Drc Article On Mens' Bb Team, Analysis Of Needs For Next Year

[OldTimer]

11:43 PM CDT on Saturday, March 17, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS -- North Texas was about to put the symbolic wrap on its season at the post game press conference following its loss to Memphis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday when Calvin Watson got in a few last words.

UNT's star shooting guard asked for the microphone and thanked head coach Johnny Jones for the opportunity to play for the Mean Green with his friend and fellow senior Kendrick Davis sitting next to him.

And with that, one of the more prolific and memorable guard tandems in UNT history departed stage left, leaving the Mean Green with the challenge of retooling before next season.

Watson finished as the 10th leading scorer in UNT history with 1,253 points, while Davis was arguably one of the best two-year players ever to wear a Mean Green jersey after transferring from Arkansas.

Together they were the heart of a team that set a school record for wins in a season and became just the second team in program history to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

"This is a great group of guys," Watson said of a UNT team that finished 23-11. "If you cut us open, you would see how big our heart is."

Watson and Davis, not to mention fellow senior guard Rich Young, helped set the tone for a season-ending run that saw the Mean Green win seven of its last eight games to earn UNT's first NCAA Tournament bid since 1988.

Replacing the trio will be a challenge for the Mean Green, which will return several key players to build around on a team that should be led by a veteran frontcourt.

Junior center Keith Wooden showed the potential to develop into all-conference caliber player late in the season, while junior forward Quincy Williams was one of UNT's most consistent players throughout the year.

Williams finished the season averaging 10.5 points a game while Wooden improved his average to 9.2 points a game after scoring a team-high 16 points against Memphis. Sophomore forward Harold Stewart also showed potential while scoring in double figures in two of UNT's last five games.

Junior guard Michael Sturns will also be back after averaging 12.1 points while serving as the Mean Green's backup point guard behind junior Ben Bell, who will also return.

"The young guys are going to take this experience as motivation," Watson said. "When you get into a situation like this you believe you can get into the NCAA Tournament. The young guys understand now what hard work it takes and that it pays off."

UNT's biggest challenge in its goal to return to the NCAA Tournament will be finding a player or two to help fill the void left by Davis and Watson on the perimeter. Watson finished as the Mean Green's all-time leader in 3-pointers made in a season with 90 this year. He also set UNT's career record for 3-poiners made at 208.

UNT will turn to Collin Dennis, who will be eligible next season after transferring from South Florida, to help take Watson's place. Dennis averaged 6.6 points a game as a freshman at USF and posted 4.4 points a game as a sophomore when he missed 13 games with an ankle injury.

Oklahoma State transfer Roderick Flemings was projected to be a major contributor next season at small forward, but left the program earlier this season and was expected to transfer to a junior college.

Collin Mangrum, who will be a sophomore next year, could also figure in at guard.

UNT has multiple scholarships available after losing three seniors and will likely use a few on guards who could make an immediate impact. Mike Kunstadt, the editor of Texashoops.com, a Web site that covers college basketball recruiting in the state, said in the days leading up to the NCAA Tournament that UNT will be in good position to land a few top players thanks to its breakout season.

UNT is hoping those additions, combined with a host of veteran frontcourt players, will help it build on a breakout season.

"We plan on being back next year," Wooden said. "This is not the last time you are going to see the Mean Green in the NCAA Tournament."

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

UNT: A look ahead

North Texas will have a different look next season after losing three key players. The following is a look at the Mean Green's key additions, losses and recruiting needs:

Key losses

Calvin Watson, 6-5, senior, guard

Led team with an average of 15.7 points a game

Kendrick Davis, 6-4, senior, guard

Hit big shot after big shot and averaged 13.1 points a game

Rich Young, 6-5, senior, guard

Posted 61 assists, 38 steals and 33 blocks while averaging 5.7 points a game

Key additions

Collin Dennis, 6-2, junior, guard

Big-time scorer will be looked upon to fill the void left by Watson and Davis

Recruiting needs

Shooting guard/small forward

UNT needs a scorer or two on the wing to replace Davis and Watson. Dennis and freshman Collin Mangrum will get their chance, but the Mean Green needs another option.

Point guard

UNT will be solid next season with starter Ben Bell and backup Michael Sturns returning for their senior seasons, but UNT needs a player to develop with no point prospects on the horizon. UNT will need Dennis at shooting guard and Mangrum appears better suited to being a spot-up shooter. The Mean Green could look to land a Division I transfer who would sit out next year and then take over or find a high school or junior college player to develop.

Difference-makers for the future

UNT has never been in a better position to recruit an impact player or two, both for the immediate future and down the line. The Mean Green will have five seniors next year and needs players to develop to take their place

[MeanGreen61]

"We plan on being back next year," Wooden said. "This is not the last time you are going to see the Mean Green in the NCAA Tournament."

ATTITUDE !

[ADLER]

We need players at every position. Wooden and Williams are both gone after next season, as is the always injured Jackson, leaving us with a developing Howerton as our only big man.

[untbowler]

Watson was huge for the team all season. Davis was a disappointment. He wasted 1/3 of year due to his immaturity (punching/pushing glass window) then no-showed in the SBC tourney and 1st Round (sick or not stars step-up). JJ should be able to bring in enough able bodies with Flemings hopefully coming back on board and the USF transfer.

Next year should be another very good year if the coaching is right.

[Cooley]

Don’t understand why anyone would call out Kendrick Davis? JJ didn't anoint him to be the star of the team over his other recruits? Give me a leader with the fire to punch a door, after a last second disputed loss; than some other kid that's OK with losing or content riding the bench.

North Texas doesn't smell the NCAA's without Kendrick's contribution this year and all of last year. This kid cheered on his future teammates behind the bench while he sat out 2 years ago. Davis could have developed the same big head that Roderick Fleming had and bolted UNT during the middle of his redshirt season. How many other mid to high major kids would agree to sit out an entire year at UNT? Davis had better options.

Any thoughts on where the highly recruited Harold Edwards was all year? (Make that career) Who told Harold Stewart to be a role player coming of the bench? Why is an "often injured" Jonathan Jackson on this team? Supposedly Justin Howerton was a steal from Texas A&M. How long is his development? Should we expect more from Juco transfers like Rich Young?

Let's spread the love around!

Like many, I'm a little frustrated that we didn't pull out an upset over Memphis but to knock a major contributor is not fair. Kendrick Davis was an immediate impact on this team from day one. In fact, was Newcomer of the Year in the Sun Belt. The kid became ill during a bad time during the conference tournament and was never able to get back in the groove, at his high level. Come on, this is not the NBA and Davis and others, are not paid millions to overcome injuries and sickness to be our star performer anymore than the other guys on this team. When UNT starts selling tickets for $50.00 for the top bleachers seats rather than $5; to sit wherever you want, I'll cut the players some slack.

Kudos to Kendrick and the rest of the Mean Green for helping build the foundation of what should bring sustained growth to this program. The label "disappointing" doesn't apply to Kendrick Davis and others. They took care of their academics (to at least stay eligible) or were never distractions caused by disciplinary actions by the coach. (Save for Michael Sturns)

[Green Mean]

As I am thinking about how much of a high NT basketball reached this year...this is what I thought about in regards to recruiting. With the situation the program it is in right now....Do we want to recruit players based on need or do we just want to go after the best possible players regardless of position? I'm kinda hesitant for just recruiting players based on the need.....NT is in a position that they want to continue the momentum of making the big dance on a consistent basis and we dont have that reputation yet where we can just recruit based on need....Frankly I think we need to recruit the absolute best possible players based on ability, athleticism, heart and etc. For several years now the cowboys have drafted players on need rather than just flat take the best player availabe in the draft and to many experts out there....its hurt them. If NT does that then I am not sure it is the best route because again we want to continue the momentum and recruit players that will be major contributors in 2 years or so if not immediately.

[NT80]

Don’t understand why anyone would call out Kendrick Davis? JJ didn't anoint him to be the star of the team over his other recruits? Give me a leader with the fire to punch a door, after a last second disputed loss; than some other kid that's OK with losing or content riding the bench.

North Texas doesn't smell the NCAA's without Kendrick's contribution this year and all of last year. This kid cheered on his future teammates behind the bench while he sat out 2 years ago. Davis could have developed the same big head that Roderick Fleming had and bolted UNT during the middle of his redshirt season. How many other mid to high major kids would agree to sit out an entire year at UNT? Davis had better options.

Any thoughts on where the highly recruited Harold Edwards was all year? (Make that career) Who told Harold Stewart to be a role player coming of the bench? Why is an "often injured" Jonathan Jackson on this team? Supposedly Justin Howerton was a steal from Texas A&M. How long is his development? Should we expect more from Juco transfers like Rich Young?

Let's spread the love around!

Like many, I'm a little frustrated that we didn't pull out an upset over Memphis but to knock a major contributor is not fair. Kendrick Davis was an immediate impact on this team from day one. In fact, was Newcomer of the Year in the Sun Belt. The kid became ill during a bad time during the conference tournament and was never able to get back in the groove, at his high level. Come on, this is not the NBA and Davis and others, are not paid millions to overcome injuries and sickness to be our star performer anymore than the other guys on this team. When UNT starts selling tickets for $50.00 for the top bleachers seats rather than $5; to sit wherever you want, I'll cut the players some slack.

Kudos to Kendrick and the rest of the Mean Green for helping build the foundation of what should bring sustained growth to this program. The label "disappointing" doesn't apply to Kendrick Davis and others. They took care of their academics (to at least stay eligible) or were never distractions caused by disciplinary actions by the coach. (Save for Michael Sturns)

Some excellent points. The fans got a taste and the players got a taste of performing out on a National stage and in front of heavy media. It should make all hungry for more and want to build and learn from this experience.

[UNTLifer]

My questions for next year:

1. If we don't recruit a need, JUCO PG, then who backs up and is groomed to replace Bell? Sturns is not a point guard.

2. Can JJ get Sturns to slow down, play under control and become the player he has the ability to be?

3. Will/Can Jackson redshirt? If not, will he be around next year?

4. Who does JJ recruit? High Schoolers, JUCOs, Transfers or all of the above?

5. Will Harold Edwards reappear? Is he eligible to request a redshirt for this year?

6. Can Collin Dennis fill the role of Davis?

7. Can Harold Stewart develop into the role of Rich Young, but hopefully score a little more?

8. Does Ben Bell have the ability to score more?

9. Can Mangrum become the next Calvin Watson?

10. Does the athletic department, realizing how much publicity a successful basketball program can generate, start to publicize the games like they should be?