DRC NT notebook Slinker sees team progreee

[OldTimer]

UNT notebook: Slinker sees team progress in loss

08:30 AM CST on Wednesday, January 14, 2004

The result was not what Tina Slinker wanted, but North Texas’ women’s basketball coach saw some positive signs in a loss to New Mexico State last week.

Four players scored in double figures for the Lady Eagles, who hung with NMSU before the Aggies pulled away for an 83-72 win at the Pan American Center.

"Overall, it was disappointing that we lost, but it was one of the better games we have played there," Slinker said.

NMSU was picked to win the Sun Belt Conference’s West Division in the league’s preseason poll.

The Lady Eagles will try to use the loss as a springboard to a better performance when they take on Denver in another Sun Belt Conference game on the road Thursday. The Pioneers and Lady Eagles are both 0-1 in Sun Belt play and need a win to get back on track.

The task is one Slinker feels her team can accomplish after a solid offensive game against NMSU.

Junior guard Jill Medlock scored 18 points and hit 5-of-8 three-point shots in the game. Senior forward Kim Blanton added 16 points, while sophomore forward Jamie Armstrong had 13. Erika Bobo rounded out UNT’s list of double-figure scorers with 10 points.

UNT has had four players score in double figures the last two games, including its 59-43 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 2.

"It is really encouraging to have four players in double figures," Slinker said. "We are getting more people scoring than just Jill."

Medlock continues to lead UNT in scoring with an average of 12.2 points a game, but is getting plenty of help from Blanton and Armstrong, who are averaging 11.7 and 10.3 points a game, respectively.

Women’s basketball

Wilson out for the year

The North Texas women’s basketball team received some bad news this week when doctors discovered that sophomore Kennethia Wilson has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee.

Wilson will miss the rest of the season, leaving UNT without a valuable contributor who improved as the season progressed.

The 5-10 forward had started five games for the Lady Eagles, averaging 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.

Wilson scored 15 points in a loss to Texas on Dec. 14. She also had nine points against Houston and 10 against SMU before landing awkwardly on her knee in a game against TCU on Dec. 31.

UNT coach Tina Slinker said the Lady Eagles will need more production from their post players to make up for the loss to Wilson.

Men’s basketball

Freshman Watson makes impact early on

Calvin Watson has quickly made an impact for the Mean Green since returning from a broken foot in a game against Texas-Pan American on Jan. 8.

The freshman guard scored nine points in 17 minutes during a 71-53 win over the Broncs. He added five points in a loss to New Mexico State on Saturday.

Watson broke his left foot before the beginning of the season and missed UNT’s first 11 games. The injury not only kept Watson from playing in games, it prevented him from participating in practice.

The Houston Madison graduate has shown signs of regaining his form quickly and becoming a key part of UNT’s rotation.

"Calvin has done extremely well," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "We are looking to get him more minutes. He will get better with practice."

Hopkins continues to progress after injury

Leonard Hopkins continued to make progress toward playing at full speed last week.

The junior guard scored 19 points in a game against New Mexico State last week, pushing his season average to 10 points a game.

Hopkins missed all but the first nine games of last season with a foot injury.

"We have to continue to work on getting Leonard into playing shape," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "He is getting closer to being 100 percent.

Player of the week

Jerome Rogers shined while carrying a heavy load for the North Texas men’s basketball team last week.

The senior guard played 38 minutes in a 70-67 loss to New Mexico State and 36 minutes in a 71-53 win over Texas-Pan American.

Rogers is one of UNT’s only options at point guard since the departure of Scott Roniger for personal reasons. Rogers has stepped into the starting role and been highly productive for the Mean Green.

Rogers posted identical lines that included 13 points, three assists and one turnover against New Mexico State and Texas-Pan American.

For his efforts, Rogers is the Denton Record-Chronicle’s UNT Player of the Week.

7-day schedule

The following events are on tap for the next week in UNT athletics.

THURSDAY — Denver at men’s basketball, 7 p.m.; women’s basketball at Denver, 8 p.m.

FRIDAY— New Mexico State at swimming, TBA

SATURDAY— Houston at swimming, noon

Athlete Profile

Full name: Ty Thomas II

Nickname: TT

High school: Arlington Sam Houston

Born (and where): Dec. 2, 1983 (Fort Worth)

Family (with ages): mother Marilyn, brother Taylor (16), brother Travis (14), sister Tarah (21)

Position, statistics: forward 5.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, .5 assists a game

When I graduate college, I want to: Play professionally or coach high school basketball

I am sick of athletes who: Commit crimes

If I could get four tickets to any sporting event, it would be: The NBA Finals

The four people I would take to the event, living or dead, would be: My brothers, sisters and mom

My favorite sports movie is: Love and Basketball

My favorite pro sports teams is: The LA Lakers

My favorite restaurant is: Popeye’s

The people who most influenced my life are: My mother and grandmother

The best summer I ever spent was: In California

If I had $100, I would: Put it in the bank

My goal for this year is to: Go as deep as possible in the NCAA Tournament and be the best player I can be.

My dream for this year is to: Go to a Lakers game.