Sports Network's preview of NT/Denver game

NT80 · January 16, 2006

Denver (10-6) at North Texas (9-5)

The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Monday, January 16th, 8:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: The Super Pit (10,032) -- Denton, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: Denver 6-0, North Texas 8-2. Away Record: Denver 1-5, North Texas 1-3. Neutral Record: Denver 3-1, North Texas 0-0. Conference Record: Denver 3-0, North Texas 2-1. Series Record: Series is tied, 6-6.

GAME NOTES: Riding a season-high five-game win streak, the Denver Pioneers trek to Denton tonight where they will take on the North Texas Mean Green in Sun Belt Conference action from the Super Pit. On Saturday, Denver dismissed the Florida International Golden Panthers at home by a score of 80-55, marking their highest scoring total since a season-opening 80-66 decision over Kennesaw State during the Top of the World Classic. The victory also pushed the Pioneers to a perfect 3-0 in league play. Meanwhile, the Mean Green took the weekend off after posting a 90-81 decision over the same FIU squad on Thursday night at home. The victory was the fifth in the last six games for North Texas, which is now 2-1 in league play and 9-5 overall this season. Entering the 13th game all-time between these two schools, each of them has claimed six victories over the years.

Steve Wetrich led four players in double figures as he dropped in a career- high 23 points, shooting 6-of-7 from three-point range, as the Pioneers took out FIU over the weekend. Yemi Nicholson added 16 points and seven rebounds, although he shot just 4-of-10 at the free-throw line, while David Kummer and Antonio Porch chipped in with 15 and 10 pints, respectively. Denver finished the contest shooting 53.1 percent from the field and a stellar 12-of-19 beyond the arc, although the squad did have issues at the charity stripe (16-of-30). Nicholson, who is shooting an impressive 58.7 percent from the field this season, is responsible for a team-high 19.2 ppg. His 11.1 rpg make him one of only a handful of Division I players able to make the claim that they are averaging a double-double at the moment. DaShawn Walker, who is shooting better from beyond the arc (.450) than he is the field (.399), is second on the unit with 13.7 ppg.

Kendrick Davis led four players in double figures as he tallied a game-high 20 points in the win over FIU last week. Isaac Hines accounted for 19 points and Michael Sturns another 18 off the bench for the Mean Green. Jeffrey Simpson chipped in with 17 points as the North Texas starters combined to shoot 28- of-33 at the free-throw line, while the Golden Panthers were just 23-of-37 at the stripe as a team. The Mean Green also shot 47.1 percent from three-point range to help overcome 20 turnovers, not to mention winning the battle on the boards, 44-35. Davis, the leading scorer for North Texas over the last four games, is the top point producer overall with his 17.4 ppg. Simpson adds 12.3 ppg, in addition to his 6.3 rpg and 30 blocked shots to pace the group. However, the one glaring flaw with his game is that he has a mere three assists, against 26 turnovers, over the course of 14 starts. With 81.7 ppg, the Mean Green are one of the top scoring programs in the nation.

Having to pick up and travel for this game after playing at home over the weekend, the Pioneers are certainly at a disadvantage from that aspect. Expect a well-rested North Texas group to seize the moment and the win at home.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: North Texas 83, Denver 73