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Big Z

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  10. Mean Green mid-season grades (2023-24)

    in Mean Green Basketball

    Posted

    14 minutes ago, Censored by Laurie said:

    Stone's plus-percentage games have all come against inferior competition...LSUS, Towson, MVSU, Omaha, Angelo State...5 games we won by an average of nearly 24 points. 

    Since Boise on 12/5...9 games v. D1 competition...he is 1-for-9 from the field, all of which were 3 point attempts. In the Charlotte game, he was terrified of the ball and was a liability on defense...he had a terrible foul on the put-back/shot-clock play, at least twice missed boards he was 100% favored for. all our runs were with Walker on the floor. 

    I get that he's here and clearly he's going to continue to get minutes, especially with the current injuries...but if we're full-strength and not down to basically an 8 man rotation then I haver questions about Hodge's talent assessment and if Cotton really isn't any better on either end, then I have questions about our recruiting. 

    and I'm so sick of the "he tries hard" tag. like, do the other 11 scholarship players not? you don't make a division 1 roster unless you try hard. 

    Bingo

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  12. SMU (1/25/24)

    in Mean Green Basketball

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, Shark84 said:

    Anyone know if there are any pregame activities planned for Thursday? I know it is an early start so that may not allow for anything big. 

    I heard they were going set out some tables out and provide chips in a bowl. 

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  13. Mean Green mid-season grades (2023-24)

    in Mean Green Basketball

    Posted

    10 hours ago, MeanGreenZen said:

    We are about halfway through the basketball year and since I love to stand in judgement of others, here are my mid-season grades for the Mean Green: 

    WHO HAS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS? 

    Ross Hodge (Grade: A+)

    You never want to be the guy after the guy, but Ross Hodge might have been THE GUY all along. 

    The defensive architect behind Grant McCasland’s legendary run as Mean Green head coach, Hodge has taken over the rising program and can anyone really tell a difference? 

    Hodge is a couple of missed shots and an injury away from having this team ranked in the Top 25. The defense is as good as ever and we are in contention to win an upgraded conference. 

    Ross is not perfect. He allegedly encouraged Tylor Perry to chase the $$$ in the transfer portal. WTF?!! But he hit a home run retaining Rubin and Scott: And adding Edwards, Noland and Allen in his first recruiting class has been just as impactful. 

    His inability to develop Sissoko or add another player who can score in the paint could end up prematurely ending our season, but there is still time to figure that out. 

    Hodge is a hell of a college basketball coach and I am grateful we have him. 

     

    CJ Noland (Grade: A)

    Offensively, Noland is big, strong and can handle the basketball. Rubin’s injury would have sunk this team without Noland. 

    He’s one of the few players on this roster who can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. If Noland can keep attacking the basket and improve his finishing (he seems to lack confidence, but shouldn’t) then North Texas could see the Round of 32. 

    Defensively, Noland has fast hands and creates chaos in opponents’ passing lanes. He’s one of the best overall defenders in the conference.

     

    Jason Edwards (Grade: A-)

    Edwards has given us everything we could have asked of from a JUCO scorer. Sure, he plays out of control at times and is much better going to his right than his left. But this guy has courage, gets after it and would be much more effective if North Texas had another scoring threat or any kind of inside game to give him space to operate. Even with all the energy he has to output on offense, he is not a defensive liability and for a little guy, he fights for rebounds. 

     

    Robert Allen (Grade: B+)

    Allen is an undersized big who rebounds very well and can score in the post when he isn’t matched up against a giant. He’s not big enough to be a consistent offensive force or an elite defensive presence. But as a backup big? He’s been better than our starter.

     

    WHO HAS PERFORMED AS EXPECTED? 

    Aaron Scott (Grade: A)

    Scott has PROVEN that he can be the third-best player on a championship team. But can a team win a championship with him as its best player? The last half of this season is his opportunity to prove that. 

    Scott is a an amazing glue guy with hustle and is a borderline 3&D NBA prospect who specializes in putbacks. Can he put the ball on the floor and create his own shot? Well, North Texas needs him to and the answer so far is SOMETIMES…

    Can he make the leap from great player to STAR? He hasn’t yet, but I’m expecting him to. 

     

    Rubin Jones (Grade: A) 

    The only reason Rubin doesn’t get an A+ is because he’s missed so much time with injury. 

    This guy is about to become the winningest player in program history and he has earned it. 

    He’s so smooth and cool with the ball in his hands. He makes good decisions, can create his own shot and shoot the 3. We needed him to increase his scoring this season and he has DOUBLED his scoring average while continuing to make the case that he is the best defensive guard in the conference. We are watching a Mean Green Hall-of-Famer. 

     

    Rondel Walker (Grade: B)

    I don’t like these unlimited transfer rules, but if it has to be this way, we might as well take advantage of it and Rondell Walker has been a much-needed boost to this roster. He is a solid all around player who can do a little bit of everything and is an especially good defender. Hodge needs to find a way to keep getting him minutes when Rubin and Buggs return. 

     

    WHO HAS UNDERPERFORMED? 

    Moulaye Sissoko (Grade: C-)  

    For a guy who might be the most impressive looking specimen in college basketball (He’s 6’9 and has the thighs of Earl Campbell!) Sissoko sure has disappointed. 

    Offensively, he deserves a grade of F for his lack of any post-up game or shooting touch, but he seems to try on defense and he is a good rebounder so that bumps his overall grade to passing. 

    I will always be grateful to Sissoko for stepping up so ably when Abou quit on the team during the NIT run, but it just seems like the guy will forever be someone who doesn’t reach his potential. Prove me wrong, Moulaye. I dare you. 

     

    Matthew Stone (Grade: C-)

    Stone plays hard and is effective on defense. Offensively, he is so scared to shoot and so bad at it when he does that the other team doesn’t even have to cover him and if he is on the floor with Sissoko then the other team can play 5 on 3, which hasn’t worked out well for us much. 

     

    John Buggs III (Grade: C)

    Buggs was famously the second-best shooter in the conference last season. He’s shown an ability to hit 3’s for us but hasn’t gotten enough opportunities due to injury and the Mean Green’s struggle to attack the paint which keeps defenders glued to Buggs on the perimeter. 

    Buggs is a willing defender despite a lack of elite athleticism. Still, his potential emergence when he returns from injury could propel this team into the postseason. 

     

    OTHERS

    Alex Cotton (Grade: Incomplete)

    Cotton missed almost his entire senior season of high school to injury. He returned for the playoffs and lead his team on a deep run. 

    He’s not a big scorer, so I’m not sure he has the skill set to impact our team this season (although he can in the future if he has the character to stay and try). 

    Cotton is one inch taller than Stone and five pounds lighter. Could he take Stone’s minutes and provide similar defensive toughness with a little better offense? I would be interested in finding out. 

     

    Mean Green Maniacs (Grade: A++) 

    The students who attend our games are loud, visible and funny. And they make a big difference in the atmosphere and the outcome of games. I expect this group to keep growing. 

     

    The Rest of Student Section (Grade: F-) 

    No excuses. This is a winning product. The game presentation is solid. It is super fun to be a student and attend a college basketball game. Get your butts to the game and support this team. You are the only thing missing.

     

    Tony DeSousa (Grade A+)

    He sits in the front row at center court and no one cheers harder for the Mean Green, boos the opponents louder or hold the refs more accountable. We need a couple thousand more like him. 

     

    Overall Team (Grade: A)

    North Texas had to replace the most successful head coach in program history along with almost all of its scoring from last season. 

    And so far? Won almost twice as many as we’ve lost, had an amazing last-second win and are in the hunt for the conference championship. 

    Sissoko and Stone both are a D- 

    These two need to step up or sit down 

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  15. SMU (1/25/24)

    in Mean Green Basketball

    Posted

    20 minutes ago, NT80 said:

    Stone is a defensive specialist and a 6th or 7th man.  When he is starting and jacking up 3-pt attempts it says we are really hurting as a team.  I don't understand why Cotton or Moore, or other bench guys don't get some playing time now instead?

    Defensive specialist? Nice way of saying he’s ok 

    • Upvote 2
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  16. SMU (1/25/24)

    in Mean Green Basketball

    Posted

    3 hours ago, CMJ said:

    We can certainly defeat SMU, but we're gonna have to bring our A game to beat them.  The guys will need an assist from the Super Pit too, so hopefully we get a huge crowd.

    Will Stone bring his A game ?

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