DRC Notebook, Mens/Womens BB, Volleyball

OldTimer · November 20, 2002

UNT Notebook

Mean Green?s starters not set

11/20/2002

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas men?s basketball coach Johnny Jones is still juggling possible starting lineups in his mind, just days before the Mean Green?s season opener.

UNT, which plays Friday night at Southwest Missouri State, will play with a three-guard lineup. Lee Green will start at point guard with Leonard Hopkins and Chris Davis on the wings.

The starting frontcourt isn?t so clear, especially with forward Jermaine Green hobbled by a sprained ankle suffered in Friday?s exhibition win. Green, the team?s second-leading scorer and rebounder last season, isn?t expected to participate in team drills during practice this week. He said, however, that he would definitely play Friday.

According to Jones, either Green or junior-college transfer Michael DeGrate will start at power forward, a decision that will be strongly impacted by the status of Green?s ankle. DeGrate or Will Smith will start at the other frontcourt position.

Grismanausaite back in lineup

Center Vilma Grisman-auskaite, a preseason All-Sun Belt selection who was recently sidelined because of a blood disorder, has been cleared by doctors to play this season.

Coach Tina Slinker had previously said that she might have to redshirt the 6-4 senior from Lithuania. Slinker said Tuesday that Grismanauskaite will start, but her minutes will be carefully monitored as a precaution.

Player of the Week

Freshman middle blocker Brittney Gregory, a major reason the Mean Green has its most wins since 1995, had maybe her best week yet.

The 5-11 Gregory recorded career highs of 21 kills and seven blocks in a near-upset of Sun Belt Eastern Division champion Western Kentucky. She followed that performance by recording 15 kills and six blocks at Louisiana-Lafayette, helping UNT hand the Ragin? Cajuns their only home loss of the season.

For her efforts, Gregory is the Denton Record-Chronicle UNT Player of the Week.

TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572.

7-DAY SCHEDULE

THURSDAY:

Volleyball vs. Middle Tennessee, Sun Belt Tournament, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY:

Women?s basketball vs. UT-San Antonio, 7 p.m.; Men?s basketball at Southwest Missouri State, 7 p.m.; Volleyball at Sun Belt Tournament, TBA

SATURDAY:

Volleyball at Sun Belt Tournament, TBA; Football at Middle Tennessee, 2:05 p.m.; Swimming and diving at Arkansas Invitational