UNT vs. Denver & FIU (DH) tonight

[NT80]

Basketball: UNT men, women aiming for third conference victory

07:43 AM CST on Monday, January 16, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas coach Johnny Jones didn’t have to look too hard for an example of what he wanted his team to accomplish this season after the Mean Green were picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt Conference’s West Division in the preseason coaches poll.

Denver was tabbed to finish sixth a year ago before UNT’s Sun Belt rival burst onto the scene, won the division title and earned a berth in the NIT.

UNT will get a first-hand look at its model for success today when the Mean Green face the Pioneers at 7 p.m. in the Super Pit. The game will wrap up a doubleheader that will begin at 5 p.m. with the UNT women looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Denver in a game against Florida International.

“Denver is a perfect example of what we want to do,” UNT forward Quincy Williams said. “They were picked to finish sixth and won it last year. Coach Jones told us about them at the beginning of the year.”

The Pioneers were picked second in this season’s coaches poll and appear as if they might exceed that projection as well after winning their last five games, including their first three in conference play. Denver (10-6, 3-0) and South Alabama enter the week tied atop the league standings, one game ahead of the Mean Green (9-5, 2-1).

Yemi Nicholson has been the driving force behind Denver’s success over the last two seasons and has been one of the Sun Belt’s most effective players so far this year. The 6-11 center leads the league with an average of 19.2 points a game and also ranks second with 11.1 rebounds a game.

“Denver has a very good nucleus of players back who were part of their championship team,” Jones said. “The most important thing is finding a way to contain Yemi and try not to have the rest of their players have career days against you.”

UNT split with Denver last year, when the Mean Green had some success in slowing down Nicholson.

Nicholson had 14 points and 12 rebounds in the Pioneers’ 79-52 blowout win in Denver. He went on to score 17 points and grab six rebounds in UNT’s dramatic 68-66 win at the Super Pit, a game former Mean Green standout Leo-nard Hopkins capped with a game-winning jumper from the baseline at the buzzer.

UNT center Jeffrey Simpson drew the primary assignment against Nicholson last season and will team with Williams and backup centers Justin Barnett and Justin Howerton today when the Mean Green will look to extend their recent hot streak.

UNT has won seven of its last nine, including a victory over FIU on Thursday.

While the UNT men will look to build on a win, the UNT women will try to bounce back from a loss to Denver.

The Mean Green won their first two games in Sun Belt play on the road, but quickly squandered a one-game lead in the standings with a loss at home to Denver, a key conference rival.

UNT (12-3, 2-1) had a seven-point lead late, but struggled offensively down the stretch and saw its five-game winning streak come to an end in a 56-54 loss. Junior post Mia Ajekwu scored 14 points, but was the only player who finished in double figures for UNT, which had 21 turnovers.

“It’s very important that we bounce back,” UNT freshman forward Amber Jackson said. “This game will decide whether we are defeated or if we are going to take that loss and move on. We still have a good record and a good chance to win conference.”

UNT will have to find a way to slow down one of the biggest teams in the Sun Belt in FIU (9-6, 2-1) to get back on track.

Lasma Jekabsone, a 6-3 center, comes into the game averaging 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. The junior from Latvia is one of three players on FIU’s roster who are at least 6-2.

“FIU is big and different,” UNT coach Tina Slinker said. “They are an international type of team that plays a little different style of game. They like to shoot from the outside and are not as physical. We have to make sure that we use our speed and are physical with them.”

Edited January 16, 2006 by NT80