North Texas (11-8, 4-2) will be taking on Denver (15-4, 5-1) this evening 6 PM at The Super Pit. Denver was selected to finish third in the west division just ahead of North Texas. Last year one of their players Rob Lewis and another player where lost with injuries. Lewis is back and giving Denver the support they need. Denver is off to their best start in their history as NCAA Division I.

North Texas is going the opposite direction. Two of their top three scorers, Chris Jones and Jordan Williams are out because of classwork. The good news is Forrest Robinson has returned and doing well. 

Denver runs the Princeton offense which is not used by many teams. North Texas Johnny Jones said “we can't let them get into their rhythm” or it will be a tough evening for the home team. One of Denver’s strengths is “they have a lot of experience.”

The Princeton offense doesn't really have set players. They have four players outside the arc and one at the top of the key. By using motion and passing they find the mismatch which will allow a cut to the basket or an unoccupied area. It requires a strong presence in the middle for back door cuts. The idea is to get a player between the basket and defensive player to get a clean layup. If the defense packs the center to stop the layups, then the team has to have players who can hit from the arc. Denver has the players who can hit from outside.

Denver is putting in 67.4 points a game ranking them 195^th in the nation, they get 25.2 rebounds a game putting them 344^th in the nation. Because they use a lot of passing they are rank high in assists at 16.1 per game putting them 23^rd in the nation. They hit for .494 on field goal attempts ranking them 11^th in the nation, third in free throws with .798, and 13^th in three point shooting at .403.

It will be bombs away as Denver is expected to shoot from beyond the arc forcing North Texas to come out to defend the shots. It will be a tough assignment for North Texas since Denver moves the ball around the perimeter before taking their shots.

Denver dominates the Sun Belt in three point shooting. Royce O'Neale is first in the Sun Belt hitting .477 % of his three point shots. Brian Stafford is second hitting .470 and Brett Olson is third hitting .444. Throw in Chase Hallam with .426% he is in ninth place so four of the Denver's players are in the top ten in the conference in three point shots. Each game they average 8.3 three point shots a game.

Chris Udofia provides the defense getting 2.4 blocks a game putting him second in the Sun Belt. The team averages 4.3 blocks a game.

Udofia not only blocks shots he is fifth in the Sun Belt with 14.3 points a game. He is second on the team in scoring with Stafford leading Denver with 14.7 points a game.

Denver is averaging 67.4 points a game and are allowing 60 points a game for a plus 7.4 points a game.

They are out rebounded a game for a negative 4.5 rebounds 25.2 to 29.7. This expected since they shot so much from the three point line.

With the loss of Jones and Williams to classroom failures North Texas is in dire straights. Even though North Texas has an overall record of 15-9 and 9-2 in Denton, this is going to be a tough one to overcome two of the top double digits scorers.

There is a local feel to Denver with O'Neale, Udofia and brothers Travis and Chase Hallam hailing from the metroplex area.

This will be the last conference meeting in Denton for the two teams since Denver will be moving to the WAC conference next season.