Aug. 6, 2014
2014-15 C-USA SCHEDULE
DENTON - Conference USA released its 2014-15 men's basketball schedule on Wednesday, which features North Texas home games against UTEP, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, Charlotte and Old Dominion.
The Mean Green opens the conference season at home on Jan. 2 against 23-game winner UTEP, and will also host a pair of 29-game winners in LA Tech and Southern Miss on Jan. 22 and Jan. 24, respectively. The non-conference portion of North Texas' 2014-15 schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
"I think Conference USA is a tremendous league," said North Texas head coach Tony Benford. "We are extremely excited to be in such a talented conference, and we feel like we were competitive in every game we played in our first season in the league. Nearly every game came down to the last few possessions, and this year will be much the same. Overall it's a pretty balanced schedule, and with the experience we have coming back we'll be up for the task."
Western Kentucky joins a potent Conference USA lineup for 2014-15. The Hilltoppers have a rich history on the hardwood, and will be one of seven C-USA squads that won at least 18 games last year. In fact, North Texas will take the court six times against C-USA squads that saw postseason action in 2013-14.
NT is coming off a 16-16 season, including a 6-10 C-USA record that had the Mean Green on the verge of a bye in the conference tournament. Half of North Texas' league games in 2013-14 were decided by single digits, including five games by five points or less.
Leading scorer and rebounder Jordan Williams returns for his senior season and will lead a revamped North Texas lineup that better suits the style of play in C-USA.
"When you look around the league, the first thing you notice is tremendous guard play," Benford said. "I would put the guards in C-USA against any league in the country. Also, the forwards are very versatile. Each team has frontcourt players that play both inside and out, which we call switchables. We feel like we've added both of those things, great guards and switchable forwards, to our roster."
In the offseason, North Texas signed 6-7 forwards Jeremy Combs and Muhammed Ahmed, who both display the versatility necessary in C-USA. Fellow newcomers Todd Eaglin, DeAndre Harris, J-Mychal Reece, Carrington Ward and Greg White-Pittman will add to a stable of solid Mean Green guards.
