dentonrc

green_goblin · January 7, 2006

Basketball: UNT squads look to extend torrid starts

UNT women set for showdown with Lafayette

08:28 AM CST on Saturday, January 7, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

The North Texas men are right back in the same position they were last season after the first 12 games of the year.

UNT picked up a few impressive non-conference wins, ran out to an 8-4 start and won its first game in Sun Belt Conference play. As far as UNT head coach Johnny Jones is concerned, that is about the only similarity last season’s team has to the current group that will head into a game at home against New Orleans today.

The Mean Green failed to maintain their early momentum last year and finished 14-14 after falling in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

“Last year hasn’t come up much,” Jones said. “This is a new year for us. We have new guys and a new attitude. … I like how they come to work every day in practice and hold each other accountable so that we can get better. As long as we do that, we can guard against guys letting up and being satisfied. We haven’t seen any of that.”

That approach has paid off for both UNT teams, which are looking to build on conference-opening wins on Thursday. The Mean Green women will take on Louisiana-Lafayette in their second Sun Belt game of the season on the road today.

The UNT women will head into that game with an impressive 11-2 record after pounding New Orleans 62-33 in their Sun Belt opener. The 33 points UNT allowed were a school record.

UNT head coach Tina Slinker said after that game that she was pleased with the way the Mean Green were able to take control of the game defensively and pick up a key win on the road.

The Mean Green turned to their senior backcourt of Erika Bobo and Mian Williams to lead them past New Orleans. Bobo led UNT with 11 points, while Williams added 10.

Williams is averaging 10.8 points a game, while Bobo is posting 10.2.

UNT would like nothing better than to extend its quick start against UL-Lafayette, which is expected to be the Mean Green’s main competition for the Sun Belt West Division title. UNT was picked to win the division title in the preseason coaches poll, while the defending champion Ragin’ Cajuns were picked to finish second.

“I’m pleased with this win, but I’m even more excited about our next game and I’m really anxious to see how we respond against Lafayette,” Slinker said.

UL-Lafayette has been just as hot as UNT and is also 11-2 on the season following an impressive 76-50 win over Denver on Thursday.

ULL has three players averaging double figures, including 6-1 junior forward Yolanda Jones, who is scoring 17.5 points per game.

The UNT men do not appear to have as big a challenge pending in their game against a New Orleans team that has limped out to a 3-9 record and lost its best player for the season. Bo McCalebb, a junior guard who was a preseason first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection, broke his wrist in a game against Mississippi State earlier this season and is out for the year.

“We are still approaching the game like he is playing,” UNT junior guard Calvin Watson said. “These guys are capable of sneaking up on us. They are a very good team and are very disciplined.”

Junior guard Wayne Williams is leading the Privateers with an average of 15.1 points per game.

UNT will look to a balanced attack to help offset Williams and extend its four-game winning streak. Junior guard Kendrick Davis leads UNT with an average of 17.0 points a game and is one of three Mean Green players averaging double figures.

Senior center Jeffrey Simpson and sophomore guard Michael Sturns are both posting 11.6 points per game.

“We will be able to build off of our start,” UNT senior guard Isaac Hines said. “Everyone knows their role on this team. Our bench and our defense are also much better. We are just a better team this year.”

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com