North Texas Head Basketball Coach Johnny Jones credited his players for they way “they were able to come together” after a challenging week when Chris Jones and Jordan Williams were declared academically ineligible.

After the bad news, North Texas played and won the exhibition game against Huston-Tillotson and fought a very determined Sun Belt Conference member Denver to win in overtime as the clock expired. 

“We always talk about playing every second, every play” and Jones felt North Texas did exactly that in the Denver contest. It wasn't a perfect game because “there were breakdowns” but “at the end of the day we were able to make enough plays to out of there with a win.”

Jones pointed out Denver was a very solid team and were “right there at the top” of the conference standings and were off to their best start as a Division I program.

“Now we have to roll up our sleeves” and take to the road as they travel to take on Lousiana-Lafayette on a Wednesday night contest.

After scoring 30 points and grabbing 17 rebounds, Tony Mitchell was named the Sun Belt Conference 'Player of the Week' for the third straight time and only the second player in conference history to do so.

Jones pointed out that Roger Franklin added 18 points and pulled in ten rebounds. He's been drawing a lot of defensive attention from opponents and has “done an excellent job competing extremely hard in the post area.” Franklin also is defending the better offensive players from the other team and is winning the battle.

The team has been playing together for awhile and that is why the team is playing better. Still, “they are trying to find each other” and each one is starting to find their niche in the team. “Roger really has found his.”

Jones pointed out the Mitchell is keeping things in check. When informed he won the SBC Player of the Week three times in a row “he turn[ed] his head because its almost like he's embarrassed or ashamed because he is such a team guy.” The coach stated Mitchell wants to see his teammates get the praise for what they do. “He's one of the most unselfish players I've been around” the coach.

The rest of the players on the team understand what Mitchell can do and they “have become a great supporting cast around him.” The result is every player is getting better.

Even though Mitchell and Franklin's numbers are up, Jones stated “if you look around” the rest of the team's numbers are up. Brandan Walton has been shooting the ball better from the perimeter. Tyler Hall was inserted into the starting lineup and the last two games he has been shooting better from the perimeter. Alzee Williams numbers are improving. Their numbers are improving and if they continue to do so they team will be successful.

Mitchell is help garnering attention to the North Texas program as Channel 8 and Channel 33 were at Monday's practice to interview him. Jones felt this will help put some fans in the stands and for North Texas fans to come out and see him because no one knows how long Mitchell will be at North Texas before turning pro. There is a lot of speculation he will probably only spend this half year with North Texas before moving on. Jones laughed and stated Mitchell needed to stay with the program three more years for the coach to help Mitchell get better.

Jones said after the season is over, Mitchell will have to evaluate what has happen this year to see how he has progressed and to talk to some professional NBA people to see where he might be projected to be drafted. Jones pointed out when he was at LSU, Shaquille O'Neal could have left school early and would have been picked in the top five in the lottery. He decided to stay two more years resulting in him becoming the number one draft pick.

Whether Mitchell stays or goes, Jones said “that is something we don't worry about every day” because they are concentrating on making sure Mitchell is the best he can be on and off the court and in the classroom. The coach felt Mitchell would benefit by staying another year but the decision is up to Mitchell and his family.

North Texas needed someone to step up with the loss of Jones and it appears Hall is ready to answer the bell, broken nose and all. Jones stated when Hall got the first shot of the Denver game to go for three putting North Texas up 3-0 “I thought it gave him a great deal of confidence” and he became a threat in the game. “He made some incredible passes inside to Tony” that led to Mitchell getting a lot of points. Although the stat sheets said Hall had two assists, he really had about six. On about four baskets, Mitchell dribbled once before scoring.

Jones said he was proud of the way Karen Aston has turned the woman’s basketball around. He goes to the practices and games and says she has really changed the attitude among the players and the program.