DRC..Hopkins injury isn't the end (of Nt BB)

OldTimer · December 28, 2002

Hopkins' injury isn't the end

Jones looks no further than UNT football team for inspiration

12/28/2002

By TIM MACMAHON / Denton Record-Chronicle

With his team surrounding him at center court of the Super Pit following Thursday night's practice, North Texas coach Johnny Jones pointed across the street for proof that a team can overcome a season-ending injury to a key player.

He mentioned that the Mean Green football team lost quarterback Scott Hall in the first game of the season but still managed to claim the Sun Belt crown and win the New Orleans Bowl.

Jones' basketball team is facing a similar challenge after sophomore shooting guard Leonard Hopkins broke his foot in the waning moments of Monday night's loss at Colorado. UNT plays its first game without its second-leading scorer at 7 p.m. Saturday night against Division II Texas A&M-Commerce (8-1) at the Super Pit.

"I don't look for excuses," Jones said. "I look for opportunities. This is an opportunity for other guys to step up."

Jermaine Green, a senior who has played primarily power forward, will see most of his minutes on the wing now. Jones said the 6-8 Green will be asked to defend shooting guards on a regular basis. As a result, players such as juniors Michael DeGrate and Will Smith will be counted on to provide the production Green did at power forward.

UNT will also need quality minutes at the wing from Ty Thomas, a 6-6 freshman who played a total of 12 minutes this season.

Another option is playing point guard Lee Green at the two, something Jones has done in moderation the last two seasons. Jones is hesitant to do so, however, because reserve point guard Scott Roniger will miss at least 10 days with a knee injury, making depth at that position a concern.

"We need all the guys to pick it up," Jermaine Green said. "We've all got to step up and challenge ourselves. We lost a big piece, but we've got to work through it."

Jones wants the players replacing Hopkins to concentrate on defense and running the offense correctly. Jones does not want an individual player to attempt to assume the scoring void in the lineup without Hopkins (12.7 points per game).

"It's going to be spread around," Jones said. "I think everybody is going to pick up their game. One particular guy isn't going to go from averaging two points to 12 or 14. It's going to be a shared deal."

TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572. His e-mail address is tmacmahon@dentonrc.com.