Fresh off their NIT championship, North Texas is at a crossroads: new conference, new head coach, but plenty of continuity to keep the momentum going.
Immediately following former head coach Grant McCasland departing for Texas Tech, the promotion of Ross Hodge, McCasland’s longtime associate head coach at Arkansas State and North Texas, should bring solace for the Mean Green faithful.
Most importantly, much of North Texas’ defensive dominance has been thanks to Hodge: considered the architect of the Mean Green defense under McCasland, Hodge’s defense forces teams to grind out the shot clock, limit clean passing opportunities and eliminate easy shot attempts.
This upcoming year, some of North Texas’ defensive stalwarts return: Rubin Jones, Matthew Stone and Aaron Scott are all tough, versatile defenders with high motors and an ability to play multiple positions.
However, with Tylor Perry transferring to Kansas State and Kai Huntsberry declaring for the NBA draft, Hodge’s biggest challenge entering this offseason was finding immediate scoring and offensive stability in the backcourt, especially since the pair scored half of last year’s total points.
In early May, the additions of USTA transfer John Buggs III and NJCAA All-American Jason Edwards injected the program with two smooth-shooting guards who last year combined to average 33 points and 5.2 made threes per game at a 40% clip. A highlight of the team’s offense was their nearly 36% shooting from three, so the duo will help the program’s shooting continuity.
Like Kai Huntsberry last year, Buggs III will need to up his defensive game to stay on the floor at North Texas, however most of his defensive inefficiency could be brushed aside to UTSA’s overall defensive woes. With his athleticism, Buggs III should continue to develop his two-way ability, however it is clear that North Texas’ coaching staff was enticed by Buggs III’s six for nine shooting from three in their two tilts against UTSA last season.
Respectively listed at 6’0 170 and 6’3 190, Jason Edwards and John Buggs III provide the Mean Green with athletic lightning, but Monday’s commitment from the 6’2 230 CJ Noland provides North Texas with backcourt thunder.
The former four-star prospect out of Waxahachie was originally one of Porter Moser’s first recruits at Oklahoma, where Noland impressed in high school with his toughness and versatile offensive game that highlighted his physical frame to control possession play both on the dribble and under the boards.
Playing a solid rotational role across his two seasons in Norman, Noland has had the most success scoring efficiently inside the arc, converting 59.8% of his two-point attempts. With his size and versatility, Noland is poised to play in a similar role to Rubin Jones last season, contributing in all three backcourt positions.
Considering that Buggs III and Edwards are more scoring guards than pure point guards, there is also the chance that Noland could earn the starting point guard spot out of camp. More likely, look for North Texas to continue to eschew playing a true traditional point guard in favor of a more balanced approach, one in which all three backcourt additions will help bolster.
Good analysis!
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