University of North Texas Athletics
Live Blog Is Back And On The Hardwood Talking Hoops
10/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
How Much Was A Gallon Of Gas??? - “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce was No. 2 on the Billboard Hot-100 charts. - The national average for a gallon of gasoline was 38.5 cents. - North Texas head coach Johnny Jones was wrapping up the sixth grade in DeRidder, La. - The Miami Dolphins completed the first perfect season in NFL history by knocking off the Washington Redskins, 14-7, in Super Bowl VII. - Secretariat raced to wins in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, claiming the first horse racing Triple Crown in 25 years. - The Watergate Scandal took ahold of - The - Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd, model Heidi Klum and comedian Dave Chappelle were all born in 1973. Schedule Change Dunk Of The Day
4:44 p.m.
The Mean Green basketball team will be taking a trip back in time, so the Blog thought it was only appropriate that we look all the way back to 1973 when the Mean Green last called the Snake Pit home. In today’s final post, we’ll take a look at a few of the things that stood out.
4:30 p.m.
The Mean Green has a Valentines Day date with Middle Tennessee in February, and to accommodate for the ESPN-Regional broadcast the game time has been changed from 7 to 5 p.m. Details about the TV broadcast will be available at a later date, but if you’ve never been up to Murfreesboro, Tenn., it’s lovely in the winter. The Blog will be visiting the
4:18 p.m.
Kedrick Hogans wins today’s Dunk of the Day on a pretty nasty flush courtesy of Cameron Spencer. During an extended defense drill, Hogans was backing Spencer down at the elbow. That’s when Hogans spun around the SMU transfer and delivered a two-handed flush that got the attention of everyone in the gym.
4:06 p.m.
The Blog realized that he was seated in the wrong place when a rebounding drill nearly activated my workers comp insurance just now. With no fan seating on the floor at the PEB, I picked a nice spot on the hardwood behind the baseline to type away. I figured out that there is no out-of-bounds in these rebounding drills as a heap of humanity came screeching towards me in chase of a leather ball. If you’ve ever been to a game, these guys will do anything including destroy a blogger to grab a rebound. Luckily, Kedrick Hogans and Harold Stewart saw me in time and my life was spared.
Today, Knox is sporting a pretty impressive shiner under his mop-top hair cut, but hasn’t let it get in his way. In a warm-up 1-on-1 drill, he swatted a driving layup attempt from Cameron Spencer, who stands at 6-foot-8-inches. The former Grace Prep standout has been impressive so far through four practices and will look to get into the mix of a crowded race for playing time in the Mean Green lane. A Change Of Scenery Trainer Brad Anderson is getting everyone stretched and ready for practice right now, and the Blog is ready to see what’s in store for the Mean Green today. Defensive Play of the Day Showing Range Singled Out Well the good news for her is you don’t have to ask us twice to be loud and obnoxious....All for the betterment of the team though. Point taken, chatter has picked up. Swat of the Day “Get To The Block” Amber Jackson is one player who fits that mold with her size and quickness. After her breakout year last season, the skies the limit for Jackson in this offense. Open House That also happens to be the same Pourhouse in Denton that’s home to the Todd Dodge show, which oh by the way will air one-hour later at 6:30 p.m. MG Club man Jon Burkett is your contact for that at 940-369-8916. P.S.- Jon’s an Indiana boy so feel free to make fun of the Hoosiers in any way. Good-Man Sizing Up X-Ray Vision Up And Running Day 1 Basketball Blog
3:42 p.m.
Ben Knox got a warm welcome to college basketball, and he has the black eye to prove it. In his first collegiate practice on Friday, forward Eric Tramiel and Knox went up for a rebound and their noggins collided. The Freshman took the brunt of the blow, and needed a few stitches and an ice pack when all was said and done.
3:25 p.m.
Due to a scheduling conflict at the Super Pit, the Mean Green men will be hooping it up in the PEB today. So, head across the street and say “hello” if you’re coming out to practice. This will serve as a warning for all of the birds in the PEB, Collin Dennis is coming your way!
3:01 p.m.
Early leader was Torrian Timms with her blocked shot, but point guard Yari Escalera just made her case. She stepped in front of a pass at the top of the key, deflecting the ball into the backcourt. Escalera outran her defender to the ball, recovered at the baseline, and finding no help coming, decided I’ll finish what I started and knocked down a 15-footer from the corner.
2:56 p.m.
Senior Tricia Lee has been a handy-man of sorts for North Texas over the years. She’s been a great defender, rebounder, and has great range on the offensive side of the ball. Evidence? During 5-on-5 drills Lee stepped back and knocked down a 3-pointer, good from the men’s range.
2:36 p.m.
The blog likes to keep a low profile when at practice as not to interrupt, however Coach Stephens has apparently taken notice to our presence. While asking for her team communicate, loudly, Stephens took time to point out that if there were more fans in the building her team would be in trouble.
2:29 p.m.
Still only halfway through practice but Torrian Timms is the leader in the clubhouse. Timms coming back on transition defense came down on the right side and had an enormous rejection.
2:25 p.m.
Overheard from Coach Stephens as her team went up and down the floor during 3-on-3 drills. No doubt that North Texas wants to run, but they also won’t be afraid to get to the rim either.
2:14 p.m.
The blog is not beneath public service announcements here so in case you didn’t already know on November 3 there is a Mean Green basketball social hour at the Pourhouse Grill. Time- 5:30, Guests of Honor- Shanice Stephens and Johnny Jones.
2:06 p.m.
She’s already our odds on favorite for comeback player of the year but junior post Mimi Goodman continues to impress. Working in 5-on-5 drills Goodman, playing defense down low, slide over to help on defense and stuffed a shot. A minute later Goodman backed down a defender, got within 10 feet and drilled a turn around jumper. Goodman has been battling a chronic back injury for sometime but she appears to be 100 percent and looks to be a new found weapon.
1:58 p.m.
Without Talicia Sanders and Erica Howard one could wonder about the North Texas low post-game this year, however with Brittani Bailey back at 100 percent the Mean Green’s presence down low will be a bit different than in years past. With Howard and Sanders, you had a bruising, physical type game, with Bailey, Jackson, Timms, and Goodman it’s geared more towards an athletic type presence. Which fits right in with what Coach Stephens is looking to do.
1:38 p.m.
Our new favorite drill is underway. The one where Coach Stephens has her players strap on 3-D looking goggles and work their way down the floor. Through my large Ned Flanders looking glasses it appears as if the Mean Green are starting to pick this drill up and are becoming quite adept at dribbling down the floor blind.
Line Dance
1:33 p.m.
We failed to mention a few other new changes on the floor this year involving lines. Of course there is a new line for the new 3-point line in men’s basketball. Along with that there are two new lines on the floor marked for the coaches box area. They are black lines that extend out onto the floor and back into the painted area that are the, let’s call it 38th parallel, for coaches. The point is to keep coaches from barnstorming there way onto the floor. Can’t wait to see how long it takes a coach to cross the line who gets a T.
1:13 P.M
Day 2 of the Mean Green BB blog is underway from the Super Pit. And speaking of running we are expecting a lot of the same from the women’s basketball team that we saw yesterday. Run and gun, press, up tempo basketball....And I think that’s just during stretching. Full blown updates coming you’re way once full drills commence.
