They Did It !

MeanGreen61 · March 7, 2007

They did it

Lance Thomas

Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: SPORTS

The Mean Green is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 19 years after last night's 83-75 win over Arkansas State University Indians in the Sun Belt Conference finals in Lafayette, La., a mark NT has not reached since the 1987-88 season.

"I am very excited for our basketball team, our program, the city of Denton and our university," head coach Johnny Jones said in a post -game press conference broadcast on KNTU-FM, 88.1. "This is something that we have been pushing for for a long time. It is something that we talk about all the time in practice, and everyday in our meetings. Not just talking about having an opportunity to play in championships but having an opportunity to win and we are very blessed and fortunate to be sitting here today."

Senior guard Calvin Watson led the Mean Green down the stretch with 24 points, shooting 6-7 from behind the arc. The high level of play for Watson during the Sun Belt Conference Tournament earned him the tournament's most valuable player.

"This win is what we play for," Watson said in a post game press conference broadcast on KNTU-FM, 88.1. "You can't take anything away from Arkansas St. Those guys are a very close-knit group. They play hard, they defend, and they shoot the ball really well."

Junior guard Ben Bell also took home some hardware for the Mean Green, being named to the all-tournament team. In the game last night, Bell put up 10 points and five assists, but in the previous two games, Bell dropped 15 points to help him earn the honor.

Senior guard Rich Young added 15 points and five assists, contributing to the NT win.

"We have been talking about it [reaching the NCAA Tournament] all year," Young said in a post game interview broadcasted by KNTU-FM, 88.1. "That was our goal from the beginning. From the two-a-days, and all the preseason work that was our goal and we finally accomplished that."

Young received the starting nod from Jones because senior guard Kendrick Davis had a stomach flu. Davis did not play in Monday night's game but received limited minutes last night. Davis however did not put up any points in the game.

The win over Arkansas State gives the Mean Green 23 wins on the season, marking a school record.

"I'm happy to be a Mean Green," junior forward Keith Wooden said in a post game press conference broadcast on KNTU-FM, 88.1. "I happy to play for Coach Johnny Jones, it's the reason I came here. I love NT, I mean I wouldn't trade it for the world so I am ecstatic about it."

The Mean Green wait for selection Sunday coming up this weekend to find out where exactly its first round game will be held. Probable sites would be either New Orleans or Chicago.

greenminer · March 7, 2007

"I'm happy to be a Mean Green," junior forward Keith Wooden said in a post game press conference broadcast on KNTU-FM, 88.1. "I happy to play for Coach Johnny Jones, it's the reason I came here. I love NT, I mean I wouldn't trade it for the world so I am ecstatic about it."

ditto