Wooden Performs Well On The Inside

[MeanGreen61]

Wooden performs well on the inside

10:38 AM CDT on Saturday, March 17, 2007

By Brett Vito/Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS — Of all the players in the North Texas lineup for its game against Memphis, Keith Wooden seemed among the least likely to be the Mean Green’s main offensive force.

Wooden was averaging just 9.0 points a game and faced perhaps the toughest matchup among the Mean Green’s players against a towering Memphis frontline. UNT’s junior center overcame those long odds to help UNT take an early lead and stay within striking distance until the closing minutes of a 72-58 loss to the Tigers in the opening game of the South Regional of the NCAA Tournament at New Orleans Arena.

UNT went to Wooden early against the Tigers and saw the junior respond with a team-high 16 points. Wooden and junior forward Quincy Williams provided UNT a spark offensively on an afternoon when its top scorers struggled.

“One of the advantages that Memphis usually has is inside,” UNT head coach Johnny Jones said. “They have quality players who are physical and tough. Fortunately for us we have guys who also have good size and strength. Those guys were not intimidated, were aggressive, scored inside and defended well.”

Wooden was especially effective early, scoring eight points to help UNT jump out to a 17-11 lead. Williams added six points during the Mean Green’s run and finished just short of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

“It was just the way the game unfolded,” Wooden said. “We were not going to be intimidated. We wanted to get the ball inside early.”

Wooden’s play early forced Memphis coach John Calipari to adjust. Wooden and Williams scored six and two points, respectively, after the break, when Memphis focused more on stopping UNT’s frontline.

UNT’s guards couldn’t pick up the slack. Seniors Calvin Watson and Kendrick Davis scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, but went a combined 7-of-18 from the field.

“We didn’t know they were going to be that good in the post,” Calipari said. “All of the sudden I said, ‘Oh, my gosh, those guys can catch and score on us.’”

The performance of Wooden and Williams could bode well for UNT’s future. Both will be seniors next season.

“We plan on being back in the tournament next year,” Wooden said. “We are going to go back hard and begin preparing hard for next season.”

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