2007-2008 North Texas Mean Green

Cooley · October 30, 2007

COACH AND PROGRAM

North Texas Mean Green

Last Season 23-11 (.676)

Conference Record 10-8 (3rd)

Starters Lost/Returning 2/3

Coach Johnny Jones (LSU '85)

Record At School 86-89 (6 years)

Career Record 101-105 (7 years)

RPI Last 5 years 252-238-200-204-132

Mired in mediocrity and saddled with the task of breaking in his second junior college point guard in three years, Johnny Jones must have wondered if the natives were getting restless at the start of his sixth season at North Texas. Now, a school-record 23 wins and one shining moment later, Jones has a contract extension through 2012.

The Mean Green defended Jones' value by holding opponents to 38.9 percent shooting during five postseason games, which included the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988. North Texas played physically and passionately, and senior guard Calvin Watson snapped out of his mini-shooting slump in time to outlast West Division champion Arkansas State in the Sun Belt tournament championship.

The defense was basically a constant last season. Opponents shot 41 percent for the year and made 29 percent of their three-pointers in the postseason. ''I had a chance to be a part of so many postseason teams with Coach Brown,'' Jones said. ''It's something you always strive for and to have it come to pass with him present was really a special moment.'' North Texas wasn't just happy to be there. The Mean Green hung around with No. 5 Memphis most of the first 35 minutes, making you wonder how many match-ups were out there that could have landed them a first-round win. Memphis was arguably as talented and balanced as any team this side of Florida.

North Texas was loaded with veteran leadership, literally in the case of Rich Young, a senior who had previously been a Marine in Iraq. Young is now gone, as are last season's three leading scorers, Watson and fellow guards Kendrick Davis and Michael Sturns. Watson made 90 three-pointers last year and 208 in his career, both school records. Davis made 46 threes. ''Calvin Watson was a guy that put four years in and had that look like he wasn't going to be denied,'' Jones said.

''Kendrick Davis was here three years. And Rich Young was our glue guy. He was 26 years old and had been to Iraq; that's leadership.'' Sturns, a 6-5 point guard from Fort Worth, Texas, transferred to NCAA Division II Holy Family in Philadelphia. He averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds last season, and scored a career-high 28 points in a loss to New Orleans. Sturns was the Mean Green's best player off the dribble and got to the free-throw line a team-high 142 times.

PLAYERS

Despite the backcourt departures, there are reasons for optimism. Jones returns starting point guard Ben Bell (7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg), a 6-3 senior. Bell matured into a solid floor leader in his first season, handing out a team-high 105 assists. He also scored in double figures in three straight league tournament games to make the all-tournament team.

''Ben is a winner,'' Jones said. ''He has good size and court awareness, he runs a team tremendously and he knocks down some key shots.'' Bell is also the leading returning three-point shooter, though that's more by default. Returning players made only 29 of North Texas' 226 three-pointers last year. Bell made 23 of those.

Two transfers expected to make an impact in the backcourt are 6-2 junior Collin Dennis, a former starter at USF, and 6-4 junior college recruit Adam McCoy (18.4 ppg). Jones describes the athletic Dennis as more of a scorer. He scored 25 points in a game against UAB as a freshman at USF. Dennis, however, has struggled from long range. He was 24-of-80 behind the arc that season. His playing time declined as a sophomore, though he did score 11 points in a game against Rutgers and 10 against Cincinnati.

McCoy can stretch a defense. He made 48.7 percent of his three-pointers last season at Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, which ranked 14th nationally. He also shot 83.5 percent at the free-throw line and 50 percent from the field. Long-armed sophomore 6-4 Collin Mangrum (1.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg) should be in a better position to contribute after getting limited action last season as a freshman.

Jones is excited about two freshman guards. Tristan Thompson (26.7 ppg) is a 6-5 wing who helped Brewster High School (Angleton, Texas) to a No. 5 national ranking, and 5-10 point guard Josh White (25.3 ppg) was a two-time Class 1A state MVP for Christian Life in Baton Rouge, La. White averaged seven assists and four steals, and was the 10th best player in Louisiana according to Rivals. ''I think we've really helped ourselves,'' Jones said. ''Josh is a point guard who has the ability to knock down outside shots. Adam McCoy is an excellent outside shooter.''

The frontcourt should be one of the best in the league with 6-8 senior Quincy Williams (10.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and 6-9 senior Keith Wooden (9.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Williams was third in the league in field-goal percentage (57.6) and fourth in blocks (38). The 245-pound Wooden added 31 blocks, shot 52.5 percent from the field and had a game-high 16 points against Memphis.

''If Keith and Quincy can just give us what they gave us last year, I'll be satisfied,'' Jones said. But he anticipates more from what could be the most physical tandem in the league. ''Quincy Williams is one of the most dedicated kids I've had in the program,'' Jones said. ''And with his senior year coming up, he's spent even more time in the weight room and the gym.''

Forward Harold Stewart (4.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg), a 6-8 junior, was at his best during the league tournament last season.

He had a career-high 16 points and game-high 11 rebounds in a quarterfinal overtime win against Louisiana-Monroe, and led the Mean Green in rebounding in three of the four Sun Belt Tournament games. Jones is also pleased with the progress of 6-10 junior Justin Howerton (1.8 ppg, 1.3 rpg). The 240-pounder had eight points and seven assists against Troy and blocked two shots against New Orleans.

Despite the scoring voids to fill, Jones is confident there are enough materials to build a capable offense. Defense and unselfish play seem to be his primary concerns. ''We have some new players who should help us,'' Jones said. ''The question is how are the guys going to jell together. We really played well all season long on defense last year, and eventually it paid off. I believe my guys will remember what got us there.''

North Texas still looks solid on paper, but it's difficult to believe the massive losses on the offensive end won't create some stubborn hiccups. Still, with its size, strength and recent taste of success, if the Mean Green finds a consistent perimeter threat that isn't a blatant defensive liability, this team shouldn't fall beneath the upper tier of the West.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: B

BENCH/DEPTH: B+

FRONTCOURT: A

INTANGIBLES: A-