University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Miami Bound For Florida International Tilt
1/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MIAMI (1/22/09) Listen in tonight as the North Texas men’s basketball team looks to match its season-long win streak of four against a resurgent Florida International squad. The Mean Green has won six of its last seven against FIU. Thursday’s action begins at 6 p.m. (CST) and can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network.
What To Watch For
It took 18 games and six near-misses, but Eric Tramiel finally notched his first double-double in a Mean Green uniform against Florida Atlantic - and nearly had it by halftime. The junior posted 14 points and seven boards by the break, and finished with 19 and 13, both game highs.
One of Eric Tramiel’s biggest strengths lies in his ability to get to the free throw line. The Shreveport, La., native has gone to the line 91 times this year, which is tops at North Texas and third overall in the Sun Belt Conference. Tramiel is on pace to attempt over 150 free throws this year, which has been topped by only Chris Davis, Jermaine Green and Leonard Hopkins in the Johnny Jones era.
North Texas leads the all-time series with Florida International 7-2, including a 2-1 edge in Miami. The Mean Green has won six of the last seven games against the Golden Panthers, including a victory in head coach Johnny Jones’ first Sun Belt Tournament game in 2002.
Kedrick Hogans sent back his 40th career block in the second half against Florida Atlantic on Saturday. Just a sophomore with 49 career games under his belt, Hogans is just six blocks shy of Unjel Masters for 10th place in school history in career blocks. The New Orleans native leads the team and ranks ninth in the Sun Belt with 21 blocks, and his 1.2 blocks per game ties him for 169th in the country.
NT has shown a knack for getting to the free throw line this year. As a matter of fact, only four teams in the country have made more free throws, and only two have attempted more this year.
