Troy University Athletics
North Texas Visit To Ring In New Year
1/2/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
A new year for the Troy University men's basketball team will bring on the same challenges as the Trojans get set to host North Texas Thursday night at Trojan Arena.
The Mean Green (9-3, 0-1) has owned the Trojans since Troy joined the Sun Belt, with North Texas holding a 3-0 series lead. All three wins coming in increasingly convincing fashion. In the only meeting last year, North Texas rolled to a 98-57 victory before rolling through the Sun Belt Conference Tournament to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans (6-6, 0-2) enter the contest having lost two straight league games against South Alabama and Western Kentucky. While Troy had chances to win both games, coach Don Maestri said the team is more focused on the challenge ahead than the disappointments of the past.
“The teams' attitude has been good because they have been focused on how good North Texas is,” Maestri said. “They represented this league in the NCAA Tournament last year and have three starters back from that club. They are an experienced and talented team with quality out of conference wins against Oklahoma State and New Mexico State.”
Maestri said the problem the Mean Green has given Troy in the past will still be a problem in this meeting.
“They will be a tough challenge for us because they rebound the ball very well,” Maestri said. “They have the same two guys back inside that have given us such headaches over the last two seasons. They are big and physical and our smaller guys just don't match up with them very well.”
In addition to their physical play inside, North Texas has a pair of sharp-shooters on the perimeter, one of which is hitting better than 56 percent from beyond the three-point arc.
“Our two main concerns will be in slowing their outside shooting while, at the same time, battling inside for rebounds,” Maestri said. “It is going to be a big challenge for us.”
Tipoff for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the women's game between the Trojans and Mean Green.
The Trojans will close a three-game home stand on Saturday with the final non-conference game of the year against Utah Valley State at 7 p.m.
The Mean Green (9-3, 0-1) has owned the Trojans since Troy joined the Sun Belt, with North Texas holding a 3-0 series lead. All three wins coming in increasingly convincing fashion. In the only meeting last year, North Texas rolled to a 98-57 victory before rolling through the Sun Belt Conference Tournament to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans (6-6, 0-2) enter the contest having lost two straight league games against South Alabama and Western Kentucky. While Troy had chances to win both games, coach Don Maestri said the team is more focused on the challenge ahead than the disappointments of the past.
“The teams' attitude has been good because they have been focused on how good North Texas is,” Maestri said. “They represented this league in the NCAA Tournament last year and have three starters back from that club. They are an experienced and talented team with quality out of conference wins against Oklahoma State and New Mexico State.”
Maestri said the problem the Mean Green has given Troy in the past will still be a problem in this meeting.
“They will be a tough challenge for us because they rebound the ball very well,” Maestri said. “They have the same two guys back inside that have given us such headaches over the last two seasons. They are big and physical and our smaller guys just don't match up with them very well.”
In addition to their physical play inside, North Texas has a pair of sharp-shooters on the perimeter, one of which is hitting better than 56 percent from beyond the three-point arc.
“Our two main concerns will be in slowing their outside shooting while, at the same time, battling inside for rebounds,” Maestri said. “It is going to be a big challenge for us.”
Tipoff for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the women's game between the Trojans and Mean Green.
The Trojans will close a three-game home stand on Saturday with the final non-conference game of the year against Utah Valley State at 7 p.m.
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