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May 12, 2010

I have bad news

10:29 PM Wed, May 12, 2010
Brett Vito

Got an e-mail today. And as much as it pains me to pass along the news, I must let you guys know that Collin Mangrum has elected to (sigh) Pony Up.

Yes, the great Collin Mangrum, a guy who showed more guts and determination than just about any athlete in recent UNT history, has elected to finish his college career as a Mustang.

Now, now.

There will be no hating on Collin allowed.

I bet that if you cut Collin, he will bleed green. He left UNT on good terms because he was going to be done with school and is pursuing a graduate degree in business and taking the courses he feels will prepare him to take the LSAT.

By all means, feel free to be upset that he is considering being a lawyer.

It should be interesting to see if Collin plays at SMU. The Mustangs had seven guards on their roster last season. Three of those guys were seniors and Paul McCoy is transferring. There should be ample opportunity.

Unfortunately for Collin, he will be taking a step down in terms of who he is playing for. SMU went 14-17 last year, while UNT was in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four seasons.

Still, all the best to one of the good guys in recent UNT hoops history, even if he is going to play for the Ponies.

From the North Texas State website (am I right that he has one year to play?):



Collin Mangrum
# 20
Guard - G
Height: 6-5 Weight: 190
Junior
Previous Affiliations
Howe HS
Previous Experience
HS
Howe, TX

Courtesy: University of North Texas
North Texas 2008-09
Exploded for career highs in points (19), field goals (7) and 3-pointers (5) in breakout game vs Middle Tennessee … Earned first career start vs. UALR … Knocked down a free throw versus Houston Baptist in his first action since the NCAA Tournament game vs. Memphis on March 16, 2007 … Missed all of 2007-08 and the final nine games of the 08-09 season after exacerbating chronic injuries that required multiple surgeries following the 2006-07 season … Saw action in 11 games as a sophomore.

2007-08
Took a redshirt to heal from offseason surgery.

2006-07
A spark plug off the bench, Mangrum was a key contributor to the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Championship … Led the team with an 83.3 free throw percentage (10-12) … Earned time in 21 games, including four with double-digit minutes … Logged five key minutes in SBC Tourney semifinal win over MTSU, posting a steal and a rebound … Posted first pair of three pointers along with three rebounds against Big XII opponent Nebraska … Break out game vs. Jarvis featured nine points and four rebounds in 23 minutes … Earned invaluable playing time in the NCAA Tournament game against Memphis … Scored his first career points in his first collegiate action against Cameron … Averaged only 1.6 points per game, but scored in nine games for the Mean Green … Racked up 21 rebounds, including five games at least two rebounds … A tireless defender, Mangrum tallied seven steals and a pair of blocks as a freshman.

High School
Part of NT’s early signing class that was ranked 29th in the nation by HoopScoop … Was ranked No. 38 out of the state’s top 100 seniors by TexasHoops.com and No. 123 by PrepRoundBall.com in the class of 2006 when he signed with NT … Compiled quite a collection of accomplishments at Howe High School … Was named his district’s MVP, was a Class 2A All-Region 2 selection and was named first-team All-State as a senior … Posted gaudy averages of 28.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.4 steals per game in his final year … Was selected the area’s 2005-06 MVP, and was named to the TABC and THSCA All-Star squads … A McDonald’s All-America nominee, Mangrum was a 2005-06 preseason second team all-state selection among all classifications by Texas Basketball Magazine … Was a big part of Howe High School’s preseason No. 9 state ranking … Alongside current North Texas center Justin Howerton, Mangrum helped lead Howe High School to the Texas Class 2A State Semifinals as a junior … Howe finished the 2004-05 season ranked No. 3 in the final state rankings and Mangrum was named an all-state selection after averaging 15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game … He was also named to the Texas State All-Tournament Team, tabbed All-District 13-2A and a first team all-region selection … A standout in the classroom as well, Mangrum was a member of the National Honors Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Who’s Who Among American High School Students and was a USAA National Honor Student … Winner of the National English Merit Award, National Leadership Service Award and the Congressional Student Leadership Award … Also recruited by TCU, SMU, Baylor, Tulsa and Stephen F. Austin before deciding to sign with North Texas.

As a completely irrelevant aside, his HS coach was once my jv bball and football coach. Thanks Coach Rose for sending us a Mustang 2-guard taller than 5'11.

This makes me feel slightly better about our guard situation. I still can't believe we took Sassafras though.

Mangrum has a winning attitude. He knows what it's like to play for a winning program and that can be a nice plus for the Ponys.

JHub wrote:Mangrum has a winning attitude. He knows what it's like to play for a winning program and that can be a nice plus for the Ponys.

You know, I'm pretty sure that's a shot at our program, but you are right that we need some winners around here.

CalallenStang wrote:

JHub wrote:Mangrum has a winning attitude. He knows what it's like to play for a winning program and that can be a nice plus for the Ponys.

You know, I'm pretty sure that's a shot at our program, but you are right that we need some winners around here.

Not a shot. Don't be so sensitive. He's the type of guy that can pump up fellow players and he sets an example by going 110 percent in practice and at game time. He's been with a program that has 4 seasons of 20 plus wins plus he's played in 2 NCAA tournaments. He knows what it takes to get there and that certainly can't hurt.

JHub wrote:

CalallenStang wrote:

JHub wrote:Mangrum has a winning attitude. He knows what it's like to play for a winning program and that can be a nice plus for the Ponys.

You know, I'm pretty sure that's a shot at our program, but you are right that we need some winners around here.

Not a shot. Don't be so sensitive. He's the type of guy that can pump up fellow players and he sets an example by going 110 percent in practice and at game time. He's been with a program that has 4 seasons of 20 plus wins plus he's played in 2 NCAA tournaments. He knows what it takes to get there and that certainly can't hurt.

I'm happy to have the kid as a walk-on, which is what he will be. Good shooter etc.

That said, I'm confused by JHubs schtick. UNT is a low major that benefits by playing in a low major league. Good luck now that FIU is recruiting 4 star kids and Western is rebounding. I find myself rather unimpressed by gloating fans of teams who benefit from an undeserving automatic bid. Again, happy to have the kid, just find it funny that UNT feels the need to gloat over a low major hoops program that doesn't play us, and would get housed if they stepped up to our level of comp. Am I supposed to be jealous of being a low major?

when does he become eligible and how many years of eligibility will he have with us? I guess this is the player-to-be-named-later in the Cameron Spencer trade.

[/quote]

I'm happy to have the kid as a walk-on, which is what he will be. Good shooter etc.

That said, I'm confused by JHubs schtick. UNT is a low major that benefits by playing in a low major league. Good luck now that FIU is recruiting 4 star kids and Western is rebounding. I find myself rather unimpressed by gloating fans of teams who benefit from an undeserving automatic bid. Again, happy to have the kid, just find it funny that UNT feels the need to gloat over a low major hoops program that doesn't play us, and would get housed if they stepped up to our level of comp. Am I supposed to be jealous of being a low major?[/quote]

You seriously need to get a reality check. Your level of play right now is certainly not a step up. I just posted a newspaper blog article (cut & paste) about a great kid that can be an asset to your program. Come down off your high horse. You folks just aren't that good at this point and would be a definate underdog if you played UNT.

Has played 3 full seasons at UNT and had 1 redshirt year already. This season was by far his best- 4ppg in 15 minutes and shot 39% from the field and 31% from downtown. Glad to have a walkon with D1A college experience, thaat is also a hard worker and has sizefor his position. At worst he will be a big contributor in practice.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/pr ... erId=32454

White 6'4 SG from a 2A Texas Highschool that was a star at that level and hasn't done a whole lot in college. Ryan Harp much? Ryan was actually much more highly recruited though- a top 15 player in the state coming out of highschool and had better offers/looks. It's a shame that Harp lost his confidence/game since coming to SMU. I really do put a lot of blame on Doherty and the rest of the staff for him falling off the map.

I don't blame Doherty for Harp falling off the map. I blame him for ever putting him the starting lineup to begin with. Harp was obviously not ready, he stuck with him way too long and then when he did bench him, he deep sixed him completely which I equally don't get. If you like the kid as a starter, you don't like him enough to play even a few minutes a night now? Total player mismanagement in my view. The McCoy situation has dysfunctional aspects too. You beg the kid to stay. You annoint him your leader. You let him play through a massive slump and then he transfers anyway? Total kid evaluation/relationship mismanagement again. If you are going to give the kid the keys to the program, you'd better at least be sure he wants em.

oh let NTSU have a little pride in their NCAA Tournament team. Built a nice program up there. They don't play at a high level but they also don't have the advantages SMU does. Winning and recruiting is relative to your competition. Relatively speaking Jones not Doherty is getting the job done.

Hoop Fan wrote:I don't blame Doherty for Harp falling off the map. I blame him for ever putting him the starting lineup to begin with. Harp was obviously not ready, he stuck with him way too long and then when he did bench him, he deep sixed him completely which I equally don't get. If you like the kid as a starter, you don't like him enough to play even a few minutes a night now? Total player mismanagement in my view. The McCoy situation has dysfunctional aspects too. You beg the kid to stay. You annoint him your leader. You let him play through a massive slump and then he transfers anyway? Total kid evaluation/relationship mismanagement again. If you are going to give the kid the keys to the program, you'd better at least be sure he wants em.

I'm agreeing with you on Harp. Staff forced him to change his shooting form upon arrival. Thrust him into a prominent role his first 2 seasons, when he lacked confidence in his game and new found shooting stroke. Stuck with him because he busts his tail all over the court, in games and in practice, then abruptly pulled the plug burrying him on the end of the bench (where, frankly, based on 2.5 seasons of game performance he belongs). Not trying to put all blame on the handling of Harp, some rests on the shoulders of the player not adjusting to the college game too, but I certainly think the staff negatively impacted his development and he never recovered.

I disagree with you on McCoy. What more could they have done once he came back for his soph season? Doh stuck with him- playing him to the detriment of having your best 5 on the floor- to try and get him out of his slump. If he turns it around and succeeds he probably stays. You bury him, he leaves. You play him and he never gets it going again, he leaves. I think it was worth the shot to see if he could regain his frosh season form, bc of players that would return for '10-'11 season, Dia and McCoy unquestioned have the highest ceilings. McCoy just had an awful soph season, personal issues, and an ACL injury- pretty much sealed the deal. I guess the only thing you could question Doherty on was convincing him to come back for his soph season at all. But if he doesn't, we'd all be killing him for not at least trying to retain his great freshman prospect- and I don't want to hear from anyone that that wouldn't be exactly the case.

JHub wrote:

I'm happy to have the kid as a walk-on, which is what he will be. Good shooter etc.

That said, I'm confused by JHubs schtick. UNT is a low major that benefits by playing in a low major league. Good luck now that FIU is recruiting 4 star kids and Western is rebounding. I find myself rather unimpressed by gloating fans of teams who benefit from an undeserving automatic bid. Again, happy to have the kid, just find it funny that UNT feels the need to gloat over a low major hoops program that doesn't play us, and would get housed if they stepped up to our level of comp. Am I supposed to be jealous of being a low major?[/quote]

You seriously need to get a reality check. Your level of play right now is certainly not a step up. I just posted a newspaper blog article (cut & paste) about a great kid that can be an asset to your program. Come down off your high horse. You folks just aren't that good at this point and would be a definate underdog if you played UNT.[/quote]

Vegas laughs in the general direction of us being a dog vs the mighty UNT. Certainly, we're a very average program right now, but it beats being low major w/no chance at stepping up. LIke I said, thanks for bringing this kid walking on to our attention. I hope he plays well. Just leave the 'he comes from a winning program, been to 2 tourneys' garbage for someone who buys it. The difference between SMU & UNT as a job/program is night and day in industry circles. I look down on you, simply b/c you are beneath me