An Offer They Can’t Refuse

5:53 p.m.
Coach Jones just gave his troops an ultimatum. Finish 17 cross-court sprints in 1:10 or the entire team would face a barrage of endless running. Keep in mind that the squad had been through an entire practice, and multiple other sprint dills. Do you think you could do it? The entire team crossed the line with over a second and a half to spare, so the Mean Green was spared additional conditioning.

That’s it for today. The Blog will continue to keep you up to date all week on Mean Green basketball, starting tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Dunk of the Day

5:37 p.m.
Those familiar with Mean Green basketball shouldn’t be shocked that Adam McCoy wins the inaugural Dunk of the Day. To say that McCoy can jump is like saying the Pope is Catholic, and his athleticism was on display Monday. Encountering a double team on a drive to the lane, Josh White found a sweeping McCoy who leapt from the block and delivered a terrifying near-windmill dunk.

Time For A Full-Court Chalkboard Session
5:22 p.m.
With the season opener just a few weeks away, the Mean Green coaching staff has begun introducing the offense to the new players. Johnny Jones presented his patented high/low game to the rookies just three practices into the season. Spacing and timing are of the utmost importance to NT’s offense, and Jones went through the basics of the base offensive packages on Monday.

“Bullet” meets “Jet”
5:10 p.m.
Johnny Jones knows a thing or two about point guards, and we’ll also concede that he understands the impact of a good nickname. After all, he did earn the moniker “the Bullet” upon leading LSU to a Final Four 1981. So leave it up to Jones to nickname a guard he’s already calling one of the quickest he’s seen Dominique Johnson. When Blog asked about the speedy transfer, Jones just cracked a smile and said,”He’s a little jet, isn’t he!”

The “Little Jet” had little trouble getting to the hole against several of North Texas’ best defenders on Monday. He adds a composed element of speed to the Mean Green offense that Jones thinks NT fans will drool over.

Hogans Is My Hero
4:46 p.m.
Kedrick Hogans lives by the motto, “if you’re going to foul foul hard,” and he just let Justin Howerton know about that mantra. Howerton went up strong to the basket in a half-court scrimmage just as Hogans flew across the lane and sent the senior to the hardwood. No strangers to contact, Jones’ practices are often physical affairs, and players understand that the contact is all apart of the game. Hogans helped the big man to his feet and both returned to practice.

Who Needs Coach K, We’ve Got Coach Q
4:23 p.m.
The North Texas low post players can look to a certain team manager for inspiration this year. Just months after leaving the program second in career blocks, Quincy Williams joined the Mean Green staff as a team manager. One of the all-time NT greats, Williams has always wanted to join his father, Bob, in the coaching ranks, and this position can help him get a foot in that door. Williams helps the coaches with everything from film break down to helping each day in practice.

Bird’s the word
3:56 p.m.
If only there was a video camera on hand, Blog imagines that Collin Dennis would join Randy Johnson in YouTube fame after Saturday’s practice. As the horn was sounding in a scrimmage drill, Dennis sent a half-court desperation shot flying. That’s when an unsuspecting sparrow (we’ll call him “Warhawk”) met Dennis’ attempt and wend down in a mess of squawks and feathers on the Super Pit floor.

Have no fear, friends of the feather. A manager was able to scoop Warhawk up and take him outside, where he was able to fly away under his own power.

The Boys Are Back In Town
3:40 p.m.
It’s now time for the Johnny Jones show! Trainer Brad Anderson is leading the Mean Green through their stretching drills while the coaching staff licks their chops in preparation for another solid practice. Jones was excited about his team following Friday and Saturday’s workouts and thinks this might be one of his most talented teams yet.

And why wouldn’t he be excited? He brings back the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in Collin Dennis and the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in Josh White. Top that off with a killer incoming class and returning talent, and you’ve got the recipe for a winning program.

Shot of the Day
3:38 p.m.
Forward Mimi Goodman wins the first SOD (shot of the day) award. Goodman stepped out and knocked down a 3-pointer (not sure which line she was behind). Goodman who has spent the last few years battling through injuries could turn out to be a contributor to the Mean Green as she fits into the new system.  

Brittney James gets the runner’s-up award today, but she’s a sharpshooter and we expect that from her.

Your Eligibility Is Up Right
3:18 p.m.
Assistant Coach Johnetta Hayes is used to doing a lot of work underneath the basket but I’m going to have to say this latest use of her is unfair. During a little fast break drill, two North Texas players would streak down the floor and be met by the 6-4 Hayes, who oh by the way is still second in blocked shots all-time at Rice. Hayes at first tried to block a few shots, but by the end the blog could tell she was a little tired.

Duck-Duck-Goose?
2:54 p.m.
Blog has seen a lot in its day, but never a drill like this. During one sequence Coach Johnson will stand right in the middle of the sun of the Sun Belt logo while five players circle her in a manner similar to one of our favorite games as a child. Once Johnson shoots the ball the formation breaks out and into a fast break. On one sequence it took North Texas only four seconds to go from one end of the floor to the other and score.

Quick Take
2:41 p.m.
Blog got a chance to visit just briefly with Coach Stephens during practice (don’t worry, this won’t go on very often, and the girls were shooting FT’s so no e-mails please) and got her quick take on things through the first few days.

-intensity control is big. This is the first 2-hour practice of the year and she wants quality, no quantity in terms of practice.

-Fundaments. A lot of emphasis on the little things. Free throws, decision making towards the end of a game.

-Defense meshing well- Stephens has said she wants her team to be known for its pressure defense and how tough they play on D, well early on blog is getting worn out from watching. Think of Buddy’s Ryan’s old defense in the past from football....Without the punching out of Kevin Gilbride.

A re-enactment in progress
2:19 p.m.
During another footwork drill I thought for a moment a Civil War re-enactment was about to break out. The players were lined up three across and following a set of instructions all the while yelling out “Forward! Retreat! Side!”

All that’s missing are a few bayonets.

Only practice but that counts
2:13 p.m.
The style of play that Coach Stephens wants to run is conducive to running and gunning. Which means a lot of up tempo, fast break points, along with 3-pointers. But who would have thought that 6-2 post Mimi Goodman would turn into a deep threat. Well she’s probably not going to threaten any 3-point records but she drilled a 3-pointer during a drill and then followed that up with a steal.

What The Heck
1:38 p.m.
The blog employs a very thick set of glasses, but Shanice Stephens and crew have brought out a new technique that is pretty fun to watch.  Picture 3-D looking goggles, like the one’s you wear when watching Jaws III or Kurt Rambis play. Each North Texas player takes the ball starting at end line and dribbles down the floor, quickly. The catch is the players, because of the goggles/glasses/ whatever they are, can’t look down or see the ball, only what’s right in front of them. The point is to improve ball handling.

Pretty cool but not a great fashion statement.

Quit Laughing
1:29 p.m.
Assistant strength coach Ricky Lefebvre has the chore of stretching and getting the initial workout underway. During the “mirror” drill, in which players work face-to-face on footwork and speed, Brittney James and Jeanee’ Thompson were dueling so to speak, in which James was having a hard time from smiling and laughing. We couldn’t tell for sure but it appeared that Thompson might have been making a face or two to distract James because it worked.

A Late Start
1:11 p.m.
We should have known better, women are always running late aren’t they....Players are slowly trickling onto the floor, which features a new/old look. The logos and paint scheme are still the same, but there are a few new lines added. There are two 3-point lines on the floor this year, one for the men, one for the women. The women’s is still 19 feet, 9 inches, the men’s is now 20 feet and 9 inches (give or take an inch I’m told by someone who had a hand in painting it on there).

What 2 look 4

What the heck is 94 feet of heat?

Just how smart is Amber Jackson.

Can Jalie Johnson (Mitchell) still hit a 15 foot jump shot on a regular basis?

Why are there some many new lines on the court?

Who’s the best player among the assistant coaches?

What do Collin Dennis & Randy Johnson have in common after Saturday’s practice at the Super Pit? I’ll give you a hint, birds beware!

A look back at the world in 1973, the last time North Texas played in the Snake Pit.

Johnny Jones is all business when the whistle sounds at practice, but no one cuts up more afterwards than North Texas’ eighthyear coach. A look at Jones’s antics to keep things loose during hoops practice.

So you thought last year’s team could run the court? Wait till you see how the 2008-09 version is built for speed.

Johnny Jones has had a tradition of hitting on transfer players, and this year’s team will be no different. We’ll get you up to date on all of the North Texas transfers that will supercharge the Mean Green in 2008-09.