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Home proving the pits Mean Green lose, match last year’s loss total at Super Pit 01/17/2003 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer North Texas has not found much comfort in the familiar surroundings of the Super Pit this season. An 88-80 overtime loss Thursday night to Arkansas-Little Rock in Sun Belt play gave the Mean Green three home losses, matching their total from last season. The setback to the Trojans was perhaps the most painful for the Mean Green, which was coming off a four-point loss to Denver and has yet to record a home win over a Division I foe this season. "It really hurts because it’s back-to-back where we battled and lost at the end," said forward Michael DeGrate, who scored a career-high 17 points. "We just didn’t make the plays when we needed them." DRC/Stacey Cooper North Texas forward Unjel Masters, right, looks for an open teammate as Arkansas-Little Rock forward Darius Eason gaurds him Thursday at the Super Pit. The Trojans (11-6, 2-1) knocked down two critical 3-pointers in the extra period. Guard Tony Travis pulled up from long range on the first possession of overtime to give UALR a lead it would never relinquish. Guard Jibrahn Ike, who led the Trojans with 18 points, delivered the knockout punch with a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to four with 21 seconds remaining. UNT (6-9, 1-2) shot 53 percent from the floor in regulation but made only one of five shots in overtime. The Mean Green led by as many as 13 early in the second half, but needed a pair of free throws from DeGrate with four-tenths of a second on the clock to send the game into overtime. UALR coach Porter Moser attempted to freeze DeGrate by calling two timeouts before his first free throw and a third before the second. The Mean Green had a chance to regain the lead on its previous possession, when UNT missed five shots. Three of the failed attempts were around the basket and the final was a wide-open look at a 3 for guard Lee Green. "We had an excellent opportunity to finish the game," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "Unfortunately, it just didn’t go down. As a team, we’ve got to start making plays down the stretch. When we’ve got the opportunity, we’ve got to step up and deliver." Swingman Chris Davis, who played all 45 minutes, led the Mean Green with 25 points. However, he also had nine turnovers and was held to four points in the final 11 minutes. Forward Jermaine Green added 15 points for UNT. UALR shot 68 percent in the second half and had five players finish in double figures. Guards Mark Green and Travis had 15 points. Forwards Jake Yancey and Columbus Willis finished with 12 and 11, respectively. The Trojans made four of six 3-pointers in the half, including two during an 11-1 run to take the lead with 3:45 remaining in regulation. UNT tied the game briefly on DeGrate’s clutch free throws, but the Mean Green never regained the lead. "We can’t let that happen, especially in our house," Jermaine Green said. "We had the lead at halftime and just gave it away." TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-566-6870.

Lewis’ 22 points lead Lady Eagles in rout 01/17/2003 Staff report LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Senior forward Angel Lewis scored a career-high 22 points as the North Texas cruised past Arkansas-Little Rock 71-46 at Trojan Fieldhouse. The Lady Eagles have now won three of their last four games. "Angel really stepped up for us tonight with 22 points and showed the kind of player that she is," said North Texas head coach Tina Slinker. "I was very happy with our defense and especially the way we shot the ball tonight." Arkansas-Little Rock (3-11, 0-4), led by Darci Cassidy’s two early 3-pointers, opened up a 19-13 lead with 8:24 left in the first half. The Lady Eagles (7-7, 2-1) got a boost off the bench from freshman point guard Nahogany Brown who connected on three first half 3-pointers and ignited the Lady Eagles on a 16-3 run in the final eight minutes of the half to give North Texas a 29-22 lead at the break. "She [brown] really came in and hit some big 3-pointers for us in the first half. She came our ready to play for us," said Slinker. The Lady Eagles continued the hot shooting from the 3-point line in the second half as they pulled away from Arkansas-Little Rock. Keyed by two 3-point baskets by Lewis, and an Erika Bobo 3-pointer, the Lady Eagles went on a 15-2 run to extend their lead to 46-29 with 13:20 left in the second half. North Texas ended the night with a season-high 10 three-point baskets. The 22 points by Lewis were the most points scored by a North Texas player this season. The Lady Eagles return to action with a Saturday afternoon battle against Arkansas State from the Convocation Center at 1 p.m.

Lady Eagles need to get into ‘zone’ after latest loss 01/16/2003 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer North Texas coach Tina Slinker doesn’t have to see opposing scouting reports to sense how her team will be defended. After the Lady Eagles’ woeful offensive effort in last week’s loss to Denver, Slinker anticipates seeing a steady diet of zone defenses. Why wouldn’t a team follow the Pioneers’ lead? Denver held the Lady Eagles to 42 points — the program’s lowest scoring output since 1996 — and 24 percent shooting. UNT also committed 29 turnovers to prevent it from starting Sun Belt play 2-0. The Lady Eagles (6-7, 1-1) will look to rediscover its offense on this week’s road trip, which begins with Thursday’s 7 p.m. game at Arkansas-Little Rock. "They’ve got to do the little things we ask of them," Slinker said of her team. "Things like ball movement and moving without the ball. We’ve got to find a solution to shooting percentage. Maybe that means spending more time in here [the gym]." Prior to the pitiful performance against Denver, UNT appeared to have been coming together as a team. The Lady Eagles won consecutive games against quality teams (Florida International and Weber State) by relying heavily on pounding the ball inside to their posts. "We’ve got to re-establish where our strengths are versus different types of defenses," Slinker said. "The guards are saying that they thought all we wanted to do was go inside, because that’s what we’ve been doing against man. Well, that’s not necessarily true against the zone." Slinker said the Lady Eagles need a perimeter scoring threat to step up to make teams think twice about sitting back in zones. She hopes junior shooting guard Heather Trout accepts the challenge. Though UNT won’t overlook anyone after its defeat against Denver, a win over Arkansas-Little Rock looks to be a proverbial layup for the Lady Eagles. The Trojans (3-10, 0-3) have lost 45 of their last 47 games in Sun Belt play. TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-566-6870.

UNT women hold on for one-point win 01/08/2003 By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News DENTON – North Texas coach Tina Slinker let out a huge sigh of relief after the Lady Eagles' 66-65 win over Weber State on Tuesday night at the Super Pit. UNT never trailed and led by as many as 11 points in the second half. Yet the game came down to a pair of missed free throws by Weber State guard Julie Gjertsen with 1.7 seconds on the clock – the only misses the Wildcats had in 14 attempts from the line. "Were we lucky or what?" Slinker asked. Weber State (8-4), coming off an NCAA Tournament berth last season, had won six in a row. The Lady Eagles (6-6), who switched to a post-oriented offense after a recent stretch of six losses in seven games, got results. Power forward Kim Blanton, who came off the bench for the first time this season, scored a game-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Center Vilma Grismanauskaite added a season-high 13 points, and power forward Emily Britt added 11 points. "We're clicking right now, at the right time," said Grismanauskaite, who had seven rebounds. "Our team is starting to come together." North Texas 66, Weber State 65 Weber State (8-4) – Sampson 2-2 2-2 6, Howe 6-11 3-3 15, Hesselbach 1-1 0-0 2, Gjertsen 5-16 2-4 16, Muller 1-5 1-1 3, Gardner-Clyder 3-5 2-2 8, Robertson 4-15 2-2 13, Hansen 0-1 0-0 0, Tukuafu 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 23-58 12-14 65. North Texas (6-6) – Britt 4-9 3-4 11, Lewis 2-7 0-0 4, Grismanauskaite 4-9 5-6 13, Bobo 4-7 1-4 9, Trout 3-7 2-2 8, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Blanton 6-11 5-8 17, Armstrong 1-3 0-0 2, M. Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Haskin 0-0 0-0 0, J. Williams 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-54 16-24 66. Halftime – UNT 37, Weber St. 30. 3-point goals – Weber St. 7-28 (Gjertsen 4-11, Muller 0-2, Gardner-Clyder 0-2, Robertson 3-13), UNT 0-6 (Lewis 0-1, Bobo 0-3, Trout 0-2). Fouled out – Weber St. (Sampson, Howe). UNT – None. Rebounds – Weber St. 34 (Howe, Gardner-Clyder 7), UNT 37 (Bobo 7). Assists – Weber St. 7 (Muller 4), UNT 11 (Lewis 5). Total fouls – Weber St. 18, UNT 17. A – 313.

UNT wins Sun Belt opener 01/06/2003 By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News MIAMI – There are series that have much more tradition than North Texas-Florida International, but there aren't many with more drama. The Mean Green opened Sun Belt play with a 94-91 victory in double overtime Sunday at Golden Panther Arena. It was the third time in four meetings between the schools that the game was decided in overtime. Guard Lee Green hit the go-ahead 3-pointer from the left wing with 26 seconds remaining. The shot halted a run of six unanswered points by the Golden Panthers that came after the Mean Green (6-7, 1-0) built a five-point lead. "The man that was guarding me gave me a lot of room, so I let it loose," said Green, who was 5-of-11 from 3-point range for a career-high 15 points. "You've got to believe in yourself." UNT was 3-of-4 from the line on two trips in the final eight seconds, sandwiched around an 18-foot bank shot by FIU forward Rodrigo Viegas. Point guard Jerome Rogers came up with a steal with 1.6 seconds remaining to seal the victory. "That's college basketball there, man," said UNT swingman Chris Davis, who had season highs of 27 points and eight assists. "I had fun. For us to come out with the victory makes it even more nice." Davis played all 50 minutes and was 8-of-12 from the floor. NORTH TEXAS 94, FLA. INTERNATIONAL 91 (2 OT) NORTH TEXAS 94 (6-7) – J. Green 5-8 3-5 13, DeGrate 3-4 0-0 7, Rogers 5-13 6-6 17, Davis 8-12 8-10 27, L. Green 5-11 0-0 15, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Chiles 3-5 3-3 11, Awasom 1-2 0-0 2, Masters 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 31-58 20-24 94. FLA. INTERNATIONAL 91 (6-8) – Baez 5-16 2-5 12, Viegas 5-11 5-7 16, Bamba 2-3 2-2 6, Morban 6-14 3-4 17, Matias 7-12 6-8 22, Fisher 0-5 0-0 0, Slavtchev 0-1 0-0 0, Fernandez 2-7 6-8 10, Novakovic 4-7 0-0 8. Totals 31-76 24-34 91. Halftime – UNT 45, FIU 37. Three-point goals – UNT 12-25 (L. Green 5-11, Rogers 1-5, Chiles 2-4, Davis 3-3, DeGrate 1-2), FIU 5-16 (Morban 2-5, Matias 2-4, Viegas 1-3, Fisher 0-3, Slavtchev 0-1). Fouled out – DeGrate, Chiles, Fernandez. Rebounds – UNT 30 (Davis 9), FIU 50 (Baez 13). Assists – UNT 17 (Davis 8), FIU 16 (Morban 5). Total fouls – UNT 24, FIU 21. A – 650.

Mean Green hopes look is deceiving Jones isn’t panicking after losing five straight D-I games 01/05/2003 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer At first glance, it doesn’t seem to look good for the Mean Green entering Sun Belt Conference play. Johnny Jones North Texas has lost its last five games against Division I foes and is the only team in the West Division with a losing record. UNT had a particularly tough time in the week leading up to Sunday’s conference opener at Florida International, losing on the road to Baylor and Auburn by a total of 51 points. Coach Johnny Jones, however, isn’t hitting the panic button. "We by far had the toughest non-conference schedule in our conference," said Jones, whose team has played only three home games thus far this season. "We hope that will carry over into our performance in league play. We feel like we’ve prepared ourselves." Jones doesn’t expect by any means that it will be easy for the Mean Green to improve on its fourth-place finish in the division last season. The three teams that were above UNT in the standings last season — Louisiana-Lafayette, New Mexico State and New Orleans — returned the majority of their key players. With the vast improvement of South Alabama and Denver, UNT is the only team in the division to enter league play with a losing record. "It’s real tough on our side," UNT swingman Chris Davis said. "We’ve got to come with it every night. Now it’s time for us to take it up another level." The East Division doesn’t have nearly as much depth, though it does include the team that has taken the conference’s last two regular season and tournament titles in Western Kentucky. Arkansas-Little Rock appears to be the only team in the division that has a chance to challenge the Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky, which entered the season ranked, has sputtered somewhat with star center Chris Marcus sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery. "Until somebody knocks them off, they are the champions," Jones said. "But at the same time, I think New Mexico State and Louisiana-Lafayette are so close to being there. ... Any team in this league can beat any other. Every night, you’ve got to be ready to play and ready to compete." TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572. EAST DIVISION Western Kentucky Record: 7-5* Outlook: Center Chris Marcus is expected to return later this month, but there’s no telling what kind of shape he’ll be in. The Hilltoppers, who have five players who average double figures in points, need an imposing interior presence, not a savior. But the gap has been closed on the two-time defending conference champs. Arkansas-Little Rock Record: 8-5* Outlook: The Trojans are the only team within the division that can challenge Western Kentucky. Forward Jamal Holden, a junior college transfer who became eligible at the semester break, has to emerge as an scoring threat in the paint to complement All-Sun Belt guard Nick Zachary for that to happen. Arkansas State Record: 6-6 Outlook: Don’t be fooled by the decent record — ASU’s nonconference schedule was softer than a baby’s backside. This is a rebuilding year for the Indians. Junior college transfer Trevoris Thompson (20.6 ppg) is their only legitimate scoring threat. Florida International Record: 6-7 Outlook: Sophomore power forward Taurance Johnson, the player who was supposed to be the program’s cornerstone, has played only two games this season because of disciplinary issues. Without him, FIU will struggle to get out of the East Division cellar. Middle Tennessee Record: 4-8 Outlook: The Blue Raiders’ victories are over Tennessee-Martin, IUPUI, Christian Brothers and Kennesaw. Those aren’t exactly quality wins. It’s going to be a long debut season for coach Kermit Davis. WEST DIVISION Louisiana-Lafayette Record: 8-4, 1-0* Outlook: The Ragin’ Cajuns are incredibly talented but just as inconsistent. They showed what they are capable of by opening league play with a win at NMSU. Star center Michael Southall is back after sitting last semester due to grades. In his absence, streak-shooting guard Brad Boyd showed he could be a big-time scorer. New Mexico State Record: 8-3, 0-1 Outlook: The West Division title will probably be decided Feb. 15, when the Aggies travel to Louisiana-Lafayette. NMSU had the league’s best run in non-conference play, with its losses coming to Tulsa and Texas Tech in competitive games. Forward James Moore was sidelined by grades the first semester, but he’s making up for lost time (20.6 ppg, 69 FG%). New Orleans Record: 8-4, 1-0 Outlook: The Privateers are not all Hector Romero, though he is leading the league in scoring (22.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.8 rpg). They also play tenacious defense and do an excellent job of taking the opponents’ top option away. They just don’t have enough talent to scrap their way to the top of the division. South Alabama Record: 6-6, 0-1 Outlook: It looks like USA, which is one win away from matching last season’s total, made a pretty good hire in coach John Pelphrey. And he made a smart move in signing junior college transfer Chris Young, a guard who is averaging better than 19 ppg. The Jaguars have been competitive in every game and should continue to be. North Texas Record: 5-7 Outlook: The loss of guard Leonard Hopkins to a broken foot was a huge blow to the Mean Green. Now swingman Chris Davis is UNT’s only player who can create his own shot. Given the competition within the division, the Mean Green will be hard-pressed to repeat last season’s 8-7 league record. Denver Record: 8-6 Outlook: The Pioneers have made an impressive turnaround in coach Terry Carroll’s second season, already equaling their win total of a year ago. But it’s going to be awfully difficult to move up in a division that is loaded with experience. *Prior to Saturday’s game

True Britt Junior has career-high 20 points in upset of Florida International 01/05/2003 By Chuck Cox / Staff Writer Florida International doesn’t have North Texas to kick around any more. UNT avenged last year’s Sun Belt Conference championship game loss by throttling FIU, 64-47, Saturday afternoon in the conference opener at the Super Pit. DRC/Hiroyuki Komae North Texas forward Emily Britt, right, goes up for a jump shot against Florida International center Silvia Mesa (21) in the first half of the Lady Eagles' 64-47 win at the Super Pit Saturday. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak and was UNT’s first win over FIU in four tries. The loss ended an 11-game winning streak against Sun Belt opponents by the Golden Panthers. "It’s great when the kids do buy into what you tell them as far as the preseason," UNT coach Tina Slinker said. "I told them I felt like we were just about to come together. I felt like Florida International was coming in a little shaky right now. One of their kids was sick [Anita Heller] and they had come off a couple of not really good games, and we took advantage of it." Emily Britt, a University of Oklahoma transfer, led the Lady Eagles (5-6, 1-0) in scoring with a career-high 20 points. She had 14 of those points during a huge 25-7 run by UNT that gave it an 11-point lead early in the second half. At one point, Britt scored 10 straight points in the game. "It was nice to get my confidence back and my game back and everything like that," Britt said. "I think we’re sending the message to the rest of the conference that we didn’t have a real good preseason, but you better watch out for us." Britt benefited greatly from teammate Heather Trout, who fed the ball to her in the low post on several occasions on her way to a career-high nine assists. Britt scored 10 of her points in the paint. "That was fun," said Trout, who also had a career-high five steals. "I like passing her [britt] the ball when she’s hitting like that." Before UNT went on its huge run, it trailed by nine points with 8:15 to go in the first half. But all of the sudden, UNT couldn’t miss and ended up scoring the final 12 points of the first half and the first four of the second. FIU was able to cut the lead to eight with 15:29 to go in the game on a 3-point play by Ivelina Vrancheva, but UNT answered with a 15-4 run that increased the lead to 19 points and put the game out of reach. "I thought it all started on the defensive end," Slinker said. "I thought the team defense we had took them out of what they were trying to do." UNT played stellar defense, forcing 22 turnovers and limiting FIU to 28 percent (16-of-58) shooting from the field. On the flipside, UNT shot 42 percent (27-of-65) for the game. Vilma Grismanauskaite finished with a season-high 11 points for UNT, while Erika Bobo, who hurt her wrist against LSU Thursday night, finished with 10. Vrancheva led FIU (9-5, 0-1) in virtually every category with 15 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. FIU, which has lost two straight, was without Heller, who was sick, and guard Deniz Boz, who tore her anterior curciate ligament earlier this season. UNT held Cormisha Cotton, who came into the game averaging 12 points per contest, scoreless. Briefly... Both UNT and FIU had 41 rebounds. The Golden Panthers have been outrebounded only once this season against Duke, while the Lady Eagles have outrebounded seven of their opponents. ... FIU’s 28 percent shooting was the lowest by an opponent for UNT this season. CHUCK COX can be reached at 940-381-9587. Denton Record-Chronicle/Hiroyuki Komae Search

Non-conference play didn’t go the way North Texas coach Tina Slinker wanted, but there is no sense looking back. Slinker, whose squad is 4-6 after losing six of its last seven, just hopes her team takes the same approach. DRC/Stacey Cooper North Texas forward Kennethia Wilson, rigth, shoots the ball over LSU center Crystal White during the Lady Eagles’ loss Thursday to the Lady Tigers. UNTopens Sun Belt action Saturday when they host Florida International at 2 p.m. "I think winning is what gives kids confidence, so we need to take leadership as a staff," Lady Eagles coach Tina Slinker said. "We need to make sure our kids aren’t real down. I’m a little concerned about that." UNT won its division and advanced to the tournament title game last season, but this isn’t the same team. The Lady Eagles, who lost several seniors who played key roles in the program’s recent success, are still looking for consistent scoring options and trying to develop chemistry while relying heavily on the freshman class. The Lady Eagles’ growing pains hit a low point in the last two games, when UNT lost to Baylor and No. 2 Louisiana State by a total of 65 points. "We need to get into conference and get winning as soon as possible," Slinker said. Unfortunately for UNT, it won’t get much easier in Saturday’s conference opener against defending Sun Belt champion Florida International. The Golden Panthers, who lost only one league game last season and are off to a 9-4 start, are heavily favored to repeat. UNT isn’t the only perennial contender in the women’s West Division that is struggling this season. Denver (6-7), which won the division title two years ago and finished second last season, has yet to win a road game. South Alabama (8-4), which finished a distant third in the division a year ago, is entering league play on the strongest note, winning six straight games. TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572. A look at the Sun Belt’s women’s basketball teams entering league play, in Staff Writer Tim MacMahon’s predicted order of finish: EAST DIVISION Florida International Record: 9-4 Outlook: FIU is heavily favored to repeat as Sun Belt champions after cruising through the conference last season. Forward Cormisha Cotton (12.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg) was the league’s preseason player of the year, but guard Mandy Shafer (15.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg) might be a better player. Middle Tennessee Record: 6-5 Outlook: This is one of the league’s up-and-coming programs. Wing Patrice Holmes (15.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.9 spg), the Sun Belt’s freshman of the year last season, might already be the best player in the conference. Western Kentucky Record: 5-6 Outlook: The Lady Toppers’ recent woes are making their season-opening win over perennial power Louisiana Tech look like a fluke. WKU has lost its last three games and five of its last six. Forward Shala Reese (15.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg) is a force inside. Arkansas State Record: 3-8 Outlook: The Lady Indians, who have lost their last six games, are going to be hard pressed to improve on last season’s fourth-place finish in the East Division. Jolie McKeirnan (12.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg) is one of the top post players in the league, but ASU doesn’t have a perimeter scoring threat to complement her. Arkansas-Little Rock Record: 3-7 Outlook: It was a bad sign when the Lady Trojans got swept in two exhibition games to start the season. This program will continue its role as the Sun Belt’s bottom feeder. WEST DIVISION Denver Record: 6-7 Outlook: The Pioneers have struggled to replace their All-Sun Belt backcourt tandem of Melissa Garcia and Nikki Weddle. They are still tough to beat at home — as their win over Southwest Missouri State attests — and will contend for the division title. South Alabama Record: 8-4 Outlook: The Jaguars are riding a six-game winning streak into Sun Belt play, including a convincing victory over Alabama. But they had similar success in non-conference play last season, only to finish in the middle of the pack. Forward Taneisha Russell (14.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg) is USA’s standout. North Texas Record: 4-6 Outlook: The Lady Eagles have gone through growing pains early this season after replacing six seniors off of last season’s division champion. Tough non-conference schedule or not, though, this team has to play much better to be a factor in the division race. New Mexico State Record: 5-6 Outlook: It will be interesting to see how the Aggies fare without coach Nikita Lowry, who was placed on administrative leave for "coaching management issues." Sinnamon Garrett has emerged as NMSU’s go-to player under interim coach Marlene Stollings, averaging 21.3 points in three games. New Orleans Record: 2-7 Outlook: The Privateers aren’t as bad as their record indicates, suffering their seven losses by an average of just over seven points. That’s also an indicator of a team that doesn’t know how to win. Louisiana-Lafayette Record: 3-6 Outlook: Don’t expect much from the Ragin’ Cajuns in coach J. Kelley Hall’s first season. Anything above the cellar is a vast improvement for a team that won one league game a year ago. Search

Lady Eagles lose fifth of past six 12/31/2002 By TIM MACMAHON / Denton Record-Chronicle WACO - North Texas coach Tina Slinker is satisfied with her young team. But there's nothing more frustrating than the Lady Eagles' tendency to have long stretches where they can't buy a bucket. The latest examples occurred during Monday night's 83-49 loss to Baylor at the Ferrell Center, where the Lady Bears are undefeated in 21 regular-season nonconference games under coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson. After jumping out to an early lead, the Lady Eagles (4-5) went 10:07 without scoring from the floor. The Lady Bears (11-1), who have won seven straight games, took advantage by outscoring UNT by a 17-5 margin during that span to go ahead for good. UNT had a drought from the field of 4:54 in the second half, and Baylor took advantage by reeling off 17 unanswered points to turn a comfortable lead into a rout. That came on the heels of a scoreless stretch of 4:01, during which the Lady Bears went on a 15-2 run. "We don't know where to go when things aren't going well," UNT coach Tina Slinker said. The loss was the fifth for UNT in the past six games. The Lady Eagles failed to score 50 points in three of those games after doing so just three times in the last four seasons. The Lady Eagles shot just 26 percent from the floor for the game. UNT wasn't much better from the free-throw line (48 percent) and added to their offensive woes by committing 25 turnovers. "We were very aggressive on the defensive end," Mulkey-Robertson said. "We didn't let up." Forward Angel Lewis led UNT with 16 points. Point guard Erika Bobo had 12 points, seven rebounds, six steals and five assists, but she also had eight turnovers. "When we can't score, we've got to be more disciplined," Slinker said. "That's what I've been struggling with. We've got a point guard that's better when you let her go, but we've got to find a balance." Forward Sophia Young scored 17 points off the bench to lead four Baylor players in double figures. Point guard Jessika Stratton added 15 points and had game highs of nine rebounds and six assists. TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572. His e-mail address is tmacmahon@dentonrc.com.

UNT starts brutal stretch with Lady Bears LSU, Weber State among opponents 12/30/2002 By TIM MACMAHON / Denton Record-Chronicle The North Texas women's basketball team begins a brutal stretch of its schedule with Monday night's game at Baylor. The Lady Bears are the first of four 2002 NCAA Tournament teams that the Lady Eagles face in succession over the next nine days. UNT (4-4) travels to the Ferrell Center after a two-week layoff for a 6 p.m. tip. The trip to Baylor is followed by home games against No. 2 Louisiana State, defending Sun Belt champion Florida International and Weber State. The Lady Eagles' next four foes have a combined record of 33-5 this season. "If we worry too much about wins and losses instead of us pulling together and starting to play well, it could be a long year," UNT coach Tina Slinker said. "But if we focus on those things, I think we can make a nice run during conference play. I'm more focused on us right now and how we're going to get on track. We need to start playing well." Baylor, which is 58-16 in two-plus seasons under coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson, is off to a 10-1 start this season against a soft schedule. UNT is the Lady Bears' last opponent before they begin Big 12 play. Sophomore forward Steffanie Blackmon, whose father, Stan, starred at North Texas State in the 1970s, leads Baylor in scoring with 21 points per game. She is one of four Lady Bears averaging in double figures. "They're very balanced with good inside and outside scoring," Slinker said. "The fact that they're shooting 51 percent is an interesting statistic. I don't know if that's because of a soft schedule or if they've just been shooting the ball that well, but that's pretty impressive." TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572. His e-mail address is tmacmahon@dentonrc.com.

Baylor on DeGrate's mind But winning would be forward's best revenge against former team 12/30/2002 By TIM MACMAHON / Denton Record-Chronicle Michael DeGrate doesn't have fond memories of his brief stint at Baylor. He basically wasted a season's worth of eligibility before leaving the campus as quickly as possible. He had 15 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes, which would be pretty impressive for per-game averages. But those were his statistics for his entire freshman season. DeGrate, now the starting power forward at North Texas after a year at McLennan Community College, returns to the Ferrell Center for the first time in another uniform Monday night. The Mean Green's game at Baylor tips off at 8 p.m. "I put this on my calendar at the beginning of the year," DeGrate said in a determined tone. But DeGrate understands that it isn't in UNT's best interests if personal payback is his priority. His goal is to help the Mean Green get a win at Baylor, which UNT hasn't accomplished since 1983. "I'm going to stay in the system and play with the team I have," DeGrate said. "It'll show [what Baylor missed out on.]" DeGrate, who recruiting analyst Mike Mitchell ranked as one of the top 25 junior-college players in the country last season, is just beginning show UNT the kind of contributions he can make. He has averaged 10.8 points on 65-percent shooting in the four games since he was inserted into the starting lineup. For the most part, DeGrate was a non-factor in the first five games of the season, failing to score in double figures during that span. UNT coach Johnny Jones said DeGrate had to play his way into shape after working full-time this summer and experienced some of the struggles most junior-college transfers do when making the transition to Division I. "Mike has the qualities and the ability to make that adjustment," Jones said. "He's gradually making it. He's making some strides. The proof has been what he's done the last few games. His confidence is starting to grow." Added DeGrate, whose playing time has also been limited by persistent foul trouble: "I think I'm fitting in. It's coming to me. I knew it would take some time." The 6-8, 225-pound DeGrate gives the Mean Green another scoring threat, which is key with the season-ending injury to shooting guard Leonard Hopkins. While he has the ability to score in the post, DeGrate is most comfortable facing the basket. His range and soft touch on his jumper and quickness make him a difficult matchup for most power forwards. His 61-percent field-goal percentage easily leads the team. "He's got a nice jump shot and he can score in bunches," UNT swingman Chris Davis said. "When he's hot and he gets going, we're going to feed him the ball. We've just got to get him more minutes. When he gets his 30 minutes [per game], there's no telling what he can do." Baylor never found out. The Bears might Monday night. TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572. His e-mail address is tmacmahon@dentonrc.com.

To Moot point...sorry I posted the DRC article when you already had posted it.. I had not checked the responses to the DMN blurb when I did so .

Hopkins' injury isn't the end Jones looks no further than UNT football team for inspiration 12/28/2002 By TIM MACMAHON / Denton Record-Chronicle With his team surrounding him at center court of the Super Pit following Thursday night's practice, North Texas coach Johnny Jones pointed across the street for proof that a team can overcome a season-ending injury to a key player. He mentioned that the Mean Green football team lost quarterback Scott Hall in the first game of the season but still managed to claim the Sun Belt crown and win the New Orleans Bowl. Jones' basketball team is facing a similar challenge after sophomore shooting guard Leonard Hopkins broke his foot in the waning moments of Monday night's loss at Colorado. UNT plays its first game without its second-leading scorer at 7 p.m. Saturday night against Division II Texas A&M-Commerce (8-1) at the Super Pit. "I don't look for excuses," Jones said. "I look for opportunities. This is an opportunity for other guys to step up." Jermaine Green, a senior who has played primarily power forward, will see most of his minutes on the wing now. Jones said the 6-8 Green will be asked to defend shooting guards on a regular basis. As a result, players such as juniors Michael DeGrate and Will Smith will be counted on to provide the production Green did at power forward. UNT will also need quality minutes at the wing from Ty Thomas, a 6-6 freshman who played a total of 12 minutes this season. Another option is playing point guard Lee Green at the two, something Jones has done in moderation the last two seasons. Jones is hesitant to do so, however, because reserve point guard Scott Roniger will miss at least 10 days with a knee injury, making depth at that position a concern. "We need all the guys to pick it up," Jermaine Green said. "We've all got to step up and challenge ourselves. We lost a big piece, but we've got to work through it." Jones wants the players replacing Hopkins to concentrate on defense and running the offense correctly. Jones does not want an individual player to attempt to assume the scoring void in the lineup without Hopkins (12.7 points per game). "It's going to be spread around," Jones said. "I think everybody is going to pick up their game. One particular guy isn't going to go from averaging two points to 12 or 14. It's going to be a shared deal." TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572. His e-mail address is tmacmahon@dentonrc.com.

UNT loses football assistant, gains one 12/28/2002 From Staff Reports DENTON – North Texas football coach Darrell Dickey said offensive line coach Spencer Leftwich, who spent nine seasons at UNT, is leaving to take the same position at Tulsa. Dickey also said he is rehiring assistant coach Bruce Bell, who served as UNT's running backs coach from 1998 to 2000.

Kelsie is playing as a forward instead of center as in the past. She is averaging 16.6 pts per game and 7.7 rebounds. Nice picture of her today in the *Telegram in an article on boys and girls tournaments in the area. This article lists 9 players to watch...and Kelsie is one of the 9.

UNT guard Hopkins likely out for season 12/25/2002 By TIM MacMAHON / Denton Record-Chronicle BOULDER, Colo. – North Texas sophomore shooting guard Leonard Hopkins broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, an injury that UNT trainer Brad Anderson said is likely season-ending. Hopkins suffered the injury with less than two minutes remaining in the Mean Green’s loss Monday night at Colorado. He will undergo an operation in the next week to have a screw inserted in the foot and will be in a cast for four to six weeks before beginning the rehabilitation process, Anderson said. Anderson added that the bone was not displaced, leaving “a really, really slim chance” that Hopkins could return by the Sun Belt tournament in March. Coach Johnny Jones said he would look into the possibility of Hopkins receiving a medical redshirt. Hopkins redshirted as a true freshman, allowing him to fully recover from a stress fracture in his left leg and ensuing complications that sidelined him for his final two seasons at Dallas Lincoln. Hopkins, who was not available for comment, averaged 11.5 points off the bench last season and moved into a starting role as a sophomore. He ranks second on the Mean Green in scoring (12.7 ppg), assists (19) and steals (10) this season. “We’re definitely disappointed, because he worked so hard to get back from his previous injuries,” Jones said. “He had an excellent year last year and was being counted on heavily. As disappointing as it is, we’ve got to pick up the pieces and have somebody else step up.” Freshman Scott Roniger, a reserve point guard who suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee during Saturday’s loss at Tennessee Tech, will also undergo surgery in the next week. Anderson is hopeful that Roniger’s injury can be addressed with arthroscopic surgery, meaning he will be out no longer than two weeks.

Buffs rough up UNT 12/24/2002 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer BOULDER, Colo. — North Texas coach Johnny Jones attempted to counter Colorado’s frontcourt power by playing a big lineup Monday night at the Coors Events Center. AP Colorado’s David Harrison drives to the basket against North Texas in Boulder, Colo., Monday. "Well, as big as it gets for us," said Jones prior to tip-off. It wasn’t big enough to prevent Buffaloes center David Harrison from dominating the undersized Mean Green. Harrison scored 29 points to lead Colorado to an 87-71 victory. UNT (4-5) was able to limit Harrison’s touches by playing a sagging zone defense for most of the game. The Mean Green just couldn’t do much to stop the 7-foot sophomore once he got his hands on the ball. Harrison made eight of 10 shots from the floor. He had three dunks — two of which turned into 3-point plays, including a highlight-reel breakaway jam on which he put his elbow inside the rim. The success Harrison had at the free-throw line was somewhat of a surprise. A 50-percent shooter from the line entering the night, he made 13 of 17 attempts. "He’s very tough to defend inside," Jones said of Harrison. "He’s even tougher when he goes to the line and knocks free throws down. He hasn’t been shooting free throws well, but it’s just one of those things that happen." UNT’s three centers — 6-7 Will Smith, 6-9 Unjel Masters and 6-10 Justin Barnett — combined to score 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting. "They didn’t have anybody to match my size," Harrison said. "But not many teams we play do." Harrison shot more free throws than the entire Mean Green. Colorado went 29-of-38 from the line, while UNT was 14-of-16. Swingman Chris Davis had 20 points and seven assists to lead the Mean Green. He also had seven turnovers, though several were because teammates failed to catch good passes. Guard Leonard Hopkins, who came off the bench to allow UNT to open with the bigger lineup, added 13 points before limping off the floor late in the game. Hopkins underwent X-rays on his foot following the game, but the results were not available at press time. Colorado (5-3) took control with a 12-0 run midway through the first half, with Harrison providing half of the points in the spurt. He had 19 points in the first 20 minutes, leading the Buffaloes to a 37-28 halftime lead. "We turned the ball over a few times, and good teams capitalize on that," Davis said. "Once they went on that run, we could never get back in a rhythm. We’ve got to play smarter as a team and not make so many mistakes." UNT cut the lead to six early in the second half, but Colorado responded with a run of 11 unanswered points and remained comfortably ahead the remainder of the game. The Mean Green shot a season-low 34 percent from the floor. "We’ve just got to do a better job of running through our offense and getting to our fourth and fifth options," Jones said. "We’re not being patient enough with the ball sometimes, and that’s when they have opportunities to make runs. That’s tough to recover from." Briefly ... UNT forward Michael DeGrate, who started for the third straight game, scored a season-high 12 points. ... UNT forward Jermaine Green was one point shy of his third double-double of the season. He had a game-high 10 rebounds. ... Colorado walk-on guard Trennis Jones, the nephew of the UNT coach, played the last minute of the game and had an assist. TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572.

UNT hopes to snap slump at SMU 12/16/2002 By Matthew Postins / Assistant Sports Editor DALLAS ? Even after Wednesday?s horrible shooting display against Indiana, Tina Slinker says she isn?t worried about her UNT Lady Eagles heading into Monday?s non-conference contest against SMU at Moody Coliseum. Of course, beating SMU (3-2) doesn?t necessarily mean the Lady Eagles (4-3) are ahead of the curve, either. "If we get the SMU win, we won?t be far off from where I thought we would be," said Slinker after the 51-42 loss to Indiana. But coming off a loss in which UNT shot a season-worst 21.1 percent from the floor, and were a couple of missed layups away from tying the game in the final two minutes, Monday?s game is more about reclaiming some confidence after the Lady Eagles followed a 3-0 start by going 1-3 in its last four games. Indiana found a formula to derail UNT?s inside game in its victory. The Hoosiers played intense man-to-man defense, but defenders also sagged off their defensive assignments and into the paint, where they clogged the lane to stop players like forward Kim Blanton, who had a season-low eight points. Blanton said after the game that Indiana had scouted them well, and no doubt SMU coach Rhonda Rompola and her staff were taking notes. "Playing basketball you?re looking for a high-percentage shot or in the paint," said Blanton. "If the post can?t make it you have to kick it out to a guard for a jump shot. You also look to get to the free throw line, but that wasn?t working tonight either, and that?s a 75 percent shot." Blanton is still UNT?s leading scorer at 12.6 points per game, but the team as a whole is shooting just 36.8 percent from the floor. Of course, UNT?s pressure defense offsets that by forcing 23 turnovers a contest. SMU hasn?t played since a 77-57 loss to TCU on Dec. 5. Like UNT, the Mustangs started the season 3-0, but have lost their last two games. And, like the Lady Eagles, SMU?s first loss of the season was to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Lady Eagles will have to watch Mustangs sharpshooter Andrea Cossey closely. Cossey is the team?s leading scorer, and is shooting 31.4 percent from behind the arc. UNT?s Heather Trout is shooting about the same percentage from behind the 3-point arc, but is coming off an 0-for-6 performance against Indiana. Against UC-Riverside, Trout was 4-for-8 from behind the arc. The Lady Eagles get the Christmas holiday off until Dec.30, when they travel to Waco to face Baylor.

UNT hopes to snap slump at SMU 12/16/2002 By Matthew Postins / Assistant Sports Editor DALLAS ? Even after Wednesday?s horrible shooting display against Indiana, Tina Slinker says she isn?t worried about her UNT Lady Eagles heading into Monday?s non-conference contest against SMU at Moody Coliseum. Of course, beating SMU (3-2) doesn?t necessarily mean the Lady Eagles (4-3) are ahead of the curve, either. "If we get the SMU win, we won?t be far off from where I thought we would be," said Slinker after the 51-42 loss to Indiana. But coming off a loss in which UNT shot a season-worst 21.1 percent from the floor, and were a couple of missed layups away from tying the game in the final two minutes, Monday?s game is more about reclaiming some confidence after the Lady Eagles followed a 3-0 start by going 1-3 in its last four games. Indiana found a formula to derail UNT?s inside game in its victory. The Hoosiers played intense man-to-man defense, but defenders also sagged off their defensive assignments and into the paint, where they clogged the lane to stop players like forward Kim Blanton, who had a season-low eight points. Blanton said after the game that Indiana had scouted them well, and no doubt SMU coach Rhonda Rompola and her staff were taking notes. "Playing basketball you?re looking for a high-percentage shot or in the paint," said Blanton. "If the post can?t make it you have to kick it out to a guard for a jump shot. You also look to get to the free throw line, but that wasn?t working tonight either, and that?s a 75 percent shot." Blanton is still UNT?s leading scorer at 12.6 points per game, but the team as a whole is shooting just 36.8 percent from the floor. Of course, UNT?s pressure defense offsets that by forcing 23 turnovers a contest. SMU hasn?t played since a 77-57 loss to TCU on Dec. 5. Like UNT, the Mustangs started the season 3-0, but have lost their last two games. And, like the Lady Eagles, SMU?s first loss of the season was to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Lady Eagles will have to watch Mustangs sharpshooter Andrea Cossey closely. Cossey is the team?s leading scorer, and is shooting 31.4 percent from behind the arc. UNT?s Heather Trout is shooting about the same percentage from behind the 3-point arc, but is coming off an 0-for-6 performance against Indiana. Against UC-Riverside, Trout was 4-for-8 from behind the arc. The Lady Eagles get the Christmas holiday off until Dec.30, when they travel to Waco to face Baylor.

Frogs unleash Big Three, 3s on UNT 12/11/2002 By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News DENTON ? TCU's version of the Big Three was too much for North Texas. Forward Bingo Merriex and guards Junior Blount and Corey Santee scored all but eight of TCU's points in the second half of an 87-80 win Tuesday night at the Super Pit to spoil North Texas' home opener. Blount led all scorers with 24 points, with 21 coming in the second half. Santee had 16 of his 22 in the second half, and Merriex 13 of his 20. They combined to make 14 of 22 shots from the floor ? including seven of 11 shots from 3-point range ? after the score was tied at 29 at the half. "We made sure we came out with a little more fire in the second half," Santee said. "We all got in a little rhythm and got a little momentum going." Merriex hit a couple of 3-pointers to spark a 10-0 spurt early in the second half that gave the Horned Frogs the lead for good. The Mean Green (3-3) whittled the lead to two and had a chance to tie, but guard Leonard Hopkins blew a layup. Santee responded by knocking down a 3-pointer to start another stretch of 10 unanswered points by TCU (4-2). Like the run earlier in the half, every point was scored by Blount, Merriex or Santee. "Down the stretch, I really liked what our team did," TCU coach Neil Dougherty said. "They were finding the right people and making shots to create a little bit of the gap." Said UNT swingman Chris Davis: "Every time we made a little run, they'd knock down a big 3. That's the sign of a good team." Forward Jermaine Green led UNT with 22 points and nine rebounds. Davis broke out of a season-long slump by scoring all 19 of his points in the second half. But guards Leonard Hopkins and Jerome Rogers, the other two players UNT counts on to produce points, combined to make five of 22 shots from the floor. A sloppy first half ended in a tie after Green and Merriex swapped 3-pointers on the final two possessions. Merriex, who entered the game shooting 17 percent beyond the arc this season, hit his shot at the buzzer to steal any momentum the Mean Green had after scoring seven straight points. "I've been struggling from the field," Merriex said, "and that was a big confidence builder for me." The second half was much more indicative of the fast-paced style both teams prefer to play, but UNT couldn't keep up with TCU despite scoring 51 points after halftime. The Frogs scored 58 points in the final 20 minutes on 55-percent shooting. "After the first half, I went over and asked [uNT coach Johnny Jones] if he could take the lids off the basket," Dougherty joked. "I guess he did, because that game speeded up in a hurry."

NT?s Blanton steps into new role 12/11/2002 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer It still seems strange for Kim Blanton to scan the statistics for the North Texas women?s basketball team and see herself as the leading scorer. Blanton, a 6-1 junior forward, has gone from being a bit player the last two seasons to becoming UNT?s top offensive threat. Blanton is averaging 13.3 points per game and has scored in double figures in all six games this season ? or two more times than she had previously in her college career ? leading the Lady Eagles to a 4-2 record entering Wednesday night?s 7 p.m. game against Indiana at the Super Pit. "I didn?t expect it," said Blanton, whose career-best scoring night entering the season was 13 points. "I?m not going to say I did. But I?m getting used to it." The Lady Eagles lost its top four point producers from last season, including the program?s all-time leading scorer in Jalie Mitchell. That left coach Tina Slinker wondering how her team would put points on the board. But Slinker felt a little better when she saw the improvements Blanton had made in her game over the summer. Then the coach was overwhelmed after watching Blanton break out with a 21-point, 11-rebound performance in the season-opening win over UT-San Antonio. Blanton, who had always been the best raw athlete on the team, worked on becoming better at catching the ball and finishing in traffic, focusing on going up strong but shooting with a soft touch. She also developed a handful of post moves and improved her shooting range. "Coming in here, she didn?t have those offensive skills," Slinker said. "She?s worked tremendously hard. But I think the biggest difference is her confidence." In the past two seasons, Blanton became accustomed to being the fourth or fifth offensive option when she was on the floor. She accepted the role, concentrating on rebounding and playing defense. Suddenly, however, Blanton has become much more assertive. She now demands the ball in the post, though she has a sheepish smile on her face when she?s asked about her newfound aggressiveness. Blanton said she is just responding to her coaches? requests to take on a larger role. "They?ve been telling me, ?We?re going to need you,?" Blanton said. "You have to welcome that kind of pressure. You have to embrace it." TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572.

UNT?s happy to be back home Mean Green shoots for two straight vs. TCU 12/10/2002 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer After opening the season with five games away from home, North Texas will finally find itself in friendly confines Tuesday night against TCU. "I?ve been dying to get back here and play in front of the fans," UNT forward Jermaine Green said. "I hope we get a good crowd out here. I know it?s finals week, but we need people out here to support us." Both teams are coming off of big road wins keyed by reversing trends of getting outrebounded. UNT had a 10-rebound edge in a 65-56 win at Winthrop in the title game of the Brothers Air and Heat Shootout Saturday. TCU had a 53-29 advantage on the boards in a 72-64 win at Baylor Saturday. The Mean Green won 10 of its 13 games at the Super Pit last season, though TCU showed it is capable of pulling out a win in a difficult road environment by breaking Baylor 23-game winning streak against nonconference competition at the Ferrell Center. "They?re a very good basketball team," said UNT coach Johnny Jones, who has had a close friendship with first-year TCU coach Neil Dougherty since their days as assistants in the Southeastern Conference. "Coach Dougherty has brought in a system that those guys enjoy playing. He?s got those guys excited right, and they?re playing with a great deal of confidence." The Mean Green ended a four-game losing streak in the series with a 92-85 win over the Horned Frogs at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum last season. UNT hasn?t beaten TCU in consecutive seasons since 1980 and ?81. "This is a rivalry game, but we don?t want to get caught up in that," UNT swingman Chris Davis said. "We?ve just got to play our game."

No energy crisis for UNT senior Green happy to share his enthusiasm with teammates 12/10/2002 By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News DENTON ? It has become a pregame ritual for his teammates to huddle around North Texas forward Jermaine Green like campers around a fire on a cold night. The slender 6-8 senior crouches and commences to flail his long limbs, emit a series of strange sounds and generally act the fool with the intention of injecting his teammates with a dose of his trademark enthusiasm. "I'm full of energy, so I just try to give some to them," said Green, explaining that he's imitating a DJ during the routine. "I'm not sure what he's doing ? and I'm not sure I want to know," coach Johnny Jones said with a laugh and shake of his head. "But they get excited going out, and he's the ringleader." It's one of the many roles Green fills for the Mean Green, which has its home opener Tuesday night against TCU. In short, he does a little bit of everything. He sees minutes at both forward spots and occasionally even shifts to shooting guard, producing regardless of position. In three games since recovering from a sprained ankle, Green has averaged 15.3 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game. He's tied for the team-high honors in rebounding and blocked shots this season and leads UNT in steals. He ranks third in scoring and second in assists. "I'm just getting after it, doing everything I can do to help my team win," said Green, who is also the UNT player most likely to sprawl on the floor in pursuit of a loose ball. "I don't think there's anything out there I can't do. I like to fill up the stat sheet and do some things that you can't even find on a stat sheet." Green, who only had scholarship offers from UNT and Sacramento State after playing two season at Temple Junior College, adds to his value with his versatility. He often will play one position on offense and switch on the defensive end of the floor, allowing Jones freedom to find matchups to exploit. On the offensive end, Green is an effective mid-range jump shooter who can blow by bigger defenders or post up smaller ones. He consistently scores in double figures, though UNT rarely runs plays for him. A hefty portion of his points come off tips and his ability to finish around the basket. Jones routinely gives Green the most difficult defensive assignment, whether it's a wing or power forward. Green uses his rangy frame to harass players on the perimeter, where he feels most comfortable. Though he often is at a significant weight disadvantage, the 185-pound Green excels at playing the passing lanes to prevent his man from catching the ball in the post. "He's done it all for us," Jones said. "He's a competitor, to say the least." TCU (3-2) at North Texas (3-2), 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, WBAP-AM 820, KWRD-FM 100.7, KNTU-FM 88.1

My wife and I are coming up. Looking for a win.....Saw NT demolish TCU last year in Ft. Worth inspite of refs.

Rogers? defense proves noteworthy 12/08/2002 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer ROCK HILL, S.C. ? North Texas coach Johnny Jones was in no mood to talk about reserve point guard Jerome Rogers? shooting touch Saturday night. Never mind that Rogers? accuracy from behind the 3-point arc provided a key spark in the Mean Green?s 65-56 win over Winthrop in the championship game of the Brothers Air and Heat Shootout. Forget the fact that the 5-10 junior led UNT in scoring with 16 points in just 21 minutes off the bench. Jones was too busy raving about the diminutive Dallas Madison product?s defense to allow offense to enter the discussion. Rogers had a pair of steals and helped hold Winthrop guard Pierre Wooten, who had 10 points in the first eight minutes of the game, to five points the remainder of the night. "For one of the first times since I?ve been here, he did an excellent job defensively," Jones said. "He was hawking the ball. He got into his man and turned him, making him take tough shots or turn the ball over." But, boy, did Rogers change the game with his shooting range. UNT trailed by nine points when Rogers entered the game with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half. He immediately hit a pair of 3-pointers to provide a spark. He knocked down another bomb and had a couple of assists to key a run that cut the lead to one at halftime. Rogers drilled just one more 3-pointer in the game, but he picked a pretty good time to do it. UNT scored seven unanswered points to take a five-point lead before Winthrop got a layup to trim it back to three. Rogers, however, made sure the Mean Green kept the momentum by hitting a rainbow from the right wing with a hand in his face to begin an 8-0 run midway through the half. UNT, with Rogers on the floor, outscored Winthrop 41-22. "I always feel like I can step up and hit big shots," said Rogers, who hadn?t scored in the two games since recording a season-high 21 points at SMU. "If I get a good look at it, I know I can knock it down." Hopkins, Green make all-tournament team UNT guard Leonard Hopkins and forward Jermaine Green were named to the all-tournament team. Hopkins had 33 points in the two games, including a career-high 24 in the opener against Weber State. He made 11 of 15 shots from the floor, including all seven from 3-point range. Green had 29 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in the tournament. The other selections to the all-tournament team were Winthrop forward Tyrone Walker and guard Pierre Wooten, and Weber State guard Jermaine Boyette. Briefly ... Forward Jermaine Green bowled over Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall while chasing a loose ball in the second half. Coach Johnny Jones made Green apologize during the ensuing timeout. ... Swingman Chris Davis, who has never had more assists than turnovers in a season, had 12 assists and two turnovers in the tournament. TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572.