UNT Basketball Notebook

[NT80]

UNT Notebook

UNT to honor NCAA teams

01/08/2003

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas will honor the 1986 women’s and 1988 men’s basketball teams and former men’s coach Bill Blakeley during its doubleheader against Denver at the Super Pit on Saturday.

The ’86 Lady Eagles and ’88 Mean Green are the only teams in the respective programs’ histories to make NCAA Tournament appearances.

That edition of the Lady Eagles, coached by Judy Nelson, went 20-10, setting a then-school record for wins in a season and winning the Southland Conference tournament. UNT lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Washington.

The Mean Green, coached by Jimmy Gales, overcame a slow start to finish 17-13 and win the Southland Conference’s regular-season and tournament titles. UNT won 11 consecutive games before falling to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament’s first round.

Blakeley, who was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame this fall, compiled a 134-85 record as the Mean Green’s head coach from 1976-83.

Blakeley ranks second in school history in wins and fourth in winning percentage. Three of UNT’s four 20-win seasons came during Blakeley’s tenure.

Foot injury sidelines Smith

Center/forward Will Smith has developed an infection on the bottom of his foot that will sideline him indefinitely, coach Johnny Jones said Tuesday.

"We’re disappointed because we thought he would be back," Jones said. "Now we’re not sure how long it will be before he gets back."

Smith went to the emergency room late Sunday night because of extreme pain. Trainer Brad Anderson said Smith has reacted well to antibiotics and could be back on the court in a week.

Center Justin Barnett, who did not make the Mean Green’s recent road trip because of a sore back, is participating in light conditioning drills. Anderson said he hoped Barnett could practice by Thursday.

Point guard Scott Roniger, who underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his knee, will be out longer than the two weeks that was originally anticipated.

Anderson said Roniger, who is currently rehabilitating in his hometown of Metarie, La., is targeting the Jan. 23 trip to New Orleans as his return date.

UNT not on local television

Saturday’s basketball doubleheader against Denver will be broadcast as part of the Sun Belt’s package with ESPN Regional television. However, the games will not be carried by any station in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Player of the week

The Mean Green squeezed every possible ounce of effort out of swingman Chris Davis in the double-overtime win Sunday afternoon at Florida Inter-national. Davis also provided plenty of production in the Sun Belt opener.

Playing all 50 minutes, Davis had season highs of 27 points on 8-of-11 shooting and eight assists. He also added nine rebounds in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both schools.

Davis also played well in the loss Thursday at Auburn, scoring 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting. For his efforts on the road trip, he is the Denton Record-Chronicle’s University of North Texas Player of the Week.

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

UNT 7-day schedule

SATURDAY: Denver at men’s basketball, 1 p.m.; Denver at women’s basketball, 3:30 p.m.

[CMJ]

Wish I could be there to see Coach Blakeley. My whole life my folks have been telling me how great he was.

[UNTLifer]

Wish I could be there to see Coach Blakeley.  My whole life my folks have been telling me how great he was. 

He was great. He used to drap signs over the back of his chair on the bench with a saying usually aimed at either the officials or the opponent. I don't remember the exact wording of any of these, but they were always something to look forward to. He was not only a great coach, but he knew how to bring entertainment to the Super Pit, not only with his coaching style, but also with his antics on the sidelines.