University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: RPI Musings On A Monday
2/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, February 8, 2010, 4:49 p.m.
One of my many Monday morning rituals, surfing the internet until I'm awake, took me to one of my regular stops. The NCAA RPI. I normally check out where the men and women's team are at coming off a weekend of hoops.
This morning I took a slightly closer look at the men's side and discovered the Mean Green men have the second best RPI in the conference right now. Not bad in a league that is ranked, ahem, 23rd in the latest version of the conference RPI (that's another topic which needs addressing, but later). And in case you needed more proof this is the best program in the metroplex, its better than TCU, SMU, and UTA.
Quietly North Texas has won six of their past eight games and is starting to creep up on West Division leader Arkansas State. Not only that they are locked in a tussle with no less than six teams for the "Wild Card" spot into the tournament.
A nice run, but it can get even better.
Before I proceed I know the following statement will get me in trouble with Johnny Jones or any coach for that matter.
When you look at the remaining games on the schedule, advantage Mean Green. This team has a realistic shot at winning 20 games and running the table to finish the year at 21-8 is also within reach if you ask me.
I know no coaches want to overlook any opponents, especially in February. That's where I come in. I will do it for them.
The remaining five league games all present challenges, the final non-conference game I'm expecting to see a lot of Alzee Williams, Cam Spencer, Richard Thomas, Jacob Holmen, and Collin Mangrum.
UNO, Lakefront is always scary, even before the Hurricane. Denver, well until they learn how to breathe at sea level, I'm not sure if they will ever win on the road. UALR, a down year for the normally scrappy Steve Shields bunch, but they are scrappy.
ULL scares me. Tyren Johnson is playing like a guy who belongs in the "League". ULM, well until they get a real scorer's table I'm going with the Green.
However those five names off the bench hold the key to this season. The starting five for North Texas, I'd take it over any in the league right. But they can't carry the load or the heavy minutes every night.
The Mean Green's bench must come up big down the stretch, which it has started to do. Late in January, the bench went missing. Lately, it's been clutch.
Williams was the most clutch against FIU late in the game. His line score was pedestrian, but his impact was almost bigger than everyone. He put on a blanket defense forcing FIU's Phil Gary to launch a 3-point prayer near the buzzer. I don't think Isiah Thomas drew that up.
And that's what this North Texas team has to do. A new hero has to step up, and they have each game.
If that trend continues, February has the potential to be a ride unlike any North Texas has ever had.
The RPI is more or less a number that stat junkies, Joe Lunardi, and deeply disturbed SID's look at every day. It's really just some fun because the only numbers that matter are wins.
And right now the Mean Green's winning percentage is better than everyone in the Sun Belt.
