# OOC Game 12: North Texas (Santa Cruz) **URL:** \ **Category:** Game Preview/Recap\ **Created:** [December 16, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043 "2025-12-16T17:08:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/1 "2025-12-16T17:08:10Z")
_ **Tip-off:** _ Wednesday, 6pm in Santa Cruz, CA (neutral site) _ **TV:** _ [Baller.tv](https://www.ballertv.com/events/santa-clara-university-vs-university-of-north-texas) ($9.95 for single game access) _ **Line:** _ Torvik: Broncos -9.9, 84% win probability; ESPN: No line, Broncos 71% win probability _ **Torvik:** _ Broncos #41, Mean Green #152 (Broncos #31, UNT #184 over Last 10 Games) **Mean Green** Here’s the yin and yang of Santa Clara. The Broncos are solidly a top-60 team, already hovering around last year’s peak. They have no bad losses with all three losses well within Q1/Q2 territory. And yet, they are on a two-game losing streak having played 60 minutes of their worst basketball of the season over the last two matches. Enter a North Texas team desperate for redemption. UNT is a solid mid-major program out of the American. When this game was scheduled, it was reasonable to expect a Q2 opportunity for both squads, maybe even a Q1 game if either was firing on all cylinders. Instead, UNT has looked way down though they enter with the same record as Santa Clara. Here, the difference is winning close with almost every team, no matter how bad: by 2 points over Loyola-Chicago, by 3 points over Prairie View A&M, by 2 points over Houston Christian, by just 1 point over South Alabama, and an overtime tilt against Eastern Washington. UNT _should have_ beaten Oregon State in the choke of the season so far. Against top-100 competition, they played a decently tight game against TCU and got walloped by SMC. UNT plays down to competition. They are at least capable of playing up to competition as well. The Broncos need to get this one and right the ship. But expect the Mean Green to have some fight in them. Whatever the margins and the competition, this is still an 8-win team. **(Likely) Starters and Top Bench:** | Height + Position | Name | Torvik Adj. Efficiency | PPG | Other Stats | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 6-2 PG | Je’Shawn Stevenson | 2.6 | 16.5 | 1.4 stls; 37.2% shooting | | 6-4 Guard | Cole Franklin | -0.4 | 3.4 | 1.0 stls; 32.4% shooting | | 6-4 Guard | David Terrell, Jr. | 1.8 | 11.1 | 5.4 asts; 3.1 TOs | | 6-8 Forward | Reece Robinson | 1.2 | 7.1 | 4.4 rebs | | 6-9 Center | Dylan Arnett | 0.7 | 7.8 | 6.6 rebs; 1.1 stls; 28.6% FTs | | 6-9 Center | Josiah Shackleford | 0.2 | 6.8 | 37.5% FTs | | 6-7 Forward | Demarion Watson | -1.7 | 3.1 | 3.2 rebs; 1.1 stls; 20.8% from 3P | UNT basically has a bevvy of inefficient guards and bigs who do little on the glass and even less from the charity stripe. What do they do well? They steal the ball. Five different players average at least one steal per game. They play decent defense, keeping their MIA offense afloat to win squeakers against bad teams. You better believe that UNT will put all their chips on getting SCU to give up lazy passes, get trapped trying to iso from the corner, and firing low-percentage 3Ps en route to a multi-minute scoring drought. The Broncos, for their part, shouldn’t do those things. The Mean Green will not be able to outscore SCU without the Broncos stalling out their offense and offering UNT the ball. I expected to see a renewed Santa Clara last game and got that for exactly 20 minutes. Santa Clara should beat this UNT team by 10+ points. But that will take real focus, effort, and consistency that the Broncos have not managed in the last 3 games. **Prediction:** 86-68 Santa Clara. The Broncos come out firing, led by Hammond with 24. Bukky has a better game and manages 14 points of his own with 4 blocks. We get our first Gehrig Normand sighting along the way. ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/2 "2025-12-16T18:32:28Z")
What’s the over/under on the number of people who actually pay $9.95 to watch this game? I’m going with 17. ---
**Author:** ![TheWeave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@TheWeave](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/TheWeave)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 1:20am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/3 "2025-12-17T01:20:08Z")
I split the cost if you share your screen in a Zoom.😁 ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/4 "2025-12-17T03:38:38Z")
Even $5 is too much to spend. Giving myself a coronary yelling at the TV should be free. ---
**Author:** ![jcardoza77](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/jcardoza77/32/11_2.png) [@jcardoza77](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/jcardoza77)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 3:47am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/5 "2025-12-17T03:47:34Z")
You and me both, buckets. ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 1:54am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/6 "2025-12-18T01:54:43Z")
Looks like there’s a free radio call tonight for those who don’t want to figure out [Baller.tv](http://Baller.tv) > **[MBB: Santa Clara vs. North Texas](https://santaclarabroncos.com/watch/?Live=95&type=Live)** > > Video: MBB: Santa Clara vs. North Texas. Men's Basketball I’ll be watching and can report back on quality but won’t be home until the middle of the first half most likely. Good luck to our own, @TD_24 on the call! ---
**Author:** ![LucasLandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LucasLandon](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/LucasLandon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/7 "2025-12-18T02:03:28Z")
Gehrig is in uniform tonight ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/8 "2025-12-18T02:13:59Z")
The team hasn’t played defense in 135 minutes of game time. ---
**Author:** ![LucasLandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LucasLandon](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/LucasLandon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/9 "2025-12-18T02:47:48Z")
With 3:45 left in the first half SCU has more turnovers than FGs ---
**Author:** ![JM1996](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JM1996](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/JM1996)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/10 "2025-12-18T02:54:29Z")
St Mary is going to destroy this team. They cannot handle real defense. ---
**Author:** ![LucasLandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LucasLandon](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/LucasLandon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:01am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/11 "2025-12-18T03:01:20Z")
Hopefully Graves’ buzzer beater ignites the Broncos. Their bench is dead quiet in the 1st half. The Mean Green bench is up and making lots of noise, they’re fired up ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/12 "2025-12-18T03:03:57Z")
33 is exactly what I would have expected from this UNT team. 29 is not what I expected from this SCU team. I’m not sure you want to give Normand his first run when you’re already behind. But Sash is really not doing much these last couple of games. His game is too much of what he got away with against European 17 year olds and not a reliable skill set against better competition. Let Hammond and Cochran run more point to work Normand in at SG. ---
**Author:** ![LucasLandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LucasLandon](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/LucasLandon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/13 "2025-12-18T03:08:04Z")
Herb & Co need to do something cuz whatever this is ain’t working. Need a big 2nd half ---
**Author:** ![pistolpete89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@pistolpete89](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/pistolpete89)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/14 "2025-12-18T03:08:26Z")
I know most of this board is hard on Sash, and justifiably so at times. Yet, Knapper seems to get a free pass and he’s been the biggest disappointment this season. He needs to step up and elevate his game as a 5th yr senior. ---
**Author:** ![ogbronco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c37758/32.png) [@ogbronco](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/ogbronco)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:12am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/15 "2025-12-18T03:12:05Z")
Agreed, the PG play has been sub-par to date and is abysmal tonight. ---
**Author:** ![BroncoHoops5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BroncoHoops5](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/BroncoHoops5)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/16 "2025-12-18T04:00:34Z")
Close this out and I’ll actually be impressed given the level of play tonight. ---
**Author:** ![bronco25](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47774/32.png) [@bronco25](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/bronco25)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 4:16am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/17 "2025-12-18T04:16:47Z")
A horrible win. I’m sorry but that was just not good. I’m hoping Gehrig will be a much needed added energy in the coming days. ---
**Author:** ![BroncoBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@BroncoBob](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/BroncoBob)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 4:26am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/18 "2025-12-18T04:26:19Z")
Mahi is going to have to be our Point Forward. While not perfect, I trust his strength with the ball and decision making more than the other options. He can’t just be a wing option that scores 13pts a game. He needs to be “The Guy” and hopefully that opens things up for Hammond off the ball. His 4 assists tonight were much needed. Incomprehensible he only had one assist against New Mexico and Arizona State. ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 4:34am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/19 "2025-12-18T04:34:49Z")
Won ugly against a team that specializes in winning ugly. 21 TOs is really bad. I am no basketball expert, and I knew that UNT would play for steals and TOs… Poor Jake’s nigh-faultless assist/TO ratio took quite a hit tonight. Bukky ended the game with 2 fouls and no Bronco had 4 fouls. That’s worth something, at least. There are going to be ugly ones. At least they won tonight. Credit to BallerTV, though. That was actually a good production overall. And Thomas and Rocco Miller did a good job keeping it lively on both sides. ---
**Author:** ![BballFemme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@BballFemme](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/BballFemme)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043/20 "2025-12-18T04:53:35Z")
So happy they walked away with the WIN. But DEFINITELY concerned about the regular season beatdowns they’re gonna take if adjustments are not made. [Next page](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/ooc-game-12-north-texas-santa-cruz/1043.md?page=2)