North Texas Mean Green men's basketball

North Texas Mean Green
2016–17 North Texas Mean Green men's basketball team
Conference Conference USA
West Division
Location Denton, TX
Head coach Tony Benford (5th year)
Arena The Super Pit
(Capacity: 10,500)
Nickname Mean Green
Colors Green and White[1]
         
Uniforms
Home
Away
NCAA Tournament appearances
1988, 2007, 2010
Conference tournament champions
1988, 2007, 2010
Conference regular season champions
2010
Conference division season champions
Sun Belt West: 2010[2]

The North Texas Mean Green men's basketball team represents the University of North Texas (UNT) in NCAA Division I college basketball, competing as a member of Conference USA.

For most of its history, the Mean Green have had patches of success, starting in the 1970s when the team received its first ever top-20 ranking under head coach Bill Blakeley as well as success in the late 1980s and early 1990s under head coach Jimmy Gales and then again in the mid to late 2000s under head coach Johnny Jones. They have made appearances in the NCAA Tournament on three different occasions, first time in 1988, then again in 2007 and 2010. The Mean Green went on an especially strong run in the 2006–2010 era, with two tournament appearances, two conference championships, and posting more wins over this time period than any other Division I team in the state of Texas[3]

The 2011–12 and 2012–13 teams featured the only 5-star recruit to play for North Texas in Tony Mitchell. In one season, he became the program's all-time leader in blocks.[4] Despite Mitchell being highly touted, his performance in his second year suffered and he ended up struggling under new head coach Tony Benford eventually falling to the 2nd round of the NBA draft.

On April 16, 2012, longtime head coach Johnny Jones was formally introduced as the next head coach of his alma mater LSU. His replacement, Tony Benford, was not able to capitalize on the program's momentum, resulting in a disappointing final year in the Sun Belt Conference and then more struggles in the Mean Green's new conference Conference USA.

Prior to 1973, the Mean Green played in the Ken Bahnsen Gym, nicknamed the Snake Pit. They now play in The Super Pit which derives its name from the Snake Pit.

Championships

Conference tournament

Southland Conference
Sun Belt Conference

Conference regular season

Sun Belt Conference

Conference division

Sun Belt Conference (West Division)

Rivals

The Mean Green's major rivals within Conference USA include the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and the UTSA Roadrunners.

Non-conference notable rivals include the The University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks (games between the schools are well-attended due to geographic proximity and both schools being large universities) and the SMU Mustangs.

Coaches

Years Coach
1916-20 J.W. St. Clair
1920-21 Theron Fouts
1921-24 J.W. St. Clair
1924-29 John Reid
1929-33 Terrance Myracle
1933-35 Jack Sisco
1935-59 Henry "Pete" Shands (1899-1983)
1959-65 Charles Johnson
1965-70 Dan Spika
1970-71 Harry Miller
1971-75 Gene Robbins
1975-83 Bill Blakeley
1983-86 Tommy Newman
1986-93 Jimmy Gales
1993-97 Tim Jankovich
1997-2001 Vic Trilli
2001-12 Johnny Jones
2012–Present Tony Benford

Postseason results

NCAA Tournament results

The Mean Green have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times. Their combined record is 0–3.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
1988 First Round North Carolina L 65–83
2007 First Round Memphis L 58–73
2010 First Round Kansas State L 62–82

NAIA Tournament results

The Mean Green have appeared in the NAIA Tournament two times. Their record is 3–2.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
1938 First Round
Second Round
Morningside
Delta State
W 31–29
L 39–48
1942 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Wisconsin-Stout
York (NE)
Hamline
W 60–37
W 51–49
L 41–45

References

  1. "UNT Colors". Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  2. "Sun Belt All-Time Standings" (PDF). 2011-12 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Media Guide. Sun Belt Conference. pp. 93–95. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
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