TIgreen01

The fact that the mayor sat front row yesterday tells you everything you need to know. Apparently this is happening. Gift horse? Not sure. I think we'd be better off with a smaller arena that helped create more of an atmosphere. If that is what the city wants to build, so be it. But I doubt it. I've been to a few of these city based arenas due to doing time with my daughter in competitive cheer. Those are the types of events that Denton wants to compete for...and they generally need more floor space than a basketball only (or basketball first) arena like the Super Pit. So it'll be big and boxy and generic. Pass.

There is not a good enough excuse in the world for not throwing a party for this year's team. Yesterday was not it. Doesn't have to be a parade...do what CMJ or NM Green proposed---quick stand-up pep rally behind the Admin building or a party over at Eastside. I could not care less if Mac and the defectors choose to show up or stay in lubbuttocks. Would be great if they did, but don't let these players miss out on what will be a life-long memory. It's also a recruiting tool for our current student body and fans...seeing the school have some actual fun after winning would go a long way to helping get more excitement around the program and will help attendance long term.

This...which is possibly why I don't have the same affinity for him as Jones. I think my earned UNT "nut and gut punch" protector immediately sprung into action and never allowed me to think of him like one of our own. I always expected him to leave. Doesn't mean I am not grateful he came and took us to such heights so quickly. He belongs in the HOF. Just means he doesn't get the "beloved" tag like Jones and now that he's gone I won't follow him the same way.

I second this. Heard from guys who coached on staffs with them both. Not saying Mac isn't great, but Hodge has a "special" tag on him. Time will tell how well it translates to HC in D1, but my expectations are high.

Mac was a great coach. Quite possibly the best we've ever had. However, Jones was a great coach AND was beloved here. I've read about, followed and cheered for Johnny Jones at every stop he's been. I highly doubt I'll do the same with Mac. Maybe I'm wrong and will follow him after some time passes...but I never felt that Mac was invested in UNT the same way that Jones was. My personal opinion, which is worth nothing.

From “Ross for Boss” to Ross the Boss. Seems too obvious?

Well damn. He has a high ceiling if he keeps working to get better. Hate to see him go.

If Hodge wants the job AND Mosley wants him in the job then I’m all for it. Mosley has been a dude at hiring coaches. Also, Hodge has had the boy genius moniker attached to him since before he came to UNT. He’s only grown that reputation more here. I’m surprised we kept him as long as we did.

The big lights and pressure finally got to them. Thought they played tight from about 10 minutes left until 2 minutes to go. Finally got their composure, but by that point they had let sdsu back into the game and gave away momentum. Very uncharacteristic of how they’ve played all year. If they return most or all of this squad they are going to be a force next year.

MLB allows for gigantic differences in budgets and it has worked for over 100 years. The problem is the TV networks have effectively locked out all but the top audience draws from the playoff. The expanded playoff is better, but it still doesn’t go far enough. Wardly’s system (above) is best if competition is the goal. The problem is that competition is NOT the goal. Making the absolute most money as possible in that championship game is the goal. Get the best matchup of tv draws possible to drive up ad revenue means TV wants only a few teams possibly in the mix. This NCAA final four is going to be a disaster for TV…and it’s only going to further embolden them to limit who can crash the party.

The problem I see is that some of you folks got personally invested in Mac being tied to this university…being invested in it like you are. Do you not remember him leaving Arkansas St at the drop of a hat after ONE season?! This is a guy who is looking to climb the ladder. He took the UNT job because it was a better job in a better conference and was closer to home. Now he leaves UNT to go coach in the Big 12, a conference that got 7 of 10 teams in the tournament, compared to our 1. He has ties to the school and has spent plenty of time in West Texas. If you want to win then you better get used to wanting guys like Mac coaching at UNT. I want hungry coaches looking to win and move up. Maybe someday UNT will become a power. The way to get there is winning with guys like Mac and Hodge. …. And yes, I’m pissed that the news was leaked early and Tech stole a bit of our thunder. THAT is acceptable to be mad about, impo. But it’s the way this business works. Lots of douchebagging when media coverage is involved

I don’t have any issues with Grant. Tech leaking the story the day of the final, then not giving us even one day to celebrate is just completely sorry. I used to root for them. No longer.

Payback for all the Jelly flops…here and in Frisco! 🙂

Pretty crappy to leak before probably the biggest basketball game in our history. That stuff has a way of coming back on you…

I don’t know that I completely agree with the first part of your post. I posted yesterday a too long post about this, but virtually no one supports D1 basketball more than we do unless they have had major success or been a part of an elite conference. We have a cavernous arena that feels more empty than full…but 4-5k fans in seats is above average for a school that has never made a sweet 16. Grant can stay or go. I don’t wish him anything but the best. But UNT must keep the momentum going and I think we will. Would be great if Ross can become our Mark Few.

Wish him the best. He’s an outstanding coach who rebuilt our program and has us on an upward trajectory. Anybody heard of Dan Munson, Dirk Koetter, or Dennis Franchione? That’s Grant. Hopefully the best is yet to come.

Went looking for attendance numbers and ended up digging more into Gonzaga, their arena and historical attendance figures. Prior to 2004 they played in a 4000 seat gym. They averaged anywhere from 3000-3700 fans for almost all of the 1990s. Sound familiar? They made the tournament as a 14 seed in 1995 and lost. Attendance did jump after that year from ~3100 in the years before to 3700 by 1999. Then in that 1999 year they had their big break and made the Elite 8. They followed that up with 2 straight trips to the Sweet 16...they have not missed a tournament since. In any event, this is probably the most successful basketball program in the entire nation outside of Kansas since 1999. They are without question one of the biggest brand names with the most appeal and recognition today. They didn't start out that way. They didn't start selling out their 4k seat gym until the year after an Elite 8 appearance. In 2004, they expanded their gym by building an entirely new basketball arena that seats.... just 6000. The point of all of this is that in terms of attendance, we aren't all that far off for a school that has never really had that kind of success. Back when JJ was here we were averaging between 4000 and 4400 his last few years. It's disappointing that we aren't beating that now, but we're not as far off as I had thought before I started looking at attendance numbers. The capacity of the Super Pit, more than anything else I think, contributes to us questioning our attendance numbers. If we played in the 5k seat Snake Pit, we'd probably be known for having an outrageous atmosphere for basketball games. Instead, we look up and think we're playing in a half-empty arena. I might be coming over to the side who is pushing for a smaller arena. Maybe not 5k...but a 6 or 7k arena would have fewer empty seats, helping create a buzz for those who are there (huge swaths of empty seats kill excitement and energy), and help create ticket scarcity for buzz outside the stadium and in the area. It might seem counter productive, but it might just be what this program needs. Obviously we'll have a few years to see what the AAC does to help by bringing in more recognizable conference opponents. FAU and UAB should draw bigger crowds next year. Memphis, Wichita State and Tulsa, will as well. But I have a hard time seeing us pulling in 10k fans when the only school in Texas doing that is Texas Tech while playing elite basketball competition on the regular (at home) in a tiny town with nothing else to do.

I agree with the bolded. UAB has some players who have a higher scoring ceiling when they are on, but they can get loose, sloppy, take bad shots and generally allow teams to hang around and outplay them for stretches. We are perfectly setup to be a foil to this UAB team. At some point not having Abou is going to hurt us - if for nothing more than numbers. I really thought that was yesterday while that first half was playing out. Fortunately, Sissoko was able to stay out of foul trouble and we eventually figured it out physically down low. I worry about Sissoko getting fouls on him and how we will back him up. If I'm UAB I'm trying to get him out of the game as quickly as possible and force us to go deeper into our bench early. The shocker of this tournament, for me, is the play of Sissoko. He's getting better every day and has gone from someone who was just contributing to someone making plays. He's got a bright future.

Jelly Walker did this OVER and OVER and OVER again on us in Frisco---clearly purposefully, and the refs gave him the call at least 3 times in that game alone. To then see TP get called for it on a pretty innocuous kick-out was a slap in the face. I know the crews are different, but seeing the complete opposite calls being made in our games about 2 weeks apart really makes it stand out and infuriating.

That Purdue tourney was awesome. That win against Wisconsin? Unbelievable. 41 points first 20 minutes 13 points next 11 0 final 9 I can’t believe that line. God bless these guys. They are tough as nails.

We’re getting our @sses kicked out there, but two terrible calls from the refs have made what should be a 6pt game 12. Can’t help but look at the other side of the bracket and wonder if espn is protecting its investment here. Wisconsin is the only team left that draws any kind of numbers

Agree…but you have to try to lineup your biggest draws on weekends. That’s where you make money. Football attendance was also terrible this year. So I tend to agree we have a broader problem around marketing, first, and then making it easy for students to attend.

I contend that this year's home schedule was the worst we’ve ever had. Especially the lack of any marquee games and weak weekend schedule. Look at the huge gaps in between weekend home games until late in the season. I’ll list only the games we hosted on a weekend: Nov 19 - Fresno st Dec 3 - Omaha Dec 31 - FIU Jan 28 - UTEP Feb 11 - Charlotte Mar 4 - WKU Fresno, UTEP and WKU are the decent games on that schedule and both WKU and UTEP had down years. Can’t blame the AD for those teams not meeting expectations, but that schedule is still terrible. We cannot expect to draw people who work in Dallas and Ft Worth for Thursday night games. I couldn’t make a single one this year. We got FAU, LaTech and UAB on weeknights this year. This has to get better next year in the AAC from a marquee point of view, but the AD needs to get more and better games on the weekend so the 4 pack sells itself. I’d like to see us work out a long term scheduling deal with LaTech. Those games are always great and they bring people, adding to the atmosphere. When we find natural rivalries we need to foster them, regardless of conference affiliation.

I am honestly surprised he stayed as long as he has. That was not the plan. Have that on first hand authority. People need to stop with the inferiority complex, for real. North Texas is a kick ass place. We have a ton of natural advantages that can’t be replicated. It’s a stepping stone for everyone until they get here and see it for themselves. You all know this.

Good gravy. The committee that picks and seeds the teams needs to be done away with. Robots deserve to run this tournament. Humans are morons. Turn us into batteries already…