UNT is starting to bounce back

NT80 · January 20, 2005

Crafty recruiting has Mean Green off to its best start in 10 years

09:46 PM CST on Wednesday, January 19, 2005

By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle

DENTON – When Johnny Jones arrived at North Texas four years ago, he decided to take the long route toward reviving a floundering men's basketball program.

UNT's head coach didn't add a high number of transfers or recruiting classes filled with junior college players. He signed several high school players and was judicious about picking a few transfers who fit his up-tempo style while waiting for his team to jell.

The approach is paying off for UNT (9-5), which is off to its best start through 14 games since the 1994-95 season.

"We are trying to build a program, and that takes time," Jones said. "Sometimes you can bring in junior college guys and quick-fix a team, but we want to make sure that we are in a good position for the long haul."

The series of milestones UNT has reached over the first few weeks of the season seem to indicate the Mean Green could be on its way to a second winning season under Jones.

UNT went 6-3 to start the season, its best start through nine games since 1980-81. It entered conference play with seven wins for the first time since 1969-70.

North Texas defeated New Mexico State in its Sun Belt Conference opener in Las Cruces on Jan. 8. UNT had lost 10 straight road games against the Aggies, a streak that dated to 1974.

UNT stumbled against Denver on the road in its second Sun Belt game, but bounced back Monday to beat Florida International in Miami. North Texas faces Arkansas-Little Rock tonight at the Super Pit.

The Mean Green's record may not look that impressive, but UNT lost to nationally ranked Texas and Alabama before bouncing back to win two of its first three conference games on the road.

"We have an experienced team and know what it takes to get to the next level," said senior guard Leonard Hopkins, a former Lincoln High School standout. "When you have experience on the floor, you have the ability to get it done."

Hopkins and forward Michael Jones are senior starters; sophomore Calvin Watson is in his second year as a starter. Hopkins was a preseason first-team All-Sun Belt selection and is averaging 17.8 points a game; Watson averages 13.3 points a game.

The Mean Green features eight juniors or seniors, including point guard Isaac Hines. The former Collin County Community College standout is averaging 6.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals and leads the team in rebounding with a 6.6 average in his first year with the team.

UNT's experienced backcourt knows how to take care of the ball and make key plays down the stretch. North Texas ranks third in the Sun Belt in turnover margin by forcing 2.29 more turnovers than it commits, a dramatic improvement from last season when the Mean Green turned the ball over 2.21 more times than its opponent. It's helped North Texas post a 7-1 record in games decided by 10 points or less. The Mean Green was 10-8 in similar games last season.

"Our chemistry is better this year," senior guard Marqus Mitchell said. "A lot of us played together last year, and the new guys have fit in well."

UNT is starting to believe it has turned the corner. UNT has posted only one winning season in the last eight years, a 15-14 finish in 2001-02, Jones' first year with the team.

"We have a lot of games to go, and hopefully, we can continue to get better and stay healthy," Jones said. "If we do that, some great things could be ahead for this team."

JayDub · January 20, 2005

Just an FYI from Barnett Buddies For Life HQ...

JB got his cast off today and looks to be back in the line up hopefully by next week.

Edited January 20, 2005 by JayDub

SUMG · January 20, 2005

Just an FYI from Barnett Buddies For Life HQ...
JB got his cast off today and looks to be back in the line up hopefully by next week.

That's great news. Justin had that great game against UTPA, and then got hurt....hopefully he'll bounce back strong.

One other thing: We have so few guys who are over 6' 6"....that there'll be times when we get some of our big guys in foul trouble, and I worry who we'll have at center, if say Quincy and Simpson were to both foul out. (which has come close to happening). Anyway, with JB in there, that gives us another big guy for depth purposes.

BTW......at one point in one of our recent games (maybe NMSU), JJ had both Simpson and Quincy in the lineup at the same time.

UNT_92_Fan · January 20, 2005

MICAH EFFIN BRACY can step in SUMG....I am the charter member and president of the Bracy Buddies for Life Group

Coach · January 20, 2005

I'm the charter member, president, secretary, treasurer, and historian of the Jeremy McFall Fans 4 Life Club.

We recently joined forces with the Lance Boxell Fans 4 Life Club, and since there was nobody in that one, the merger went smoothly.

If you want to show your appreciation for McFall, feel free to join the club. There are no dues, no meetings, no service events, but it looks great on a resume, just send me a message and we will sign you on.

Zeke · January 20, 2005

Oh man.................Sign me up for that McFall fan club!! JMFL!!!!!!!!

emmitt01 · January 21, 2005

Well you call just eat it because you can't compete with the Tyler Helwig fan club. We have cool perks for our members. If your dad is a mechanic we let you work in a car dealership's service department regardless of your skill level. If your dad is a lawyer we let you work capital cases regardless of competency. If you dad is in the military we let you make foreign policy decisions even if you've never stepped outside of your home town.

Now, as far as spare white basketball player fan clubs go...mine rocks the most!!!

Coach · January 21, 2005

I'm sorry, but McFall owns Helwig.

I once saw them have this same sort of heated debate in practice and they decided to settle it with a dunk contest. McFall went first, and he lost the ball out of his hand on the way up, but he touched the net about two loops from the bottom. It was such an awesome display of basketball prowess, that Helwig threw the ball in the air in disgust, and walked away shaking his head. He knew, as well as everyone else in stunned silence pondering what they had just witnessed, that McFall was one bad SOB.