DENTON, Texas (1/10/09) - North Texas returns from two trips to the Natural State to face Arkansas State at the Super Pit tonight at 7 p.m. The Mean Green has taken the last four meetings with the Red Wolves, including last year’s Sun Belt Tournament first-round game, but this will be the first outing against first-year head coach John Brady. Saturday’s action can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network.
What To Watch For
Eric Tramiel has been a consistent and imposing force for the Mean Green over the last month. In the last six games, the junior is averaging 12.7 points on 63.8 percent shooting, to go with 7.2 rebounds per game.
It had been nearly a year to the day since North Texas last had five players in double figures before the Mean Green did just that against UALR. Eric Tramiel led the way with 21 points, followed by Tristan Thompson with 15, Dominique Johnson with 14 and Josh White and Kedrick Hogans each with 10. Prior to Thursday, the last time North Texas had five players in double figures was on Jan. 7, 2008 against ULM - a span of 366 days.
Arkansas State leads the all-time series 16-13, but North Texas has won the last four meetings. NT took all three games with ASU in 2007-08 by an average of 12.7 points per contest, including the SBC Tournament opening round game in Denton.
Arkansas State is as tough a matchup on the defensive end of the floor as NT will see this year, thanks to Donald Boone and Eric McKinney. Boone leads the Sun Belt in steals with 35, including 20 in four SBC games. As a team, North Texas has 20 total steals in conference play. McKinney leads the league in blocks with 34.
NT took all three meetings with Arkansas State last year because of a trio of hot-shooting guards. Collin Dennis is averaging 21.0 ppg on 18-of-37 shooting (66.7 percent) against ASU, and earned SBC Player of the Week honors after scoring 30 points in Jonesboro. Josh White is pouring in 15.7 ppg on 12-of-24 shooting against ASU, and Adam McCoy tallied a perfect game and 21 points in his lone game against ASU.
