UNTLifer

The quote above is my problem. Glad you've been following NT for so long. I went to my first game as a 2 year old and have been going ever since. I'm 39 now, an alum and the son of an NT professor that bought season tickets to football and basketball games. I need to get a life? Don't contradict yourself from one post to another. I know you are welcome to your opinion, as I am mine, but to state in your last post that you are for everything NT and then decide to skip the bowl game when you could go is wrong. It appears that you are going to see the opposition and not our team. That, I have a problem with.

Thank you for pointing out that I mean't that those fans that "COULD" go and decide not to, because of some ill conceived protest against the athletic department.

Just stating the fact that years ago teams were tied to bowls through their conference, if they won their conference title. Not comparing the New Orleans Bowl to the Orange or Cotton on a prestige scale.

#1 would be the lack of support from our fans, and by your decision to now not attend the New Orleans Bowl, you are part of the problem. Nice attitude. You think OU got tired of going to the Orange Bowl every year they were part of the Big 8? What about Nebraska? What about Texas and the Cotton Bowl when they were part of the SWC? How about USC, UCLA, Ohio State or Michigan with the Rose Bowl? 5 years ago we had absolutely nothing to play for in the post season, and now you complaining about a bowl game that has given us national publicity going on 4 years in a row?

Watson knocks down 16 to lead UNT past Seahawks 12:42 AM CST on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer The North Texas men's basketball team completed one of the toughest stretches in its schedule with an impressive performance against a traditional power Tuesday night. Sophomore guard Calvin Watson paced three UNT players who scored in double figures with 16 points and led the Mean Green to a 76-69 win over UNC Wilmington at The Super Pit. The Seahawks (1-1) have been to the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons. "I was very excited about this win," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "It's a huge win for our basketball program. We beat a quality opponent that has done tremendously well." The game marked the end of a stretch in which the Mean Green (2-1) played three games in five days to open the season. UNT won its home opener against Angelo State before falling to Alabama, the 18th-ranked team in nation, on Sunday. Jones said he was concerned about how his team would respond to playing just two days after falling the Crimson Tide on the road. UNT answered the challenge by jumping out to an early lead and controlling the contest for the majority of the night. "Coach Jones told us that this team gets to the NCAA Tournament every year and is a good defensive team," UNT senior guard Leonard Hopkins said. "He said that they are a good team, but we could beat them if we ran all through all of our offensive sets." UNT followed that plan in what Jones described as a solid offensive performance against the Seahawks, who allowed just 57 points in win over Marshall in their season opener. UNT shot 47 percent from the field and had nine players score in the game. The Mean Green got off to a good start in the first half and grabbed a 38-30 lead at intermission. UNT's performance in the first half was a dramatic change from its outing against Alabama when the Mean Green struggled in the first half. "We ran our offensive sets all the way through and got open looks at the basket," Hopkins said. "We talked about the way we shot the ball against Alabama. We wanted to play like we did in the second half of that game and put two halves together. Watson hit three 3-point shots late in the first half after the Seahawks had cut what was a nine-point deficit to 21-19 on a T.J. Carter free throw. Freshman forward Quincy Williams capped UNT's surge at the end of the first half by hitting a 3-pointer on the Mean Green's last possession before intermission. Williams did not attempt a shot from beyond the arc in UNT's first two games. Williams had his first opportunity when he caught the ball just beyond the top of the arc with one second left on the shot clock. "I was surprised to see him pull the trigger," Jones said. UNT's hot shooting touch carried over when junior point guard Isaac Hines and Hopkins hit back-to-back 3-point shots to open the second half to give the Mean Green a 44-30 lead. "It was real big for us to come out early in the second half and hit those 3-pointers," Hines said. UNT maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the night and coasted its second consecutive win at home to start the season. The streak is one UNT will look to build on Saturday when it returns to The Super Pit to take on Lamar. "Throughout the last few yeas we have been successful at home," Hopkins said. "We want to carry that over to the weekend." UNC Wilmington draws crowd UNC Wilmington had a large contingent of fans in the crowd for its game against North Texas. The group came out to support a pair of players who played at Texas high schools. Senior center Aaron Coombs played at Fort Bend Sugarland, while junior forward Mitch Laue was just miles from his home school, Dallas Bishop Lynch. Lau received one of the biggest ovations in pregame warm-ups. He finished with a career-high 18 points. Jones' streak ends UNT senior Michael Jones saw his streak of games in which he set new career highs in scoring come to an end at two in the Mean Green's game against UNC Wilmington. The forward scored 16 points in UNT's season-opening win over Angelo State and then tallied 18 in a loss to Alabama. While Jones saw his streak come to an end he did post another solid performance against UNC Wilmington, scoring eight points and pulling down nine rebounds.

Falcons back that saw a knee injury against the Cowboys ruin a promising career. Doug Denison

Nothing like "liquid" enhanced thoughts/questions.

The area is very safe. Many people park over there and walk, so get there somewhat early. It is right by the UD campus. I've done it for years and never had any problem, plus it's easy in and out.

Exit Carl Rd. off of 183 and head north. You will deadend in to Northgate. Turn right on Northgate and park for free along the curb. You just have to walk up and over the overpass and enter the stadium on the western side. It's free and about as long a walk as the $12.00 lots.

Sometimes, you guys are just too easy.

Sorry, just practicing for later.

Also, when is construction scheduled to begin on the stadium?

Snyder's not retiring Spurrier to South Carolina. Zook to South Carolina as their defensive coordinator and lead recruiter. Meyer to Florida. Florida's pres. came from Utah and hired Meyer there. DD in Denton for another 5 years.

"Junior" Michael Sturns????

Nah, those shorts are too long.

Agree with untbowler about renaming the league the TBA. I work at a facility that hosts many of the visiting teams practices when they are in town, and I have observed numerous times a setting where the coach has absolutely no control over what and how his players act. Iverson strolled through the lobby of our facility dropping f bombs while there are children, women and elderly people standing there. I am sick of the majority of the players in this league having absolutely no class. I said majority, not all. The Mavs, as a whole, are good examples, as are the Spurs and a few others, but some of these stars, Artest, Iverson, Bryant, need to be gone.

Men's basketball: Healthy UNT set to open season Hopkins, Watson at 100 percent, ready for ASU 08:47 AM CST on Friday, November 19, 2004 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Leonard Hopkins can’t help but feel excited about the way the North Texas men’s basketball team’s season shapes up this year. The senior guard is healthy heading into the season, just like the rest of his teammates. He is surrounded by what might be the deepest cast of players UNT has had in years every day in practice. Johnny Jones And then there is the Mean Green’s schedule that includes 15 regular season home games and a chance to host the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the end of the regular season with a bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. "We have a lot going for us," Hopkins said. "We have more games at home than we have had in a long time, have the conference tournament here and we finished as high as we ever have in the Sun Belt last year. We have a lot of things going for us. If we execute the way I know we can, everything will go our way." UNT will begin pursing the Sun Belt’s regular season title today when the Mean Green take on Angelo State in a 7 p.m. game at The Super Pit. UNT will return several key players, including a pair of starters in Hopkins and sophomore guard Calvin Watson, from a team that finished third in the Sun Belt’s West Division. The finish was UNT’s best in its four-year stay in the Sun Belt. Hopkins injured his foot two years ago and missed all but the first nine games of the 2002-03 season. The former Dallas Lincoln standout worked his way back into shape last season and ended up earning second team All-Sun Belt Conference honors after averaging 14.0 points a game. Watson followed a similar path. The shooting guard missed the first 11 games of the year with a broken foot before coming back to average 8.3 points a game. The pair might have showed a sign of what is to come this season when Hopkins scored a career high 27 points and Watson added 17 in a double overtime loss to New Orleans in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. Both players will have a chance to pick up where they left off without battling injuries. UNT coach Johnny Jones said he expects to have all of his players at his disposal to open the season for the first time in his four-year tenure with the Mean Green. Watson said starting off healthy could make a difference for both him and Hopkins, who are key members of a group of guards and forwards who can get out and run in the open floor. "We have had some talented guys on our other teams," Jones said. "We have more guys and more experience on this team than we have had in the past on this team." Point guard Isaac Hines is expected to be a key addition to UNT’s backcourt. The former Collin County Community College standout earned second-team JUCO All-America honors last season. The addition of Hines is just one reason the focus of the Mean Green’s offense will shift this season. UNT pounded the ball inside to forwards Shawnson Johnson and Michael DeGrate last year. UNT will lack the experience it had inside a year ago. Junior center Justin Barnett and senior forward Michael Jones lead a thin group of returning frontline players. Barnett is still not at full speed after suffering a knee injury during preseason practices, but will play in the Mean Green’s season opener. Junior Jeffrey Simpson and freshman Quincy Williams are expected to help fill the void. Williams was impressive in the Mean Green’s second scrimmage of the preseason, scoring 10 points and pulling down five rebounds in a win over Southeastern Oklahoma State. UNT’s coaches and players are hoping their interior players continue to improve and build on the chemistry the Mean Green has shown in practice. "Everyone on this team knows their roles," Hopkins said. "Any time the guys know their roles, that will take you farther than having one or two guys with a lot of talent." UNT is hoping that talent will help the Mean Green capitalize on a schedule filled with games at home, where the Mean Green has posted a 22-14 record over the last three seasons at home. "If we can do what we have done in the past, which is play really well at home, with 15 home games, that is a great opportunity for us," Jones said. "The guys are really excited about playing at the tournament at home. They know that anytime we play at home we have a chance to win and we have been very good here in conference play." BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. UNT roster 3 Ron Harris 6-7 Jr. F 5 Marqus Mitchell 6-0 Sr. G 11 Michael Sturns 6-4 Fr. G 14 Micah Bracy 6-7 So. F 22 Leonard Hopkins 6-3 Sr. G 23 Isaac Hines 6-0 175 Jr. G 24 Ty Thomas 6-6 Jr. F 32 Quincy Williams 6-8 Fr. F 33 Calvin Watson 6-5 So. G 44 Michael Jones 6-7 Sr. F 45 Jeffrey Simpson 6-8 Jr. C 54 Justin Barnett 6-10 Jr. C UNT schedule November 19 Angelo State 7 p.m. 21 at Alabama 3:30 p.m. 23 UNC-Willimington 7 p.m. 27 Lamar 7 p.m. December 4 TCU 7 p.m. 7 at Texas 7 p.m. 11 at UT-Pan American 7 p.m. 16 Southern 8 p.m. 22 Southeast Missouri State 7 p.m. 29-30 Dr Pepper Tourney 29 at Chattanooga 8 p.m. 30 TBA January 8 at New Mexico State 8:05 p.m. 13 at Denver 8 p.m. 17 at Florida International 6:30 p.m. 20 Arkansas-Little Rock 7 p.m. 22 Arkansas State 7 p.m. 27 at New Orleans 7 p.m. 29 at South Alabama 7:05 p.m. February 3 Louisiana-Lafayette 7 p.m. 5 New Mexico State 7 p.m. 10 at Middle Tennessee 7:30 p.m. 12 Western Kentucky 7 p.m. 14 UT-Permian Basin 7 p.m. 17 Denver 7 p.m. 19 at Louisiana-Lafayette 7:05 p.m. 24 New Orleans 7 p.m. 26 South Alabama 7 p.m. March 4-8 Sun Belt Conference Tourney

Did you match that $600 contribution to the Mavs and their billionaire owner with a like contribution to the Mean Green?

I saw where our other recruit, Stewart from Crowley, scored 18 in their win.

Backup Cowboy QB that spent his off-season improving his golf game...go figure. Juan Benequez

I wore those in 9th grade with the John Stockton shorts. Bring em' both back if you want to go old school.

Please say no to tall socks and headbands. Just the opinion of an almost middle aged white guy.

Dallas Morning News

MeanGreenSports.com

I appreciate the reporter giving both sides to the story, as opposed to the NT Daily