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Reese Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 The Seth Littrell era at North Texas is in full swing after arguably the most embarrassing football season in recent memory. The Mean Green finished a dismal 1-11, which tied for the worst record in school history. So where does that leave North Texas? Until the Littrell hiring in December, it left the program with a coaching staff in total disarray, which put North Texas behind the eight ball in terms of recruiting. Heck, Littrell just finished hiring his offensive staff last week. However, that’s not to say he hasn’t made effective moves in his short tenure so far. Since being hired, Littrell brought on former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell to serve as the offensive coordinator – the air raid disciple of Mike Leach who led the Red Raiders to a stunning upset of the No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns in 2008. He’s the same quarterback who will now call plays for a previously anemic North Texas offense. Perhaps more notably, Littrell also acquired two highly touted transfers in two-time national champion quarterback Alec Morris and defensive tackle Bryce English. These moves are a good start, but there is still a long way to go. Make no mistake about it – the turnaround at North Texas will not be easy. It’s going to take time, finesse and probably a bit of luck. If you watched the Mean Green at all last season, and my condolences if you did, you witnessed the quarterback carousel that took place between Andrew McNulty and DaMarcus Smith. Morris should solve that for the time being by bringing poise to the position. But that doesn’t solve all their offensive woes. In 2015, they had little to no experience on defense and were abysmal at wide receiver, with the exception of now-graduated Carlos Harris. No, I take that back. He was disappointing too, in his own, special way. Look no further than his targeting ejection, which he celebrated on social media, on North Texas’ final drive against UTEP. But these issues go farther back than last year. Since 2005, North Texas has had just one winning season, and it’s no coincidence. The school hasn’t pieced it together on the recruiting trail for a variety of reasons, including playing in run-down Fouts Field until 2011. But with a state-of-the-art stadium in plain view off a prominent area interstate, that excuse no longer holds. Littrell seems poised to change that narrative. The former UNC offensive coordinator is bringing a spread offense that was the blueprint for the No. 16 offense in the nation last season. In the past, the Mean Green offense was pro-style, especially under Dan McCarney, which does not appeal to most top recruits in Texas, who are used to a high-flying spread system. Now, high schoolers will get the chance to come play for a program that perceivably has more fun by spreading the field with five wide receivers and prioritizing the passing game. Several high school and junior college players who have already committed to North Texas are all preaching the same message – “we love Coach Littrell, cannot wait to play for him.” They are determined to never have a season like the one North Texas had in 2015. It’s easy to see why the recruits like him. In the short time he has been here, Littrell has already rebranded the team on social media. See #SoarWithTheMeanGreen. He has even created a Twitter page, #UNTouchable, which has gained more than 1,200 followers in less than a one-month span. And while that may seem like a drop in the bucket, consider the day and age. Social media is extremely important to people, especially those college age or younger. I know I have spent many sleepless nights browsing the web on my phone or tablet, which is exactly what many potential recruits are doing on the days leading up to national signing day next Wednesday. And while these are all positive steps to righting the Mean Green ship, I’m still hesitant. No matter how excellent a coach is, that does not always create talent on the field. Talent wins football games, and victories have not been synonymous with North Texas the past 10 years. Littrell is a good coach, and maybe even a great one. But even good coaches have had trouble winning at North Texas. Only time will tell if they turn into wins on the football field. The Mean Green and its new head coach are trending in the right direction, but are nowhere close to being back yet. Featured Image: Seth Littrell dances to, “Fly Like An Eagle,” during the meet and greet with students shortly after his hire. Evan McAlister | Staff Writer View the full article

Brady Keane | Staff Writer @BradyKeane3 As National Signing Day quickly approaches on Feb. 3, the Mean Green and new head coach Seth Littrell have been busy trying to put together a recruiting class that will give the team a chance to compete in Conference USA next season. With a little more than a week left to recruit, here is a look at what the Mean Green have lined up for National Signing Day, in addition to the midterm transfers that have been added to the program. Verbal commitments are non-binding, and can change until the recruit signs a National Letter of Intent on February 3. Midterm Transfers Quarterback, Alec Morris – Alabama Morris graduated from local powerhouse Allen High School in 2012 and was ranked as the No. 26 pro style quarterback in that recruiting class by 247 Sports. Morris threw for 3,242 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior at Allen but has spent the last three years as a backup at Alabama after failing to beat out Jake Coker and Cooper Bateman. Morris is gives Littrell another option at a position the team has struggled at since the departure of Derek Thompson. Morris will compete with DaMarcus Smith, who led the Mean Green in passing last season after starting six games while throwing for 1010 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Defensive tackle, Bryce English – Kansas State After graduating from DeSoto High School, English chose Kansas State over offers from Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas, and the University of Houston. The 5’11, 295 lb defensive tackle spent last season as a red-shirt but decided to transfer to North Texas after his father was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. English was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and will be a key part of the Mean Green defensive front in the coming years. Offensive lineman, T.J. Henson – Trinity Valley Community College The recruitment of Henson was a wild ride… The 6’5 305lb offensive lineman was originally verbally committed to Nevada University, before de-committing and verbally committing to Eastern Carolina University in late November. Finally, Henson committed to the Mean Green and signed a Letter of Intent on December 16. After graduating from Plano East High School, Henson played offensive line for the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals for the last two seasons. Henson will join returners Chris Miles, Kaydon Kirby, Sam Rice and Jordan Murray on the offensive next season. Defensive end, Joshua Wheeler – Tyler Junior College Wheeler graduated from South Grand Prairie High School before going to Tyler Junior College and joining the Apaches. Wheeler led his team and the conference in sacks with 16 last season, finishing the year with 49 tackles. The Mean Green return three defensive ends that started five or more games last season: Jarrian Roberts, Malik Dilonga and Andy Flusche. Even with depth at the position already, a play-maker like Wheeler certainly provides even more options up front. Defensive end, Joseph Ozougwu – Alief Taylor (Gray-shirt) After graduating from Alief Taylor High School, Ozougwu passed on several opportunities at smaller colleges and universities (FCS, Division II, Junior college) to accept a gray-shirt offer from the Mean Green. A gray-shirt offer, according to Jeremy Crabtree of ESPN, is a delayed version of a red-shirt. Basically, Ozougwu joined the program this month after signing a letter of intent last February and still has all of his eligibility remaining. Ozougwu has been out of football for a year but said last year he would be spending time focusing on improving his speed and size. The defensive end graduated high school at 6’3 205lb and, like Wheeler, will provide the Mean Green with more depth on the defensive line. Verbal Commitments Athlete, Keenen Johnson – Alto, TX Johnson is one of the Mean Green’s top verbal commitments to this point, as the Alto High School graduate dominated East Texas over the last two years from the quarterback position. In 2014, Johnson rushed for 2,438 yards and 34 touchdowns and followed it up with 2,669 yards and 39 touchdowns in 2015. It is questionable whether Johnson would play quarterback for the Mean Green, but he is certainly a play-maker that could make an impact in the coming years. Johnson was originally committed to Tulsa University before de-committing and verbally committing to join Littrell and the Mean Green. But the decision is not final until National Signing Day next week. Defensive back, Dee Baulkman – Arizona Western Community College After spending two years at Arizona Western Community College, North Texas was the only FBS program to offer Baulkman. The defensive back is a play-maker at both safety and cornerback. He racked up 56 tackles, five tackles for loss and an interception last season. Wide receiver, Rico Bussey – Lawton, OK Coming out of Lawton, Oklahoma, Bussey had 10 offers from schools across the country ranging from Lousiana-Lafayette to Navy, but he ultimately chose to sign with the Mean Green. Bussey was an integral part of the offense at Lawton Eisenhower over the last few years, accounting for almost 3,000 total yards and more than 20 touchdowns. Athlete, Deion Hair’Griffin – Arlington Heights (Fort Worth), TX Deion Hair’Griffin, like Johnson, was a dynamic quarterback in high school but is undersized for the position at the collegiate level. Hair’Girffin will likely play with the Mean Green as a slot receiver and kick returner and has shown play-making ability to make an impact. The former Arlington Heights star was named the MVP of District 7-5A in 2014 after accounting for 38 touchdowns. Athlete, Khairi Muhammad – Desoto, TX Muhammad is one of the most recent commits for Littrell and the Mean Green offense, verbally committing on Sunday after playing for DeSoto last season. Muhammad was the fifth leading receiver for the Eagles last season with 270 yards and two touchdowns, while also playing in the secondary defensively. Wide receiver, Chase Cokley – Westlake (Austin), TX After playing with quarterback UT-commit Sam Ehlinger for the last two years at Austin Westlake High School, Cokley committed to the Mean Green in September of 2015. The 6’1 180 lb. receiver racked up 1,284 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior in Westlake’s high powered offense. He could provide depth at wide receiver for the Mean Green, as the offense loses top receiver Carlos Harris to graduation and potentially Darvin Kidsy due to his recent arrest. View the full article

Alex Lessard | Associate Sports Editor @alexlikechexmix Men’s head coach Tony Benford and women’s head coach Jalie Mitchell were back at Rudy’s BBQ in Denton for the third basketball coach’s show of the year Monday afternoon. After a week in which both teams had two games, there was plenty of material to cover as both teams look to improve more and more as the Conference-USA tournament creeps up. First Half: Jalie Mitchell The women’s squad suffered a 24-point loss at home last Thursday, but did not let it carry into its next game. Thanks to some late-game heroics from junior guard Kelsey Criner, the Mean Green (8-9, 3-4) bounced back for a thrilling buzzer-beater victory on Saturday over the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “We were lightyears ahead of what we looked like on Thursday,” Mitchell said. “You’ve got to be pleased with that, that we came together. I think they were on each other a little bit more leading up to Saturday, and it paid off for us.” The North Texas offense struggled mightily in the first half, netting only 20 points. Then, after fighting back to take the lead and allowing UAB to tie things up with 14 seconds left, Mitchell elected not to call a timeout, allowing Criner to take matters into her own hands. “I don’t even think Kelsey looked at me,” Mitchell said. “There was no conversation, eye contact or anything, so she just took off and they ran the play.” Along with Criner, senior forward Acheil Tac has been crucial as a leader this season. As this week’s player guest, Tac said Mitchell originally recruited her to North Texas in her stint as an assistant coach, creating a special bond when she returned as head coach this season. Coming in, North Texas was picked last in the C-USA preseason poll, presenting a challenge for Tac and her teammates. “That’s one of the things that coach Mitchell mentioned in the beginning, how we were picked last,” Tac said. “We had something to prove. We had to come out here and do what we had to do to prove them wrong.” After splitting its two home games last week, North Texas is still hovering around the middle of the pack in the C-USA standings. With a run in the C-USA tournament in March, this year’s team has a chance earn the school’s first NCAA tournament appearance in 30 years. “I think they need to understand stuff like that,” Mitchell said. “It’s not just about playing basketball. It’s about learning what gets you where you want to go.” Second Half: Tony Benford The men’s team was routed twice on the road by the top two teams in C-USA last week, extending its losing streak to four games. Both losses were by more than 20 points, dropping Benford’s squad to 12th in the C-USA standings. “Defensively is where most of our focus has got to be,” Benford said. “We’ve got to continue to keep people out of the paint, contest three point shots, get back in transition and make people play against a set defense.” While sophomore forward Jeremy Combs recorded his fifth and sixth consecutive double-doubles, the absence of freshman center Rickey Brice Jr. due to injury led to a thin bench that struggled to contribute, scoring just eight points in two games. “We really missed Rickey this weekend, especially playing against the two biggest teams in the league,” Benford said. “We really missed his size, especially in the zone [defense]. He’s really good in the zone because he can block shots and rebound right in front of the rim.” While Benford hopes to get Brice back cleared to play on Saturday, he has also made strides to add talent off the court. Junior guard Keith Frazier, formerly at Southern Methodist University, enrolled in classes at North Texas last week and will be eligible to play in December. In the ninth grade, Frazier played AAU ball with junior guard J-Mychal Reese, who said he played a big role in getting the Dallas native to choose North Texas as his new home. “He’s a good friend of mine. We talk a lot,” Reese said. “When I found out he was going to transfer, I reached out to him again. I just talked to him to see what he was thinking about.” Benford’s squad will have a full week of practice before Saturday’s matchup with Rice University in Houston, the second meeting between the two teams this season. In the first meeting, the Mean Green earned an 85-74 victory at the Super Pit behind three scorers with at least 18 points. “[Rice] is tough because they can really shoot the basketball,” Benford said. “They’ll change up their defense, play zone and press a little. We’re going to have to really play well there to get the W.” View the full article

Evan McAlister | Staff Writer @evan_McAlister The One O’Clock lab band will return to the Union Syndicate at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3. Performances will be 9 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays and noon to 12:50 p.m. on Thursdays in the Syndicate, and other lab bands will begin playing next Tuesday. The One O’Clock has been playing in the Gateway Center for the last two and a half years since the closing of the old union building. “The Gateway is not somewhere students hang out,” said One O’Clock manager Craig Marshall. “We have high hopes that it’s going to be a good setup.” Members of the One O’Clock are ready for a permeant playing space, too. Jazz studies senior John Sturino said they hope the new playing space would allow for their general public to attend more performances alongside the student audience. “It was $5 to see the One O’Clock in the Gateway, now people can come and go at no cost to them,” Sturino said. “I hope that now more people outside the College of Music will be motivated to come check it out.” The One O’Clock began as an extracurricular stage band in 1927 and became a curricular band in 1947. The university then launched the first jazz degree program in the world, and the One O’Clock would become the best of nine UNT lab bands, which are named for the hour of their rehearsal. Since the 1970s, the band has received six Grammy nominations, the first and only college jazz band to have been nominated in the categories of Best Large Jazz Ensemble (Lab 75, 76, 09) and Best Instrumental Arrangement (Lab 89, 91, 09). This year they were nominated for Best Instrumental Composition. Joshua Kauffman who has played with the One O’Clock for two years said the jazz program’s reputation drew him to UNT. He says it’s every jazz major’s dream when they come to UNT. “I wanted to come here because of the jazz program,” Kauffman said. “All the guys that I want to be like went here. It wasn’t even a question of where I would go.” Moving back into the Syndicate, the band hopes the more central location will allow the band to become a bigger part of the community. “Being at a jazz performance is drastically different from listening to a recording,” Sturino said. “I hope people give it a chance.” View the full article

Torie Mosley | Staff Writer @toriemosley North Texas men’s basketball stands at a pivotal point in its 2015-2016 campaign with little room for error. The Mean Green (7-13, 2-5) hold a disappointing record so far this season after beginning the year 2-0 and averaging 111 points a game on offense. But since those two early victories, the Mean Green have gone 5-13 while giving up 80 points per game including an underwhelming 1-7 record on the road. “We have to continue to get better defensively,” head coach Tony Benford said. “We’re scoring the ball, but we have to get stops if we want to win. Especially on the road.” North Texas hasn’t exactly been spectacular at the Super Pit either, posting a 6-6 record in its home building. But the team’s struggling road play has begun to take a toll on the Mean Green’s position in the C-USA, now standing at 1-3 in C-USA road games with six more on the schedule. After beating Rice University, the lowest team in the C-USA standings, a couple of weeks ago, the Mean Green have dropped four games in a row, including two road losses by 20 or more points to the top two squads in C-USA: the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Middle Tennessee University. Both the UAB and Middle Tennessee road losses began with the Mean Green forcing close, competitive first halves before getting eventually blown out in the second halves. “Mostly what we need to work on is communicating with one another,” graduate forward Eric Katenda said. “We have a good group of athletes. We just need to all learn to grow together and learn to trust each other instead of pointing fingers.” Katenda, a Notre Dame graduate, joined the Mean Green in his final year of NCAA eligibility to bring a veteran in the backcourt to help replace last year’s senior leaders in Colin Voss and Jordan Williams. Katenda said returning star players like sophomore forward Jeremy Combs and junior guard J-Mychal Reese sets the example on the court for newer players like Katenda and this year’s freshman class. “We feed off a lot from these guys because they were here last year,” Katenda said. “It’s harder for me and the other guys to step in and do well when we’re still learning to play with each other every day.” Reese sat out last season after transferring from Texas A&M University, but he still practiced with the team until joining the mean Green on the court this season. He said the team’s road struggles don’t stem from an inability to play well on the road, but instead from losing focus of executing the things that matter most in every game. “It’s not just a road or home thing,” Reese said. “It’s really just our lack of doing the simple things like rebounding and defending and focusing on the other things we’re not doing right.” The Mean Green’s next chance to win on the road comes in Houston this Saturday in a rematch against Rice. And in order to right the ship as the C-USA tournament approaches in six weeks, Benford knows his young team has to buckle down – even in a tough environment. “It’s a mindset,” Benford said. “We have to get back to being solid defensively and taking care of the basketball. The road is tough for anybody in college or the NBA, unless you’re the [Golden State] Warriors.” View the full article

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 Despite leading for more than 18 minutes on Saturday night, North Texas could not overcome an early second half run by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and lost 78-57. The Blazers (17-3, 7-0) have now won 21 in a row at home and 13 consecutive games overall, the second longest streak in the nation. Sophomore forward Jeremy Combs continued his dominance in league play, recording his sixth straight double-double on a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to thwart off the Blazers. UAB shot 50 percent from the floor en route to the victory. “Jeremy is playing really well right now,” head coach Tony Benford said. “We have to continue to get him the basketball. He’s playing hard.” North Texas (7-13, 2-5) struggled to score in the second half and shot only 27 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes. The entire team went cold down the stretch, making one of its last 10 shots. 55 of the Mean Green’s 57 points came from its starters, with freshman forward Khalil Fuller as its lone bench scorer. “We are concerned,” head coach Tony Benford said of the lack of bench points. “Rickey Brice Jr. was hurt and Ja’Michael Brown didn’t play a whole lot of minutes tonight. We have to continue to try and get some help off the bench.” The Mean Green began the game in a 2-3 zone defense to prevent any penetration from UAB, which led to easy baskets. The Blazers shot a dismal 3 of 14 from beyond the arc in the first half, allowing North Texas a two-point advantage into the locker room. The Blazers opened the second half on a 6-0 run and made its first four shots to take a 46-39 lead. From there, North Texas could not buy a basket, making two of its next 10 shots. UAB built on its halftime lead and took a 58-47 advantage on a transition layup by sophomore forward Lewis Sullivan with just over eight minutes remaining. “They did a really good job on offense, but we had a couple of defensive breakdowns,” Combs said. “I give them credit.” The margin only widened as the game progressed, as UAB finished with three players in double figures and a 29-2 advantage in bench points. Later on, the Blazers scored the last basket of the game to take a game-high 21 point lead. “We have the pieces to win games, we just have to learn how to close them out,” graduate forward Eric Katenda said. View the full article

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 Former Southern Methodist University guard Keith Frazier completed his transfer to North Texas on Friday and is now officially enrolled in classes. In his most recent NCAA season, the 6’5 guard averaged 11.9 points per game in 10 contests as a junior in before leaving SMU for what were described as personal reasons. Frazier was a prominent name involved in an NCAA investigation which ultimately resulted in sanctions for the Mustangs, including a postseason ban this year. The results of the investigation showed a former secretary at SMU completed an online course for Frazier in 2013. SMU is 18-0 this season and is currently ranked eighth in the nation. The Dallas native is a midterm transfer and will be the first McDonald’s All-American in school history to play for the Mean Green. Per NCAA regulations, Frazier will have to sit out two semesters before becoming eligible in December 2016. He will miss the first few games of next season, but will add to a group of players expected to return to North Texas, including junior guards J-Mychal Reese and Deckie Johnson and sophomore forward Jeremy Combs. View the full article

Editor’s Note: The North Texas Daily sports staff analyzes both the Mean Green men’s and women’s basketball teams as they approach the midway point of their seasons. Both teams have started Conference USA play and have 12 games remaining on their schedules before the C-USA tournament. Our staff: Scott Sidway (SS), Reece Waddell (RW), Torie Mosley (TM), Alex Lessard (AL), Brady Keane (BK) and Clay Massey (CM). 1. How would you grade the men’s team so far? SS: D+. If we’re grading individuals at isolated times in the season, most of the team’s core has earned an A at one point or another. But as a team, it hasn’t worked outside of a couple of blowout wins against two NAIA teams to start the season and a short-lived winning streak against subpar teams. It’s disappointing, really, because I thought the team would thrive with players in more defined roles than in years past. But North Texas simply hasn’t been able to get it all to click at the same time. RW: C. This grade would be higher, but a sluggish start to the season put the Mean Green behind the eight-ball. The team made numerous moves in the offseason, including bringing in junior guard Deckie Johnson, which have strengthened and solidified the backcourt. Unfortunately, North Texas dropped all three of its games in the Mean Green challenge and have struggled against quality opponents all year. North Texas has only one victory against a team with a winning record in addition to owning the worst free throw percentage in Conference USA. TM: C+. Talent-wise, North Texas would score at least a B, but I can’t give a B grade to a team with a losing record and 1-6 record on the road. I’m not too worried though. The Mean Green have plenty of talented and versatile players to get them back on track during this stretch of C-USA stretch coming up. 2. How would you grade the women’s team so far? AL: B+. Things couldn’t go anywhere but up after being one of only two teams to miss the Conference-USA tournament last season, and first-year head coach Jalie Mitchell has done a great job of changing the culture of the team. The Mean Green’s 7-9 overall record (2-4 in C-USA) doesn’t jump off the page, but surpassing last season’s win total before the spring semester started was an impressive feat. Defeating Oklahoma in the first road game of the season showed what this team is capable of on any given night, and Mitchell deserves the majority of the praise for making the program competitive again. BK: B, but the team’s grade to this point in the season depends on what perspective you’re grading from. Jalie Mitchell deserves an A+ for the turnaround she has led from last season to this season. Mitchell came in with expectations that a lot of people thought were a little lofty, but The Mean Green are averaging more than 10 points more per game this season than they did last season, and the team has already won more games this year (7) than last (5). However, I give the Mean Green a B when grading strictly this season, because although the team has some huge wins (Oklahoma), their inability to pick up wins in winnable situations has hurt them thus far. CM: B+. While the team currently sits below .500, it’s had some great, gritty wins that have shown what this team is really capable of. Jalie Mitchell has high expectations, and for good reason, as this group has really impressed at times. North Texas is currently averaging over 10 more points per game as a team than last year. When things go well for the Mean Green, they are great. But when it rains, it pours. The squad is in position to make a decent run at the top of Conference USA, but they have to win their winnable games. 3. Who or what has pleasantly surprised you about the men’s team? SS: Jeremy Combs. I expected him to be most dynamic player for the Mean Green, but not to this level. The sophomore is averaging a double-double (15 points, 10.4 rebounds), and he’s the only player on the team to have made 100 shots at this point in the year, shooting 58 percent from the field. He’s also C-USA’s second highest scorer in league play with 20.6 points per game. Now if he just made a few more free throws… RW: Deckie Johnson, simply because not a lot of people knew about him. The junior college transfer is tied for second on the team in scoring and is averaging 14.6 points per game. More than that, Johnson provides the team with floor spacing – something North Texas’ offense is predicated on. If the Mean Green is to make any kind of run down the stretch, Johnson must stay healthy and continue to produce. TM: Freshmen like Rickey Brice and Ja’Michael Brown give the Mean Green a bright future and depth to lean on. Eric Katenda, J-Mychal Reese and Deckie Johnson give the team solid, efficient minutes every game. Oh yeah, and Jeremy Combs is the best player on the team and probably the entire conference. 4. Who or what has pleasantly surprised you about the women’s team? AL: Kelsey Criner. It wasn’t shocking to see senior forward Acheil Tac and junior guard Candice Adams taking more of the scoring load as two of the most tenured North Texas players, but Criner has arguably become the most important piece to the team’s puzzle. The New Mexico Junior College transfer leads the team in scoring and averages over six assists, five rebounds and nearly two and a half steals per game. She runs the show and does it all for the Mean Green on a nightly basis, and coming one rebound shy of the first triple-double in school history against Rice put her on the map as one of the best all-around players in C-USA. BK: The team’s chemistry this season is amazing, especially given all the new pieces that were added in the off-season. It’s Jalie Mitchell’s first season, but she has developed a tight-knit group in her short time in Denton. One of the most dynamic players in the conference, junior Kelsey Criner, transferred from New Mexico Junior College but has developed an impressive bond with fellow junior guard Candice Adams to give the Mean Green a potent one-two punch in the backcourt. CM: The emergence of junior Kelsey Criner as the go-to point guard and all-around offensive machine for the squad has been great so far. She leads the team with 12.4 points per game and sits in the top five for assists in C-USA. The duo of her and junior guard Candice Adams has been deadly at times. They click, and it is very noticeable on the court. The normal starters as a whole are up there in points per game, with four of the five being in double digits for the season. 5. How do you see conference play unfolding for the men’s team? SS: The last couple of seasons, the men’s basketball team has been able to string together four and five game winnings streaks at this time of year to gain momentum heading into the C-USA tournament. For that reason alone, I’m giving head coach Tony Benford a chance to reach into his bag-o-tricks and pull a rabbit out of a hat again to jockey for a decent seed in the conference tournament. But even if North Texas finds its way in, this season still feels like a one-and-done, which will surely stir the pot among Mean Green fans about the status of Benford’s future. RW: I consider myself the ultimate pessimist and don’t see conference play or the rest of the year unfolding well for North Texas. The Mean Green have just one win away from home this season and are in the midst of a tough road stretch, with a loss to Middle Tennessee State last night and UAB tomorrow. With a record of 7-11, the next few weeks are crucial for North Texas, especially in terms of seeding for the C-USA tournament. The biggest concern I have moving forward is the Mean Green’s depth, as bench production has been an issue all year for North Texas. TM: I think the current road trip will be rough for North Texas with a road loss to Middle Tennessee State and UAB tomorrow, but the Mean Green should do well against Rice (6-12, 1-4), who they beat 85-74 less than two weeks ago, and the other lower ranked C-USA teams. I don’t see North Texas getting past around the fifth or sixth rank in the end of the year rankings from its current 10th place spot. 6. How do you see conference play unfolding for the women’s team? AL: Expect the Mean Green to hover around .500 for the remainder of the season. Although the squad has shown it’s capable of bringing down the best of the best on anywhere, anytime, inconsistency has been its downfall. North Texas has lost multiple games in the final moments due to defensive breakdowns and costly turnovers, but the more situations the team is thrown into before the C-USA tournament, the more seasoned and experienced it will be when it’s do-or-die. No matter what happens, more drama in the final minutes of games is certainly on the way. BK: If you look at the games the Mean Green have lost, it’s fair to say that there have been at least four games that could or should have been wins: Texas State, Weber State, UTEP and Rice. Switch those in favor of North Texas, and this team is sitting at 11-4 with only one loss in conference play. It just depends on which team shows up for the remainder of the season. Do we see the team that upset a ranked Oklahoma team in Norman, or do we see the team that put up only 38 points in a loss to Weber State at the Super Pit? If Criner plays the way she has over the last few games, the Mean Green should be able to build some momentum moving forward. CM: The rest of conference play could be tricky for the Mean Green, because C-USA is a tough conference for women’s basketball. With the team trending upward, the team could peak at just the right time near the end of the season. With eight remaining home games, the Mean Green have to improve on a 3-4 home record. If the squad can win a majority of their remaining home games and pick up a few on the road, where they hold a .500 record, North Texas could be hot heading into the C-USA tournament. View the full article

Torie Mosley | Staff Writer @toriemosley In the first matchup of a three-game road trip, North Texas lost 86-64 to Middle Tennessee State University, the No. 3 team in Conference-USA. After keeping the game close until a couple minutes into the second half, MTSU (13-5, 4-1) went on a shooting streak and never looked back. Behind strong performances by sophomore forward Jeremy Combs (13 points, 12 rebounds) and junior guard J-Mychal Reese (20 points), the Mean Green (7-12, 2-4) were down only 34-32 at the intermission and even led 37-36 at the 18-minute mark in the second half. Then, MTSU went on a 23-5 run over the next five minutes of play to widen the gap. “We didn’t play a full 40 [minutes] tonight,” Reese said. “They shot over 60 percent in the second half and nobody can win giving up 60 percent shooting.” The Blue Raiders took 19 more shots than the Mean Green while also shooting 51 percent from the field. MTSU also almost doubled North Texas in assists, 19-10. While efficient in the first half, The Mean Green’s defense crumbled in the game’s final 20 minutes. “Our defense was really good in the first half, but we gave up too many second chance points and turnovers in the second half,” head coach Tony Benford said. “Combs has been playing well, but even he had seven turnovers tonight.” The Mean Green were not only beat on the perimeter, but also out-rebounded by MTSU 48-37. The Blue Raiders tacked on 22 personal fouls to North Texas’ nine, showcasing a physical style of basketball. “They’re a good team that really guards you,” Benford said. “They play you tough.” Graduate forward Eric Katenda, who scored eight points and grabbed two rebounds, said the Mean Green could do a better job staying on the same page on the court at the end of games. “We have to work on our communication,” Katenda said. “We need to learn how to pace ourselves on offense. We put up too many shots too quickly instead of playing together more and let the game slip away.” North Texas has struggled against MTSU in recent years, dropping seven of its last eight match-ups. The Mean Green’s lone win in that stretch came last season at the Super Pit, where the hosts erased a 21-point second-half deficit to win 57-56. The second half this go-around was a far different story. “We had a chance,” Katenda said. “We were close at first, but for some reason couldn’t keep it going in the second half. Something happened. I don’t know what it was, but something happened and we never came back.” Freshman center Rickey Brice Jr. sat out his first game of the season tonight with a headache and will possibly return to the court next game. The Mean Green will head to Birmingham, Alabama to face the University of Alabama at Birmingham Saturday night, looking to avoid its fourth straight loss. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Featured Image: Sophomore forward Jeremy Combs (1) weaves between defenders to get to the basket for a layup. File Photo View the full article

Brady Keane | Staff Writer @BradyKeane3 The Mean Green women’s basketball team fell to Conference-USA foe Middle Tennessee State University 76-52 Thursday night at the Super Pit, extending the team’s losing streak to two games. The Mean Green (7-9, 2-4) never held a lead, and the 24-point deficit marks the team’s worst loss this season. After MTSU jumped out to a quick lead, the Mean Green was able to contain the Blue Raiders’ (10-7, 4-2) offensive attack in the first quarter by implementing a full-court press. However, the Blue Raiders began to pull away in the second quarter as the Mean Green failed to get in a groove on the offensive end. Junior guard Candice Adams went to the bench early in the quarter due to foul trouble. MTSU’s offensive dominance was fueled by the backcourt, as he Blue Radiers’ guard trio of sophomore Abbey Sissom, Ty Petty, and Brea Edwards combined for 45 points. Edwards, who ranks sixth nationally averaging more than three 3-point field goals per game, finished with a game-high 17 points despite being held to just two 3-point baskets. Although the Blue Raiders were red hot from behind the arc, it was the Mean Green’s offensive struggles that paved the way for MTSU to extend its lead. North Texas struggled to control the possession of the game, and finished the first half with 15 turnovers. As the Mean Green struggled, MTSU took advantage of North Texas mistakes and turned them into points. The Blue Raiders forced 24 total turnovers and converted them into 31 points. The offensive woes translated into one of the worst statistical nights of the season for the traditionally dynamic one-two punch of Mean Green junior guards Kelsey Criner and Adams. The two combined for just 14 points. North Texas will look to get the offense back on track and bounce back from its second straight loss at 2 p.m. Saturday against the University of Alabama at Birmingham at the Super Pit. View the full article

Brady Keane | Staff Writer @BradyKeane3 For the first six games of the Mean Green women’s basketball season, junior guard Kelsey Criner was the starting point guard and played an integral role in the team’s upset win over No. 17 Oklahoma University. But just five games later, Criner found herself on the bench for an early December matchup against Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis. Head coach Jalie Mitchell decided to bench her playmaker after Criner had three straight games with eight or more turnovers, culminating in the team’s worst offensive performance to date in a 45-38 loss to Weber State University the night before. Junior guard Kelsey Criner laughs after shooting a basket in practice. Dylan Nadwodny | Staff Photographer “I think that told everyone else that she’s normal, that she’s human, and that she’s not perfect,” Mitchell said of Criner’s benching. “I feel like it was a wakeup call not only for her, but also for letting the team know how important that particular position and leadership is.” With Criner out of the starting lineup, the Mean Green faced a daunting 20-point deficit against IUPUI midway through the third quarter. However, the junior point guard came off the bench and sparked a furious comeback that was capped with what would be a Criner game-winning three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining. “That really just showed me that I can do great things for the team if I keep my mindset right,” Criner said. “It was a learning experience.” Since the benching and subsequent come-from-behind win, Criner’s production has skyrocketed through the last nine games. In a thrilling 100-97 triple overtime loss to Rice University on Jan. 10,, Criner had one of the most explosive performances in program history by racking up 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. She was originally credited with the first triple-double in team history, but a stat correction after the game left the junior a single rebound short of the milestone. Following the historic performance, Criner was named the Conference USA Player of the Week. “It was really great at the time, but we had lost to Rice so it was not as enjoyable as it was supposed to be,” Criner said. “But it was an honor. If I do the same things I did during the Rice game, I should do it every single game. That’s the kind of mindset I have to keep.” Although Criner hasn’t matched that same output each game, she has proven to be an all-around threat for the Mean Green. Criner is the team’s leading scorer at 12.5 points per game, second in rebounding with 6.3 per game and first in steals with 2.2 per game. Criner also leads Conference USA with 5.1 assists per game and has the second best three-point field goal percentage in the conference at 44.7 percent. “She’s very fun to play with,” junior shooting guard Candice Adams said. “She’s very energetic, and she likes to push the tempo. I love her game, I love her energy and I love what she brings to the team.” After transferring to North Texas from New Mexico Junior College to be a part of Mitchell’s program, Criner almost immediately formed a bond with Adams in the backcourt. Their chemistry has helped produce a one-two punch that has been pivotal to the success the Mean Green has found in Mitchell’s first season at the helm. North Texas junior guard Kelsey Criner (3) works around a San Fransisco defender. Dylan Nadwodny | Staff Photographer After winning just five games in 2014-2015, North Texas has already exceeded that total with seven wins this season and still has 13 games left in the regular season. “It didn’t take long,” Adams said. “It started in practice, but we were on the same team in the basketball madness. It was just like magic and it kind of formed there. Ever since then, things have been rolling with the one-two punch, and everybody stuck with it.” Despite this season being her first in a Mean Green uniform, Criner holds an important leadership position on the team. As the point guard, even the most seasoned players on the squad look to Criner for leadership on both the offensive and defensive side of the court. The high energy Criner displays is contagious and causes her teammates to match her intensity. “When she’s in the game, our spirits are up. Our energy is up,” senior forward Acheil Tac said. “Her energy out there trickles down through everybody, and it gets us going.” The Mean Green are currently sitting at 10th place in the C-USA standings, but will have an opportunity to make up some ground with three straight home games, beginning tonight against Middle Tennessee State University at 7 p.m. Criner is averaging almost 14 points per game at home this season, and her intensity could be crucial for the Mean Green to build momentum moving into the second half of conference play. “I’m the point guard, and I’m a leader,” Criner said. “It’s an example that I set for my team, and it sets the tone of the game. If they see me hustling and D’ing up, then they want to do the same.” Featured Image: Junior guard Kelsey Criner steps up to take a shot in practice. Dylan Nadwodny | Staff Photographer View the full article

Evan McAlister | @evan_McAlister Haley Yates | @haleysocoollike The university’s campus carry policy is under review by the Board of Regents and could set up restrictions for those visiting the campus. But it acknowledges concerns from those opposed to the Texas law. The preliminary policy establishes gun-free zones, allowed by the Texas Legislature. People will not be able to carry at the UNT Police Department, nor will there be weapons where minors are present, like McConnell Hall or the UNT Kristin Farmer Autism Center. The university hopes guns will not be allowed at sporting events, but CHL holders will be able to carry at sports arenas when games are not being played. UNT does not want CHL holders to carry at the University Union. “I would prefer not having CHL on campus, but that’s not an option,” UNT president Neal Smatresk said. “That said, I think we have done the best we can, and after this is applied, like many other things in life, it’ll just become part of the background and we won’t really be thinking about it a lot.” Based on the current draft, students with a CHL who live on campus will be required to keep their handguns in a safe inside their room. Parents and non-residents must keep their firearms on them at all times and handguns in the room safe. Universities in Texas must aim to comply with the law while ensuring the public’s safety concerns are met. Smatresk and the Task Force are developing an internal policy based off the legislation’s suggestions on how to execute campus carry. “While most people perceive strong negatives associated with this in universities, we should be aware that if there are situations that arise, we should be ready to use them to our advantage, as well as any other means available to us,” Smatresk said. The Task Force is currently working on a series of trainings on crisis and conflict management in the event of a CHL-related emergency. Smatresk hopes students will take advantage of programs that will allow them to be proactive about their personal safety and awareness. “We hear students cry for help and sometimes that’s more serious,” Smatresk said. “Sometimes it’s whimsical, and sometimes it’s urgent and should be attended to. How we deal with a student that is experiencing that crisis is something that I feel every campus in the United States needs to get better at.” Some students are concerned about the new law and are fearful about weapons being allowed on campus. “I’m personally not a fan of campus carry,” converged broadcast media junior Olivia Flores said. “When I found out that it passed, I was terrified. No guns on campus, except for those on policemen, would make me feel safe.” Smatresk also believes more officers visible on campus will enhance the community’s sense of security. “We want to make sure that our campus officers are visible,” he said. “I believe that chief Reynolds runs an incredibly professional and very good organization for college students.” Featured Image: UNT biology freshman Austin Rodgers asks a prepared question during the first town hall style forum on campus carry at the Gateway Center. Kristen Watson | DRC View the full article

Alex Lessard | Associate Sports Editor @alexlikechexmix With its first episode of the season airing last week, the North Texas basketball coach’s show returned to Rudy’s BBQ in Denton at noon Monday to discuss recent games and look ahead to the next week of action. Along with a couple guests, head coach Tony Benford and women’s head coach Jalie Mitchell each spent 30 minutes covering the latest team topics as conference play begins to heat up. First Half: Jalie Mitchell The women’s team (7-8, 2-3) came away with a split after two road games this week against Marshall University and Western Kentucky University, each of which hold two of the top three overall records in Conference-USA. Mitchell was extra satisfied with Tuesday’s 71-63 win over Marshall, ending the Herd’s chances at an undefeated home record this season. “That was actually a really fun game to play, I’m sure, and really fun to coach with us getting back to what’s important,” Mitchell said. “There were three things we really needed to focus on: defense, rebounding and making our free throws. We did all three things well in that game.” Those philosophies have helped the team already surpass last season’s win total with seven this year. Helping lead the charge is junior guard Candice Adams, who’s stepped up her leadership role and leads the team with 25 three-pointers this season. “I think she’s kind of taken that responsibility somewhat before, from what I could tell,” Mitchell said. “So I definitely have been trying to get her to be more of a leader on and off the court, understand what that means exactly, what that looks like, and she’s been very perceptive of me asking that of her.” Adams also stopped by as a guest on the show, crediting the team’s confidence and improvement to the 61-57 victory on the road against the University of Oklahoma on Nov. 16. “I’m very proud of my teammates,” Adams said. “It was really fun. It was exciting. The atmosphere was really different for us with the preseason being so successful. They worked hard, they bought in, and they were sharp and focused.” Mitchell’s squad will play its next two games at home this week, the first coming on Thursday, Jan. 20 against Middle Tennessee State University, a team that North Texas hasn’t defeated since 2006. In order to get over that hump and protect home court, Mitchell said the team needs to remain focused on its fundamental values. “Our offensive stats are more impressive than our defensive right now, so I want to shed that a little bit,” Mitchell said. “Maintain performance on the offensive end, but also fix up when it comes to defensive rebounding.” Second Half: Tony Benford Before diving into basketball, both Benford and associate head coach Rob Evans spent a few minutes to talk about Martin Luther King, someone Evans said had a huge impact on himself and numerous players on the current Mean Green roster. When asked about what King might say to Donald Trump if they ever met, Evans recapped some of the things he went through as a young adult and stayed true to King’s beliefs on a day of remembrance. “Everybody is created the same,” Evans said. “What you do with it is your own thing. Your mind is what really is important.” Evans and Benford could not help the men’s team (7-11, 2-3) come out victorious in either of its home games this week, losing by 19 and 5 points in two conference matchups played in the Super Pit. Despite the losses, Benford was proud of recent play from sophomore forward Jeremy Combs, who’s now averaging 20.6 points and 13.8 rebounds per game in C-USA action. “He’s playing really, really well,” Benford said. “I told him teams are going to try to get into his head. One guy got into him, he was talking, but I told him to keep playing hard. He can be the MVP of the league the way he’s playing, no doubt.” Graduate forward Eric Katenda also made a guest appearance, a player that has made key contributions both off the bench and as a starter as the season has progressed. “I’m feeling more comfortable out there,” Katenda said. “We have a lot of new guys on the team, so just mold it all together to see what works and what doesn’t. I feel like we’re starting to click, but we’ve still got work to do.” The men’s team has a tough week ahead with road matchups against two of the top three teams in C-USA, but Benford remained confident that with continued dominance from Combs and consistent improvement from junior guard J-Mychal Reese, his team can prevail. “It’s going to be a huge challenge for us on the road, but if our guys continue to play well, we can do a great job,” Benford said. Keep an eye out for more coach’s show recaps coming up every Monday after the show throughout the remainder of the season to stay updated on all of North Texas basketball. View the full article

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 Eleven missed free throws proved costly for North Texas, as it suffered its second straight defeat on Saturday night against Western Kentucky University. North Texas shot 80 percent from the charity stripe in the first half but were a dismal 43.8 percent in the second half, including several misses in the final minutes of the game. Sophomore forward Jeremy Combs was one of the best free throw shooters on the team, going 5-6 from the line during an early stretch in which he scored the team’s first 14 points. “It’s very disappointing,” Combs said of the team’s struggles at the free throw line. “But we’re going to keep working on them, and we’ll make them next time.” The Hilltoppers began the game in a man-to-man defense, which North Texas frequently exploited on dribble drives and fast break opportunities. The result was 10 first half trips to the free throw line and an early 14-7 lead. But the tides turned at halftime when Western Kentucky switched to a 3-2 zone defense to prevent penetration into the paint. This limited Combs’ offensive chances, and after a 17-point first half, Combs had just five points in all of the second half. He finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds, his fourth consecutive double-double. “When they went into the zone, we got a little stagnant,” head coach Tony Benford said. “I knew they were going to run it. We had some great looks when we went through it early, we just didn’t convert. We got behind in the second half and were playing catch up. We were never able to get over the hump.” Junior guard J-Mychal Reese posted his second highest point total in a Mean Green uniform, scoring 23 points while dishing out seven assists. With freshman guard Ja’Michael Brown in foul trouble for the majority of the night, Reese was forced to take several shots throughout the game to draw the defense out of the paint. “I was just trying to be aggressive and get our shooters shots,” Reese said. “They kept leaving me open coming off ball screens on elbow shots, so I just kept pulling up. And after I hit a few, I felt like that was an easy shot for me to make.” The Western Kentucky bench outscored the North Texas bench 53-7 and was also 15.6 percent better than the Mean Green at the charity stripe. Combs, Reese and junior guard Deckie Johnson combined for 61 of North Texas’ 76 points, but it was ultimately not enough for a Mean Green victory. “The thing that came back to get us was free throw shooting,” Benford said. “We have to remember that, and we’re going to continue to work on it. In the second half we’re 43 percent, so I’m disappointed in the loss.” View the full article

Scott Sidway | Sports Editor @ScottyWK Mugshot of Kidsy from Denton DP North Texas football player Darvin Kidsy was arrested Friday morning for an accident involving personal injury, according to Denton police. He turned himself in this morning after a warrant was issued earlier this month. Denton police were searching for a suspect in a hit-and-run that occurred in early December 2015 that left one person in critical condition and another with non-life-threatening injuries. Denton police spokesman Ryan Grelle confirmed Kidsy was the driver, and they are waiting on a second suspect to be arrested. “We’re still looking at one other person. That’s one of the reasons why we’re holding off on the affidavit,” Grelle said. “Because there’s someone else that has not been picked up yet.” Grelle said Kidsy’s affidavit will not be released until the second suspect has been arrested. He also said there is no date or time scheduled for a hearing yet, but that it would happen “more than likely sometime today.” Kidsy played in 11 of the Mean Green’s games in 2015 as a junior, catching 17 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged 21.5 yards on six kick returns and four yards on eight punt returns. North Texas Daily will continue to update this story as it develops. View the full article

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 Sophomore forward Jeremy Combs’ career high 28 points and 18 rebounds were not enough to mask the absence of North Texas’ leading scorer in a blowout loss to Marshall University on Thursday night. For the first time this season, the Mean Green was without junior guard Deckie Johnson, who leads the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game. He missed the game with a sprained right foot. Without Johnson, the North Texas offense stalled and did not make its first three pointer until midway through the second half. “We have to be at full strength,” head coach Tony Benford said. “We aren’t talented enough to overcome a guy that can go get you 20 points a night.” With Johnson on the bench in a walking boot, the Mean Green started the game exceptionally flat on offense and lacked floor spacing – something North Texas’ offense is predicated on. Additionally, the Mean Green shot just 35.1 percent from the floor in the first half and trailed by 28 points going into halftime. “Not having Deckie hurt us,” Benford said. “It hurt us from the standpoint of not having a rhythm offensively. That hurts when you’re leading scorer isn’t playing. That hurt us, especially early on. He’s a guy that can make shots and he takes pressure of [Combs] and [Reese.]” Even without the team’s leading scorer and top perimeter threat, Combs was able to shine, recording a career high in points while recording his third consecutive double-double. He had 12 points and eight rebounds at halftime. But Combs was not satisfied with his performance. “It doesn’t really mean anything since it came in a loss,” Combs said. “I could have gave more. I was just trying to do whatever I could to help my team win.” Benford, however, thought Combs’ performance was more than exemplary. “I thought Jeremy played hard. He always played hard,” Benford said. “I don’t know what else you can give us. When somebody gives you 28 [points] and 18 [rebounds], you can’t fault that. It’s a total effort.” Marshall shot the ball well all night and frequently exploited North Texas’ inability to close out on shooters and switch on ball screens. The Thundering Herd shot 41.2 percent from beyond the arc for the game and made 14 threes. Seven Marshall players made a three in the game, something junior guard J-Mychal Reese said made guarding them increasingly difficult to do. “Most teams don’t play like that,” Reese said. “It’s just different.” View the full article

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 North Texas returned to action on Thursday night following a four day break and was routed by Marshall University 97-78 at home. The Thundering Herd (8-9, 4-0) made 10 first half three pointers en route to the victory and never trailed in the game. The Mean Green (7-10, 2-2) was without starting guard and leading scorer Deckie Johnson, who missed his first game of the season with a sprained right foot. In his absence, North Texas struggled mightily scoring the ball, finishing the first half without a made three pointer. Sophomore forward Jeremy Combs did his best to pick up the slack and finished the game with a career high 28 points and 18 rebounds, his third consecutive double-double and sixth of the season. It was not enough, however, as the Mean Green ended the game 39 percent from the field. Marshall came out of the gate strong and started the game on a 15-4 run aided by four missed free throws by North Texas. The Thundering Herd shot 75 percent from the field through the first five minutes and eventually jumped out to a 26 to 11 lead at the first media timeout. North Texas was unable to defend the three point line in the first half, surrendering seven threes in the first 10 minutes. Marshall’s ability to push the ball up the floor and come off ball screens left the Mean Green flustered and searching for answers, as the Thundering Herd shot 55 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. Marshall extended its lead to as much as 28 points and entered halftime leading 61-33 after the Thundering Herd converted two free throws with less than a tenth of a second remaining. Sophomore guard Jon Elmore led the way for Marshall, scoring a team high 21 points on 7 of 15 shooting. The Mean Green opened the second half on a 5-0 run but were quickly stifled, as Marshall matched each made shot with one of its own. The Thundering Herd built its largest lead of the game at 87-54 after making its 14th three pointer of the game. North Texas did make a 10-0 run of its own late in the second half, buckling down on defense to hold Marshall to 1-of-11 shooting over the last three minutes of play. But the 33 point deficit was too steep to overcome. Next Up: North Texas hosts Western Kentucky University on Saturday Jan. 16. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. View the full article

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 Offense, defense and all the intangibles came together in North Texas’ 85-74 victory over Rice University on Saturday afternoon. Four Mean Green players finished in double figures, with graduate forward Eric Katenda posting a career high 18 points and sophomore forward Jeremy Combs recording his second consecutive double-double. The duo combined for 40 points and 17 rebounds. The defense also did its part, holding the Owls to 22 first half points on 18 percent shooting. And perhaps even more important than the defense was the highlight reel plays produced by Katenda and Combs, which included several alley-oops and one handed dunks that breathed life into the Super Pit. “It brings a lot of energy to the team,” Combs said. “And I saw Eric making all the highlight reel plays and I thought I needed to get me some too.” Katenda sparked a second half run when he ran the length of the floor, Euro-stepped around a Rice defender and finished an and-one dunk. The effort gave the Mean Green its largest lead of the game at 24 points. “It just brings a level of excitement. Like when I had my first dunk, I saw the whole bench get up and start cheering with enthusiasm,” Katenda said. “We want to have fun playing the game, and this just helps us.” Both Combs and Katenda dominated the interior, allowing North Texas to shoot 51.8 percent from the field for the game – a byproduct of easy opportunities created close to the basket. The two big men also anchored the middle on defense and were major the major reason Rice had trouble getting any penetration for drive and kick opportunities. “[Katenda] and [Combs] are extremely versatile forwards,” head coach Tony Benford said. “Both of them can rebound the basketball and score inside. They play really well off one another.” North Texas had one of its best shooting games of the season at the charity stripe, shooting 85.7 percent – well above its 60.4 percent average for the year. The Mean Green also made five of its final six free throws in the waning moments of the game to seal the victory. “I’m really proud of our guys,” Benford said. “We weathered the storm, I thought we showed some poise down the stretch. We made our free throws and we’ve really been working on it. It was a great team win for us.” View the full article

Preston Mitchell | Staff Writer @Presto_Mitch Quentin Tarantino is back with another hyper-violent, controversial epic made for Western junkies and fans who already love his work. Qualified as both, I can thoroughly say that I adored this masterful three-hour odyssey. However, a distinction must be made for anyone seeing “The Hateful Eight” this weekend: While Tarantino appears to be treading upon the familiar frontier grounds of “Django Unchained,” this is a completely different kind of Western. By its nature, “The Hateful Eight” will heavily deviate from what the mainstream has come to expect from Tarantino. I, for one, could not have been happier with it. “The Hateful Eight” stars Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell as two bounty hunters, one of whom is chained to a rabid murderess (Jennifer Jason Leigh) so he can watch her hang at the rope. What follows after the prologue of introductions is, effectively, a five-act mystery play. Mostly taking place in a stagecoach lodge, a blizzard forces the three leads to cross paths with five other strangers. And in classic Hollywood fashion, one of these strangers is up to no good. What makes “The Hateful Eight” such a breath of fresh air is that it summates everything great about Tarantino into a deliberately understated genre-film. Despite being three hours, it is a tightly-constructed think-piece with beautiful cinematography made to be marveled at inside a theater. In fact, this is tonally closer to his early career than anything he has directed in the past decade. During the ’90s, Tarantino was crafting crime movies (“Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction”) with snappy wordplay and subtle references to the films of his childhood. After the turn of the millennium, he expanded his toolbox and began churning out stylized, fun endeavors like “Kill Bill,” “Inglourious Bastards” and “Django Unchained.” These films embodied the blaxploitation, war and kung fu movies of the ’60s and ’70s. This time around, Quentin is undertaking the classic “Gunsmoke” and “Bonanza” mold and splattering it with a spaghetti-Western aesthetic. Unlike his previous four films, which function as fourth-wall-breaking homages, “The Hateful Eight” is a brilliant mashup operating as a refined Old West whodunit. It is a series of incredibly well-written conversations that dynamize character motivations and constantly deliver suspense. Tarantino writes dialogue better than most, so his distinct verbiage mixed with unsettling violence make for an outing that never gets boring. Leading the cast is Kurt Russell, who channels his “Big Trouble in Little China” performance by once again riffing on John Wayne. Sam Jackson, Tim Roth and Michael Madsen verbalize that dialogue amazingly well, as they are already Tarantino staples. The legendary Bruce Dern (“Nebraska”) is also great as a Confederate general with secrets of his own. Demián Bichir (“The Bridge”) did a solid job, while Walton Goggins (“Justified”) always alleviates the tension as a darkly-comic relief. Nonetheless, the person to really look for during Oscar season is Jennifer Jason Leigh. Somebody who I initially figured was a relic from the ’90s, Leigh’s character has to encompass a bevy of emotions and she nails all of them with sinister ease. For what it is, “The Hateful Eight” is bound to have its criticisms. Personally, I only have two problems with it. First off, the movie attempts to make social commentary for racism that “Django Unchained” already accomplished. Since I’ve always found Tarantino to lack subtlety about such matters, I found most of the race discussions to be redundant and unnecessary. Secondly, the film features Ennio Morricone’s first Western score in 40 years. Unfortunately, I was a tad underwhelmed by the end product. While his score is still good, I expected the composer of “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” and “The Thing” to deliver something more memorable. All the same, his music still amplified the film’s Italian influences and served its purpose well. Despite those minor complaints, this is a great film. Just like most Tarantino movies, it’s an instant classic that will be taught about in film schools. I was especially enamored with the fact that he made a Western much closer in tone to “Jackie Brown” than “Django Unchained.” Not only did create a unique cowboy tale, he also illustrated that he can still make low-key entertainment driven solely on snappy wordplay. If this sounds like your cup of tea, “The Hateful Eight” comes highly recommended. View the full article

Dalton LaFerney | News Editor @daltonlaferney Denton police spokesman Shane Kizer said investigators have nothing new to report from the investigation of Sara Mutschlechner’s shooting death, but said the police now do not know the color, make or model of the SUV from which witnesses said shots rang following an apparent argument with Mutschlechner’s passengers. Original reports said the SUV was either a dark Lexus or Toyota SUV. Witnesses told police that about five or six men filled the SUV. Mutschlechner, who is said to have been driving a car full of people home Sunday morning, was shot in the head about 2 a.m., causing her to hit another vehicle before crashing into a utility pole. She died hours later at Denton Regional Medical Center. Police are investigating a party that went down at Crisoforo Drive in Denton, where police said witnesses allege some of the men in the SUV were celebrating. According to the police, “words were exchanged between the occupants of the SUV and the occupants in the victim’s vehicle” before a person fired multiple shots at Mutschlechner’s car. Featured Image: A girl looks at her candle as friends of Sara Mutschlechner share memories of her during the candlelight vigil held by Zeta Tau Alpha. Kristen Watson | DRC [url={url}]View the full article[/url]

Harrison Long | Opinion Editor @HarrisonGLong On Jan. 1, open carry became legal in our fair Lone Star State in an attempt to curb the problem of gun violence. While Texas is not the first state to implement open carry, “the practice of openly carrying a firearm on one’s person in public,” many are treating it as if we have found and administered the solution. But open carry is not campus carry, the ability to carry concealed weapons on college campuses. Campus carry goes into effect in August. Concerns have been raised and fingers pointed at other states with legal open carry, by both sides, in an effort to dissuade their opposition. One instance of the legislation having little effect, but rather allowing gun violence to occur, is with the Halloween shooting in Colorado Springs this past October. Naomi Bettis phoned police to inform them that her neighbor was walking around in public with a rifle strapped to his back. The dispatcher reminded Bettis that open carry was legal and the man well within his rights, and dismissed the call. Shortly after, Bettis called again asking for assistance; shooter Noah Harpham began firing on civilians in public, killing three before being taken out by police. This instance isn’t to frighten, but to showcase some real concerns that not only average citizens, but law enforcement may face in the implementation of open carry statewide, and then with the advent of campus carry on Aug. 1. A distinction should be made between the two. Open carry, although only requiring the same license that will be needed for one to participate in campus carry later this year, still has many limitations. Sporting events, hospitals, and lower-level schools will all still be gun free zones, and private property owners may bar practitioners of the law from openly carrying firearms at their discretion. Those who disregard the wishes of property owners may be arrested and charged with unlawful carry, and thus lose their license to do so. All pistols must be holstered and all rifles equipped with a strap for the open carrier to be considered legally compliant. Any and all firearms are banned from a location which receives more than half of its revenue from alcohol sales, and open carry is only permissible in public areas of airports and entirely unlawful past security checkpoints. The process for acquiring a Concealed Handgun License, now simply a LTC or License to Carry, has not changed: any individual seeking such must pass a background check, take a classroom course and qualify at a range. It should be noted that the city of Denver, despite Colorado’s adherence to open carry law, has barred the practice within its city limits entirely. Concerned Texans should understand that laws can be amended and appealed, and many who are fighting to overturn the open carry law are doing the same in fighting for a path public universities can take to opt out of the concealed carry practice that will go into effect in August. What seems to be the problem is that lawmakers with opposing viewpoints are incapable of engaging in a dialogue to find common ground, and just as pro gun groups shout the loudest that guns aren’t the problem, those looking to bring stricter laws are unable find a reasonable way to police them. In some cases, studies are linking carry laws to a decrease in gun violence, but the same can be said on the flip side. In our polarized state, its easy then to see how such legislation might be passed in the face of a large percentage being opposed. While this legislation is most certainly not doomsday for our already gun-laden state, and it would be pertinent to say that if one was able to survive the previous year of gun violence, the same resolve should be called upon to fair 2016. As the British used to say during World War II, “Keep calm and carry on.” [url={url}]View the full article[/url]

Harrison Long | Opinion Editor @HarrisonGLong Preston Mitchell | Staff Writer @Presto_Mitch What can be said with a reasonable degree of certainty is that 2015 was kind to the avid moviegoer. From an array of satisfying sleeper-hits to blockbusters with unmatched entertainment value, the films released this year were diverse in scope and addled with star power. This list is structured to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the act of appreciating the art of the motion picture, and all those who To start off, let’s begin with a few films that were notably above average, and yet, just couldn’t crack the Top 10 of the years releases. Honorable Mentions: 1) “Steve Jobs”: A far superior telling of the controversial tech-mogul’s life than its 2013 predecessor starring Ashton Kutcher. This film is an intimate glimpse into the eyes of genius, and Michael Fassbender is phenomenal. 2) “Slow West”: A sleeper-hit also starring Michael Fassbender, this film is a old-style western with panache. It gets everything right in creating a film in an all-but-dead genre. 3) “Spy”: Arguably the funniest movie of the year, Melissa McCarthy proves once again to be a force to be reckoned with in regard to making a splash on-screen; in both laughs on screen and dollars in the box office, its top-notch. 4) “Sicario”: How better to describe a film with Benecio del Toro rubbing shoulders with Mexian drug cartel’s a la “Traffic” than wholly, uncompromisingly intense? Emily Blunt is phenomenal, and you’d be missing out to let this one sneak by. 5) “The Kingsman”: Imagine a painfully self-aware spy movie, with the intensity turned up to 11, taking the best elements of Roger Moore era Bond and molding it to the modern day. This film is original in every sense of the word. All five of the above films were marvelous, outstanding in their own way and definitely worthy your time – yet somehow, they could not manage to break into the Top 10 of the Year. Numbers 10- 4 (in no particular order): 10) “Straight Outta Compton”: The biopic gets everything right in the retelling of the controversial – yet decidedly influential – rap group N.W.A., and their rise to fame despite the odds of growing up on the wrong side of 1980’s Los Angeles. It is riveting, visceral and consequently a feel-good film that makes you believe in the power behind being willing to face the odds. It doesn’t hurt that the soundtrack is pretty killer, too. 9) “Mad Max: Fury Road”: The remake of the 1979 Mel Gibson title of the same name made quite a splash in theatres this year with powerhouse duo Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy taking the reins in a post-apocalyptic world gone unquestionably “mad,” indeed. The dialogue is scarce, so for those who haven’t seen it yet, strap in- it’s going to be a bumpy ride. 8) “Bridge of Spies”: Tom Hanks returns in his usual fashion, and proves once again to be an actor capable of transcending generations to really bring back the fledgling art of storytelling. While it’s long, it’s riddled with historically accurate narratives, tensely-felt emotion, and controversial American history. This is Steven Spielberg’s best in a good while. 7) “Inside Out”: Pixar proves once again that its prodigious ability to make a story accessible and enjoyable to both children and the whole family is without compromises. The story is centered on Riley, a girl uprooted from her Midwest hometown, and the flurry of emotions felt in her move to San Francisco. The voice acting done by Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, and A-List comedic dynamos make the dialogue fun and snappy, while the narrative is heartfelt and sincere. We hope Pixar continues in this direction in the future. 6) “The Martian”: One of the first science-fiction films to reach a much broader audience in quite some time, “The Martian” is a triumph of the human spirit based on our perceptions of the near future through the lens of space exploration. It is a testament to the necessity of good men and women willing to face new and complicated challenges through calculated measures and teamwork. It showcases the value of perseverance and will likely have you cheering as the credits roll. It also proves that Matt Damon should maybe consider taking less dangerous jobs. Not only for his own health, but for ours, as the actor always seems to find himself in need of someone coming to rescue him. 5) “The Hateful Eight”: In the wake of “Star Wars,” and in spite of the notoriety of its director, this film has seemed to fall to the wayside due to its end-of-year release. This is unfortunate, as the eighth installment in the Tarantino universe is unlike anything the filmmaker has done in the past decade, at least. Centered on (fittingly) eight protagonists, A-Listers like Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell head off to a remote, snowed-in cabin as a mystery unfolds. Chock-full of shocking violence and unparalleled dialogue, Tarantino-buffs will find the film to be much in tune with some of his older works such as “Reservoir Dogs” and “Jackie Brown” than, say, “Kill Bill.” Nonetheless, it is sure to fit right on the shelf next its predecessors, and proves that Mr. Tarantino is incapable of being outsmarted. 4) “Creed”: The seventh installment in the Rocky franchise, the film is perhaps the best since the original 1976 Oscar-winner. Focusing on the rise of the son of former-opponent-turned-friend Apollo Creed, we find the aging Rocky Balboa has shifted into the role of mentor, grooming Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis for greatness in the ring without any compromises to his own morality. It is a triumph, and Stallone’s best film in at least two decades. A must see. The Top 3 Films of 2015 This list descends from least-great to best, but it should be noted that all three are marvelous, triumphant creations that will certainly hold up for years to come. These are the films that made you happy to spend $10 to sit on your butt for two hours. 3) “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”: The seventh installment in the iconic series was everything fans and critics alike were hoping for when they stepped into theatres on Dec. 18, as has been shown with its record-breaking performance in the box office, recently being crowned as the fastest movie to ever make $1 billion. With a slew of new characters, all seamlessly complimenting the likes of those whom we have always loved, this telling and rebranding of the universe was both spectacular, ominous and promising. With more spin-offs to come in-between the releases of newer installments to the trilogy, one thing is certain: there has never been a better time to become a “Star Wars” fan. 2) “The Revenant”: Gritty, tense and compelling, Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass is both familiar and utterly original in this pioneer-era survival film. Set in the harsh Alaskan wilderness, Glass finds danger at every turn, and that those closest to him on the job might be the last he should ever turn to for help. The cinematography is unrivaled, the acting first-rate and the characters truly encompassing. You feel the dangers and impending doom from the get-go, and despite some odds scenes here and there where Glass flashes back to memories of his deceased wife, the film is practically flawless. Tom Hardy’s performance is just as riveting, and it will be interesting to see how Leo fairs at this year’s Academy Awards. Stay tuned. 1) “Spotlight”: The telling of the Boston Globe’s crack team of investigative reporters as they navigate the perils of exposing corruption in the Catholic Church is our pick for greatest film of 2015 for a variety of reasons. Namely, while the film is unspeakably good, it is largely unassuming, and the actors make no attempt to convince you that they are anything more than who they are playing: average people. The pace is slow-burn, yet entirely encompassing- even those with no knowledge of the journalistic process will find themselves shouting for editor Michael Keaton to “Run the freaking story!” despite the hell that will rain upon them from the behemoth that is the Vatican and its sprawl over the world. A true story, its telling was done with grace, accuracy and sensitivity toward those who were affected by the revelations of the series of early-2000s exposes done on pedophilia among Boston priests. It is riveting, and both writer’s pick for Best Picture of 2015. We hope you enjoyed our list, be sure to sound off in the comment section below and let us know if you agree, disagree or if we missed anything! Happy watching. [url={url}]View the full article[/url]

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 The backcourt of junior guards Deckie Johnson and J-Mychal Reese and freshman guard Ja’Michael Brown combined for 51 of North Texas’ 69 points on Tuesday night and led the Mean Green to a crucial 69-64 victory in its final non-conference game of the season over Sam Houston State University. For Johnson, it was a career high, scoring 27 points on 8 of 13 shooting. Head coach Tony Benford said the team’s backcourt play should be attributed to each person trusting one another. “[Johnson] played off his teammates,” Benford said. “They’re starting to trust one another better. They know Deckie can make shots, and his role is to shoot the basketball. I don’t know if you’ll have a more efficient night than he had. His teammates will be the first to tell you. They got him the ball at the right time.” North Texas primarily shot from the perimeter in the first half but transitioned to a more attacking approach in the second half. The result was Sam Houston State committing more fouls and leaving passing lanes open for Mean Green shooters. The trio of Johnson, Reese and Brown immediately took advantage, as the tandem finished 7 of 13 from beyond the arc. Reese said the ability to drive and kick the ball has become a weapon for North Texas. “Being able to get in the lane, it just makes it easier for us,” Reese said. “We might have a wide open three for Deckie or a wide open three for [Brown.] Being able to get in the paint is why we score so easily.” Brown provided a much needed spark off the bench and shot 75 percent from the three point line. He finished with 11 points, including two crucial baskets in the final minutes of the game. Brown said having multiple shooters on the team keeps defenses honest and makes it hard on them to keep track of all North Texas’ shotmakers. “By us putting pressure on the defense and forcing them to rotate, someone is going to be open,” Brown said. “Everyone is able to play off the backcourt. The way we are able to get in the paint helps a lot.” The victory marked the last game in non-conference play for North Texas before it plays its first Conference USA opponent on New Year’s Day. Benford said he is pleased with the direction his team is trending and thought the win against the Bearkats was essential. “If these guys continue to buy in and get stops, we can win a lot of games because we can score the basketball,” Benford said. “I thought we ended non-conference play on a good note tonight.” View the full article

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 The North Texas men’s basketball team returned to action Tuesday night after a week-long holiday break and defeated Sam Houston State University 69-64. In a tightly contested game, the teams traded leads eight times, often jockeying for position. But the Mean Green (5-8) pulled away in the second half thanks to junior guard Deckie Johnson, who finished the game with a career high 27 points on 8 of 13 shooting. Despite keeping it close for the majority of the game, the Bearkats (5-8) went cold from the floor in the waning moments, making two of their last eight shots.. Johnson continued to be the centerpiece of scoring for North Texas and has scored 69 points in his last three games. Additionally, the Mean Green received key contributions from its entire back court, with junior guard J-Mychal Reese and freshman guard Ja’Michael Brown combining for 25 points. North Texas jumped out to an early 11 point lead due in large part to its perimeter shooting. Johnson led the way, pouring in 11 first half points to help North Texas start the game shooting 83 percent from the floor. But the lead slowly dwindled. The Bearkats frequently applied full-court pressure, which resulted in seven first half turnovers. The disruptive Sam Houston State defense also forced North Texas to go into a four minute drought without a field goal. Nevertheless, the Mean Green found an answer from one of its captains, when sophomore forward Jeremy Combs rejected a Bearkats’ shot, sending it flying into the seats. Seconds later, Johnson grabbed a rebound and took it coast to coast, slamming it home to send North Texas into halftime tied at 31. The second half continued to be a back and forth affair, as both squads repeatedly answered one another. The Bearkats reneged its full-court pressure in favor of a man-to-man defense, especially after head coach Tony Benford inserted freshman center Rickey Brice Jr. into the lineup. While he did not light up the stat sheet, Brice was able to alter shots in the paint and force Sam Houston State to shoot from the perimeter. In addition to its lineup changes, North Texas also began attacking the paint on dribble drives, which put the Bearkats over the foul limit midway through the second half. Despite being in foul trouble for the better part of the half, Sam Houston State refused to go away. Three Bearkats ended in double figures, including junior center Aurimas Majauskas who finished with 17 points and five rebounds. It was not enough however, as North Texas made crucial shots down the stretch to put Sam Houston State away. Next Up: North Texas travels to San Antonio to open its conference slate against the University of Texas San Antonio on Friday, Jan. 1. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. View the full article

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer @ReeceTapout15 Coming into Monday night’s contest against Nicholls State University, North Texas was riding a seven game losing streak, its longest dating back to 2002. But behind a career high performance from junior guard Deckie Johnson, the Mean Green found the win column. It was the first victory over a division one opponent this year and the first win in nearly a month of play. “I’ve never experienced anything like that, as a player or coach,” head coach Tony Benford said. “A streak that long. We felt like we gave some of those games away.” North Texas came out of the gates firing and outscored Nicholls State 41 to 22 in the first half. Junior guard J-Mychal Reese, who poured in 14 points in the win, said the team’s early success should be attributed to their aggressiveness. “We made it tough on them,” Reese said. “We didn’t let them get easy shots. That really helped us out.” Reese’s performance was his eighth straight game in double figures. Sophomore forward Jeremy Combs also poured in 19 points and eight rebounds, leading Benford to praise the entire team’s effort. View the full article