He’s undersized at 6’6 but is capable of scoring 25+ and is deadly in the midrange…he’s not a threat from 3. We’ve got a couple of bigs in 6’11 Kadin Shedrick and 7’0 Francisco Caffaro. They rarely play at the same time, but usually split the minutes at the 5. Shedrick has higher upside, but is more finesse and the better shot blocker. Caffaro is a bull, but not real polished. Our last reserve is Kody Stattman…6’8 wing but not especially athletic. He can hit the 3 if you leave him open, but won’t be a dagger guy…most fans would prefer Bennett gives his minutes to one of our freshmen (Murray or Milicic), but Bennett has stuck with the senior. If you have any questions, fire away. Good luck on Sunday!

Biggest game in the History of Western Civilization.

The 2019 National Champions are coming to Our House in a battle where only the victors advance, and you're debating going because of $15 tickets? Having been a North Texas fan for decades, I can tell you these opportunities just haven't come around too often. Embrace the FOMO!

If I’m not an overly cheerful and weirdly happy BYU fan (hey such might exist) I’d be very pleased with the Big XII deal. They get a genuine, bona fide blue blood in basketball and you get a conference that is a step up from the peak WAC that had Arizona and Arizona State but lacked the depth of new Big 12 and it’s a step up from peak MWC that had some really outstanding Utah and TCU teams but still lacked the depth the new Big XII likely has. It’s a home run for them but not a grand slam or even two run shot in my opinion. Now my BYU story. Wife and I were poor post-college, post-law school but had saved up and had a beach vacation for just after Christmas lined up, my parents were going to watch the kids. Wife gets an ear infection and doctor rules out flying. So we drive to Memphis to spend a few days. Inexplicably hotels are pretty booked up any place we’d want to be but finally get a room at the Marriott near the Pyramid except for the first night so stay at a Days Inn in a room roughly the size of a VW Beetle. The bed was so close to the dresser and TV had to climb across the bed. We go downtown to Beale Street and landed at Silky’s which I discover is owned by a Tulane alum and it finally hits me. Liberty Bowl. I’d be so busy scrambling for alternate plans had not thought about it. So we are in Silky’s and it’s almost all Tulane fans and a handful of just here to have fun people. In walk five members of the BYU band (jackets were a give away) The five BYU kids order a Sprite. Not a Sprite each. A Sprite and split it. It was then I remembered Coach Edwards explanation of why bowls hated BYU fans. “Our fans go to bowl games with a copy of the 10 Commandments in one hand and twenty dollar bill in the other and they don’t break either of them.”

One of interesting matchups in the Virginia game will be Ousmane (6'10" - 230) and Francisco Caffaro (7'1" - 245). In four of the last five games Abou has been called for 4 fouls and had to spend some extra time off of the floor. Ousmane is going to have to show some maturity as Caffaro can get rough under the bucket. No emotional fouls. We don't need our guy on the floor for only 15 minutes like the second UTEP game. Ousmane will need to score at least his 10 point average. Play tough, but be cool. Fly Like An Eagle!

I, for one, need to know what color jerseys we're wearing before deciding whether or not to purchase tickets.

@mods Another one for the SMU forum

Hosting the 2019 National Champions in Denton is pretty cool.

Some UNT basketball alumni! Chris Davis, Jordan Williams, Javion Hamlet.

True, only $12 for General Admission. And you can go front row by the baseline. It would be hard to match that kind of value for your investment anywhere else. GO!...GO!...GO!...GO!...GO!...GO!...GO!...GO!...GO!...GO!... .

Shall we have some fun? https://virginiasports.com/sports/mbball/roster/ Kadin Shedrick Forward Jackson Mahomes

Peter Weller in full Robocop costume.

I don't know. I think this is a trap game.

https://meangreensports.com/sports/2018/7/19/tickets.aspx

@CMJhow big would you say this game is? Like in world history terms.

I’ve heard that once or twice

This is how you do it, folks...TFLF is the master

I think we take the Cavaliers. After watching their game against MSU the other night, I am convinced they will be freaked out by the lack of masks in our arena and they will be too far behind once their fear tapers. FYI, MSU fired Howland.

Oklahoma State

That game last night was so fun

Time : 5pm Espn +

I mean these guys just won the national championship a couple of years ago! Sunday people can get off work. Students will be back from Spring break?

RV had a floor seat at the game Tuesday night.

Those dumbass Southwest Texas State Fans, not knowing that UNT has been our name for decades *sarcasm*

If I have to sign in to my account one more time I'm gonna throw my TV out the window.

This is not what happened at all, the school said they support the trans community and said they don’t agree with the group’s public comments that said “trans people don’t exist”. The school also didn’t side with the protestors or violence and continues to support free speech.

After we win we will play either 0U (in Norman) or St Bonaventure (here) depending on who wins their game. After that then off to NYC

If he says Sunday at 5pm then it'll be Sunday at 5pm.

The most frustrating thing for me was watching TXSt continually move on their high screens. JJ, Drez, Rubin, & Tylor slip, or push through those high screens all the time, against everyone else. But they kept getting picked off yesterday by moving screens. Coach was lighting up the refs about it too!

We play Russia. You’ll love it.

As a side note, even just a handful of years ago every single game of the NIT was on either ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU. It really sucks now that about half of them are on ESPN+.

According to Sports Reference, we played them once on the road in 2012, and lost 80-64. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/play-index/matchup_finder.cgi?request=1&year_min=1950&year_max=2022&school_id=north-texas&opp_id=virginia&comp_school=le&rank_school=ANY&comp_opp=le&rank_opp=ANY&game_type=A&game_month=&game_location=&game_result=&is_overtime=&order_by=date_game

That's what she said!

Well, I gotta upvote that:) neither one of us where we wanted to be this season but what the heck… Still playing and it seems both teams want to play so that’s good for all of us! Go Mean Green and go Rams, maybe we’ll meet up again🤞

1. Randy Travis - guy is a legend and tremendous talent. Really created a stir at the last game he attended and would love to have him on the courtside again. 2. Mean Joe Greene - I get that he is a football guy but he is a cultural icon and it would be great to have him back on campus. 3. Patty Cobbs - Hey it's St. Patricks day and I couldn't leave out our favorite alum and coach. Plus he has that big smile that does well on the big screen 4. Michael Williams - Love seeing Dr. Smatresk but would also like to see the new Chancellor 5. Cynthia Izaguirre - The channel 8 broadcaster is a proud alum and would guarantee some good local TV coverage of the game 6. RV - would love to see RV down on the court again seeing all the success he built for us. Feel free to add or subtract as needed.

I'd hope so! Obviously given the opponent, and situation, I wish we could draw more, but I think the quick turnaround will prevent an attendance in the 8-9K range.

No

Caffro is much bigger and stronger but I think Abou has the quickness advantage. Should be an interesting matchup for sure.

I feel sorry for the Armadillos....maybe they will reappear in a decade or two.

I don't wanna steal his thunder, but I found this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahoos#:~:text=Official University of Virginia sports,sing "wa-hoo-wa

UTEP San Francisco Virginia Any others? I'm pretty sure UNC played here when we hosted the first round of the tourney decades ago, but we weren't the home team, so I'm not counting that.

HSO: I hope Rubin stays aggressive. That young man has the size and ability to really contribute. Love when he shoots the three with confidence but also attacks the rim. HSO: Love Hank's nickname of "March-drez". Hope he also stays aggressive. Such a smooth stroke. Question: Is Drez coming back next year? Hope: That Matthew Stone gets his confidence and his shot back. He lit it up in high school and has the ability. Lock him in the gym.

Gonna be a tough game.

The spread and o/u are going to be interesting.

I like Sunday to give more time to sell tickets and to get the students back in town.

Surprised that wasn't on the back of a bicycle.