Unt Closing On Getting It Right

[mgsteve]

FWST

UNT closing on getting it rightBy TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DENTON - North Texas might already be close to its goal of 20 victories had a bout of close-contest fever not sabotaged things.

There's also this take on the Mean Green's 14-7 record: Had a few close victories gone the other way, 20 wins might be an unrealistic fantasy.

UNT (5-5 Sun Belt) has a chance to inch closer to its goal at 7 tonight when it faces Troy (9-13, 4-7) at the Super Pit.

College basketball teams often teeter between victory and defeat, but this season it's been habitual for UNT. Nine games have been decided by four or less points, with three conference games going to overtime.

UNT is 5-4 in those close games, the latest defeat coming Sunday in overtime when South Alabama made a free throw with 3.8 seconds remaining to win 90-89.

After such road defeats, the trip home is wretched for most players and coaches. For UNT, it was the third time after earlier losses at New Orleans (97-93 in double overtime) and Florida International (67-66 on a late 3-pointer).

"Long, real long, and tiring," point guard Ben Bell said of the multiple travel hours used to mull a close loss. "You're tired and mad, and it's not fun. Right now, practice is not a lot of fun, either."

UNT has close victories (four points or fewer) over Rice, Tulsa, Nicholls State, Western Kentucky and Louisiana-Lafayette. WKU lost on a layup by UNT's Keith Wooden, and the replay monitor showed Lafayette's winning 3-point shot in overtime didn't beat the buzzer.

Why has the close game cut UNT both ways so many times?

By the numbers, UNT ranks second in the Sun Belt in victory margin (plus-5.7 points) and third in field-goal percentage defense (.440).

UNT, though, is ninth in scoring defense (74.4) and 10th in 3-pointers allowed (164). The latter stats could indicate opponents' stubbornness in the final minutes, or UNT's trouble holding leads or taking over games.

"It's not easy," guard Kendrick Davis said of losing or playing in repeated close games. "If it was easy, you know, everybody would be doing it. This team has a good makeup, and we'll be just fine. Like I said, we'll get to 20."

UNT shifts between half-court and an up-tempo perimeter offense but doesn't play a shutdown style of defense for 40 minutes. Those could be factors in the close-game trend, but if luck has anything to do with it, UT-Arlington set the table.

On Nov. 15, UT-Arlington refused to go away. UNT's defense collapsed on a near turnover by UTA, which took advantage of an unguarded baseline. UTA's layup at the buzzer for an 83-81 victory shouldn't have counted.

That night, UNT's courtside replay monitor wasn't hooked up. The scoreboard screen showed UTA didn't get off the shot in time, which isn't grounds to overturn a call. Thus ensued this season's madness.

"We are a fun team to watch," UNT coach Johnny Jones said.

GAMEDAY

TROY AT NORTH TEXAS MEN

7 tonight, Super Pit, Denton

Radio: KWRD/100.7 FM; KNTU/88.1 FM

Records: Troy 9-13, 4-7 Sun Belt; UNT 14-7, 5-5

Tickets: $5, $10

What to watch: The Trojans lead the Sun Belt Conference with 581 3-point shots attempted, but Troy is in the lower half of the league in 3-pointers made. In conference play, opponents are shooting 47 percent from 3-point range against UNT, which ranks the Mean Green last in that category. UNT's priority will be to get crucial late stops if the game is close and not waste possessions on poor 3-point attempts.

IN THE KNOW

Drama kings

UNT is 5-4 this season in games decided by four points or less.

[Keith7]

FWST

"It's not easy," guard Kendrick Davis said of losing or playing in repeated close games. "If it was easy, you know, everybody would be doing it. This team has a good makeup, and we'll be just fine. Like I said, we'll get to 20."

its good to know someone still believes in this team besides just me

[untwillrise]

its good to know someone still believes in this team besides just me

So your the only one?

[Keith7]

So your the only one?

I was joking

Edited February 1, 2007 by Keith7

[untwillrise]

I was joking

I feel that way too. thats why i have not been posting.

[untwillrise]

I feel that way too. thats why i have not been posting. Too much negativity.

[Keith7]

I agree, it seems like if you post anything good about the basketball team on here you get mauled by 3 or 4 posters telling you that your opinions are just wrong, and not valid because you havn't been to school here long enough..

[Quoner]

That night, UNT's courtside replay monitor wasn't hooked up. The scoreboard screen showed UTA didn't get off the shot in time, which isn't grounds to overturn a call. Thus ensued this season's madness.

Something that didn't exist I guess can't be hooked up, so technically this is true.

In other news, as of 2 months ago, my $60M donation hadn't cleared yet....

[NT80]

I agree, it seems like if you post anything good about the basketball team on here you get mauled by 3 or 4 posters telling you that your opinions are just wrong, and not valid because you havn't been to school here long enough..

Patience Grasshopper....

[gksmith]

I didn't get to go to the game last night, but I saw NT smoked Troy 98-57. I will look at the box score later. Sounds like it was one of those games where everything clicked and went right.

Maybe even some "members roll" on the baskets. You know the kind. The shots that go in that shouldn't.