North Texas Must Address Issues To Keep Title

Mean Green 93-98 · January 31, 2008

North Texas must address issues to keep title

By TROY PHILLIPS Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DENTON -- Ten regular-season Sun Belt Conference games remain for North Texas, and the Mean Green will need all 10 to salvage what was once a promising season.

Injuries, a flu bug, poor road play and the search for a consistent rotation have all contributed to a 3-5 conference record and the end of a 10-game home winning streak. Tonight, Sun Belt leader South Alabama (17-3, 9-0) visits the Super Pit, and UNT (12-7 overall) needs a miracle. UNT, the defending conference champion, has lost three straight.

"We're not stopping anybody right now," guard Collin Dennis said. "We're just not finishing games, and it's frustrating."

Defensive and scoring lapses have come simultaneously, often with UNT holding a lead. What could be at play this season is a deeper but younger UNT team that's still learning to play together. Despite a 9-2 start in nonconference play, UNT is a game worse in league play than at the same time a year ago (4-4).

Like last season, UNT has the players to make a late championship run. Five things it either must do or seriously consider:

1. If possible, establish a starting lineup: Given UNT's depth, coach Johnny Jones disagrees that this matters. UNT has used three different sixth men (Tristan Thompson, Collin Dennis, Dez Willingham). Inside, UNT has started 6-foot-7, 195-pound freshman Kedrick Hogans, as well as career backup center Justin Howerton. Injuries or illness have prompted shuffling, but it's becoming less necessary.

2. Stop playing like road kill: Jones and players contend the Sun Belt's balance plays to home teams. But Denver, Troy, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee, all home winners against UNT, were a combined 14-22 in the league entering Wednesday. FAU was 5-13 when UNT visited.

3. Defend like you mean it: Numbers don't lie. UNT lost three games (Middle Tennessee, FAU, Troy) despite leading by double digits. Denver shot 60 percent, and New Orleans led by as many as 29 points. Field-goal percentage defense is way off since in Sun Belt play. Opponents are shooting 46.2 percent in conference; UNT held them to 40.2 percent in nonconference.

4. Restore the Wooden/White combo: Injuries and illness have hampered what was UNT's best inside-out combination. Center Keith Wooden said Tuesday he's determined to reach full strength after two sprained ankles and arthroscopic knee surgery, but Jones is cautiously optimistic. When Wooden and freshman point guard Josh White are on, the scoring possibilities for UNT seem endless.

5. Solve those matchups: The opposing primary or secondary scorer in UNT's past three losses have shot a combined 38-for-64, or 59.3 percent. UNT held Troy's O'Darien Bassett to 9-for-22, but he still scored 30 points.

ONLINE: meangreensports.com

South Alabama at North Texas men

7 tonight, Super Pit, Denton

Records: USA 17-3, 9-0 Sun Belt; UNT 12-7, 3-5

Radio: KWRD/100.7 FM; KNTU/88.1 FM

Tickets: $12/$7; call (800) 868-2366 or visit www.meangreensports.com

Troy Phillips, 817-390-7760

tphillips@star-telegram.com