Tag: North Texas Mean Green

Instant Analysis: LSU men’s basketball’s season ends in NIT opener against North Texas

The Tigers’ season came to an end on Tuesday night with a home loss in the NIT opener.

LSU’s stay in the NIT lasted just one game as the fourth-seeded Tigers were ousted in their opener with an 84-77 loss on its home court to defending tournament champion North Texas.

[autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] finishes his second year at the helm in Baton Rouge with a 17-16 record and moves to 31-35 overall as the head coach of LSU men’s basketball.

The first 10 minutes or so were back and forth, but LSU was in control. That changed at the eight-minute mark when North Texas began a 13-2 run to take the lead, which it wouldn’t surrender for the rest of the half.

With the Tigers shooting 11 of 31, UNT led by as many as 11 points and ultimately took a 38-30 lead to the locker room.

LSU came out of the game hot in the second half, making five of its first seven shots as it cut the Mean Green lead to four points. But it couldn’t sustain that run, and North Texas quickly regained control and stretched what was at that point a game-high 18-point lead.

The Tigers had one final rally in them, and they cut the lead down to just five in the final minute to make things interesting, but they couldn’t erase the deficit as their season came to an end.

[autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] had a huge game in what was ultimately his final collegiate outing, scoring a game-high 25 points. [autotag]Trae Hannibal[/autotag] added 15, but even shooting above 50% in the second half couldn’t get the Tigers out of the hole.

After a disappointing Year 1 for McMahon, who had to rebuild nearly the entire roster from scratch, LSU showed signs of progress in Year 2. Now, however, McMahon’s group will be expected to take another leap and compete for an NCAA Tournament bid next season.

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LSU coach Matt McMahon entering rematch vs. North Texas in NIT opener with a blank slate

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this year, with the Tigers winning the first by five on a neutral court.

When LSU hosts North Texas at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Tuesday night to kick off the 2024 NIT, it will pit two teams that have some familiarity with each other head-to-head.

This will be the second matchup of the season between the two teams after LSU won the first 66-61 in Charleston on a neutral court. Both teams have changed a lot since then, however, particularly LSU.

The Tigers hit their stride toward the back end of SEC play, and the Mean Green have improved as well. Coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] said he isn’t relying too much on what he learned from the first matchup against UNT.

“I’m not sure how much the familiarity helps with this one,” McMahon said, per On3. “I believe it’s been 125 days since we played. I think we’re a lot different team from that game. Personnel, rotation is a little different. Style of play has certainly evolved since the season has gone along.”

McMahon did say that the team knows how physical North Texas can be, and that will help in preparation.

“Unfortunately, I think they’re an a lot better team as well from when we played them back in November. But I think there probably is a good thing for our players having gone through that game,” McMahon said. “They have immediate respect for the opponent because they know how tough and physical and aggressively they play, how disruptive they are on the defensive end of the floor, their ability to — they hit 12 threes in that game in the first matchup against us. So, I do think there’s some benefits to that familiarity from the first matchup.”

The Tigers are the No. 4 seed in their bracket and would likely face top-seeded Seton Hall with a win. LSU will host North Texas at the PMAC at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday night.

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Vikings 2024 NFL draft scouting report: UCLA EDGE Gabriel Murphy

After transferring from North Texas, UCLA EDGE Gabriel Murphy saw a lot of success and production. Where does he go in 2024 NFL Draft?

Welcome to SKOL Search!

This series will be your guide to the 2024 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.

The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at quarterback, running back, defensive line and edge rusher. We will also focus on wide receiver since it’s a loaded class and an increased chance to get a Stefon Diggs-type steal in the later rounds.

The Vikings are slated to have 9 picks going into the NFL draft and they need to make the most out of them.

Sooners land commitment from Washington transfer OL Geirean Hatchett

The Oklahoma Sooners added more offensive line depth through the transfer portal with the commitment of Washington OL Geirean Hatchett.

Oklahoma’s approach to the transfer portal has been to address needs and bolster depth under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. But they have never looked at and tried to build their entire roster via the transfer portal. This is why Venables is adamant about his recruiting efforts through the prep ranks.

However, after seeing the five guys who started along the offensive line and few depth options depart this offseason, Venables and his offensive line coach, [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag], knew they had work to do. That’s why the Sooners have brought in three transfer offensive line options this offseason. [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] came from Michigan State, [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] transferred from North Texas, and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] transferred in from USC.

That list just grew as the Sooners landed a talented interior offensive line transfer in Geirean Hatchett. Geirean is a junior offensive lineman transfer from the Sugar Bowl-winning and national champion runner-up, Washington Huskies. 

Geirean Hatchett has played over 25 games, including eight in 2023. In his fifth year, he still has room to add more strength and continue to develop. It’s likely that will be a point of emphasis this winter with head strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt. Geirean played well before an injury limited him in the second half of the season, posting some solid pass-blocking grades via Pro Football Focus. With time to heal, a return to his productive days before the mid-season injury seems likely.

Here’s what Roman Tomashoff, site editor for UWHuskies Wire, had to say about Geirean.

He’s a good run blocker but needs to continue to work in pass protection. He has all the tools to be a really good offensive lineman, but needs to get stronger as he gets beaten too often with power. He’s worked a lot at multiple positions but is best at guard. – Tomashoff, UWHuskies Wire

The Sooners are getting a talented football player who offers valuable snaps and experience to an offensive line room that lost the five guys who started for the majority of the year.

With another portal addition, the offensive line is retooled. The stage is now set for Bill Bedenbaugh to do what he does best: develop and get the most out of his offensive linemen.

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LSU offers North Texas receiver transfer Ja’Mori Maclin

Ja’Mori Maclin eclipsed 1,000 yards as a sophomore with the Mean Green and tied for ninth nationally with 11 touchdowns.

Though [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has intimated that the Tigers won’t be as active in the transfer portal this offseason as they have been in the prior two, that doesn’t mean they aren’t exploring adding a few playmakers.

One of the players LSU is targeting is former North Texas receiver [autotag]Ja’Mori Maclin[/autotag]. The younger cousin of former NFL receiver Jeremy Maclin, Ja’Mori played in two seasons for the Mean Green and has picked up quite a few high-profile offers since entering the portal.

The Kirkwood, Missouri, native was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2022 after recording 16 catches for 380 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up with a massive 2023 campaign in which he hauled in 57 catches for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns.

That touchdown mark tied for ninth nationally this fall.

Maclin began his career at Missouri, where he spent two seasons. He played in three games as a true freshman in 2020 — totaling one catch — before missing the entire 2021 season due to injury and subsequently transferring.

LSU is likely to lose both [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] after this season. With quite a bit of turnover on the offensive side of the ball, adding a proven commodity like Maclin would be a big boost heading into 2024.

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Penn State makes offer to wide receiver target in transfer portal

Penn State is wasting no time going after a key wide receiver in the transfer portal.

With a clear need for playmakers at the wide receiver position, and with a new offensive coordinator coming in to hopefully create opportunities for explosive plays, Penn State is once again attacking the wide receiver position in the transfer portal. And on Thursday, Penn State was one of a number of offers extended to Ja’Mori Maclin of North Texas.

Maclin announced he entered the transfer portal on Wednesday. Other programs to extend offers include Michigan State, Ole Miss, Colorado, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Texas A&M. More will likely be coming too.

Maclin caught 57 passes for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns for North Texas this season. With the Mean Green missing out on the bowl season, his stats are in the books for the 2023 season.

Maclin was a three-star recruit out of high school in the Class of 2020. This will be his second time in the transfer portal. After initially starting his college football career at Missouri, where his older cousin Jeremy Maclin made a name for himself before a career in the NFL, Ja’Mori Maclin played in three games during the 2020 season and missed the 2021 season due to injury. He then transferred from Missouri to North Texas in 2022. Maclin was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2022 by the coaches of the conference.

Penn State has added a key wide receiver to the roster in each of the past two seasons through the transfer portal. Mithcell Tinsley transferred to Penn State from Western Kentucky in 2022 and Dante Cephas came to Penn State from Kent State for the 2023 season. But Tinsley and Cephas each came off of seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards only to see their offensive production take a dip with Penn State. Of course, that was under former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. On the same day Maclin was offered by Penn State, the Nittany Lions found a new offensive coordinator with Andy Kotelnicki reportedly being hired from Kansas.

The NCAA transfer portal officially opens on Monday, Dec. 4. It will close on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

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Instant Analysis: LSU men’s basketball ends skid against North Texas in Charleston Classic

The Tigers held on to beat the Mean Green and snap a two-game losing streak on Friday morning.

After an embarrassing loss to Nicholls was compounded by a blown 15-point second-half lead in the opener against Dayton in the Charleston Classic on Thursday, LSU’s men’s basketball team ended its two-game skid in the consolation bracket against North Texas on Friday morning, holding on to win 66-62.

The Tigers held a one-point lead at the half but had to continue to battle in the second. They ultimately prevailed thanks to another very strong offensive performance as the team shot 50% from the field for the game.

[autotag]Will Baker[/autotag] once again led the way offensively for LSU, scoring 16 points. [autotag]Derek Fountain[/autotag] (14 points) and [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] (12 points) also scored in double figures.

Defensively, LSU held North Texas to 31.7% shooting, and despite turning the ball over 13 times compared to the Mean Green’s 12, the Tigers did a better job turning those mistakes into points the other way.

They did allow three North Texas players to score in double figures including guard [autotag]Jason Edwards[/autotag], who led the way with a game-high 22 points.

2-2 is not where LSU hoped it would be at this point in the season, but the Tigers managed to stop the bleeding. Now, it will face the winner of Towson and Wake Forest in its final game in Charleston on Sunday.

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How to watch LSU men’s basketball face North Texas in Charleston Classic on Friday morning

LSU will desperately look to end its two-game skid on on Friday morning.

The Tigers had a tremendous opportunity to wipe the slate clean after the loss to Nicholls on Thursday against the preseason Atlantic 10 favorite in Dayton.

LSU had the flyers on the ropes but squandered a 15-point second-half lead, falling 70-67. Now, it will face North Texas in its consolation game on Friday morning after the Mean Green lost their opener in the Charleston Classic by one point to Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad.

North Texas, the defending NIT champion, is 2-1 on the year having notched wins over Northern Iowa and Omaha. It’s led by first-year coach and former assistant Ross Hodge after Grant McCasland left to become the head coach at Texas Tech.

Here’s everything you need to know as LSU tries desperately to end its two-game losing skid on Friday against the Mean Green.

North Texas transfer portal target trims top schools down to 4

Florida basketball made the latest cut for this transfer guard out of North Texas.

Florida basketball made the latest cut for former North Texas Mean Green guard Tylor Perry, who is currently in search of greener pastures through the transfer portal. The 5-foot-11-inch, 182-pound ballhandler released his list of top-four preferred schools on his personal Twitter account Tuesday night and Todd Golden’s team earned a mention.

Along with the Gators, the Ole Miss Rebels, Kansas State Wildcats and Texas Tech Red Raiders also made the list. Perry was in Gainesville over Easter weekend to get a gander at the Gators’ digs over the course of a few days followed by a visit with Eric Musselman and the Arkansas Razorbacks afterward.

He had also planned a trip to Tuscaloosa to see the Alabama Crimson Tide but nixed that stop after omitting them from his latest top schools list.

The junior from Fort Coffee, Oklahoma, served primarily as a point guard with the Mean Green, averaging 15.6 points on 43.1% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc while grabbing 3.2 rebounds, dishing out 2.3 dimes and snatching 1.3 steals per game over his two-year tenure in North Texas. He played two seasons at Coffeeville CC prior to his time in Denton, where he led his squad to the 2021 NJCAA DI National Championship in 2020-21.

The Gators have added four players through the transfer portal — forward Tyrese Samuel, point guard Walter Clayton Jr., forward EJ Jarvis and center Micah Handlogten — along with two members from the 2023 high school recruiting class in forwards Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh.

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Alabama MBB reaches out to North Texas transfer Tylor Perry

Alabama has reportedly reached out to North Texas guard transfer Tylor Perry. Perry was the Conference USA Player of the Year in 2022-2023.

Alabama has reached out to North Texas guard transfer Tylor Perry.

Other programs that have reached out are Florida, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Perry’s head coach at North Texas, Grant McCasland, is now the head coach at Texas Tech. That is something to keep an eye on as Perry’s recruitment unfolds.

Perry was named the 2023 Conference USA Player of the Year. He was also selected as a member of the First-Team All-Conference USA.

As a junior, he averaged 17.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game. Perry shot 43.7% from the field and 41.3% from distance.

Last season, Perry scored 20 or more points in 14 games for North Texas. He helped the Mean Green win the 2023 NIT Championship against in-conference foe UAB.

Alabama lost two guards (Jaden Bradley, Nimari Burnett) to the transfer portal with two other guards (Jahvon Quinerly, Mark Sears) declaring for the NBA Draft. Both could elect to return to college. Nonetheless, he would add depth to Alabama’s backcourt if Perry were to commit.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama basketball program and its involvement in the transfer portal.

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