The UNT men’s basketball team is set to face off against Memphis this Thursday at the Super Pit at 8 p.m. CT. The game is crucial for both teams; North Texas (13-11, 4-7) is looking for redemption after dropping their previous match to Memphis (12-11, 7-4) by nine points earlier in the season.
The Mean Green is coming off an impressive 81-58 victory against UTSA, while Memphis is on a hot streak, winning its last two games by double digits. This match marks the first time UNT has hosted Memphis since February 2024. Historically, Memphis has a strong basketball pedigree, having reached three Final Fours and two national championship games. In their last clash at the Super Pit, North Texas claimed victory with a score of 76-66.
Following this home game, North Texas will head to Philadelphia to take on Temple on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
Player Highlights
Cole Franklin’s Rising Star
Junior guard Cole Franklin has been a breakout player recently. In back-to-back games, he scored a career-high 19 points against Rice, followed by 21 at UTSA. This is significant since he hadn’t hit that scoring mark in previous conference games. Franklin’s rise in performance came after an increase in his playing time due to an injury to teammate Will McClendon. Since January 21, he’s averaged 11.3 points per game on impressive 56.8% shooting.
David Terrell’s Strong Performance
Point guard David Terrell Jr. has also been making waves. Over his last nine games, he has averaged 15.3 points and has shown strong playmaking skills with 4.6 assists per game. His improvement is notable; he’s stepped up his game significantly compared to earlier in the season.
Defensive Prowess of UNT
North Texas boasts a fierce defense, averaging a league-high 9.9 steals per game, which places them seventh in the nation. They’ve recorded at least 10 steals in nine of their last 13 games. This strong defensive play gives them an edge, as their starters alone outshine entire teams in the American Conference for defensive stats.
In summary, as North Texas prepares to host Memphis, all eyes will be on the players stepping up and the team’s ferocious defensive strategy. It’s shaping up to be an exciting matchup for basketball fans.
