NT80

Also, Deg Erskin of UT was in the game late with Miller. Just think what might have been this year at NT with them plus Dex Tennell and Davis on the floor together. Oh well, if they didn't want to play for NT, who needs 'em?

Seniors could be sidelined for final home game Davis, J. Green don’t practice Friday 02/22/2003 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer North Texas seniors Chris Davis and Jermaine Green sat out practice Friday — the eve of their final home game — because of illness and injury, respectively. Both players are questionable for Saturday night’s game against South Alabama at the Super Pit, though they both said they would attempt to play. Davis has felt ill all week and went to the hospital because of dehydration early Friday morning, hours after playing 36 minutes in a loss to New Orleans. "I’m going to drink a lot of fluids and get some rest," said Davis, who is 75 points shy of becoming the UNT’s all-time leading scorer. "I’ll be fine. But if the game was today [Friday], I couldn’t go." Green injured his with 5:14 remaining in the loss to New Orleans. He returned approximately one minute later but was ineffective down the stretch. Like Davis, Green said he expects to play, though he will be less than 100 percent. "I’ve got to play my last home game," Green said. Coach Johnny Jones said he wouldn’t know the status of Davis and Green — UNTs top two scorers and rebounders — until Saturday afternoon. "It’d be really tough if they couldn’t play for several reasons — Chris chasing the scoring record and it being Senior Night," Jones said. "You always want to see your seniors go out with a bang. It’s unfortunate that we haven’t had a winning season, but you want to draw something positive from every situation. Winning on Senior Night would be very positive." The Mean Green (7-17, 2-10), which has lost 10 of its last 11 games, will clinch sole possession of last place in the Sun Belt West Division with a loss. South Alabama (11-13, 5-8) is just above UNT in the standings. UNT suffered a 76-71 loss at South Alabama on Jan. 25 despite 29 points from Davis, who ranks second in the league in scoring at 19.0 points per game. The Jaguars benefited from a 48-17 advantage in free throws attempted.

All of the above are right on. It's been a combination of many things: injuries, shooting slumps, turnovers, opposition, refs, and basic bad luck. Hopefully next season will be a turn-around, again.

from the UNT website main page..... Norah Jones

I don't think the losses have been because of lack of effort, we just don't have the multiple shooters and overall talent yet that some of our opponents do.

Men's basketball: Rogers finds new way to score Guard turns down treys for baskets closer to hoop 02/09/2003 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer North Texas point guard Jerome Rogers’ jump shot still isn’t going down, but he found other ways to contribute Saturday night. Rogers scored 14 points in 31 minutes during the Mean Green’s 85-70 loss to Western Kentucky at the Super Pit. He averaged 3.1 points in the previous eight games. Rogers, whose has played the 3-point specialist role in the past, was 0-for-3 from beyond the arc against the Hilltoppers. However, he was able to drive to the basket and finish several times. He also got to the free-throw line eight times, making six. "I just played with confidence," said Rogers, who was 4-of-8 inside the arc. "I know that I can shoot the ball. It’s going to drop eventually." Added coach Johnny Jones: "I told him that if he has the open shot to knock it down, but at the same time try to create with his quickness. I have a great deal of confidence in Jerome and his ability." Smith sees significant playing time Forward/center Will Smith played 22 minutes, his first extended playing time since Dec. 30. Smith, who missed eight games with ankle and foot injuries before Thursday’s game at Middle Tennessee, had three points and five rebounds. Smith replaced center Unjel Masters in the rotation. Masters, who has started nine games this season, did not play. Trio takes off for tunnel early Three UNT players — Justin Barnett, Lee Green and Jerome Rogers — headed up the tunnel toward the locker room with 3.1 seconds remaining in the first half. The trio mistakenly thought the shot-clock buzzer signaled the end of the half, and Jermaine Green had to run up the tunnel to retrieve his teammates. Rogers made up for the gaffe by dribbling almost the entire length of the court to hit a running right-hander at the buzzer. "I was still focused," Rogers said. "I was trying to help my team cut into the lead going into the half." Briefly ... Power forward Adrian Awasom, a muscle-bound sophomore not known for his shooting touch, took a 3-pointer in the first half. He was soon substituted for and did not return to the game. ... The Mean Green exceeded its loss total of last season. ... The announced attendance was 4,212, the largest crowd of coach Johnny Jones’ tenure. The second-largest crowd — 4,129 against Louisiana-Lafayette last season — was also for a game that was regionally televised. ... Jones was called for the third technical of his tenure at UNT. He was also called for a technical last season against Western Kentucky. TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-566-6870. DAVIS COUNTDOWN Tracking North Texas senior swingman Chris Davis’ progress toward the all-time school scoring record: Points vs. Western Kentucky: 30 Season average: 18.8 Points this season: 413 Career points: 2,173 Points needed for record: 118

All good points GM. All we need is a good 3-point shooter, a solid point guard, a true power forward, a post up forward, and a reliable center. Just five new guys and we'll be fine!

Great crowd. WKU has some hot shooters, and the SBC has some lousy refs..P.U.

UNT has needed an Engineering School for a long time. Now if we can just get a Law School too we may have some future alums with some $$ to give back.

Men's basketball: Champs up next for UNT Mean Green hopes to get well vs. W. Kentucky 02/08/2003 By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer It won’t get any easier for the North Texas on Saturday night, when the Mean Green welcomes two-time defending Sun Belt champion Western Kentucky to the Super Pit. Two trends don’t bode well for UNT entering the game: The Mean Green has lost seven of its last eight games, and Western Kentucky is 3-0 in the series with an average margin of victory of more than 27 points. UNT swingman Chris Davis, however, doesn’t want to dwell on the negative. "If we come out with the mentality we had against New Mexico State and play for 40 minutes," Davis said, "I think we have a good chance to win this game." Davis is referring to the Mean Green’s home victory over the Aggies a week ago. But that win was sandwiched by blowout losses to Louisiana-Lafayette and Middle Tennessee. Now the Mean Green (7-14, 2-7) must attempt to slow down a Hilltoppers (14-8, 6-2) team with offensive weapons at every position. Point guard Patrick Sparks leads Western Kentucky in scoring with 12.5 points per game, but his ability to distribute the ball is his most valuable asset. The sophomore leads the Sun Belt in assists with 6.2 per game. Swingman Mike Wells and forwards David Boyden and Nate Williams also average in double figures, while forward Flip Videnov nearly does. All four players have the ability to shoot the ball or score in the paint. Western Kentucky is without 7-1 center Chris Marcus, an All-American whose college career officially ended earlier this week because of a lingering ankle injury. "They played a lot without Marcus last year and had a great deal of success," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "They’ve got great perimeter shooters, and their post players are able to deliver when they get the ball inside. They’re the champions, and we’ll have to be on top of our defensive game to stop them."

Great news, thanks for the update. How are plans coming for the softball team, will they begin play in spring 2004 in the SBC? How about a stadium, will you be able to use the Liberty Christian field then, or will it have to be redone after they move out of that campus?

I like Justin's potential, he just needs more college game experience. I'd also like him to be more forceful with shots close to the basket, not lay it softly off the glass but slam it in! Those really get the crowd into the game.

Deion lived in the far west part of Plano, Willow Bend, near where Troy Aikman lives, etc, very high $$. All the kids in that 'hood, Plano West HS, drive expensive cars but it's not like that, as much, at PSHS or PESH.

UNT over USL 27-0, er, sorry, wrong sport, I just can't forget it......... UNT-27 vs. USL -zip

Escalante named to post at UNT 01/28/2003 Staff report Richard L. Escalante, city manager for Farmers Branch, has been appointed vice chancellor for administrative services for the University of North Texas system by Chancellor Lee Jackson. Mr. Escalante, 52, will begin his new job Feb. 18. Reporting to Mr. Jackson, he will oversee the system’s campus master planning, real estate and buildings. He also will oversee the hiring of architects, engineers and contractors, and will manage the university’s new construction and renovation projects. The position was created by the separation of the offices of vice chancellor and vice president for administrative affairs. Fred Pole, who retired last year, held both positions. On Jan. 16, UNT President Norval Pohl named Richard Rafes, who had held both positions on an interim basis, senior vice president for administration. "It’s sort of bittersweet" to leave Farmers Branch, Mr. Escalante said. "I have so many close ties here. This is a fine staff and a great community, and it’s hard to leave that after 15 years. But the University of North Texas is a great institution, and I look forward to helping move the university forward." His base annual salary will be $175,800. As city manager for Farmers Branch since 1987, Mr. Escalante coordinated the development of capital planning and the construction of a city hall, justice center and senior center. Mr. Escalante developed a tax dividend program for Farmers Branch that made it the first city in the country to return dividends to taxpayers. Because of this program, Harvard University selected Farmers Branch as a finalist for the Innovations in American Government award program. Also in 2001, Farmers Branch received the award for excellence in governmental finance from the Government Finance Officers Association. Before working at Farmers Branch, he worked in Carpentersville, Ill., Moundsville, W.Va., and Boca Raton, Fla.

I like this idea, but I would like to see the new stadium lit up at night in some way ALL the time. Fouts looks so much better since they put the back-lit advertising signs and players photos on it for all to see at night. A Giant GREEN Stadium at night would be very impressive, although half of it will be under ground level.

UNT could really do something nice at that appex point near the bonefire site at the intersection of I35E and W. Maybe a tall clock tower with a top that resembles the Administration Building's clock tower to light green.

From the NT Daily: Burgess: access key Representative speaks on Denton transportation Tyler Tamplin Staff Writer January 24, 2003 U.S. Representative and NT alumnus Dr. Michael Burgess said Thursday he is unsure of further university growth with the present state of transportation in Denton. Speaking from a private hangar at Denton Municipal Airport, Burgess said the issue of university access would be "key" in his upcoming report to the U.S. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Washington, D.C. Recognizing NT as a major commuting port, Burgess said any transportation improvements already made were reduced in efficiency by the growth in number of vehicles. "Although the number [of vehicles] is greater, there are still many of the same problems," he said. Burgess toured several Denton sites that city and university officials hoped he would recommend for federal funding in the interest of city development. The report will address several areas of transportation interests in Denton County. Areas mentioned were access to the Eagle Point Golf Club, the condition of Interstate Highway 35 in Denton County, and money for a rail system to connect the city with Metroplex development. Burgess added that his was purely a "preliminary" visit and would not give details as to the potential amount of money or work plans for the areas. Dr. Norval Pohl, NT president, said that although federal funding would provide no financial relief for students, they would have an "indirect benefit" from decreased highway driving time to campus.

I still believe that UNT's stadium's biggest marketing advantage is it's location by I-35. It's a giant billboard waiting for some company to slap it's name upon it. Not many college stadiums get 100,000 vehicles a day passing right by it. UNT itself is not even taking full advantage of it's fortune, we should have BIG neon GREEN lights at night lighting up NORTH TEXAS on either Fouts or the new stadium. Such a waste of great location.

I heard it on the radio broadcast...very nice!

JJ will not let him mess up long. After the technicals the other night, I think one was Unjel trash-talking, he said he would take care of those problems quick!

I think JJ can get his program worked out in fairly short time. If we had a healthy Hopkins and Roniger we would have won these last couple games. Remember, it was just in 2000-01 that under Trilli we lost 15 straight SBC games to finish that season at 4-24. JJ won't let that happen, even with all walk-ons playing.

"Battlefield Earth" with John Travolta. What was he thinking; was he trying to ruin his career doing this movie?? It's so bad, I've never seen it all...and never will.

Yes, I'm sorry I missed that. I did see K. Lyons at the game Saturday talking with Jimmy Gales in the stands. It was also great to see Tony Worrell, Bill Blakeley, Deon Hunter and many others back at The SuperPit. It was like a giant who's-who of old NT basketball there! Glad I went.

I think JJ will have the men in "survival mode" and going all out. It's make or break time already.