In Tony We Trust: WFAA

[Harry]

It was a summer of change for the University of North Texas men’s basketball team. 

Johnny Jones, UNT’s head coach for the last 11 years, left the program to take the reins at his alma mater, LSU. Jones spent his tenure turning the basketball program around, leading the Mean Green to five consecutive 20 win seasons from 2007-11 and four Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship games, including each of the last three, and two NCAA Tournament berths. Jones leaves behind big shoes to fill, but the program intends to pick up right where it left off.

 

Replacing Jones is Tony Benford, who comes to Denton by way of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was the associate head coach for Marquette. Under head coach Buzz Williams, Benford helped Marquette reach the Sweet 16 each of the previous two seasons. In his many years in coaching, Benford has seen plenty of talent. Last season, Jae Crowder, the 34th pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, won the 2012 Big East Player of the Year under his tutelage. Crowder, now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, is the ninth NBA draft pick that Benford has coached in his career. The tenth could potentially already be playing for North Texas, but more on that later.

 

Benford will have his hands full this season as the Mean Green are slated to face some of the nation’s top programs while also competing in the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament for the first time in school history. Kansas State, who eliminated UNT from March Madness in 2007 on the shoulders of Michael Beasley, will be in North Texas’ bracket in that tournament. The two will meet if they both advance to the second round.

Read more: http://www.wfaa.com/sports/basketball/In-Tony-we-trust-North-Texas-basketball-preview-173724821.html

[angel1972]

I'm loving all the publicity n Texas is getting. I'm mean green proud!!!

[CMJ]

We lost to KSU in 2010, not 2007. Otherwise good stuff.

[NT1978]

We lost to KSU in 2010, not 2007. Otherwise good stuff.

Michael Beasley also didn't play for Kansas State until after the 2007 NCAA tournament, but why let facts get in the way of some positive publicity for the Mean Green.

[Stan R]

Video at the bottom was old and disclaimed as so, but how hard would it be to send a reporter out to do a new set of interviews with the new coach and staff. Ok maybe I'm asking for too much?