Team Preview

[Cooley]

Editor's Note:

ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 326 Division I teams. To order the complete 25th anniversary edition of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).

(Information in this team report is as of October 1.)

The 2004-05 season began with much anticipation at North Texas. Blue Ribbon Previews:

The Mean Green started 8-4, including encouraging victories against UNC Wilmington and Lamar. Better yet, Denton was set to play host to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament a couple of months down the road.

But Johnny Jones' squad opened the league schedule with an ominous 27-point loss at Denver that seemed to set the tone for a 6-9 league mark. North Texas concluded its disappointing season with a first-round league tournament loss to Arkansas State. The showing lacked the anchor of consistent post scoring. But equally important was the fact that the go-to guy, the departed Leonard Hopkins, shot 29 percent from three-point range while attempting the most on the team.

Hopkins did do a lot of things well. He scored 18.3 points per game and got to the free-throw line 176 times (85.8 percent). Still, Jones believes the perimeter should be better this year with the return of 6-0 senior point guard Isaac Hines (6.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.1 spg), 6-5 junior wing Calvin Watson (11.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and the arrival of 6-4 wing Kendrick Davis, a transfer from Arkansas who sat out last year.

Davis has generated a lot of excitement. He averaged double figures as a freshman at Arkansas before falling out of favor his sophomore year. But any optimism of Jones' begins with Hines.

"If I was coaching anywhere in the country, I'd want Isaac Hines to be part of my basketball team," Jones said. "I believe he was the first player ever to lead North Texas in rebounding, steals and assists."

The rebounds are what stands out, and certainly provide a good measuring stick for the heart of the 6-footer. "He has a nose for the ball," Jones said.

Davis should be among the league's top new faces. He often stood out during Mean Green practices last year.

"He would do things in practice and you're thinking, 'Boy, I wish he was playing tomorrow night,'" Jones said. "He's able to share and create opportunities, and he can really play both guard positions and small forward.

"I think he's going to be a very good player, and I think he'll bring a presence at both ends of the floor. He has an opportunity to be an excellent defensive player with his quickness and long arms."

Watson made 51-of-127 three-pointers (40.2 percent) last year and could evolve into an all-conference player as an upperclassman.

"Calvin has shown what he's capable of doing," Jones said. "He needs to be consistent on both ends of the floor."

Another guard Jones has back is 6-4 sophomore Michael Sturns (4.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg), who played in all 28 games as a freshman. Sturns had nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists one game, and made two free throws with no time on the clock to give North Texas a 74-73 victory against New Orleans in its next to last game of the regular season.

Lionel Brown, a 5-11 junior who played last year at Eastern Oklahoma State College, should spell Hines at point guard.

The Mean Green will have to do a better job this season of defending the perimeter. Last season opponents shot 36.7 percent from the three-point line.

Of course inefficient interior play and contested perimeter shots go hand in hand. Jeffrey Simpson (7.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.8 bpg), a 6-8 senior, was the leading inside scorer, and he might not have topped seven points per game if 6-10 senior Justin Barnett (5.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) hadn't missed eight games with a broken hand.

"Jeffrey Simpson was playing as well as any post in the latter part of the season," Jones said. "I thought he and Justin both had pretty good years."

Jones signed one prep center, 6-10, 240-pound Justin Howerton (Howe, Texas), who averaged 17.8 points and 11.7 rebounds during an all-state senior season.

Only one experienced forward returns, 6-8 sophomore Quincy Williams (4.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Williams was second on the team in blocked shots despite averaging just 14.4 minutes a year ago, but he was also second in personal fouls. A sturdy 215-pounder, Williams could be the Mean Green's most improved player this season.

"He has a chance to show some great strides," Jones said. "He's put in a lot of work in the off-season."

Two freshmen forwards Jones was pleased to sign are 6-6 Harold Edwards (Mobile, Ala.) and 6-8 Harold Stewart (Fort Worth, Texas). Stewart (16.9 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.0 bpg) was the 26th ranked player in Texas, and Jones says he got a "steal" in Edwards, who played for nationally ranked LeFlore High School.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: A

BENCH/DEPTH: B+

FRONTCOURT: B

INTANGIBLES: A-

On paper, the Mean Green looks deeper in the backcourt and more experienced in the post.

"I'm excited," Jones said. "I feel like we can match up with anyone in the league on the perimeter with these guys. And if Jeffrey and Justin can stay healthy, we should be OK in the post.

"Chemistry is always big. Kendrick was part of the team last year during practice, but he wasn't out there in the line of fire."

If the personalities mesh after the playing time shakes down and Simpson and Williams stay on course with their progress in the frontcourt, North Texas should improve on last season's .500 showing.

For the most comprehensive previews on all 326 Division I teams, order the "Bible" of college basketball, the 25th anniversary edition of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, at www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).

Thanks to those that inquired. The brain tumor was removed successfully. I returned home today