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Since the "Bye Ross" thread was created out of frustration/bitterness, I figured I'd give it another try here. Big thanks to Ross Hodge for his contributions to the Mean Green Basketball rise from the ashes over the past 8 years. Your installment of tough-nosed, defensive-minded basketball has been so much fun to watch... Especially watching opposing teams' fans melt-down over their normal big time scorers being bottled-up night after night. Whether it was as McCasland's right-hand man, or the past 2 seasons at the helm, your impact/imprint on UNT basketball will be remembered for years to come. Best of luck to you in Morgantown. You and your family will be missed around Denton, and we'd love it if you'd schedule a home-home with us soon!

Awful take. I don’t know about you but I want to win this tournament again. Ross coaching gives us the best chance to do that. So many emotional reactions to all this. We’re gonna be fine.

Not one mention of the big national NIT final four game on ESPN. Click on Athletics link and this was the main article: I feel like this administration takes athletics for granted and does absolutely nothing to promote or support it in the manner it deserves. We should be reminding every single student, faculty and admin member of the importance of this game and cherish it. Instead we pretend like it isn't even happening. Just makes me sick.

I don't know look it up. You're the one complaining.

I would rather win the NIT before he is gone.

Biggest game in the History of Western Civilization.

Breaking news! Coach in his 5th season and 2 NCAA tournament appearances makes more than coach in his 2nd season and no tournament appearances. Y'all can't actually be surprised Kennedy makes more, right?

what are you seeing? just curious because I don't see anything one way or the other. Just typica announcements and welcoming messages.

Your first couple of sentences could be lifted verbatim from the WVU message board.

I think the advantage we have, if there is any advantage at all, is access to a mass population and the opportunity to play at home? And that’s what we have to offer high school kids, mostly. Which is why I have always felt we have a really good chance to build a dominant softball team due to access to phenomenal local talent, and the limited local softball schools we compete against for recruits(2)? But of course, in this era of professional college sports the HS kid is getting crapped on, especially in basketball. But any advantage we may gain we piss away every time we hire yet another apathetic employee making the decisions for the entire university. So now I’ve chosen to spend my free time and hard earned money…. ….in my front yard, working on the Dirty Blond and travel. Rick

Yes! Excited about this one. Had a great Freshman season at CSU. Glad he's getting the chance to step up competition in a controlled way, staying in a system he's comfortable in. Looking forward to seeing what Je'Shawn does in the AAC!

You are in Daniyal, brother. GMG

Mosley- Do NOT hire Golding!!

I know we're all upset about losing Hodge. Baring any unexpected promotions, it's effectively the end of the gritty defensive era we've grown to love over almost a decade. A few years ago, I'd read posts on the football forum saying that if we could become P5 launch pad for up and coming headcoaches, we'd be in a great position for continued success. If only we could have a couple head coaches be very successful and get plucked away, we could become known as a place coaches come to make a name for themselves and North Texas would become a desirable job as a place to jumpstart careers instead of burying them. With the news that Hodge is leaving to WVU, we've now had back-to-back head coaches hired away by Big 12 schools in the span of 3 years. When's the last time that's happened here? I can promise you, agents of coaches at various low and mid-majors are contacting their clients and pointing to the school in Denton, America as the place to be. The same goes for assistant coaches at high-majors/P5 who want to become a head coach. Want that big-time job? Come to UNT. The portal helps us even more now that most coaches know they're mostly starting over next season. Might as well start over at the BIG 12 head coach mill. We all know coaches come and go. We all prefer they be hired away rather than fired. Today is bittersweet but the future still looks bright. There will be no shortage of qualified applicants looking to wear green in the AAC as the leader of the Mean Green next season.

The last recruiting guru we took was named Tony Benford. The one before that went by the name Vic Tilli. Look up the records of those two.

our mediocre, no championship-winning coach just got hired UP in the college sports world and most of you don't know what to do because 98% of your fandom is seemingly centered around water cooler talks with your Horn/Aggie/Raider/Bear/Mustang/Frog co-workers, and the feelings of inadequacy you feel toward your rather mid Alma Mater's sports history always well to the surface and cloud perspective and as such you've never learned to just enjoy the successful basketball we've had since 2017... so finally, that era is over. I was initially a bit ambivalent on the Robinson hire, but the more I've dug the more I like the pick and think at worst he is a good continuity hire to continue our upward trajectory as a basketball program as likely would've been the case had Hodge stayed another season, we're going to be looking at a brand new roster for the '25-26 season yet again. just the nature of the beast. wanna complain about it? fine, I guess...but last I checked ESPN+ isn't putting a gun to your head to watch these games. so, what do we have so far? 3 CSU transfers: - Je'Shawn Stevenson - G - 6'2" 200 - Soph - starting guard/6th man potential - Dylan Arnett - F - 6'9" 240 - Sr - likely starter at the 4/5 - Reece Robinson - F - 6'8" 225 -Soph - 15-20 minutes/game reserve Possible Retunees, Known Commodities: - Brennan Lorient - F - 6'9" 215 - Sr - imma set it at 25/75 at best that B-Lo is back...he's done enough to get paid more than UNT can offer - Jasper Floyd - G - 6'3" 195 - Sr - 50/50? I like him and want him back, but I would think WVU fans would be under-whlemed dropping a ship on him next year - Grant Newell - F - 6'9" 220 - Sr - he's maddening, sure...but he fills a role here and given the Chicago connect, I bet he's back Possible Returnees, Unknowns: - Tyran Mason - G - 6'6" 195 - RS-Fr - hope he stays, I guess? - Brock Vice - F - 6'10" 240 - Soph - gotta think he either stays or Hodge had a plan for him and brings him to WVU...I see little middle ground here - Alex Cotton -G - 6'5" 200 - So/Jr(?) - two years here and no PT likely means a transfer down...best of luck in the SoCon - Baron Smith - F - 6'9" 220 - Fr - just on the eyeball test at shoot-around in Phili, we could do worse for a prospect...wouldn't be disappointed if he stayed Incoming Recruits: - DJ Thomas - F - 6'7" 210- Fr - I've seen their game described differently, but I'd be happy if either he or Mason stuck for next year...they're probably filling a similar roll - Cahmai Crosby - 6'3" 180 - Soph - solid JUCO numbers...looks like a role player...happy if he's a contributor next season, but won't lose sleep if he never steps foot on campus Recruitment Needs: - #1 lead scoring guard - we need 15ppg ideally from a winning D1 program walking through the door - starting center - I would love someone who makes either Arnett or Newell our reserve 4/5...both if B-Lo happens to stay - starting PG - I mean, in an ideal world Floyd stays, but is our swing guard and we add a dynamic PG - 6'5"-ish wings - can never have too many

Hey they had us cheering in sports bars on April 1st. Great run guys. Fought to the end. I did get envious of their program with a coach who doesn’t want to run away to an higher program. He loves the Anteaters. Good season. Thank you GM and RH for an epic run. Bring on Robinson and let’s win in 25-26. GMG

Everything I read suggests this guy is both a tireless and successful recruiter. In the Age of Annual Rebuild, that is vital. This guy sounds like a very good fit.

Yes! This is the exact kind of guy I was hoping for. Welcome Coach Robinson!

Welcome Coach Robinson and family !!

I like the hire, proven he can win at a under resourced school. Complain about finishes but Hodge was 2nd this year and finished 7th last year after NIT win. Also Cleveland St finished 2nd CBI.

I am very pleased with this hiring!

I'm firmly in the James Miller camp. If you read his bio, places he's been have had stingy defenses. So that's who I'm hoping for.

Not a fan of Mosely. Stupid mistake and now nothing but lame excuses trying to defend there lack of action. The. " Luncheon" has morphed into a National Embrassment in college athletics. The Leadership of UNT have set back any positives they have gained in since Mosely came on board. This stupid mistake will have a impact on NT Atheltics for the future in all sports. Just my opinion.

How do we know that Ross didn’t want to do the same? Decision may not have been his to make.

See what I’m saying? Jilted lover syndrome is very real around here. Coach Hodge & the guys are definitely circling the wagons & playing for themselves now.

Thank you Moulaye Sissoko, Rondel Walker, Matthew Stone, Atin Wright, Jonathan Massie, & Latrell Jossell. (Leaving Jasper out here, as he might be back??) You guys proved a lot of doubters wrong this year, came together quickly, and went on an amazing, fun run. MOUUUUUUUUU - stepped up big time this year with the departure of Allen. It was fun to watch the huge jump in growth this year, not just in production, but as a team leader. Dello - Your role changed from last year to this year, and the measured numbers went down, but the hustle went up. We saw that!! We appreciate that!! A great teammate, and a great example of hard work & defensive tenacity. Stone - 4 years of hustle and big 3's. Best of luck to you in your coaching career moving forward! Tin - What a year! We all had big expectations of you, and you really came through. When we needed a bucket, you delivered... from that UAB game-winner, to dropping 42 on CLT... Amazing player. So glad you spent your last year here! John John - I hate it that you missed a lot of the stretch run with the injury, but you came back just in time to be a difference-maker in the conference tourney & NIT. Great season! Latrell - We don't go as deep in the NIT without that huge game VS ARSt, and embodying that lock-down defensive mentality VS Todd (really anybody you guarded all year). I'm thankful you came to Denton!

When other schools are dropping 7 figures on one player, it can be easy to lose interest in this new era of college athletics. It can be easy to lose interest in North Texas athletics, a program that seems it will never be able to compete with those big dawgs. We all have our complaints with the athletic department, marketing team, and/or administration, and while it's up to them to keep this momentum going on a large scale, here are some things we can all do that will collectively will make a huge difference: Buy season tickets. Per game, they are insanely valuable. Can't make all the games? If you don't want to move them to games you can attend, dish them off. I am more than happy to coordinate a Messenger group chat to act as a quicker ticket exchange to find a ticket or get one used. Or, donate them to VetTix. Cancel a subscription and send that $10-15 month to the athletics department or NIL instead. We all know there's a streaming service you don't get the most out of. Like, if I search for '80s movies on Netflix, why are most of the results 2020s Netflix crap? Have other social media? Get more eyes on our teams by retweeting/sharing the highlight videos and winning score posts. Follow the athletes on social media too, while they're here. Be cordial, welcoming, supportive... help be a part of a family environment that is hard for players and coaches to leave. #MakeFridaysGreenAgain. Felt like this was more of a thing a decade ago but make a concerted effort to wear your green away from Denton. Make your non-UNT friends and family more curious or even make a connection with a UNT stranger who sees your green. The Grant/Hodge regime may be over, but that doesn't mean winning seasons, contending for conference titles, and playing postseason basketball has to end. Show up or support in the capacity you can, and let's help create a culture that entices coaches and players to stay/sign an extension rather than take the first power conference offer they get. See y'all back at The Pit in November! 😎s

We’re all aware that the other (32 win) team is trying to win the game too, right? We hurt ourselves at times, no doubt, but credit the Irvine shooters for hitting big shots. They hit ‘em in clutch moments and we didn’t. Having a 7fter that shoots ~ 83% from the FT line is such a luxury. He’s a tough matchup. Saw no issues with UNT’s desire or effort. We lost the game straight up.

Ross leaving us high and dry hurt the psyche of this team. Such a wasted opportunity. We had more talent, we were the better team!

Not a single ounce of accountability. All it takes is a quick statement from Keller saying "hey yeah we overlooked the possibility of post season basketball in the Pit and that's on us. We'll be better". It's really not that hard.

I don’t know why I feel good about this hire. Perhaps it’s: 1. Jared excels in the boardroom. He will make decisions that have us scratching our head but business knows good business. He obviously has been scoping out Robinson. 2. I like how Robinson has charged up the fanbase. Our announcement, our pride, our top tier mid major program, walking around with the mojo we have earned. 3. I started wondering if other programs were snooping on Robinson and I bet there were. We got him he chose us. I love our legacy with GM and Hodge. The identity has been carved time to build on it. Let’s all leave Denton and this fun season with some awesome vibes. Beat the Eaters. GMG

I bet you are fun to live with on a daily basis.

Just NIT Championships?

None of us have a clue how this will turn out, but I am pretty happy with this hire. Glad we got someone with experience running a relatively successful mid-major program in the current transfer happy climate.

No head coach NIT experience, no NCAA tournament experience, no conference championships, no major transfer threats from his roster, led a team that was 109 spots below us in NET rankings, 2-13 in Quad 1/2 games. He very well may work out, and I hope he does, but this is the hire you make when you wont financially commit to taking a step forward.

The part that sits badly with me has nothing to do with the new coach, but can we for once get someone on our wishlist? A name people have heard of before and a top rising coach? Huss, Olen, Cross, etc. were all talked about, just like with football, the hire is someone no one saw coming. I guess I thought we were at the point were we are poaching, and this doesn't feel like a poach. I mean that with all the respect to the new coach and willing to see what he brings, I think we just have to all be honest and say this wasn't what we expected.

I don't really care about Texas connections. These days with the way NIL is, talent evaluation and the ability to scour the JUCO and "lesser" conferences is more important. And the MOST important thing nowadays is the capacity to mix and match rosters on the fly every season. I really feel like pulling JUCO coaches up into 4 year institutions will be the way of the future. Those guys have to build new rosters together from scratch every season...which is the way D1 is going too.

Feel bad for Grant, will never feel bad for tech.

I get it, but in our situation within college basketball right now, in a one bid conference, having a chance to win the NIT is about as good as it can get for our program. So we should really enjoy this. To force them to let us in the NCAA tournament, we’d either have to win almost 30 games or win our conference tournament. Neither of those things are going to happen often. So if you are going to be a North Texas basketball fan, and I REALLY enjoy being one. You better be happy with and appreciate the NIT. And yes, they are going to take our coach and take our players (and I was crying about it more than anyone when all this started) but they can’t take our TEAM away: the Mean Green basketball squad that represents our university. And as long as we have a team, we can get a new coach to root for with new players. And we can still beat teams like Oklahoma State, Minnesota and Washington State. And if they won’t let us in to the NCAAs, we can win the damn NIT. There is something punk and underdog and rebellious about us and that is fun. F it all, we can still compete and we can still win. And we are going to keep doing it.

Hope he is getting a good education.

I was appalled when CJ Noland left North Texas for New Mexico. Turns out that New Mexico gets crazy levels of support from its community. No real professional sports there so New Mexico games are a big deal and the program has way more $ than other mid-majors.

Out rebounded by 15 and 18 of 33 from the line. Don’t blame the refs when we should have put it away a long time ago.

Moulaye thinks this is funny.

James Miller was on Grant's staff in year 1. And has gone on to be a really up and coming assistant at NMSU, Miss. State and now Oklahoma State. (Associate Head Coach). Plus, he was a head coach in juco.....for four years. His teams went 86-23, and he sent 21 guys to Division 1 ball. https://okstate.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/james-miller/3405

Ummmm this is their 5th season in D1. He oversaw the D2 to D1 transition. Their final 5 seasons of D2 ball, he led UCSD to win totals of 24, 27, 21, 26, and 30. Sounds like a guy who can coach and attact talent at different levels of the game while staying competitive on a yearly basis which means constantly reloading on talent. They won 21 last year and 30 this year in their 4th and 5th seasons of D1 ball. This was their first season of being eligible for the NCAA D1 tournament and they made it. That also makes last year's 21 wins very impressive considering he was recruiting to a program that was not NCAA tourney eligible. They beat Utah State this year, something Ross couldn't do, and took Michigan to the wire ultimately losing by 3. Honestly, he'd be a great hire.

I am very happy for Hodge. Just not happy the state Mean Green Basketball is heading now.

I guess he thanked the fans in the fourth paragraph. "Family", my ass.