One reason that Football is so popular is its cadence. You get ready for Friday, or Saturday or Sunday (mostly this) and can build your week around it. Basketball is more frequent, less of an event and more of a gamble in terms of entertainment. At its’ peak, basketball is awesome for the max-15 thousand people1 in attendance. It can feel like you attended a revival meeting on a Wednesday at your church.2 It is intimate and you feel like you were part of something that happened.
MGN’s readers do not love hoops that much. The numbers reflect that. The highest-viewed posts have been football related (and coaching rumor related at that) while even at peak, NIT-winning years, the numbers didn’t reflect the quality.
MGN has dispatched someone on the beat — the home beat at least — and will continue to seek the right cadence. Where can we all discuss the game together? I like the Substack Chat feature — but it is a little difficult to keep up with the fast-pace of hoops and post there. X/Twitter is not great for it. I opened the Discord and we can see what is what.
Alternatively, you can post here in this open-thread.
The women beat HCU this afternoon, and now the men will take on Santa Clara
North Texas vs. Santa Clara
Kenpom has the efficiency in favor of Santa Clara (61st) over North Texas (84) but its early and these things can change. NT’s offense is plodding (125th) vs their defense (91st) but again, the same.
Look for North Texas to win the battle of offensive rebounds, but SC to score pretty well.
NT is still not a great three-point shooting team and never will be under the current staff, while SC does a decent job. Gavalyugov is a 6’3” ball-handler and took 14 shots last game (made 4). Je’Shawn Stevenson is also 6’3” and took 22 (made 12).
Santa Clara are more balanced, while NT is all about letting Stevenson cook and playing off his strength.
Santa Clara is a -1.5 favorite last I checked.
It should be a good one.
Should UNT defeat Santa Clara, it will be the first win over a California program since 2022 (Fresno State).
Wednesday's meeting with Santa Clara (3-0) marks the first time the Broncos and Mean Green will play on UNT's home court through five previous matchups.
my number. anything beyond that feels weird.
Extending this metaphor, football is like going to a mega church. Both can be religious experiences.