University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: You Wipe The Glass, You Win
11/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, November 18, 2009, 5:44 p.m.
Ever given your car, old or new, a nice long car wash in the driveway on a Saturday afternoon? After your done hosing everything off, you start drying it off. Wiping it, front to back, side to side, up and down, and left and right. You're finally done, except, uh oh, there's a little streak going right down the middle of the car.
Last night that streak was Shi-Heria Shipp of George Washington going right down the middle of the North Texas defense to follow up a missed shot for the game-winning bucket with three seconds left. The women let a great looking win slip away by failing to rebound on the defensive end and most of the night and allowed GW to sneak out of the Super Pit with a win.
Shanice Stephens squad came out and showed no hangover from the blowout Saturday night at SFA to start the season. They were crisp and smooth on both sides of the ball. They kept a lead on GW most of the night, but by not rebounding, taking care of the ball, and making free throws, the Colonials got a gift from the Mean Green in the form of a win.
No mystery as to why North Texas lost. Through two games they are averaging 25 turnovers and the opposition is averaging 22.5 offensive rebounds a game. Very few teams can overcome that. Last night showed me that this North Texas team has A) a short memory, B) a lot of jelling to do and C) a lot of potential.
After losing by 30 to SFA, I don't think there were many people who thought North Texas could give a GW team that has been to the post-season 18 of the last 19 years. They did more than just that and left the building with a W staring them right in the face. The biggest question is why?
Allow me to take a minute to be Commander-In-Chief of excuse making for this team right now. Coming into the year, Stephens squad had a combined 13 years of D-I collegiate experience back. That ranks as the 7th youngest team in the nation. That doesn't pardon the fact that the Mean Green are 0-2, but last night does show me that this team, when dialed in and playing to its capabilities, can run with a lot of teams in the country.
Take Jasmine Godbolt, a true freshman who came off the bench to score 15 points and grab nine rebounds. That was one rebound away from a double-double and that would have been the quickest (2 games) any true freshman has ever recorded a double-double in school history. There are bright spots on this team but they aren't good enough to overcome an avalanche of mistakes.
The free throws have to get better. Shoot 56 percent from the FT line and you will lose you 100 percent of your close games. 22.5 offensive rebounds and 25 turnovers a game will just put you in a deeper hole.
The women aren't off to the start they want in the W-L column, but the potential is there. At this point, there isn't a non-conference game the girls can take lightly.
November basketball never resembles what you will see if February or March when it counts. It's up to the Mean Green to wipe off all of the spots before then.
