DRC Mens BB to make case for higher seed in

[OldTimer]

Men's basketball: UNT hopes to make case for higher seed

Play of late has Jones believing in tourney chances

08:39 AM CST on Thursday, February 26, 2004

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones always felt like he had the players he needed to make a run toward the top of the Sun Belt Conference standings this season.

A win tonight against New Orleans would go a long way toward proving Jones’ assessment correct.

UNT pulled off one of its most impressive wins of the season Monday when the Mean Green rallied from an 18-point deficit to knock off Louisiana-Lafayette, 71-68. The Ragin’ Cajuns entered the game with the best record in the Sun Belt Conference.

The win not only sent UNT into its game against the Privateers on a roll, it put the Mean Green in position to improve its chances of earning a top seed in the Sun Belt tournament.

"It was a huge confidence booster for us," Jones said of his team’s win over Louisiana-Lafayette. "It shows that we are able to compete with the top teams in our league."

UNT will try to build on its win over the Ragin’ Cajuns when it takes on New Orleans in what shapes up to be a key game in the Mean Green’s season.

UNT enters the game in third place in the Sun Belt Confer-ence’s West Divi-sion standings, one game be-hind New Orle-ans.

A win over the Privateers would move UNT into a tie for second place in the division and give the Mean Green a chance to grab one of the top seeds in the postseason tournament March 6-9.

UNT has looked capable of improving its seeding in the tournament at times over the last two weeks. The Mean Green beat Middle Tennessee, 69-64, on Feb. 12. UNT had four shots at either tying the game or taking the lead in the final minute of its game against Western Kentucky two days later before falling 80-78.

Louisiana-Lafayette and Western Kentucky were picked to win the Sun Belt’s West and East Divisions, respectively. Middle Tennessee was picked to finish second in the East.

Jones attributed UNT’s recent success in part to a series of role players who have made key contributions in recent games.

Junior forward Michael Jones tied his career high with 13 points and added a career-high nine rebounds against Lafayette. Marqus Mitchell scored in double figures for just the third time this year when he posted 10 points against Middle Tennessee.

Jones also cited John Franklin’s performance defensively as a key to UNT’s win over Lafayette. Franklin joined the Mean Green this year as a walk-on.

"Every game someone new has had the ability to step up and get rebounds or hit shots for us," Jones said.

UNT has 11 players who are averaging at least 3.5 points a game, giving Jones plenty of options when he turns to his bench.

The Mean Green combines its depth with a trio of players who are averaging double figures. Leonard Hopkins has scored at least 19 points in four of UNT’s last five games and leads the Mean Green with an average of 13.1 points a game.

Senior forward Shawnson Johnson (11.7) and Jerome Rogers (10.7) are also averaging double figures.

Hopkins and Rogers both scored in double figures in UNT’s first meeting with New Orleans on Jan. 29 when the Privateers edged the Mean Green 77-76 in overtime. UNT missed six straight free throws in the extra period.

Bo McCalebb scored 18 points to lead UNO in its win over UNT, while Johnell Smith added 17. Both players are averaging 12.2 points a game to pace New Orleans.

Jones is expecting another tough game when UNT faces the Privateers today.

"New Orleans has been a very difficult opponent for us," Jones said. "We have played them close in the past. We are looking forward to it. Both teams have a lot to play for."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.