GrandGreen

Not sure, are the teams playing to win or lose? Actually, NT has plenty of excuses, I don't know about UALR.

Basketball doesn't remotely pay for itself, just like every other sport at NT. Unfortunately, JJ salary unless a miracle happens is not a big issue this year. Obviously, there is a lot of factors that go into a coach's salary. With a seasoned coach at the same school for multiple contracts, the factors are the revenue produced, conference affiliation, success and the competition for his services. My guess is that JJ is payed in line with the other conference coaches. Based on his success, he certainly would be at the top of NT hc's. What it comes down to, other than fairness which is often disregarded, is NT's compensation enough to keep him at NT. I think it is fairly obvious that NT is not going to compete with a team in a power conference on a salary basis. A SEC or Big Twelve team is always going to be able to outbid NT for coaches. There is just too much difference in the revenue produced. Therefore, it seems to me that NT has to just keep his salary competitive with other like programs and hope that JJ is happy here until the big offer.

Just a guess, but I bet NJ does not have anywhere close to the number of non-English speaking students as Texas. There are many things that Texas and the US in general could do a lot better in education. It is obvious that just spending more money is not the answer. However, I did not know that public employee unions were that big an issue in Texas. Somewhere over the years, the school system focus has been altered from primarily providing education to one of being one of the largest providers of social services to the masses. For example, eliminating non-citizens from the state school system would probably eliminate the state overall budget deficiency in education. There would obviously be many negative effects of such a move both morally and otherwise; but recognition of the tremondous stress on the school system is warranted. Eliminating non-teachers from the payroll sounds great until you consider that a lot of what schools are currently tasked with, including the education and care of special needs children, primary food source for far too many, endless government mandated paperwork, police and security to provide a semblance of safety at some campuses, and the detainment of students that have no interest in education. The bar in average education has been lowered so far to accommodate everyone that a whole system of alternate schools have been generated to insure that at least the most promising or in some cases the most privileged can still get a good public education. Add to these issues, that there are far too many incompetents both in teaching and administration and you get complete futility. Trying to balance education, social justice, with the funds available is a daunting mission made almost impossible by the politics concerned. Funny, you didn't hear a lot about this impending education funding crisis before the elections.

Friday night playoff Lakeview Centennial (33-1) 78 Bryan 70 Chris Jones scored 27 to lead LVC but lost game scoring battle to Bryan's junior point guard J-Mychel Reese who tallied 40 Reese is one of the top junior players in nation with a 95 rating Earlier in Week, Eastland (28-4) lost a playoff warm up game to 3a Abeline Wylie 43-51, Forrest Robinson scored 22

Craig is typical of many NT alums, although some what of an anonymity because he is in the sports broadcasting business. My guess that Craig and an army of other NT alums who have switched allegiance to "name pro like universities" would embrace NT if it is successful in a move up in the athletic world a la TCU, Boise, and others. My problem with Miller is that being close to collegian sports, he should know the obstacles a program like NT faces and be supportive, not the typical ignoramus who picks programs based on resources, wins or even who he grow up supporting. My favorite school growing up was TCU, but I didn't go there and frankly care little about their program now. It is interesting with the large number of NT alums in broadcasting, the vast majority are still some of the biggest NT fans. As far as the stadium for the spring game, I would much prefer it to be on campus, but you can blame that on the AD department. Frankly, if teams wanted to put interest back into spring games, they would threat them as actual games as they did in the past. I don't understand how teams have hard hitting drills all spring, then conclude with a watered down scrimmage. Dodge's were the worst, with some kind of incomprehensible scoring system and hands off the QB's and returners.

As I understand the rules, Spencer could not get a sixth year medical hardship exemption because he has already had a voluntary redshirt year. i would assume that a redshirt year necessitated by a transfer would be voluntary.

Actually I thought the team played hard and overall had one of their better defensive games. I thought Odufuwa and Thompson despite not hitting had good games. ASU defense was just too much for this team who is just hanging on now. I look for a good game against Denver, Saturday but little else out of this team this year. I do hope everyone shows up Saturday, these players despite a horrible finish have been part of one of the most consistent and successful periods in NT basketball history. The seniors deserve the fans gratitude particularly White, Thompson and Odufawa who have been here the longest.

Knew I would leave someone out. Does this change the message to you? Still going to have to see a lot more from the players left to turn this around and odds are getting worse not better. JJ always has his team playing the best this time of year, and they can still put out a good starting five; so there is hope albeit small.

It will be a major surprise to me if this game is even close. We can always hope, but odds are that ASU wins big. Remember Denver beat ASU by a huge amount and got beat by about 30 at Jonesboro. Add to that NT has exactly one away win in conference and that to the team who had one win until they beat NT at Denton in the last game. The lost of Holmen apparently gives NT, five healthy players Johnson, Knox, Thompson, Odufuwa and Shorter. Two playing at less than 100% in Hogans and White plus Edwards who appears barely able to play. Add two seldom used walkons and NT is playing handicapped as bad as I can remember. Winning this game who be a giant statement but highly doubtful. Edited per below:

Tuesday Night HS Playoffs Lakeview Centennial (32-1) 98 Lake Highlands 75, Chris Jones led with 23 pts. South Grand Prairie lost first round game in OT to Colleyville Heritage 63-70, Trey Norris had 17 Monday Night Kimbell (32-2) 73 Conrad 35, Jordan Williams with 10 Last Weekend Casper CC over Sheridan CC 74-56, Walton with 17 pts, 4 rbs, 1 ast with 7-14 shooting Casper CC over Northwest College 84-59, Walton with 13 pts, 4 rbs, 1ast with 5-9 shooting

SS is not going anywhere soon, I don't believe NT is going to buy out a WBB hc coache's contract for one year much less two. Also per Vito blog, Godbolt missed the ULM game because she was sick. Strange that the reason given was personal not just illness.

Surprised no more comments. It is a great sign that Chris Jones is rated so high, I have thought for some time that he was at least on par with Jordan Williams. Both players should be something special. Their stats are somewhat tempered although excellent because they effectively play on high school all star teams. I haven't gave up completely on this years team, but the future should be bright.

Hail the armadillos. "Unnecessary Roughness" was far from great and if it been filmed anywhere else would be a lot less dear to NT fans. Rudy was hailed as a much better firm but frankly I thought it was overrated. Like most supposedly true stories they were a lot of liberties taken as the recent and I think better "Blind Side". Unnecessary Roughness was a great example of a fun B movie with just about ever sport stereotype used and no pretensions.

After suggesting that JJ may have just make a little mistake in not using his pocketed ships this year, and finding out that to many that is an extreme position. I will now ruthlessly attack a truly defenseless subject and talk women's basketball. The NT and ULM game was another great example of very questionable basketball. I wonder how often a college team has lost to an opponent that shoot something like 23% and who missed 28 straight field goal attempts in the second half. With the game on the line in the final minutes, the NT players vied to see who could hoist up the worst shoot. Of course, one of the two NT best players was out for undisclosed personal reasons, Godbolt. Not only is she the only true post player, NT has but as a sophomore probably the most important player on the team. Her being absence of course let to all those missed shots as ULM got multiple shots about every time they went down the court. The write-ups of this game referred to it being a defensive struggle, sorry missing wide open shots is not the sign of good defense. Of course, the people who care about WBB were minuscule to begin with and that has dwindled substantially with SS's record and issues. The only real reason that I am commenting on the game is that with Stephens' record of player discord, I wonder if Godbolt is the latest instance. I guess we will see. The team is actually marginally better than last year, at least most of the games are much closer. They do have some potential but SS's almost complete failure to recruit anything but guards has made it even more difficult. I do wonder how this post will be received, negative and critical to be sure, but at least it shows that someone is concerned enough to comment.

The fact is that you are judged on who signed not who you recruited. As far as one or two ships being open, what difference does that make when you didn't fill either one. To argue that the coaching staff was depending on an obvious academic risk does not strengthen your position. I assume that signing Edwards was also not a gamble based on his 7 pt and 3 rb juco year and obvious health issues. JJ has had a great, by NT standards, four year run and has signed an amazing class for next year that might even get better. I guess those factors override that this year's performance has thus far been a big disappointment and that last year recruiting class, no matter why, was a disaster. I have no idea to what extent the lack of depth on the team has contributed to the late collaspe of the team. I suspect there is more involved then that, however it certainly hasn't helped.

Actually I mentioned that I didn't believe leaving two ships open was a good decision before the season begin and I knew of the injuries to Williams and Spencer. Even with those two players healthy, I still think it was a bad decision to pocket two ships and use the other on a very questionable player. This was a team I though was close to a breakthrough year and adding a couple of more capable players would have enhanced the odds. However, I never believed that this team even with a lack of depth would be a sub-500 Belt squad. JJ has been great for NT basketball but he is not above criticism. With the class he has assembled for next year, it is difficult to believe that last year's recruiting was so bad. As an aside, the oc schedule was at least equal to most of NT's recent schedules, none have been very challenging for a good team.

The most disappointing season I can remember, I guess we can all relive past glories, but the facts are NT was the consensus pick to represent the Belt in the NCAA with three returning all conference players has just lost 5 out of 6 games and to a team that had a 1 and 13 league record. Yes, some of the players have contributed substantially to NT and all appear to be good representatives of the school. The facts are though, they are playing horrible basketball right now. I am glad there are supportive fans but as someone who has seem a lot of bad basketball at NT, I am at a loss trying to figure what went wrong with this team. As stated, the seniors on this team have accomplished a lot but that only magnifies the collapse that has occurred.

Lakeview Centennial (31-1) 76 Kimbell (31-2) 69, LVC led by Chris Jones with 19 and Kimbell led by Jordan Williams 24 Apparent good games by both NT signees, kind of wish I had went to this instead of Denton Replay available on DMN site

Far from a convincing win, however any win is great at this time. No one really was exceptional but everyone had a descent game at least on the offensive end. Good signs, White taking over game at end, another good outing by Holmen, Thompson providing needed scoring and a very good rebounding game for him, Odufuwa had another solid game. Hogans, Johnson and Shorter all had good plays. Overall the defense was again suspect; uncontested drives to the basket, and far too many wide open threes. Positives, no one in the league is very good, NT appears to now have a 7 player rotation. NT did show some spark at games end even though USA scored about at will. USA is one of the weaker teams in the conference, so a very close home win against them is certainly not a big sign of a turnaround, but it at least is much better than another loss.

Kimbell (31-1) wins a tough game against SOC, 63-61, Jordan Williams with 26 In Tuesday night game, Eastland (28-3) beat Breckinridge 68-54, Forrest Robinson with 23

Speaking of woman's golf, although apparently not announced on the official site, NT recruited a very strong player in Jacey Chun from South Korea;

Tuesday Games South Grand Prairie (23-8) 80 Grand Prairie 46, Trey Norris with 14 Lakeview Centennial (30-1) 97 Rowlett 70, Chris Jones with 33

Don't remember the stats, but teams that have already played a game have a tremendous advantage on a team who has not played.

Saturday Games Lakeview Centennial (29-1) 99 Sachse 49, Chris Jones with 30 Kimbell (30-1) 88 Adamson 52, Jordan Williams with 21 Aside, Don't see Kimbell and Lakeview Centennial playing any game, too much too lose for teams this high in the rankings. It would be a great game if it did happen.

If Thompson is not playing well, I would like your review of White, Oduduwa, Johnso and Shorter. Yes Thompson is forcing some shots but with this stagnant offense, someone has to score. As far as defense I haven't seem much from anybody. Thompson may not be the best defensively but that could be said for just about the whole team. Johnson and White try but their size is too much to overcome particularly when they are not any quicker than bigger players. Holman is far from a good defensive player but he does seem to have improved effort. Odufuwa generally played good defense but he is getting overwhelmed by more balanced front courts. Hogans makes some great defensive plays but is not overall that good of a defensive player. He has some great blocks but also get beat a lot. Ever Shorter which is supposed to be NT's best defensive guard is often matched against ether bigger or quicker players and is having a tough time with both.