It’s Nov. 5, 2024, and the University of North Texas (UNT) men’s basketball team will make its season debut. They will look to start their season off right against the Evansville Purple Aces at The Super Pit (UNT Coliseum). This is a good time to check in with what to look forward to this season and reflect on the previous one.
The 2023-24 Season
2023-24 was a rollercoaster ride for the Mean Green. With plenty of ups and downs, it was a different sight from their stellar performances in years prior. Despite the challenges, the team managed to carve out slivers of hope throughout the season.
UNT faced tough competition, finishing seventh in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) with a record of 19-15 (10-8 AAC). Compare this to their amazing 31-7 (16-4 C-USA) finish, second-place conference ranking, and NIT championship win in 2022-23. It was clear that last season was a step backward for the team. Of course, some of that is to be expected with a rookie head coach. Associate HC Ross Hodge took over last year when former head coach Grant McCasland left for Texas Tech.
Photo Cred: University of North Texas Athletics
Regardless, there were shining moments that showcased the team’s potential. Their thrilling two-point victory against arch-rivals SMU in January was a big moment for the team and fans. It was a game filled with intensity and showed that UNT could rise to the occasion. Another positive moment came when they put up another season-high 84 points against LSU in the NIT on March 19th. It was a display of offensive ability that fans hadn’t seen throughout the entire season.
Their season ended in the NIT, where they beat LSU but lost to No. 1 Seton Hall. Before that, UNT also had a second-round exit in the AAC Tournament, losing to No. 2 Florida Atlantic after knocking off No. 10 Tulane. They headed into the offseason with a sense of determination to bounce back stronger, knowing that they’d previously tasted success.
Photo Cred: ESPN
The Standouts
Guard Jason Edwards emerged as an elite scorer for the team, leading the team offensively with 650 points. He hit 84 three-pointers and shot an impressive 42.5 percent from the field. Edwards provided a spark for UNT’s sluggish offense the entire season. Guard/forward Aaron Scott also played a pivotal role, leading the team in steals (38) and blocks (45) while contributing significantly in points (374) and rebounds (191). His defensive tenacity and all-around consistency helped keep the Mean Green afloat.
What They Needed To Work On
Improving the roster, particularly in the guard positions, needed to be a priority. Adding scoring guards who can complement the team’s defensive strengths will be crucial for success. Despite facing the injury bug and various challenges along the way, UNT did what it could to be competitive. With a solid foundation to build on and various lessons learned, there is still optimism for the current season.
What’s New in 2024-25?
A lot has changed from last season, as the Mean Green have to replace their best players. The two standouts mentioned, Edwards and Scott, are now at Vanderbilt and St. John’s respectively. Rebounds leader Robert Allen graduated, while assists leader Rubin Jones graduate transferred to Michigan. Guards John Buggs III (East Tennessee State) and CJ Noland (New Mexico), veterans of 29 games last season, have left for greener pastures as well. It seems as though coach Hodge will have to rebuild from the ground up.
Photo Cred: X
Several three-star recruits and transfers will look to bridge the gaps left by last season’s stars. SG Tyran Mason and C Baron Smith Jr. are North Texas’ 2024 high school enrollees. Guards Latrell Jossell (Stephen F. Austin) and Atin Wright (Drake) will bring their 10+ point and a-steal-a-game averages as transfers. Forwards Brenen Lorient (FAU) and Grant Newell (Cal) also join UNT with 0.85 ratings or higher from 247Sports.
Seniors Moulaye Sissoko, Matthew Stone, and Rondel Walker are the only returnees who’ve played at least 20 games for North Texas. 2023 high school recruit Alex Cotton and 2023 walk-on Grayson Allo will also fight for more playing time.
“Our Team Will Ever Fight. Fight! Fight! Fight!”
The Mean Green have some big games to look forward to this season. After today’s game, they’ll stay in Denton, Texas to face Wayland Baptist on Thursday before traveling to face Minnesota for their first away game. November 25th-29th feature a tough stretch of matchups. After a home game against Oregon State, North Texas will travel to Bay Lake, Florida for the NIT Season Tip-Off. On the 28th, they take on the Northern Iowa Panthers in the semifinals of the tournament. The next day, they would take on either Utah State or St. Bonaventure in the third-place game or the championship.
Photo Cred: University of North Texas Athletics
Before their slate of conference matchups, the last tough non-conference game is against Sun Belt giants Appalachian State (27-7, 16-2 Sun Belt). North Texas opens up their conference play against rivals UAB on December 31st, again facing off against them in February. The usual in-state rivalry matchups against Rice and UTSA (twice) will always be interesting, but they won’t be playing the SMU Mustangs this year. Lastly, February 23rd and 27th features two back-to-back away games against last year’s two AAC leaders South Florida and Florida Atlantic. Here’s to hoping for some great results from UNT!
