Basketball Talk: Week 16

North Texas will try to rebound from two disappointing road losses this week as they take on Old Dominion and Charlotte. Both of those conference foes have already defeated the Mean Green in away games. Tony Benford is hoping that the current 4 game home winning streak will be extended to 6 as the regular season comes to a close. It wont be an easy task for North Texas. ODU held the Mean Green to under 50 points in their previous match-up. Charlotte on the other hand had an offensive explosion against North Texas. The 49’ers put up over 100 points. Maybe the friendly confines of the Super Pit will be enough to reverse the fortunes of those games.

North is searching for hope as they head into a tough CUSA Tournament. Any reason to have confidence in your teams ability at this time of year is a good thing. However with North Texas they’ve really only been able to play well at home, and the CUSA Tournament isn’t in Denton this year. North Texas is very likely going to be a double digit seed in the CUSA Tournament this year. As a double digit seed they are likely to face a team that they haven’t beaten this year. Its looking like another one and done year for Benford.

5 Questions

Does Benford Deserve Another Year?

NO. Its pretty simple in my eyes. You can argue all you want about how he has brought in some talented players, but the results aren’t there. He has been given ample time to show that he can build his program. He hasn’t produced or even showed progress. I’m not saying Benford isn’t a good guy. I’m saying that Benford isn’t cut out to be a head coach. He is a solid recruiter not a program builder. He was given the keys to an up and coming Mid Major program, and has yet to even put the key in the ignition. My biggest concern as I’ve echoed before is how he is trying to build this program. The transfers and roster turnover is not how you build a solid Mid Major program. Its time for North Texas to move on. Its time for March to mean something again around here.

Can a CUSA team can win a game in the NCAA Tournament?

UAB pulled off quite a shocker last year against Iowa St, but I’m not so sure CUSA has a team good enough this year to win a game. Sure the big time analyst are predicting some real madness this year, but I don’t think a CUSA team will be the one causing the madness.

To storm the court or not?

At least once or twice every year after a court storming event a college coach will tell the media something needs to be done. This year Arizona’s Sean Miller went as far to say that one of his players may punch a fan. I’m pretty sure that some of those court storming fans would be deserving. Lets be honest some of those fans are classless and just plain dicks. Those one off fans shouldn’t ruin the moment for the rest of the sane fans who are just enjoying an epic upset. I wish there was a way to protect the players and coaches of the opposing team while the fans still got to celebrate. Also not everyone should be court storming. Blue Blood programs like North Carolina, Kentucky, and Kansas should never have a court storming. If your a team favored over a higher ranked team you shouldn’t storm the court. Also if your ranked in the top 25 and the opposing team is ranked too, but higher you still shouldn’t storm the court.

Should Mid Major conferences change their format to allow the regular season winner a better shot at getting in?

I love this time of year, because almost every team has a shot to make the big dance. There are a couple of times when you hear “the NCAA Tournament field should be expanded.” No it shouldn’t, because the conference tournaments are the extension. Yes sometimes dark horses come out of no where to snatch a bid, and then the best overall team in the conference ends up in the NIT. But that’s the beauty of these tournaments. It makes for exciting intense basketball. You better bring your A game in these tournaments or your going home. It allows for teams to grow through the regular season and become dangerous opponents in Tournaments. I don’t want to see it changed, because I’ve always been a fan of it. One year my spring break was during the conference tournament week, and I think I watched over 100 games. It was just so much fun. I would understand why mid majors would make the change, but I hope it doesn’t happen.

Which Mid Major program can make a run this year in the NCAA Tournament?

The tournament is always about match-ups. That’s what makes it really intriguing, because there are so many different styles. This year there aren’t a lot of really great teams so numerous mid major programs could end up making runs. It could be like the 2011 tournament where an 8 seed Bulter and 11 seed VCU made the Final Four. So which Mid Major teams should we watch out for this year? Well I like Wichita St. The Shockers by some calculations are on the bubble if they don’t win the Missouri Valley. I’d still look out for them, because they boast the nations best defense, have experience, and have guys who’ve made big plays in March before. Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker are great senior leaders. Valparaiso is a team I really like. The Crusaders like Wichita St are a tough defensive team and have all their key players from last years team who almost upset Maryland. Valpo could end up being one of those vaunted 12 seeds. Finally I will mention Arkansas Little Rock. Of course we all remember these guys who broke our hearts the last time North Texas had a good team. Yes these Trojans are a legitimately good team. Very balanced on offense and defense. Arkansas Little Rock could also be a dangerous 12 seed.

Home vs Away Numbers

Offense		Defense

Efficiency		Efficiency
Home	Away	Home	Away
108 (91st)	96 (313th)	101(120th)	117 (349th)
Effective FG %		Effective FG %
Home	Away	Home	Away
53% (48th)	48% (263rd)	49% (111th)	57% (349th)
2PT FG %		2PT FG %
Home	Away	Home	Away
53% (29th)	49% (168th)	46% (76th)	57% (349th)
3PT FG %		3PT FG %
Home	Away	Home	Away
36% (120th)	30% (334th)	35% (191st)	37% (302nd)

Home Record	10-6	Away Record	1-12

*Number in parentheses equals where the value would rank nationally

Week 15 Results

Louisiana Tech L, 73-62

Southern Miss L, 81-70

Week 15 Offensive MVP – G J-Mychal Reese

Week 15 Defensive MVP – F Jeremy Combs

Upcoming Game Information

North Texas vs. ODU

Time: March 3, 2016 7:00 pm CT

Location: The Super Pit, Denton, TX

TV: Mean Green All Access Webcast

Radio: 88.1 KNTU-FM, 95.3 KHYI-FM


North Texas Backcourt	VS.	ODU Backcourt
	Edge

North Texas Frontcourt	VS.	ODU Front Court
	Edge

North Texas Coaching	VS.	ODU Coaching
	Edge

North Texas		ODU
63	Offensive Rating	72
51	Defensive Rating	78

	Prediction
ODU	65
North Texas	58

North Texas vs. Charlotte

Time: March 5, 2016 7:00 pm CT