What’s the side effect to having success as a mid-major? Your coaches get poached by the bigger names. North Texas basketball transitions to Daniyal Robinson, looking to continue their winning ways.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: North Texas basketball.
The Mean Green program has become the class of this new version of the American Conference. Grant McCasland built it into what it is, and Ross Hodge quickly brought them back to relevancy in his second year. Now comes Daniyal Robinson from Cleveland State, another up-and-comer, who may be looking to follow the same route — using UNT as a stepping stone to a power conference job.
2025-26 might be a foundational year for the ensuing seasons. As is typical for an incoming head coach in this era, Robinson was tasked with recruiting an entirely new roster, and his transfer class looks good, not great. North Texas may struggle early, but especially in an AAC that finished outside the top 10 in Torvik’s conference hierarchy last season, expect them to rack up victories as the season progresses.
Head coach:Â Daniyal Robinson (1st season at North Texas, 4th season overall)
2024-25 record:Â 27-9 (14-4)
2025 postseason finish:Â Lost in the first round of NIT
Notable departures:Â
- Atin Wright (15.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 APG)
- Brenen Lorient (11.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.4 APG)
- Jasper Floyd (9.0 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.0 RPG)
- Moulaye Sissoko (7.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 0.6 APG)
Notable non-conference games:Â
- at TCU (Dec. 7)
Projected Rotation
PG: Will McClendon (6-2, 210, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.8 APG (San Jose State)
SG: Je’Shawn Stevenson (6-2, 200, So.)
2024-25 stats: 9.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.4 SPG (Cleveland State)
SF: David Terrell Jr. (6-4, 190, Jr.)
2024-25 stats:Â 8.3 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG (UTEP)
PF: Demarion Watson (6-9, 230, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 1.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.2 APG (Iowa State)
C: Dylan Arnett (6-9, 230, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 11.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.3 BPG, 61.6 FG% (Cleveland State)
6: Cahmai Crosby (6-3, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 15.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 42.1 3P% (JUCO – Kilgore)
7: Buddy Hammer Jr. (6-7, 210, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 13.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 58.3 FG% (JUCO – Connors State)
8: Reece Robinson (6-8, 223, So.)
2024-25 stats: 5.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.6 APG (Cleveland State)
9: Cole Franklin (6-4, 195, So.)
2024-25 stats: 4.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.7 APG (Cleveland State)
North Texas Basketball team MVP: Dylan Arnett
Of the four transfers that have followed Robinson from Cleveland State, Arnett is by far the most proven commodity. Whether we are looking at a starting lineup of two true bigs (as projected) or something even more guard-heavy, the 6-9, 230-pounder will be circled in opposing scouting reports in the front court.
Offensively, Arnett averaged 11.3 points and 7.1 rebounds in his junior season at Cleveland State, good for first-team all-Horizon League honors. He is highly efficient in the pick and roll, with impressive body control for a big man and a well-above-average finish. He could go to work in the post as well, but is not a great passer, so that is something defenses could scheme against.
Arnett was also a member of the league’s all-defensive team, swatting 1.3 blocks per game. From a physicality standpoint, he certainly held his own in early games against Kansas and Michigan State, leaving no doubt in my mind that he can adjust to AAC competition.
North Texas Basketball make-or-break player: Cahmai Crosby
One thing in particular that this projected starting lineup is missing is shooting. Will McLendon averaged an inefficient 12 points per game for a bad San Jose State team, Je’Shawn Stevenson is more of a slasher, and David Terrell averaged less than a single three-point attempt per game in his 32 starts. Meanwhile, Demarion Watson is unproven and Dylan Arnett is more of a traditional big.
If Cahmai Crosby can add that extra element of shot-making off the bench, it could go a long way towards the versatility of the North Texas offense. The JUCO transfer averaged 15.9 points last season, shooting 42.1% from beyond the arc. Crosby was a ball-dominant guard, creating for himself at all three levels, and distributing 3.5 assists per contest. If all goes well, Crosby can be one of the keys to another successful season for the Mean Green.
Key analytic: Adjusted tempo
North Texas has been known to have an extremely slow-paced attack, to the point where they’re often referred to as the ‘Virginia of the mid-majors.’ The Mean Green have finished below 350th in Torvik’s adjusted tempo metric each of the past four seasons. Under both McCasland and Hodge, this has been a program that is deliberate with each possession and is not afraid to be patient with the shot clock, hoping to wear their opponents down and win low-scoring games.
However, we may see that change slightly under new leadership. Do not expect North Texas to all of a sudden have a run-and-run offense, but Cleveland State ranked 269th, 178th, and 276th in tempo in Robinson’s three seasons there. This can be seen as a small step towards modernization, albeit having unique stylistic tendencies can still be a recipe for success at this level.
North Texas Basketball 2025-26 projections
Projected conference finish:Â 3rd in the American
Projected postseason ceiling:Â NIT Appearance