Mean Green Has '20' Vision

[mgsteve]

FWST

Mean Green has '20' visionBy TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DENTON - For decades, college basketball has left a trail littered with 20-win teams that went unrewarded despite reaching that symbolic plateau.

While 20 victories in a season guarantees nothing, it represents forward progress and hope, especially among less prominent programs such as North Texas.

For the Mean Green, 20 victories alone won't secure an NCAA Tournament or NIT berth, but it would -- symbolically, at least -- interrupt a long era of mediocrity.

UNT (18-9, 9-7 Sun Belt) hosts Arkansas State (14-14, 9-7) at 7 tonight in a game that could help either team's conference tournament seeding. UNT ends the regular season Saturday at Louisiana-Lafayette.

UNT last won 20 games in 1977-78, going 22-6 as a Division I independent. It was the last of three consecutive 20-win seasons under former coach Bill Blakely, whose teams weren't invited to the NCAAs or NIT.

Despite going 22-4 in his first season at UNT (1975-76) and being ranked in the Top 20, Blakely's team didn't get an NCAA bid.

"We were an independent, so it was hard to get any recognition," said Blakely, 72. "It was a bummer."

Blakely, who has grown close to current UNT coach Johnny Jones, said winning 20 back then held the same significance, despite its often hollow nature of going unnoticed.

"Johnny is an outstanding young coach, and I hope and pray he stays," Blakely said. "They finally got somebody who can cut the mustard."

Jones might coach UNT's first 20-win team in nearly 30 years, but with the same end result. UNT has three victories against non-Division I opponents, including two NAIA teams.

Unless UNT wins the Sun Belt tournament and its automatic NCAA bid, falling short of 20 Division I victories might rule UNT out of any postseason. Two Division I victories to end the regular season would give UNT 17, requiring three SBC tournament victories to reach 20.

Overall, UNT would then have 23 victories and a better chance at the NIT than an NCAA at-large bid, based on the Sun Belt's weak RPI (21st or lower in various simulations).

At this point, the most reachable goal in sight is that 20th victory, which UNT can build on.

"It gives us a sense of hope and makes a statement," guard Calvin Watson said. "It's just big. It shows how good a job coach Jones has done taking this program under his wing and developing it."

Said Jones: "This team has done a tremendous job getting 18, but we still feel we've got unfinished business out there."

ONLINE: meangreensports.com

GAMEDAY

ARKansas STATE AT UNT WOMEN

5 p.m. today, Super Pit, Denton

Radio: KWRD/100.7 FM; KNTU/88.1 FM

Tickets: $3, $5

Records: Arkansas State 18-9, 11-5 Sun Belt; North Texas 8-18, 5-11

What to watch: UNT pulled together its best game of the season Monday to knock off one of the Sun Belt's better teams, Western Kentucky, 73-65. WKU was a 19-game winner coming in, and the victory was the payoff for UNT's season-long rebuilding job. Sophomore Amber Jackson and freshman Brittney James again led UNT on the offensive end.

ARKANSAS STATE AT UNT MEN

7 tonight, Super Pit, Denton

Radio: KWRD/100.7 FM; KNTU/88.1 FM

Tickets: $5, $10

Records: Arkansas State 14-14, 9-7 Sun Belt; North Texas 18-9, 9-7

What to watch: Both teams have a shot to win the Sun Belt Western Division title, but they need help from Denver and New Orleans to catch division leader Louisiana-Monroe (10-6). UNT's inside game is on a roll, with big men Quincy Williams and Keith Wooden providing consistent play.

[eulesseagle]

Coach Blakely is 100% in his observation of Coach Jones.

[GreenBat]

Talent won 16 of the 18 games. Coaching didn't have anything to do with those victories. Coaching also had everything to do with all nine of the losses

[CMJ]

Talent won 16 of the 18 games. Coaching didn't have anything to do with those victories. Coaching also had everything to do with all nine of the losses

That's a bit ridiculous on both counts.