University of North Texas Athletics
Last Two Sun Belt Champs Tangle At Western Kentucky
1/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (1/30/09) - North Texas had its four-game win streak snapped in a loss to Troy on Thursday, and looks to get back on track at Western Kentucky. The Mean Green won in its last visit to E.A. Diddle Arena, and will look to make it two in a row. Saturday's action will be televised on Fox College Sports (DirecTV 617) at 7 p.m. (CST) and can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network.
What To Watch For
Few players in the nation are playing hotter right now than NT’s Eric Tramiel. The junior has posted at least 19 points in each of his last three outings, including back-to-back double-doubles against FAU and FIU. Since the turn of the New Year, Tramiel is leading North Texas with 16.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game on 59.4 percent shooting.
George Odufuwa came down with 18 rebounds against Troy on Thursday, the most by a player in the Sun Belt Conference this year. The junior’s performance ties for the 16th best in North Texas history, and the most since Quincy Williams hauled in 19 against Indiana State last season.
Western Kentucky leads the all-time series with North Texas, 9-2, including a 4-1 edge in Bowling Green. The Mean Green did, however, solve the riddle of E.A. Diddle Arena in its last appearance. Keith Wooden hit the winning layup with just over five seconds remaining in Dec. of 2006 to give NT its first win in seven tries in the facility.
North Texas will be participating in Coaches vs. Cancer “Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend” at Western Kentucky. NT coaches will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their usual game attire during weekend games to demonstrate their support for the Society and the fight against cancer.
NT has kept its turnover totals under control, and has a chance to be one of the least turnover prone teams in school history. North Texas is averaging just 13.7 turnovers per game, which would rank fourth in NT history, and would be the best by Mean Green team since 1995.
