Mean Green

Kendrick Davis didn't make the All-Sun Belt Conference team that was released on Tuesday, which ranks as a big oversight.

Davis missed part of the season with a wrist injury, but hit big shot after big shot for the Mean Green in conference play and averaged 13.7 points a game on a balanced scoring team. Only Calvin Watson, a third-team pick, averaged more for points a game for UNT at 15.6.

The leagues' coaches and a few media members voted on the team.

Who knows, maybe being left off the team will provide Davis a little extra motivation tonight when the Mean Green take on Louisiana-Lafayette in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament.

For more on the team, see the Denton Record-Chronicle Web site. The following is a link to one of several stories on UNT and the tournament in today's paper.
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/college/stories/DRC_UNTwatson_2-28.3ddef71.html

The postseason has not been kind to the North Texas men's and women's basketball teams the last few years.

The UNT men have not won Sun Belt Conference tournament game in four years while the women are working on a three-year drought. Both will look to end their slumps tonight.

If the UNT men are ever going to break through, this seems like it would be the time. UNT is not only at home, the Mean Green play a Louisiana-Lafayette team it has already beaten twice this year.

The UNT women have a tougher task at South Alabama, but have had success at the Mitchell Center in the past. UNT captured the Sun Belt's West Division title there last season.

If you ask me, this shapes up to be a key game for the UNT men. The Mean Green have a pair of senior leaders in Kendrick Davis and Calvin Watson and perhaps the best "glue guy" in the league in Rich Young. If UNT wins tonight and takes one or two more games in Lafayette in the final rounds of the tournament, the season becomes a 20-win year and a resounding success.

A loss negates a lot of what UNT accomplished by winning 19 games in the regular season. The Mean Green has created a small buzz this year and could build momentum heading into recruiting and the offseason with a win tonight.

It's a chance UNT can't afford to squander.

Wednesday's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle has multiple stories on where both UNT teams stand heading into the tournament, plus a feature on Young, a former marine. Be sure to pick up the paper or check in at www.dentonrc.com for complete coverage.

The North Texas women’s basketball team will open the Sun Belt Conference tournament at South Alabama on Wednesday.
UNT had a chance to host a first-round game if Troy beat USA on Saturday and the Mean Green beat Louisiana-Lafayette in its regular season finale today at the Cajundome. Those hopes ended when USA beat Troy.
UNT (9-18, 6-11) will be the ninth seed in the 13-team event that will begin with first-round games at campus sites before moving to the Cajundome for the quarterfinals through the finals. USA will be the eighth seed.
USA beat UNT 72-57 earlier this season at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala.

Is there any doubt left that the North Texas women are on a roll?

Not really.

UNT won its second straight game over a Sun Belt Conference power this week when it took out Arkansas State in convincing fashion at the Super Pit on Thursday. UNT beat Western Kentucky on Monday.

Amber Jackson continues to thrive and DiDi Wali played the best game of her career in her last appearance in a regular season game at home. That's right. I said regular season game. UNT still has a chance to host a first-round game if it can win at Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday and get some help.

UNT head coach Tina Slinker said all season long that her team was not that far off, despite a poor record. At this point, Slinker looks like she knew what she was talking about.

UNT's best players are mostly sophomores and freshmen that are just now gaining the experience they need to compete on the college level.

Arkansas State coach Brian Boyer said UNT looked like a different team than the Lady Indians beat earlier in the season. There is little doubt UNT is a team no one in the Sun Belt wants to see in the first round of the conference tournament at this point.

The North Texas men's basketball team squandered an opportunity to move up in the Sun Belt Conference standings in a loss to Arkansas State on Thursday, but the Mean Green will still host a tournament game next week.

The two division winners, plus the team with the next-best record will receive byes while the next five teams will host games. After all was said and done Thursday, UNT was assured of finishing in the top eight in the league.

UNT has been solid at home this season and will have a much better chance at making it to Lafayette for the second round of the tournament after starting out at home.

The North Texas men's basketball team will officially say good bye to a few key seniors who helped build the program over the last few years today when it takes on Arkansas State in the final regular season game of the year at the Super Pit.

Calvin Watson, Kendrick Davis and Rich Young are among the seniors on the roster.

All have made contributions. Watson is the leading 3-point shooter in school history, while Young is a key all-around player.

One could also make an argument that Davis is the best two-year player in the last 20 years of UNT basketball.

The following is a link to a Denton Record-Chronicle story on Davis and his impact. What do you think? Is Davis the best transfer UNT has landed in the last two decades?

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/stories/DRC_UNThoops_2-22.2329003c.html

Calvin Watson became the Mean Green's all-time leader in 3-pointers made in a win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday.

After the game, junior forward Quincy Williams and UNT head coach Johnny Jones said it couldn't have happened to a better guy.

Anyone who knows Watson would have to agree. The senior has quietly become one of the best players ever to play for the Mean Green. Not only has Watson hit 190 3-pointers, he is also well on his way to becoming one of the top 10 scorers in school history while being a steady team-first player.

UNT is in position to make a run at a home game in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and maybe even the division title largely because Watson consistently scores 15 points a night.

UNT has an 18-9 record and at 9-7 is in a three-way tie for fourth overall in the Sun Belt standings after its win over UALR.

Earlier this season, Watson said the record wouldn't mean much to him unless the Mean Green has a good season. At this point, it is starting to look like Watson will get to enjoy his record and a 20-win season in his final year at UNT.

The North Texas men have the first of three huge games to close the regular season today against Arkansas-Little Rock. UNT is in the thick of the race for the fourth seed in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

UALR has already beaten the Mean Green once this season and has dominated the series.

For more on the game, see today's preview on the Denton Record-Chronicle Web site. The following is a link:

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/college/stories/DRC_UNTmen_2-17.9851b00.html

North Texas singee and former Nederland standout Micah Mosley won the Willie Ray Smith Award at the 15th annual Willie Ray Smith Awards Banquet recently. The honor goes to the top offensive player in Southeast Texas.

Mosley rushed for 4,557 yards in his career, including 2,432 as a senior when he was named the Offensive MVP of District 22-4A.

UNT has a history of featuring some of the top running backs in the nation each season, a legacy established by former national rushing champions Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas.

UNT's focus appeared as if it might change under new head coach Todd Dodge, who runs a wide-open passing attack. That change in philosophy does not appear as if it will hurt UNT when it comes to attracting top-notch running backs. UNT landed JUCO standout Cam Montgomery in addition to Mosley in its last recruiting class.

The following is a link to the Port Arthur News story on Mosley and the awards banquet:

http://www.panews.com/sports/local_story_047003343.html

New North Texas head coach Todd Dodge announced on Thursday that he has hired former Hardin-Simmons assistant David Rausch to coach the Mean Green's defensive line.

Rausch spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State before returning to HSU, where he was an all-conference defensive back.

For more on Rausch, see Friday's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle.

The North Texas men's basketball team has a history of fading down the stretch the last three seasons. The Mean Green appeared as if it might win the Sun Belt West Division title last year before falling short and losing in the first round of the conference tournament. UNT also struggled at the end of the season the previous two years.

UNT will look to end what is threatening to become another late-season slide today at Denver. The Mean Green has lost two straight and can't afford to let a chance to host a game in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament slip away.

For more on the Mean Green's hopes of ending its slide, see Thursday's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle or check our Web site later tonight at www.dentonrc.com.

North Texas' own Todd Dodge joined an elite class of football coaches to visit the White House on Friday when he and his family spent a few minutes with President George W. Bush.

Dodge had a few connections that helped set up the meeting that took place while he was in the area to speak at a clinic.

What might have been the most impressive aspect of the story was that the president knew of Dodge and his son Riley, who will be a senior quarterback at Southlake Carroll next season.

It sounds like the word is getting around about Dodge.

For a the full story on Dodge and his family's visit with the president, see Thursday's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle or our Web site, www.dentonrc.com later tonight.

North Texas signee and former San Antonio Alamo Heights quarterback Giovanni Vizza was named the Built Ford Texas Tough High School Football Player of the Year for Class 4A during a ceremony Saturday at Texas Stadium in Irving.

Vizza threw for 3,278 yards and 37 touchdowns while leading San Antonio Alamo Heights to the Class 4A Division I state title.

Vizza became the first quarterback to sign with UNT under new head coach Todd Dodge, who said Vizza will get a chance to compete for the starting job right away.

Vizza was among the most highly decorated recruits Dodge landed in his first class.

Brittney James played the best game by a North Texas freshman in years on Saturday while leading the Mean Green to a win over Louisiana-Monroe.

James scored 27 points, sent the game into overtime on a drive to the basket and scored the Mean Green's last eight points the extra session.

UNT has lacked a consistent go-to player in clutch situations at times this year. James made a case to be that player in the first start of her career.

Despite a tough year overall, UNT still has a chance to make a late run at earning a first-round home game in the conference tournament. The top seven teams appear set, but the No. 8 seed is still up for grabs.

After her performance against ULM, James appears as if she will be a key factor in the Mean Green's chances to earn that seed and a game at the Super Pit.

The North Texas men appeared as if they might make a run at the Sun Belt Conference West Division title before what turned out to be a bad week. The Mean Green had a shot at both New Orleans and Louisiana-Monroe and lost both games in the closing seconds.

UNT (7-7) is now looking up at both ULM and New Orleans in the standings and is one of six teams with either six or seven wins in league play. The two division winners, plus the team with the next-best record, will receive byes before the rest of the field is seeded based on conference record.

UNT could earn a home game or quickly fall down the pecking order for the tournament in its next four games.

The Mean Green has a history of stumbling down the stretch and could be looking at a tough game on the road in the league tournament if history repeats itself.

A road game could spell disaster for the Mean Green, which is 1-6 away from the Super Pit in league play.

The North Texas women are up 31-30 on Louisiana-Monroe at halftime, thanks in large part to Brittney James. The freshman guard has 17 points in the first half, exceeding her previous career high of 15 set in a win over Loyola Chicago earlier this season.

North Texas senior guard Calvin Watson will continue his chase of the Mean Green's career record for 3-pointers today against Louisiana-Monroe.

Watson enters the day with 185 3-pointers in his career, just four short of the school record set by former UNT great Chris Davis. The former Houston Madison standout is in the middle of his best season and has helped put the Mean Green in the thick of the race for the Sun Belt Conference West Division title.

For more on Watson's breakout season, see today's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle or our Web site: www.dentonrc.com.

The following is a link to today's feature on Watson:

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/college/stories/DRC_UNTwatson_2-10.6ac901f4.html

Any loss is tough to take, but falling to New Orleans on Thursday was particularly hard for North Texas for a variety of reasons.

UNT made a few key plays down the stretch before Bo McCalebb hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer that opened up Mean Green head coach Johnny Jones for a wave of second-guessing. Jones called a timeout after Ben Bell hit a free throw with two seconds left to give UNT the lead, giving New Orleans a chance to set up a play. UNT also didn't put a player on Jamie McNeilly, who hit McCalebb with a perfect in-bounds pass at the 3-point line at the other end of the floor to set up the game-winning shot.

McCalebb hit the three, despite being double-teamed.

Jones said he didn't guard the player throwing the in-bounds pass because he wanted to double-team the player who caught the ball at the 3-point arc.

The plan didn't work against McCalebb. Of course nothing much does against New Orleans star player. He came into the night ranked among the nation's leading scorers and lived up to his billing by dropping 25 points on UNT.

What made the loss worse was UNT fell into a three-way tie for second place in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division with New Orleans and Arkansas State. All three teams are 7-6, two games behind Louisiana-Monroe (9-4).

UNT plays at ULM later this week. The Warhawks have an 11-0 record at home this season.

Monroe will be a tough place for UNT to find a way to bounce back from its loss to the Privateers.

Mike Barela, the former director of football operations at North Texas, has accepted a job as tight ends coach and director of football operations at Texas State.

Barela wanted to get back into coaching during his time at UNT and will get the opportunity at Texas State. The former UNT letterman was one of the last members of the Mean Green's old coaching staff still looking for a new job in the coaching business.

Scott asked earlier today about what happened to Dominique Buchanan, Rivals.com's 50th-ranked outside linebacker prospect nationally. Buchanan considered playing for North Texas but didn't show up on the signing lists of any Division I schools Wednesday.

I put a call in to Gilmer High School. Buchanan committed to play for Kilgore JC.

You have to hand it to new North Texas head coach Todd Dodge.

Considering the circumstances surrounding the timing of his arrival at UNT, his first recruiting class was more than solid. The Mean Green picked up several players who will contribute right away, and down the line.

The most important recruit in the class might have been the last one to send in his letter of intent. Dodge said at his press conference that he still would have went after San Antonio Alamo Heights quarterback Giovanni Vizza if he had arrived at UNT earlier and had more time to recruit and more options as far as the players available. Dodge said Vizza fits his offense perfectly.

UNT has three quarterbacks who have started at some point returning next season, but Vizza will get a chance to compete for the starting job. He appears to have the talent to win the spot.

Considering Dodge uses a wide-open passing offense, Vizza has to be UNT's most important recruit.

Who do you believe North Texas' best or most important recruit will be?

Be sure to check out the Denton Record-Chronicle's signing day coverage. Here are links to two UNT stories:
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/stories/DRC_UNT_recruiting_2-8.6039ffb2.html

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/college/stories/DRC_UNT_QB_recruit_2-8.6047e14d.html

Steve asked earlier today why Evan Fentriss was not on North Texas signing day list. I asked and Fentriss did not appear because he is not on scholarship at this point.

He is going to walk on at UNT.

I would expect Fentriss to earn a scholarship quickly once he gets a chance to show what he can do in practice. He was among Todd Dodge's top wide receivers at Southlake Carroll.

San Antonio Alamo Heights quarterback Giovanni Vizza has signed his national letter of intent, which is on its way to North Texas, a source within the Alamo Heights athletic department said Wednesday afternoon.

Vizza apparently left the official copy of the letter at home and is preparing to fax it to North Texas after retrieving it.

The news should come as a relief to UNT fans considering Vizza backed out of a commitment to Nevada and is among the top players in the Mean Green's signing class.

The waiting will finally be over in a few hours when national signing day arrives.

UNT is expected to sign 18 high school players and a junior college running back to go with two Division I transfers.

These days signing day almost seems anticlimactic considering most players commit long before they actually sign their letters of intent. What will be interesting is to hear new UNT head coach Todd Dodge give his thoughts on his first recruiting class with the Mean Green.

Most UNT fans who have e-mailed me or expressed their opinions on this blog seem happy with the class.

Feel free to post your feelings and let us know: What recruit do you think will have the biggest impact in the short term and down the line?

North Texas junior center Keith Wooden will wear a mask for at least the Mean Green's next few games after breaking his nose in a win over Western Kentucky on Saturday. Wooden went to the doctor early Monday morning to be fitted for a mask and was at practice later in the day.

Wooden scored in the paint in the second half against WKU and took a shot to the nose that caused him to miss the rest of the game.

UNT nearly lost a huge second half lead and the game without Wooden's presence down low.

UNT head coach Johnny Jones said Wooden shouldn't have any problem playing with a mask. UNT won't really know how Wooden will react until he gets into Thursday's game against New Orleans, though.

At this point one would hate to see UNT have to change its rotation. The Mean Green has won four of its last five and is in a tie for second place in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division standings with Arkansas State.

UNT has a real shot at the division title and a first-round bye in the conference tournament if it can continue its recent roll over the last few weeks of the regular season.

North Texas put what appears to be the final touch on its recruiting class over the weekend when Waco Robinson wide receiver/defensive back B.J. Lewis committed to play for the Mean Green.

The news broke late Saturday, but Monday's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle has a more complete story on UNT's latest recruit. The Mean Green didn't offer Lewis until the last minute after another player backed out of his commitment to UNT.

Lewis was an all-state selection and played a variety of positions in high school. For a last-minute addition, Lewis appears to be a solid pickup.

With Lewis on board, UNT appears to be finished. Head coach Todd Dodge said he had as few as 16 and as many as 21 scholarships to give. Lewis is the 21st recruit UNT has landed.

At this point, what are your thoughts on UNT's recruiting class?

Here's a link to the story on Lewis:

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/stories/DRC_UNT_Recruit_2-5.507b933f.html

What was already a great weekend for the North Texas men's basketball team became just a little better on Sunday when Denver did the Mean Green a favor and knocked off Arkansas State.

ASU fell into a tie for second place with UNT in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division standings. UNT and ASU are both 7-5 in league play and trail Louisiana-Monroe by a game heading into the stretch run of the season.

UNT, which beat Western Kentucky on Saturday, has games left with both ULM and ASU.

At this point the Mean Green controls its own destiny when it comes to the Sun Belt West Division. The question now is if UNT can capitalize.

There was a lot to ponder after North Texas' win over Western Kentucky on Saturday, but one quote from Hilltoppers' coach Darrin Horn came to mind as perhaps the most interesting.

Horn was talking about losing to UNT for the second time this season and went on to praise the Mean Green.

"North Texas is the most talented team in our league athletically. No question."

One has to wonder at this point if that athletic ability is going to allow the Mean Green to get over the top in the race for the Sun Belt West Division title. UNT came into the night right in the thick of the chase and remained one game back of Louisiana-Monroe after its win over WKU. Arkansas State is a half game up on the Mean Green, which now has 16 wins on the season.

UNT has games left with both ULM and ASU in its final six games of the regular season. The Mean Green has now won four of its last five and lost its only game in that stretch in overtime at South Alabama, which looks like the best team in the league.

What is your take? Do you think UNT can win the division after its second straight win over WKU?

One of the top players from the Waco area became the latest addition to Todd Dodge’s first recruiting class at North Texas on Saturday.

B.J. Lewis, a defensive back/wide receiver from Waco Robinson, received a scholarship offer from UNT on Thursday and accepted the offer on Saturday.

Lewis, 6-1, 185, was a first-team All-District 17-3A selection as a wide receiver, defensive back and return specialist last season.

Lewis said he was recruited as a wide receiver but would be willing to play defensive back. UNT was the only school to offer Lewis a scholarship, but he received interest from Rice, West Texas A&M and Tarleton State.

The Waco Tribune-Herald rates Lewis No. 21 on its list of the top 25 recruits in the Central Texas area.

It turns out one of the reasons North Texas landed Brenham cornerback Kevin Ealey is his high school coach Glen West is longtime friends with Todd Dodge.

Ealey appears to be a solid pickup for UNT. He had offers from Houston and UTEP. Arizona came in late in the process and also showed interest.

Here is the link to the Denton Record-Chronicle's full story on Ealey.

Where do you think he ranks among the recruits in UNT's class?

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/college/stories/DRC_UNT_recruiting_2-3.46beb2de.html

It goes without saying, but North Texas' game against Western Kentucky today is huge for the Mean Green for a variety of reasons.

UNT is just a game out of first place in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division and could make a run at the league title late in the season. A win would also give UNT a sweep of its season series with the Hilltoppers.

This is the biggest game UNT has played at home since last year's game against South Alabama when the division lead was on the line. UNT drew just short of 5,000 for the game, which USA won going away. The Mean Green went on to lose five straight and never really recovered.

UNT is hoping to win this time in front of what could be its biggest home crowd of the season. A victory could be the springboard the Mean Green needs to finish its season strong instead of stumbling down the stretch.

Feel free to take a guess. What do you expect the score and the attendance for the game to be?

The following is a link to the Denton Record-Chronicle's preview: