2017–18 North Texas Mean Green men's basketball team

The 2017–18 North Texas Mean Green men's basketball team represented the University of North Texas during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Mean Green, led by first-year head coach Grant McCasland, played their home games at UNT Coliseum, nicknamed The Super Pit, in Denton, Texas, as members of Conference USA. They finished the season 20–18, 8–10 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for seventh place. They lost in the first round of the C-USA Tournament to Louisiana Tech. They were invited to participate in the College Basketball Invitational where they defeated South Dakota, Mercer, and Jacksonville State to advance to the best-of-three finals series against San Francisco. After losing in game 1, they won games 2 and 3 to become CBI champions. They also had the biggest crowd since 2010 at 6,291.

2017–18 North Texas Mean Green men's basketball
CBI champions
ConferenceConference USA
2017–18 record20–18 (8–10 C-USA)
Head coachGrant McCasland (1st season)
Assistant coaches
  • Ross Hodge
  • James Miller
  • Jareem Dowling
Home arenaThe Super Pit
2017–18 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Middle Tennessee16–2 .889  25–8  .758
Old Dominion15–3 .833  25–7  .781
Western Kentucky14–4 .778  27–11  .711
Marshall †12–6 .667  25–11  .694
UTSA11–7 .611  20–15  .571
UAB10–8 .556  20–13  .606
North Texas8–10 .444  20–18  .526
FIU8–10 .444  14–18  .438
Southern Miss7–11 .389  16–18  .471
Louisiana Tech7–11 .389  17–16  .515
Florida Atlantic6–12 .333  12–19  .387
UTEP6–12 .333  11–20  .355
Rice4–14 .222  7–24  .226
Charlotte2–16 .111  6–23  .207
† 2018 C-USA Tournament winner

Previous season

The Mean Green finished the 2016–17 season 8–22, 2–16 in C-USA play to finish in last place. They failed to qualify for the C-USA Tournament.

On March 5, 2017, the school fired head coach Tony Benford after five years without a winning season.[1] On March 13, the school hired Arkansas State head coach Grant McCasland as head coach.[2]

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Jeremy Combs1F6'7"215JuniorDallas, TXGraduate transferred to LSU
Greg White-Pittman2G6'2"205JuniorNew Orleans, LATransferred
Ja'Michael Brown3G6'1"180SophomoreRaceland, LATransferred to Angelo State
Keith Frazier4G6'5"190SeniorDallas, TXGraduate transferred to UTEP
Deckie Johnson10G6'4"180SeniorMemphis, TNGraduated
Derail Green11F6'7"220RS SeniorHouston, TXGraduated
Rickey Brice Jr.23C7'1"270SophomoreArlington, TXGraduate transferred to Texas A&M–Commerce
Jacob Gross24G6'4"191RS JuniorSachse, TXWalk-on; left the team due to personal reasons
J-Mychael Reese52G6'2"185RS JuniorBryan, TXGraduate transferred

Incoming Transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Jorden Duffy2G6'0"RS SophomoreSalisbury, MDJunior college college transferred from San Jacinto College
Roosevelt Smart3G6'3"170SophomorePalatine, ILJunior college college transferred from New Mexico JC
Jahmiah Simmons10F6'4"205SophomoreSaint Thomas, Virgin IslandsTransferred from Arkansas State. Under NCAA transfer rules, Simmons will have to sit out for the 2017–18 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Tope Arikawe20F6'8"220JuniorLagos, NigeriaJunior college transferred from Panola College
Michael Miller23G6'3"JuniorMichigan City, INJunior college transferred from Shawnee CC

Recruiting class of 2017
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Mark Tikhonenko
PF		 Moscow, Russia Mount Zion Preparatory School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Mar 30, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 0
Umoja Gibson
PG		 Waco, TX University High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jun 26, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 0
Zach Simmons
PF		 Cedar Hill, TX Cedar Hill High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Sep 30, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 0
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.

    Roster
    2017–18 North Texas Mean Green men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Ryan Woolridge 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) RS SoLake Ridge HS
    San Diego    		 Mansfield, TX
    G 1 A. J. Lawson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoBryan HS Bryan, TX
    G 2 Jorden Duffy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) JrJames M. Bennett HS
    San Jacinto College    		 Salisbury, MD
    G 3 Roosevelt Smart 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoSunrise Christian Academy
    New Mexico JC    		 Chicago, IL
    G 4 Umoja Gibson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)160 lb (73 kg) FrUniversity HS Waco, TX
    G 5 Allante Holston 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)190 lb (86 kg) JrClinton Christian School Capitol Heights, MD
    F 10 Jahmiah Simmons  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) SoPace HS
    Arkansas State    		 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
    F 14 Bryce Jackson (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg) SrFossil Ridge HS
    New Orleans    		 Keller, TX
    F 20 Tope Arikawe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrCovenant Christian
    Panola College    		 Lagos, Nigeria
    F 22 Khalil Fuller 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)260 lb (118 kg) RS SoRancho Verde HS Moreno Valley, CA
    G 23 Michael Miller 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg) JrMichigan City HS
    Shawnee CC    		 Michigan City, IN
    F 24 Zachary Simmons 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)235 lb (107 kg) FrCedar Hill HS Abilene, TX
    F 50 Shane Temara 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg) SrWest Genesee HS
    Angelina College    		 Syracuse, NY
    G 55 D. J. Draper (W) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)165 lb (75 kg) RS SoBirdville HS Beford, TX
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Non-conference regular season
    Nov 10, 2017*
    5:00 pm    		 Eureka W 122–65  1–0
    		 The Super Pit (3,252)
    Denton, TX
    Nov 13, 2017*
    7:00 pm, BTN Plus    		 at Nebraska L 67–86  1–1
    		 Pinnacle Bank Arena (9,028)
    Lincoln, NE
    Nov 16, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 Bethune–Cookman
    Ramblin' Wreck Showcase    		 W 90–78  2–1
    		 The Super Pit (2,013)
    Denton, TX
    Nov 20, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 Texas–Rio Grande Valley
    Ramblin' Wreck Showcase    		 L 63–75  2–2
    		 The Super Pit (1,892)
    Denton, TX
    Nov 22, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 Rogers State W 88–74  3–2
    		 The Super Pit (1,678)
    Denton, TX
    Nov 24, 2017*
    3:00 pm, RSN    		 at Georgia Tech
    Ramblin' Wreck Showcase    		 L 49–63  3–3
    		 McCamish Pavilion (4,867)
    Atlanta, GA
    Nov 27, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 Grambling State
    Ramblin' Wreck Showcase    		 W 82–77  4–3
    		 The Super Pit (1,513)
    Denton, TX
    Nov 30, 2017*
    7:00 pm, SSTV/FSOK    		 at Oklahoma L 72–82  4–4
    		 Lloyd Noble Center (8,132)
    Norman, OK
    Dec 2, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 at Texas–Arlington L 60–65  4–5
    		 College Park Center (2,728)
    Arlington, TX
    Dec 6, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 at Indiana State W 79–76 OT 5–5
    		 The Super Pit (1,642)
    Denton, TX
    Dec 9, 2017*
    5:00 pm    		 at McNeese State W 85–47  6–5
    		 The Super Pit (1,612)
    Denton, TX
    Dec 16, 2017*
    9:00 pm    		 at San Diego W 86–83 OT 7–5
    		 Jenny Craig Pavilion (1,419)
    San Diego, CA
    Dec 20, 2017*
    6:00 pm, FS2    		 at Georgetown L 63–75  7–6
    		 Capital One Arena (4,226)
    Washington, D.C.
    Conference USA regular season
    Dec 28, 2017
    8:00 pm    		 at UTEP W 63–62  8–6
    (1–0)    		 Don Haskins Center (6,306)
    El Paso, TX
    Dec 30, 2017
    7:00 pm    		 at UTSA W 72–71  9–6
    (2–0)    		 Convocation Center (1,130)
    San Antonio, TX
    Jan 4, 2018
    7:00 pm    		 Charlotte L 68–70  9–7
    (2–1)    		 The Super Pit (1,826)
    Denton, TX
    Jan 6, 2018
    5:00 pm    		 Old Dominion L 60–63  9–8
    (2–2)    		 The Super Pit (1,907)
    Denton, TX
    Jan 13, 2018
    2:00 pm    		 at Rice W 85–78  10–8
    (3–2)    		 Tudor Fieldhouse (2,487)
    Houston, TX
    Jan 18, 2018
    6:00 pm, Stadium    		 at Louisiana Tech L 65–66  10–9
    (3–3)    		 Thomas Assembly Center (4,236)
    Ruston, LA
    Jan 20, 2018
    4:00 pm    		 at Southern Miss L 78–85  10–10
    (3–4)    		 Reed Green Coliseum (2,540)
    Hattiesburg, MS
    Jan 25, 2018
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Florida Atlantic W 59–53  11–10
    (4–4)    		 The Super Pit (1,952)
    Denton, TX
    Jan 27, 2018
    5:00 pm    		 FIU W 69–67 OT 12–10
    (5–4)    		 The Super Pit (2,096)
    Denton, TX
    Feb 3, 2018
    2:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Rice W 74–70  13–10
    (6–4)    		 The Super Pit (2,322)
    Denton, TX
    Feb 8, 2018
    7:00 pm    		 at UAB W 67–60  14–10
    (7–4)    		 Bartow Arena (3,383)
    Birmingham, AL
    Feb 10, 2018
    5:00 pm    		 at Middle Tennessee L 73–79  14–11
    (7–5)    		 Murphy Center (6,209)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    Feb 15, 2018
    8:00 pm, Stadium    		 Western Kentucky L 94–102 OT 14–12
    (7–6)    		 The Super Pit (2,306)
    Denton, TX
    Feb 17, 2018
    5:00 pm    		 Marshall L 72–74  14–13
    (7–7)    		 The Super Pit (4,115)
    Denton, TX
    Feb 22, 2018
    6:00 pm    		 at FIU L 68–69  14–14
    (7–8)    		 FIU Arena (2,163)
    Miami, FL
    Feb 24, 2018
    6:00 pm    		 at Florida Atlantic L 54–74  14–15
    (7–9)    		 FAU Arena (1,221)
    Boca Raton, FL
    Mar 1, 2018
    7:00 pm    		 UTSA W 80–62  15–15
    (8–9)    		 The Super Pit (3,627)
    Denton, TX
    Mar 3, 2018
    7:00 pm    		 UTEP L 66–68  15–16
    (8–10)    		 The Super Pit (3,744)
    Denton, TX
    Conference USA Tournament
    Mar 7, 2018
    8:30 pm, Stadium    		 (7) vs. (10) Louisiana Tech
    First round    		 L 62–68  15–17
    		 The Ford Center at The Star 
    Frisco, TX
    CBI
    Mar 14, 2018*
    6:00 pm    		 at South Dakota
    First round    		 W 90–77  16–17
    		 Sanford Coyote Sports Center (1,348)
    Vermillion
    Mar 19, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Mercer
    Quarterfinals    		 W 96–67  17–17
    		 The Super Pit (1,145)
    Denton, TX
    Mar 21, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Jacksonville State
    Semifinals    		 W 90–68  18–17
    		 The Super Pit (2,784)
    Denton, TX
    Mar 26, 2018*
    9:00 pm, ESPNU    		 at San Francisco
    Finals – Game 1    		 L 62–72  18–18
    		 War Memorial Gymnasium (1,358)
    San Francisco, CA
    Mar 28, 2018*
    7:30 pm, ESPNU    		 San Francisco
    Finals – Game 2    		 W 69–55  19–18
    		 The Super Pit (4,196)
    Denton, TX
    Mar 30, 2018*
    6:00 pm, ESPNU    		 San Francisco
    Finals – Game 3    		 W 88–77  20–18
    		 The Super Pit (6,291)
    Denton, TX
    *Non-conference game. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    See also

    References
    1. "North Texas fires head coach Tony Benford after 5 seasons". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
    2. "North Texas hires McCasland as new coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
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