Censored by Laurie

hi great to be with y'all, this is a real honor...um, I just wanted to tell, uh, I think, OJ...biggest fan in the world, um, here's uh...I have a good reason why...it was, I was about 6 years old, real quick story...1973 season, the magical season...um, 'scuse me I'm a lil nervous...ma, ha ha, my mom and I, err uh, are uh on the sidelines and it's before the game started and y'all are warming up, and she was trying to get my football signed by you and she yelled "Juice!", and, you, and I saw you coming over but I got distracted like little kids do...and I turned around and not only did you signed her football, but you had lanced my mother in the side of the neck with a pitchfork and signed it...

happened the moment Chone Figgins retired.

this thread is sad on many levels. mostly marriage. yuck.

why would he Bizjack only be wishful thinking? 3-star...TCU/Wisconsin/Butler were his top offers, but everyone else is a pier program or beneath...contributed as a freshman in the Big East, but 4.2ppg, 27% 3pt shooter, didn't exactly light it up. this looks like the ideal candidate...take a small step down a level in order to come back home

I'm actually in the camp now that we're gonna see a few of these players back next season. it's only good business to test the portal waters and possibly leverage Hodge/UNT for as good a deal as possible. calling it now...Noland and Jones will be back next season. Scott maybe not...he has NBA metrics and upside and a year at a P5 could enhance his overall pro stock.

so settle for what you have and not look to better yourself/family situation? must be a really positive work environment.

this is actually a flawless answer, thank you. I guess I just don't need the external validation of many on here. I wonder how many people go to therapy on a semi-regular basis. one thing I pulled out, though..."Plus we get to know them well...they are one of us"...another poster mentioned something to the effect that they felt I think it was AScott felt like family. if there's actual consideration for the individual, wouldn't you then want them to be able to pursue better or at least the perception of better opportunities? Ryan Woolridge was one of my favorite players here...was stoked that he got the chance to finish his career at Gonzaga. like it or not, the Big XII and SEC (where we've lost players recently) are better conferences and game in/game out better experiences than what UNT/AAC has to offer. I can't fault the player for wanting more. top programs lose players after a year or two on the regular...be it one/two-and-dones who go pro or the same transfer portal issues...and they continue to reload because its a program, not one team/roster. maybe we need a few more years of winning basketball for more to recognize that we have a "program" in place now

who the hell remembers, let alone has strong feelings about Ed O'Bannon's 19 games as a Dallas Maverick?

if Aaron Scott, Rubin Jones and/or Jason Edwards announced that they were leaving UNT before their eligibility expired in order to turn professional...whether that be in the NBA, G-League or Europe...what would y'all's reaction be?

I'm not knocking going the D2 route...more that Wells appears to just be an off-brand Jason Edwards based on those shockingly similar stat lines. at UM, Kai shot almost 50% from the floor, 42% from 3pt and averaged 19.6ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.3 apg at UNT Kai shot around 40% from the floor, 31% from 3pt and averaged 12.3ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg I think that is a pretty reasonable expectation of regression in production stepping up to the D1 level. Kai was also 6'4" and contributed a ton on the defensive end. I guess if Wells is the 6th man Edwards was meant to be, there's value added...I just see another undersized, inefficient volume shooter and get nervous about fit here

don't love this one...Wells basically has the exact same build and exact same stat line last year as Jason Edwards, but at the D2 level Wells - 207/503, 41% FG ; 82/237, 35% 3pt FG Edwards - 214/504, 42.5% ; 84/240. 35% 3pt FG gotta assume that would regress at the D1 level

a pretty big window into Andrew's life-choices there, huh?

if Hodge does his job we're gonna be fine and all you bitching about NIL and the portal will be right back watching winning basketball next season and cheering for guys we landed through NIL and the portal. get over it.

gosh, SMU is just obsessed with us I should make a new thread about it.

I mean, it's all moot now, but I hear you...opportunity and needs demanded it...and maybe there's a maturation, especially with ball-handling and decision making. but I'm fine with him walking bc I'm still stuck on the idea that I just don't think Edwards as a lead guard makes you a winner. he took 100 more shots than TP did his last season here, in two fewer games. 19ppg is flashy, but efficiency is far more important, especially on a team like ours where we're actively trying to limit possessions. injuries mis-cast him here and by the end I didn't trust him at the end of games (I put a lot of that on Hodge too). seems like a good dude and I hope he succeeds in whatever spot he lands...but I think the team and program will be better off utilizing the free scholarship to address other needs on the roster.

if this was in reply to my post...I don't know, but suspect he will be back next season. all I was doing was making the point that if we only end up with two freshmen and 11 seniors/juniors on next year's roster all with D-1 experience I'm fine with it

coffee used to cost 2 bits

smash. 18.5 minutes as a true freshman (on an awful team)...second on the team in rebounding, fourth leading scorer, led the team in blocks (25...would've been second behind Scott, ahead of Allen last year)

pass. looks like a bigger, but even less efficient version of Jason Edwards. Edwards - 19.1ppg, 15 shots/game - 42.5% FG, 35% 3pt, 1.4:2.3 assist:turnover Wicks - 13.7ppg, 12 shots/game - 39.6% FG, 31% 3pt, 1.8:3.2 assist:turnover

this isn't a 4-5 year timeline sport anymore...especially looking at next year's roster with your top 5 players all definitely out of eligibility in '25...I want two more pieces with lots of D1 experience. if Rubin, CJ, Scott, Walker and Buggs all come back, I want all eggs in next year's basket and you deal with two years out in two years. bare minimum whoever is coming in as Allen's replacement has to very clearly be the starter (or earning starters minutes) at the 5 from Day 1. if we're just swapping Taylor and Mason for Moore and Cotton and it allows us to add more experienced players, so be it.

there are scores...maybe hundreds of players scattered throughout college basketball who can get you 19ppg if you get them 15 shots a night. he's a really good player, but not special. I'll be curious to watch his career play out, but in the meantime I'm happy for the free scholarship than can be used to help re-balance the roster moving forward. unawaredly yours, CBL

I agree it's harsh...but ya, kinda. I think we can do better and in this day and age have a great opportunity to do so. dude is a really good sixth man on a good team, not someone to build around. I prefer the opportunity to utilize the portal than what he would've brought back next year. time will tell.

ideally we're looking beyond (and up from) our conference, but nothing wrong with pitching Mekhi Mason from Rice

eh. to a reduced role, for sure. to come back as the clear number 1 and "leader"...that's the recipe for another middle of the pack season, IMO. we're in an era where scholarship availability is basically as valuable as scholarship players. this is a great opportunity. plus, we probably ditch that weird kid poster from Virginia too.

no doubt where the kid's heart is