DRC: BB, opportunity to move up both men/womens

[OldTimer]

Basketball: Opportunity to move up awaits both UNT squads

08:59 AM CST on Thursday, February 24, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

The biggest games of the season for the North Texas basketball teams are still a few days away, but that does not mean the Mean Green still does not have a lot to play for this weekend when they close out the regular season.

The UNT men will take on New Orleans tonight at the Super Pit, while the Mean Green women will head out on the road to face South Alabama. Those games and the team’s regular season finales on Saturday will determine just how tough of a road both squads will face in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on March 4-8 at the Super Pit, when a berth in the NCAA Tournament will be on the line.

"These games are huge for us," UNT men’s coach Johnny Jones said. "You always want to be playing at your best and go into the tournament on a roll."

What could be even more important for both teams is the opportunity to improve their seeding in the event.

The UNT women (12-13, 7-6) enter the weekend just one game behind Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt’s West Division and hold just about every tiebreaker with the Ragin’ Cajuns. A pair of wins and a ULL loss could give the Mean Green the division title.

Even if UNT loses its last two games, it can fall no father than third in the division and earn a No. 3 seed.

UNT coach Tina Slinker said she was excited about the opportunity the weekend presents. The Mean Green have much more to gain than they stand to lose in their final two games of the season.

The Mean Green will have to improve their performance on the road to take advantage of their chance to move up in the Sun Belt standings. UNT has struggled away from the Super Pit throughout the season and has lost seven of its last eight games away from home.

UNT has tried to remain confident despite what has been a dismal series of road games, including a lopsided 74-56 loss to Denver on the road last week.

"We can bounce back," junior guard Natalie Mireles said. "This will be a great opportunity to fight through and win on the road. We have to remain confident in what has gotten us this far."

A win over USA tonight would also help UNT fend off the Jaguars, who are just a game behind the Mean Green in the conference standings at 6-7.

UNT will look to Erika Bobo to help turn back USA. The junior guard leads UNT with an average of 12.7 points a game. USA is the top defensive team in the Sun Belt and is allowing just 55.8 points a game to lead the league.

JoAnna Williams is averaging 10.7 points for the Jaguars.

The UNT men could have even more to play for than their counterparts on the women’s team over the last week of the season — including a first-round bye in the Sun Belt Tournament.

UNT (13-12, 5-8) is in a tie for fourth place in the Sun Belt’s West Division with South Alabama. UNT still has a chance to move past New Orleans into third place in the league standings and earn a bye in the first round of the league tournament with wins in its last two regular season games.

"It’s very important for us to finish strong," junior forward Ty Thomas said. "We want to move up and earn a higher seed."

To reach that goal the Mean Green will need to find a way to shut down Bo McCalebb. The sophomore was named the Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and has lived up to his billing by leading the league with an average of 23.0 points a game.

McCalebb scored 25 points and handed out six assists in the teams’ first meeting, when the Mean Green pulled out a 66-60 win on the road.

UNT will turn to its backcourt combo of Leonard Hopkins and Calvin Watson to lead the Mean Green to a sweep of the Privateers.

Hopkins leads the team with an average of 17.4 points a game, while Watson is averaging 11.8.

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