DRC..Jones,NT men seek "next step"

[OldTimer]

Jones, UNT men seek ?next step?

11/22/2002

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas was not expected to have much success in coach Johnny Jones? first season. A 15-14 record certainly came as a surprise to many after the Mean Green won a total of 15 games in the previous three seasons.

Now it?s time to take the next step.

"We?ve got to continue to build," Jones said. "I think that?s the most important thing. I don?t think that we can be fooled and change our approach because of the success that we had last year, exceeding a lot of people?s expectations. There?s still a lot of work to be done."

While he notes that the schedule isn?t as friendly as it was a year ago, Jones knows he has the pieces in place to improve upon the promising beginning of his tenure. The Mean Green returns four starters, including unanimous All-Sun Belt selection Chris Davis.

"We did a little something last year," forward Jermaine Green said. "Now it?s time to get to the tournament. Western Kentucky isn?t the only big team in the conference. We want to be noticed just like they are."

With the addition of junior college transfer forward Michael DeGrate and a few other newcomers ? and the loss of only two seniors ? UNT plans to take advantage of its depth by extending its defense and pushing the tempo.

"We led the league in scoring last year, and in doing that, I thought we played pretty fast," Jones said. "But I think we?ve got a chance to be even better in that."

After also ranking last in the league in scoring defense, Jones knows the Mean Green can get much better on that end of the floor. He said, however, that UNT will play to its strength, which is its ability to score.

"We?re a fast-break team, so sometimes we?ll give up easy baskets," Jones said. "I?m okay if we?re leading the league in offense, and there?s a big difference in the points we?re scoring and the points we?re giving up. But to beat good teams and to win championships, our defense has got to improve."

The additions of the 6-8, 220-pound DeGrate and 6-10, 260-pound redshirt freshman Justin Barnett give UNT two big bodies who can bang on the block. Out of necessity, the 6-8, 185-pound Green played out of position at power forward last season, often getting pushed around by bigger players.

Now Jones gets to dictate how he wants to match up inside. There will be many times when he decides to play a small lineup, putting full-court pressure on and forcing opponents to adjust to UNT?s pace.

"We?re going to be a team that gets up and down," Davis said, "and gives the fans something to keep coming back and watch."

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

North Texas at Southwest Missouri State, 7 p.m.

Radio: KWRD-FM 100.7

The teams have split two meetings the last two seasons, with each team winning at home. ¼ UNT has not won a season opener on the road since 1991-92 at Texas Tech. ¼ UNT forward Jermaine Green did not practice this week after spraining his ankle in the exhibition finale. ¼ Guard Terrance McGee, who averaged 14.2 points per game last season, is the Bears? only returning starter. ¼ UNT reserve point guard Jerome Rogers had a career-high 23 points against SMS last season.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lee Green; PG; 6-3; Sr.

Just has to be steady

Leonard Hopkins; SG; 6-3; So.

Scored in bunches off bench as freshman

Chris Davis; G/F; 6-5; Sr.

Led team in points, rebounds and assists

Jermaine Green; F; 6-8; Sr.

Long, lanky and team?s most versatile player

Michael DeGrate; PF; 6-8; Jr.

UNT has big hopes for ex-Baylor Bear

Adrian Awasom; PF; 6-5; So.

Justin Barnett; C; 6-10; Fr.

Andy Blount; SG; 6-4; So.

Rusty Chiles; G; 6-2; Sr.

Ron Harris; F; 6-7; Fr.

Unjel Masters; C; 6-9; Jr.

Scott Roniger; PG; 6-2; Fr.

Jerome Rogers; PG; 5-10; Jr.

Will Smith; F/C; 6-7; Jr.

Ty Thomas; 6-7; SF; Fr.

SCHEDULE

Nov. 22; at Southwest Missouri State; 7 p.m.

Nov. 29; at SMU; 7 p.m.

Dec. 1; at Indiana; 1 p.m.

Dec. 6; vs. Weber State*; TBA

Dec. 7; vs. Winthrop/Morris Brown*; TBA

Dec. 16; St. Edward?s; 7 p.m.

Dec. 21; at Tennessee Tech; 6 p.m.

Dec. 23; at Colorado; 8 p.m.

Dec. 28; Texas A&M-Commerce; 7 p.m.

Dec. 30; at Baylor; 8 p.m.

Jan. 2; at Auburn; 7 p.m.

Jan. 5; at Florida International; 1 p.m.

Jan. 11; Denver; 1 p.m.

Jan. 16; Arkansas-Little Rock; 7 p.m.

Jan. 18; Arkansas State; 7 p.m.

Jan. 23; at New Orleans; 7 p.m.

Jan. 25; at South Alabama; 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 30; Louisiana-Lafayette; 7 p.m.

Feb. 1; New Mexico State; 7 p.m.

Feb. 6; at Middle Tennessee; 7 p.m.

Feb. 8; Western Kentucky; 7 p.m.

Feb. 13; at Denver; 9 p.m.

Feb. 20; New Orleans; 7 p.m.

Feb. 22; South Alabama; 7 p.m.

Feb. 24; at Louisiana-Lafayette; 7 p.m.

March 1; at New Mexico State; 8 p.m.

March 6-11; Sun Belt tournament; TBA

*Winthrop Tournament