MeanGreen61

Wooden performs well on the inside 10:38 AM CDT on Saturday, March 17, 2007 By Brett Vito/Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS — Of all the players in the North Texas lineup for its game against Memphis, Keith Wooden seemed among the least likely to be the Mean Green’s main offensive force. Wooden was averaging just 9.0 points a game and faced perhaps the toughest matchup among the Mean Green’s players against a towering Memphis frontline. UNT’s junior center overcame those long odds to help UNT take an early lead and stay within striking distance until the closing minutes of a 72-58 loss to the Tigers in the opening game of the South Regional of the NCAA Tournament at New Orleans Arena. UNT went to Wooden early against the Tigers and saw the junior respond with a team-high 16 points. Wooden and junior forward Quincy Williams provided UNT a spark offensively on an afternoon when its top scorers struggled. “One of the advantages that Memphis usually has is inside,” UNT head coach Johnny Jones said. “They have quality players who are physical and tough. Fortunately for us we have guys who also have good size and strength. Those guys were not intimidated, were aggressive, scored inside and defended well.” Wooden was especially effective early, scoring eight points to help UNT jump out to a 17-11 lead. Williams added six points during the Mean Green’s run and finished just short of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. “It was just the way the game unfolded,” Wooden said. “We were not going to be intimidated. We wanted to get the ball inside early.” Wooden’s play early forced Memphis coach John Calipari to adjust. Wooden and Williams scored six and two points, respectively, after the break, when Memphis focused more on stopping UNT’s frontline. UNT’s guards couldn’t pick up the slack. Seniors Calvin Watson and Kendrick Davis scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, but went a combined 7-of-18 from the field. “We didn’t know they were going to be that good in the post,” Calipari said. “All of the sudden I said, ‘Oh, my gosh, those guys can catch and score on us.’” The performance of Wooden and Williams could bode well for UNT’s future. Both will be seniors next season. “We plan on being back in the tournament next year,” Wooden said. “We are going to go back hard and begin preparing hard for next season.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com. Print E-mail this article Forums

WESTERN KENTUCKY THREAD http://www.hilltopperhaven.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=11625

Collin Dennis # 3 Guard - G Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Junior Previous Affiliations South Florida North Richland Hills, TX Courtesy: University of North Texas Release: 09/27/2006 NORTH TEXAS Dennis will have to sit out the 2006-07 season due to NCAA transferring rules, but will have two years of eligibility remainging with the Mean Green. South Florida As a freshman at South Florida, Dennis scored a season-high 25 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field against UAB ... He also scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting against UTA ... He added double-figure scoring games against Southern Miss, Tulane and Stetson as well ... Dennis made his first career start against Michigan and also proved he was a clutch player, hitting 6-of-6 free throws against Eastern Carolina in the final 1:37 ... Dennis followed his impressive freshman season up by starting seven games as a sophomore while competing in 16 outings, where he averaged 4.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game ... Dennis scored a season-high 11 points against Rutgers, posted 10 points at Cincinnati and scored eight points against Connecticut. Richland High School The four-year letterman at Richland High School was the team captain his junior and senior seasons ... In addition to his 23 points per game, Dennis also averaged five rebounds and four assists per game his senior campaign, earning him second team all-state honors ... He averaged 24 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game as a junior after averaging 15 points and three rebounds as a sophomore ... Dennis played at the Nike All-America Camp in the summer of 2003 and was also impressive at a summer camp in Las Vegas. PERSONAL Son of Carol Dennis ... Born January 31, 1986 in Miami.

Expecting a significant movement of people from south of El Paso due to the Lubbock area employment needs.

You may find that these NAIA games were necessary to fill out our HOME game schedule.

Flying high despite loss 09:39 AM CDT on Saturday, March 17, 2007 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS — University of North Texas officials have spoken all week about what a huge boost the school has received thanks to its men’s basketball team qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. For a few fleeting moments Friday, the Mean Green appeared as if it might put the school in an even bigger spotlight. UNT hung close with the heavily favored University of Memphis in a first-round game at New Orleans Arena before the Tigers pulled away late in the second half for a 73-58 win. The loss ended a memorable season for the Mean Green and its fans, more than a hundred of whom traveled to New Orleans to see the team play in its first NCAA Tournament game since 1988. “I am extremely proud of the team,” UNT fan Emmitt Jackson said. “No one gave North Texas a chance in this game and we didn’t lose it until the end.” UNT trailed by just six points late in the second half when Memphis went on a run and appeared to put away the Mean Green by grabbing a 59-42 lead with just over seven minutes left. UNT made one last surge and cut its deficit to nine points twice, the last time on a Ben Bell layup with 4:11 remaining. The Mean Green couldn’t complete the rally, ending the season of arguably the best team in UNT basketball history. UNT finished with a school-record 23 wins behind a veteran roster that reached several individual milestones. Senior guard Calvin Watson finished his career as the Mean Green’s all-time leader in three-point shots made in both a season (90) and a career (208) while head coach Johnny Jones jumped to third in UNT history with 86 wins. UNT senior guard Kendrick Davis said he believed the Mean Green would keep its season going with an upset win over Memphis, but will look back fondly on playing on a team that will leave a lasting legacy. “God blessed me and my team to reach this point,” Davis said. “Not a lot of people can say they played in the NCAA Tournament.” UNT qualified for the tournament with an unexpected run late in the season. The Mean Green had lost three of five heading into its regular season finale at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The Mean Green won that game on a last-second three-point shot from Davis and went on to sweep four games in the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The run changed life dramatically for the Mean Green. UNT, which played in front of just 409 fans in the finals of the Sun Belt tournament, suddenly became the hot story in the Dallas area. The Mean Green was featured on national news broadcasts and in newspapers across the state. UNT headed into its game against Memphis hoping to add another chapter to its memorable tale, but came up short against a national power. The loss ended a season the Mean Green’s players as well as their coaches and fans said they enjoyed. “Overall, I am proud of our basketball team,” Jones said. “We played hard.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com. Print E-mail this article Forums

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Pressure doesn't faze Mean Green guards 08:54 AM CDT on Friday, March 16, 2007 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS — If North Texas was nervous on the eve of its biggest game since the Reagan administration, it certainly didn’t show on Thursday during the Mean Green’s media session prior to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Senior guards Calvin Watson and Kendrick Davis debated who is the better shooter, joked with the media and declared that they didn’t feel the least bit edgy heading into a game against Memphis today. The Tigers are the No. 2 seed in the region and are expected to have little trouble with the 15th-seeded Mean Green, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988. Watson certainly didn’t seem nervous when he was asked about being intimidated by Memphis, the atmosphere and the extra media attention. “We just have to play,” Watson said. “I like the media [attention]. I like to talk to the media. I like the camera. We won’t get intimidated, but we know what is at stake. We are 21 years old, we have to enjoy the moment and embrace it.” That was just what Davis and Watson did at the press conference for UNT’s players. The two old high school rivals from Houston debated just how the one game they played against each other in high school unfolded. Watson contends he drove past Davis with a crossover dribbled and dunked over one of his future teammate’s friends. Davis countered by saying his team won the game. Watson ended the media session by grabbing the microphone and posing questions to his teammates, including asking junior forward Quincy Williams about the development of his hook shot. Memphis head coach John Calipari didn’t see the exchange between Watson and his teammates, but could sense that the Mean Green was not intimidated by the atmosphere at the NCAA Tournament or his team. “I watched them walk out of the building,” Calipari said. “They have as much of a swagger as we have. They are going into this game with the mentality that they are beating Memphis.” Calipari: Watson could be best Memphis has faced Memphis head coach John Calipari didn’t hesitate to pay Calvin Watson a big compliment when asked about the UNT senior guard on Thursday. “Watson is as good a player as we have played,” Calipari said. Calipari compared Watson to Rice senior guard Morris Almond, who led Conference USA in scoring with an average of 26.4 points a game, and said UNT’s senior guard is by far more athletic. Watson is averaging 15.8 points a game to lead the Mean Green. Jones: Second chance sparked UNT’s run UNT head coach Johnny Jones on Thursday attributed his team’s run to the Sun Belt Conference tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament largely to the disappointment of missing out on the regular season title. The Sun Belt Conference’s coaches picked UNT to finish in a tie for second place in the league’s West Division with New Orleans. The Mean Green was in the race for the title up until the end of the season, but finished third, a game back of both Arkansas State and Louisiana-Monroe. Close losses to ULM, UNO and South Alabama came back to cost the Mean Green at the end of the regular season. “When we got to the conference tournament, there was still another championship out there,” Jones said. “The guys knew they had one more chance and they did an excellent job of putting it all together. We always talked about raising another flag in our arena, wearing championship rings and being a part of something they can talk about for the rest of their lives. We are very fortunate they were able to put it together and make something special happen.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .

Mean Green supports both old and new 8:52 AM CDT on Friday, March 16, 2007 By Monty Miller Jr. / Staff Writer Mean Green this morning, the wearing of the green on Saturday. University of North Texas fans may have to wear the same clothes two days in a row, as droves of them decked out in green fill local venues to watch their team play in the NCAA Tournament today, the day before St. Patrick’s Day. The UNT men’s basketball team plays the University of Memphis in Round 1 of the tournament at 11:30 a.m. in New Orleans. The game will be broadcast on KTVT-TV (Channel 11). Some of the team’s most fervent fans couldn’t make it to New Orleans, but that won’t stop them from donning Mean Green gear and flaunting their team spirit throughout Lake Forest Good Samaritan Village before sliding into easy chairs to watch the home team. “I’ve caught the fever,” said one of the newest UNT fans, Caroline Jenkins, who attends the games with her husband, Paul. “It’s so much fun.” This rowdy bunch of senior citizens can be seen at UNT home games, waiving pompoms, wearing green and yelling and whistling for the Mean Green. They also make signs for the team. Their favorite sign reads “Drop it on ’em, Eagles!” ON TV The UNT men’s basketball team will play the University of Memphis in Round 1 of the NCAA Tour­na­ment at 11:30 a.m. today. The game will be aired on CBS (KTVT, Channel 11). The trips started two years ago when UNT assistant coach Fred Rike donated season tickets to some of the center’s residents. Coaches donated tickets again this year. In fact, assistant coach Charlie Leonard paid for the seniors’ tickets out of his own pocket for the playoff game against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on Feb. 28. “The coaches have been just great,” said Judy Wiley, a retired teacher and the outspoken leader of the Senior Eagles. “We cheer and have a lot of fun.” It didn’t take long for the original group of seven or eight to grow into a following of more than 20 UNT fans who wear green wigs and hats, make signs and deck themselves out in UNT gear for home games. “I love going to the games,” said 95-year-old fan Juanita Brannon, who was wearing a green hat and waving a green and white pompom. Another 95-year-old, Grace Dulgensky, also attends the games. On game days, the group meets in the main hall at the Good Samaritan Village in full regalia and takes a bus to the game. “I still don’t know the rules very well, but I get mad when I miss a game,” said Linda Mendonsa, the seniors’ activity director. Also in the group of Senior Eagles are a couple of UNT graduates from the 1940s and 1950s, including Art Wiley, who began his career at the university in 1944, before being sent to fight in World War II and then to the Korean conflict. After his military service, he went back to UNT and graduated in 1953 before going to medical school. The Senior Eagles plan to watch the game from the fourth floor of the Good Samaritan Village, where they have a big-screen television and, of course, some comfortable easy chairs. Other UNT fans plan to watch the games at their own age-appropriate venues — local bars and restaurants such as Riprocks, Cool Beans, Lucky Lou’s and The Loophole. MONTY MILLER JR. can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is mwmiller@dentonrc.com . PLACES TO WATCH University of North Texas fans are gathering at restaurants and bars in the area to watch the Mean Green in Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament. Here’s a list of some popular places to watch the game in Denton. Cool Beans, 1210 W. Hickory St. Fry Street Tavern, 121 Ave. A Hooligans, 104 N. Locust St. The Loophole, 119 W. Hickory St. Lucky Lou’s, 1207 W. Hickory St. Movie Tavern, 916 W. University Drive Riprocks, 1211 W. Hickory St. A POEM FOR THE OCCASION This poem was written by Alta Schupp, a resident of Lake Forest Good Samaritan Village, in honor of the University of North Texas men’s basketball team. Good Samaritans Love UNT We live in a retirement complex, and we’ve been around awhile, You fellows have class, and we like your style! So congratulations, from your Lake Forest fans. Two seasons now, we’ve cheered from the stands. You gave us comp tickets, that’s true, For that we all send our thanks to you. At Wendy’s we got free hamburgers a time or two, Because you guys put seven three pointers through. Don’t think that’s the only thing we like to see. Enjoy your hustle, free throws, being sharp as can be. At first you were just five guys, throwing at a bucket, Then you seemed to realize, that just wouldn’t cut it. ‘Course Coach Johnny, might have said a thing or two, Anyway something sure got through to all of you. Now you don’t care who puts the ball in, ‘Cause you’re a real TEAM, fighting to win! Each of you are living a lifelong dream, As you represent UNT and the Mean Green. We wish you luck, wish we could be there, But we’ll watch on TV, from our easy chair.

Veteran fans relish UNT's chance They've waited in good times and the bad for today's game 08:43 AM CDT on Friday, March 16, 2007 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Roy Grisham missed out on an opportunity to watch the University of North Texas men’s basketball team play in the NCAA Tournament nearly 20 years ago. He wasn’t about to let another chance slip away. Grisham dropped everything on his schedule after the Mean Green beat Ar­kan­sas State University in the finals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament nearly two weeks ago so he could make the trip to New Orleans. UNT takes on the University of Memphis in the first round at 11:30 a.m. today. The game will mark UNT’s first appearance in the tournament since it lost to the University of North Carolina in 1988 — the only other time the Mean Green has qualified for the tournament. “I had to work when we made it last time,” Grisham said during a pep rally for the Mean Green at the Astor Crowne Plaza hotel. “I taped it. I am so glad I got to come this time. It will be the first of many under coach [Johnny] Jones.” Grisham was one of several longtime UNT season ticket holders who made the trip to New Orleans for a milestone event in the history of the program. Several fans said they saw UNT’s performance this season as a sign of long-term prosperity to come. UNT finished with just 20 wins in four seasons combined in the four seasons before Jones took over the program prior to the 2001-02 season. UNT has exceeded that total this year alone while posting a 23-10 record and setting a school record for wins in a season. “It’s really exciting,” said George Derr, a 1961 UNT graduate who has been a season ticket holder since Bill Blakeley was the Mean Green’s head coach for eight seasons beginning in the 1975-76 campaign. “We waited so long for a winning team and are invested in the program emotionally.” UNT senior guards Kendrick Davis and Calvin Watson both thanked the several dozen fans who attended the team’s pep rally and asked for their support today, when the Mean Green will face one of its biggest challenges of the last several seasons. Memphis is ranked fifth nationally, is the second seed in the South Region and is heavily favored to beat the Mean Green, which is a No. 15 seed. Since the NCAA Tournament expanded its field to 64 teams in 1985, only four of the 88 No. 15 seeds have won their first-round game. Jones told the crowd that he has been pleased with the way UNT has performed in practice leading up to today’s game and is confident the Mean Green will play well in arguably its biggest game since it last made the tournament. Several UNT fans said they were anxiously awaiting their opportunity to see the Mean Green end its NCAA Tournament drought. “I am just so excited for them,” said Lou Ann Bradley, who has been attending games since 1988. “This is such a good group of kids. I can’t tell you how excited I am for us, for them, for everybody.” Athletic director Rick Villarreal has gotten to know several of the Mean Green basketball team’s loyal fans during his time at UNT and was particularly glad to see them have the opportunity to share in the Mean Green’s success after supporting the team through the lean years. “For these dyed-in-the-wool fans who have been there for years, it’s been especially sweet,” Villarreal said. “We hope what we accomplished this year encourages more people to come out.” UNT has already begun to see the impact of the Mean Green’s accomplishments both inside and outside the athletic department. UNT guard Rich Young was featured on the CBS Evening News because of his background as a Marine, and several other television, radio stations and newspapers have featured the Mean Green. “It’s priceless,” said Marcilla Collinsworth, UNT’s director of admissions and a longtime Mean Green fan. “I hate to use that word, but it is priceless. You couldn’t buy the type of publicity we have received.” Several UNT fans who stuck with the program through its down years were just as enthusiastic about the experience they will have today when the Mean Green plays in the NCAA Tournament. Derr was among those fans “One of the reasons I came to this one,” Derr said, “is so that I wouldn’t miss out again.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .

Despite adversity, NT basketball team defies odds Miguel Artiga and Abel Prado Issue date: 3/14/07 Section: NEWS For the first time in 19 years, NT students and alumni will gather to watch the men's basketball team battle for a national championship. In the past four years, play has been dismal, winning only 20 conference games in the four years prior to this season. The numbers show that the 2006- 07 basketball season has been a vast improvement. "I think if something should happen to me and I can't be here tomorrow, people should know that we basically built a program from scratch," said Athletics Director Rick Villarreal. "And now we're at the point where we won 23 games and set an all-time school record." A recent graph published in the March 5 issue of "Sports Illustrated" showed that NT was the second poorest team in the nation, but officials in the athletics department claim that there is more behind the numbers. Out of the 300 Division 1 college basketball programs in the nation, NT had the second lowest revenue. The total cost of expenses for the NT basketball team is $1,029,462 while revenue is only $184,057, creating a profit loss of approximately $850,000. "They basically subtracted the operating expenses by the amount of revenue we receive," said Eric Capper, associate athletics director. "But the report that they obtained from the university doesn't include money generated by donations, media contracts and other sources of income." Low attendance records for the Mean Green illustrate that 21,506 fans and alumni attended home games this season, which represents an average of 2,390 fans in an arena where the average capacity is 10,500, said Stephen Howard, assistant sports information director. Officials in the athletics department said the Sun Belt title and the bid to the NCAA tournament should cure the woes. "We know that fan support is a work in progress, but we have to win games," Villarreal said. "Fans and students want to watch winning basketball, and more than that, they want to watch exciting basketball. Though the Mean Green lost three home games this season, the largest margin of defeat was a mere four points, setting a school record for least points surrendered to away teams. Despite suffering the windfalls of being the program with the second lowest revenue, the Mean Green has beaten the odds and earned a bid to March Madness. Eventually, financial compensation will come to NT depending on how many wins it garners in the tournament. Villarreal said the compensation system is set up in units. The first unit is calculated by how many teams from each conference make the tournament (the more teams that earn a bid, the higher the compensation) and how many rounds deep they go.

The Islanders were regular season as well as Southland tournament champs.

UNT aims to focus on game 08:51 AM CDT on Thursday, March 15, 2007 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Ever since it knocked off Arkansas State in the finals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament, life has been dramatically different for North Texas. Senior guard Rich Young has been featured on national television because of his background in the marines. Head coach Johnny Jones has fielded interview request after interview request, and star guard Calvin Watson has become a local celebrity. UNT has not received this much attention for its men’s basketball program in years. So far, UNT is handling the situation well, Jones said Wednesday. “The guys have remained focused and practices have been good,” Jones said. “Our guys are still hungry.” UNT will play its first game in the NCAA Tourna­ment since 1988 on Friday when it takes on Memphis in New Orleans. UNT left for the game to the cheers of a few dozen fans who attended a sendoff party at the Super Pit on Wednesday. The Mean Green arrived in New Orleans late Wednesday night and will attend a media session today. “We have embraced all the attention we have received, but coach has done a good job of keeping us focused on the game,” Watson said. “We are not going to get sucked in by the attention.” UNT’s players know they have an opportunity to promote the Mean Green’s basketball program, the athletic department and the university during the NCAA Tournament. An upset win over Memphis, or even just a good showing would land the Mean Green more attention. “The attention we have gotten is nice, but we know we still have a job to do,” junior guard Michael Sturns said. Jones has kept UNT on the same schedule as much as possible since it won the Sun Belt tournament, and has remained focused on what will be a big challenge. Memphis is ranked fifth nationally and has the nation’s longest winning streak at 22 games. “Our preparation for the game has been the same,” Jones said. “We know how we need to prepare. Now we just have to go down there and compete.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .

Fans send UNT off to NCAA tournament 08:49 AM CDT on Thursday, March 15, 2007 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Lynn Carrino was there for the hard times North Texas experienced at the Super Pit this season. There was no way she was going to miss the good times, especially not the sendoff party the UNT athletic department held for the Mean Green on Wednesday as it headed out for its game against Memphis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. UNT will take on the Tigers at 11:30 a.m. Friday in New Orleans in a first-round game in the South Region. “We have been to every home game,” said Carrino, a freshman from Houston who came to the event with a group of fellow fans. “We are proud of the guys and feel a connection to them. I think they feel the same way about the fans.” Carrino was among several dozen who cheered as the Mean Green’s coaches and players paraded out of the Super Pit’s north tunnel with the UNT fight song playing over loudspeakers. UNT head coach Johnny Jones and several players said they appreciated the show of support from fans who stopped by in the middle of the day to cheer the Mean Green on its way out of town. “The sendoff you gave the players today is something they will remember for the rest of their lives,” Jones told the crowd. “You supported these guys the whole year. That is why they play so hard for you.” A few of those fans plan to make the trip to New Orleans to see the Mean Green try to pull off a monumental upset against the Tigers. UNT is the No. 15 seed in the South Region, while Memphis is the No. 2 seed. Only four times has a team seeded 15th won its first-round game in the tournament since the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Those long odds are not going to be enough to convince several UNT students from making the trip. Casey Cosey, a junior from Dallas and a member of the Pit Crew, a UNT spirit organization, held up a sign during the pep rally that read “See Ya’ in New Orleans.” “We are going to go down to the game,” Cosey said. “We have been supporting the team the whole season.” Cosey was about to say that going to the game would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but was quickly corrected by her friends that it was an opportunity that hadn’t come around in almost 20 years. Cosey and her friends said they hope UNT is a regular in the tournament in the future. The Mean Green went to the tournament in 1988, when UNT lost to North Carolina in the first round. UNT graduates Ed Lane and Brenda Ritz couldn’t make the trip to New Orleans, but Ritz had an alternate plan in place. “I asked for a vacation day so I could watch the game,” Ritz said. “We have season tickets and go to all the games. This is what we have been hoping for.” The Mean Green endured some rough years waiting for the team to break through for a tournament bid, including a four-year span before Jones arrived that saw UNT win 20 total games. Seeing the Mean Green get into the NCAA Tournament was especially rewarding for UNT fans who were around through the lean years. “I went to school here and this does not happen very often,” Lane said. “Hopefully it will happen more often now.” UNT senior guard Calvin Watson joined the Mean Green four years ago, when an NCAA Tournament bid seemed like a goal that was out of reach. Watson helped UNT get over the hump by scoring 24 points in the Mean Green’s win over Arkansas State in the finals of the Sun Belt tournament and was named the event’s Most Outstanding Player. Watson and the Mean Green have enjoyed the wave of support provided by the UNT and Denton communities ever since. “It has been a fun few weeks,” Watson said. “We are going to enjoy it.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .

UNT's second chance stars 07:25 AM CDT on Thursday, March 15, 2007 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Keith Wooden seemed destined for college basketball stardom when he was a senior in high school. Wooden was an all-state selection in Kansas, one of the top 100 college basketball recruits in the country and a player coveted by national powers such as the University of Kansas, Indiana University and Arizona State University. The road to fulfilling that potential was a little longer than expected for Wooden, who only recently began to blossom this season at the University of North Texas, thanks to a second chance he received from head coach Johnny Jones. Jones has taken on multiple players who needed a new start of some sort during his tenure at UNT and has succeeded with several who have helped lead the Mean Green to the NCAA Tournament. UNT left for its first-round game against the University of Memphis in the South Regional after a pep rally Wednesday at the Super Pit. “I have grown up a lot under coach Jones,” Wooden said. “He has let me make mistakes, but he is always there to pick me up when I make a mistake and show me the right way to do things. I know that I am a better person now because of it.” There is little doubt UNT is a better team because of the second opportunities Jones has given not only to Wooden, but to several other players who are key members of the Mean Green. Junior guard Michael Sturns was dismissed from the team for failing to conform to team standards in the middle of last season, then came back prior to the beginning of this season when Jones gave him another opportunity. Kendrick Davis, the Mean Green’s second-leading scorer with an average of 13.2 points a game, is a transfer from Arkansas who started over at UNT. Rich Young, a former Marine, was in his mid-20s when he joined the Mean Green and wasn’t a typical college basketball recruit when he arrived at UNT. Each of those players has found a role at UNT, which took on each player despite the fact they posed an element of risk. “I have been blessed with a gift to not try to treat everyone the same and understand that all of my guys are going to be different and be able to communicate with them,” Jones said. “The communication part of it is huge.” Jones has had a few busts along the way with second-chance players, including Roderick Flemings. The former DeSoto standout started out at Oklahoma State before transferring to UNT, where he stayed for less than a year before leaving for a junior college. Those misses have been exceptions for UNT, which has succeeded with most of its second-chance players, including Wooden. The junior is averaging 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds a game as a starter for UNT, a dramatic change from the two years he spent at Arizona State, where he struggled and eventually became academically ineligible. “Coach Jones talks to you like a man and treats you like a man,” Wooden said. “He wants you to grow up as a person on and off the court.” Jones credited UNT’s support staff for keeping the players who have academic issues on track. “Guys succeed here that didn’t elsewhere because of what Johnny demands,” UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said. “It’s not just about basketball, it’s about taking care of every part of their lives. His principals and expectations for his players and the team make the difference.” That approach has helped more than a few UNT players take on key roles after getting a second chance with the Mean Green. Sturns has settled into a role as backup point guard and averages 12.4 points a game, the highest total for a non-starter in the Sun Belt Conference this season. “I always had a close relationship with coach Jones, despite what happened,” Sturns said. “After last year, I felt it was time to move on and so did he. … I hope everyone can see the changes I have made as a person and how I have matured since then.” Davis spent two seasons at Arkansas before transferring to UNT after his role with the Razorbacks diminished after his freshman year. He has been the Mean Green’s starting shooting guard since he became eligible at UNT last season. He ranks second on the team with an average of 13.2 points a game. “Coach Jones doesn’t give up on people,” UNT assistant coach Charlie Leonard said. “He genuinely believes that everyone has something to offer, and it is our job to give kids a chance. Sometimes I haven’t agreed with him, but he has a hard time giving up on people, which is why people don’t give up on him.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .

Game preview from CUSAFans.com http://www.cusa-fans.com/articles/cusa-bas...ney_031507.html

A picture is worth a thousand words

The 185 is his base salary and doesn't include incentives, other income.

TRIVIA: Cost per Win (2005-06 Season) $73,533 (14 wins) NORTH TEXAS http://www.midmajority.com/schools/NTEX SUN BELT http://www.midmajority.com/info/schools-ho...udget&c=SBC ALL DIVISION 1 SCHOOLS http://www.midmajority.com/info/schools-hoopsbudget

Here's how we stand. This site has 'em all......... top to bottom. Scroll down to #92. http://www.dopke.com/Archives_Pages/Coachi...CoachesComp.htm

No. 2 Memphis Tigers – Conference USA (30-3) vs. No. 15 North Texas Mean Green – Sun Belt (23-10) Why Memphis will win: Transition points. Memphis feasts off turnovers turning them into fast break points, and North Texas is all too happy to give up the ball. The Mean Green doesn't have the three point shooting touch to get back in the game once Memphis goes on a run. Why North Texas will win: With good size inside and excellent all-around athleticism, UNT will be more than happy to run and gun with the high-octane Tigers. MU hasn't been tested in months by a good team and could wilt under the pressure of being a number two seed if the Mean Green gets hot. What will happen: If you like horrendous free throw shooting, you've got it. Neither team can hit from the stripe, and fortunately for Memphis, it won't have to come up with any big late shots. Prediction: Memphis 86 ... North Texas 67

Don't beleive that JJ will run up the score !