With an 83-75 win over Arkansas State University March 6, the Mean Green men's basketball team clinched the Sun Belt Conference Title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
The team will play Memphis March 16 in the first round of the NCAA Championship Tournament in New Orleans Arena at Tulane University.
Make plans to join the team in New Orleans with the North Texas Ticket Office. You may contact the ticket office at (940) 565-2527 or e-mail ticketoffice@unt.edu to purchase tickets or place your orders online. Tickets cost $50 each.
This will be UNT's second trip to the Big Dance, the first taking place in 1988. UNT, who were seeded 15th in the tournament’s South Region, will face either Nevada, No. 7, or Creighton, No. 10, on March 18 if they beat Memphis.
After winning the Sun Belt Conference Title last week, the university campus community welcomed our champions home March 7 outside the North Tunnel entrance to the Super Pit.
President Gretchen M. Bataille, the UNT cheerleaders, the UNT Basketball Band and other fans greeted the team as they arrived. The UNT Police escorted the team's bus along Interstate 35E through Denton County and onto campus.
"We're honored to bring this championship back to North Texas," says Johnny Jones, head basketball coach. "We appreciate all the support that we have received throughout the season, and look forward to heading into the NCAA tournament."
The title win was the team's 23rd, the most ever by a UNT team in a season. The team finished with a record of 23-10 and Calvin Watson, senior, was selected as the most valuable player of the tournament.
Read more about how the Mean Green earned their ticket to the big-time basketball dance.
Roundup of media coverage from the Sun Belt Tournament including the semi-final result:
From the Denton Record-Chronicle March 7
From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram March 7
From the Dallas Morning News March 7
From the Denton Record-Chronicle March 6:
Ben Bell leads the Mean Green to a win
Johnny Jones marks his 100th win with the Mean Green
From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram March 6
From the Dallas Morning News March 6
In addition, all television stations in Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as stations in Austin, reported that UNT will be heading to the NCAA Championship Tournament.