DRC article on BB teams

[OldTimer]

roadblock

08:49 AM CST on Thursday, January 19, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas coach Johnny Jones still hasn’t forgotten the last time the Mean Green ran into the Sun Belt Conference’s Arkansas contingent during the regular season.

DRC/Gary Payne

North Texas’ Mian Williams (23) fights for a loose ball with Northwestern State’s Tena Matthews during a Dec. 31, 2005, game at the Super Pit. Both the Mean Green men and women play at Arkansas-Little Rock tonight.

The Mean Green were on a roll just a season ago after winning two of their first three conference games. That surge came to a quick halt when Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State came into the Super Pit and swept UNT in back-to-back games.

The Mean Green find themselves facing a remarkably similar situation heading into their first road trip in conference play this week. UNT won three of its first four league games and will look to build on that start against those same Arkansas squads.

The UNT men will begin their trip with a 7:30 p.m. game today at UALR that will serve as the cap to a doubleheader that will begin with the women’s game at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s very important to build on what we started,” UNT guard Kendrick Davis said. “We aren’t looking past anybody, but if we can win these two games, it could set us up for a big game at home against South Alabama later on.”

The UNT men (10-5, 3-1) enter their trip to Arkansas tied for second in the Sun Belt West Division standings with Denver, one half game behind South Alabama (12-3, 3-0).

The Mean Green have won eight of their last 10 games and have their best record through 15 games since the 1994-95 season.

The last turn of events UNT wants to see is a repeat of last season, when losses to UALR and ASU sent the Mean Green plummeting toward the bottom of the conference standings.

“That was a tough part of our schedule last season and was part of the year that kind of hurt us,” Jones said of last season’s Arkansas series. “We never really recovered from that. If the guys don’t remember those games, it will be brought to their attention in the next few days.”

Avoiding the same fate against UALR and ASU could be a challenge for the Mean Green. UALR (9-7) is just 2-2 in Sun Belt play, but comes into its game against UNT off of a 68-66 win at Middle Tennessee.

The Trojans appear to be the Mean Green’s biggest challenge on the road trip. ASU (7-12, 2-3) has struggled early on.

“We have to go out on the road and tackle a pair of tough teams,” Jones said. “Both of them will be very tough to play against.”

UALR is one of the most balanced teams in the Sun Belt. Junior forward Rashad Jones-Jennings is averaging 13.3 points and 11.7 rebounds a game and is one of four Trojans starters averaging double figures in points per game.

UNT will roll into its game against UALR after winning eight of its last 10 games, including a key victory over defending Sun Belt West champion Denver on Monday.

“Denver is a tough team with an NBA player,” Davis said of the Pioneers and their center Yemi Nicholson. “It was big for us to win that game here because it will be tough when he go to their gym.”

The UNT women (12-4, 2-2) won’t enjoy the advantage of having momentum on their side heading into their Arkansas trip after dropping two games at home. The Mean Green started out 2-0 in league play, but fell to .500 after losing to Denver and Florida International.

UNT was in each game, but ended up losing both by five points combined.

The Mean Green fell behind early against the Golden Panthers on Monday, but closed in late before FIU hung on for a 68-65 win.

“They hit big shots,” UNT coach Tina Slinker said. “They really played a good game.”

Before Saturday, a game against UALR appeared as if it would be a perfect way for the Mean Green to get back on track. The Trojans lost four straight games, but bounced back to knock off two-time defending conference tournament champion Middle Tennessee in their last game.

Sophomore guard Heather Morris is averaging 13.9 points a game to lead three UALR players who are averaging double figures.

“It will be difficult to get these two games on the road,” UNT senior guard Erika Bobo said. “We just have to fight and dig in.”

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