University of North Texas Athletics
NT Looks To Down Tech In Consecutive Years
11/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
North Texas (1-0) vs. Texas Tech (1-0)
Lubbock, Texas • United Spirit Arena (15,020)
Nov. 16, 2011 • 7:00 p.m. CST
Radio: 88.1 KNTU-FM, 100.7 KWRD-FM • Hank Dickenson
TV: Fox Sports Southwest • Brian Jensen, Andy Ellis
Live Stats: texastech.com
Webcast: ESPN3.com
Series: TTU leads 8-6
Last: NT 92-83 (OT) on Nov. 16, 2010 in Denton
Game Notes
DENTON, Texas – Senior Josh White hit a runner with three seconds remaining to send the game into overtime, and North Texas rolled from there to a 92-83 overtime win over Texas Tech in last year’s matchup at the Super Pit.
While Wednesday’s rematch will be missing many of the stars of last year’s contest, several more standouts will be looking for their chance to make history. On the North Texas side, two freshman have already begun their assault on the records.
Point guard Chris Jones recorded the most rebounds by an NT freshman since Quincy Williams (13 vs TCU on 12-4-04), and the most assists by a freshman since Chris Davis (9 vs Tulsa, 12-30-99). Jordan Williams’ 16 points are the most by a freshman in a debut since Tristan Thompson had 16 in the 2007 opener. Friday was just the second time in NT history two freshmen started a season opener (last 2007-08 - Josh White, Tristan Thompson).
Texas Tech guard Toddrick Gotcher, a high school teammate of Jones, will square off his former Lakeview Centennial colleague for the first time since their run to the 2011 5A state title game – their second straight.
Wednesday’s meeting between North Texas and Texas Tech will be the 15th in the series that dates back to the 1946-47 season. The Red Raiders own a slight 8-6 edge despite last year’s 92-83 OT win by the Mean Green. Against TTU, NT is 1-4 in Lubbock, 3-2 in Denton and 2-2 on neutral courts.
Two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year Billy Gillispie takes over the Red Raiders basketball program for 2011-12. A veteran of seven years as a Division I head coach, Gillispie went 39-27 at Kentucky and earned the 2007-08 SEC Coach of the Year award. A Graford, Texas native, Gillispie was also previously the head coach at Texas A&M (2004-07) and UTEP (2002-04).
