University of North Texas Athletics
Celebrate New Year's Eve With Mean Green Basketball
12/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DENTON, Texas (12/30/08) Start your New Year’s celebration with the Mean Green basketball teams in double-header action on Wednesday at the Super Pit. The North Texas women tip off against Middle Tennessee at 1:00 p.m. and the men take on the Blue Raiders at 4 p.m.
North Texas returns to Sun Belt Conference play and looks to shake a two-game skid when the Middle Tennessee men visit the Super Pit on Wednesday. Desmond “Boogie” Yates led the Blue Raiders to a title in the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tournament last week by posting 20.7 points per game in bringing home tourney MVP honors.
The Blue Raiders lead the overall series 5-4, but North Texas holds a 3-1 edge at the Super Pit. The two opponents never met until the Mean Green joined the Sun Belt Conference for the 2000-01 season. NT knocked off MTSU in the semifinals of the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Tournament en route to their first SBC title.
Middle Tennessee is coming off a tournament championship in the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off. The Blue Raiders rolled up double-digit wins over Missouri State, UC-Irvine and Norfolk State thanks to tourney MVP Desmond “Boogie” Yates’ 20.7 ppg average.
North Texas and Middle Tennessee owned the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll at the annual media days. The Blue Raiders were tabbed to win the SBC’s East Division, and garnered a league-high 11 first place votes. The Mean Green were picked atop the West Division along with UALR. Both teams placed two players on the Preseason All-Sun Belt squads.
What To Watch For
Josh White, who has missed just four free throws all season long, now has two streaks of 20-consecutive made free throws in 08-09. The reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year has hit 22 straight free throws dating back to the Houston game on Nov. 29 - a span of six straight outings without a miss.
North Texas knocked down 19-of-21 (90.5 percent) free throws against UT Arlington, which is the best outing against a non-conference opponent since 1975. Overall, the performance ranks fifth in school history, and second in the Johnny Jones era.
Despite the loss to UTA, NT has been nearly unbeatable at home since 2005-06, posting a 44-10 (81.5 percent) record over that span. In the last three seasons, the Mean Green has lost just two non-conference home games, both to UT Arlington, and by a combined seven points. Monday’s loss snapped a streak of 16 straight non-conference home wins.
Collin Dennis poured in a season-high 21 points to lead the Mean Green in scoring against the Mavericks. Five of his seven made field goals came from behind the three-point line, which was just one away from his career high from deep.
North Texas and Middle Tennessee owned the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll. The Blue Raiders were tabbed to win the SBC’s East Division, and garnered a league-high 11 first place votes. The Mean Green were picked atop the West Division along with UALR. Both teams placed two players on the Preseason All-Sun Belt squads.
