1987–88 North Texas State Mean Green men's basketball team


The 1987–88 North Texas State Mean Green men's basketball team (often referred to as "North Texas" or the "Mean Green") represented the University of North Texas as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1987–88 college basketball season. The team was led by head coach Jimmy Gales and played their home games at the Super Pit in Denton, Texas. After winning the conference regular season title, the Mean Green followed that success by winning the Southland tournament to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Making the school's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament and playing as the No. 15 seed in the West region, the Mean Green were beaten by No. 2 seed North Carolina in the opening round.[1] The team finished with a record of 17–13 (12–2 Southland).

1987–88 North Texas State Mean Green men's basketball
Southland Regular season champions
Southland tournament champions
ConferenceSouthland Conference
DivisionWest
Record17–13 (12–2 Southland Belt)
Head coach
Home arenaSuper Pit
Seasons
1987–88 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
North Texas State 12 2   .857 17 13   .567
Northeast Louisiana 10 4   .714 21 9   .700
Sam Houston State 9 5   .643 14 14   .500
Northwestern State 7 7   .500 16 12   .571
Texas State 6 8   .429 9 22   .290
Stephen F. Austin 4 10   .286 10 18   .357
McNeese State 4 10   .286 7 22   .241
Texas-Arlington 4 10   .286 7 22   .241
1988 Southland Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Roster

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1987–88 North Texas Mean Green men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
G 10 Ricky Robertson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Jr
G 11 Kevie Gulley 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Fr
G 12 Robert Greene 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Fr
F 15 Reco McCarter 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Jr
G 20 Tim Duryea 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Sr
F 21 Andrien Choplick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
So
G 22 Deon Hunter 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Jr
G 32 William Smith 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Jr
F 33 Wendell Williams 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Jr
G 34 Dave Whittington 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Sr
F 42 Tony Worrell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Sr Goldsboro, North Carolina
F 44 Tony Northcross 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Fr
F 50 Ronnie Morgan 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Fr
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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[2]

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference Regular season
Nov 28, 1987*
at Oral Roberts W 88–80  1–0
Mabee Center 
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Dec 1, 1987*
Baylor L 63–72  1–1
Super Pit 
Denton, Texas
Dec 4, 1987*
at No. 8 Missouri
Wadsworth Show-Me Classic
L 56–64  1–2
Hearnes Center 
Columbia, Missouri
Dec 5, 1987*
vs. Alcorn State
Wadsworth Show-Me Classic
L 64–70  1–3
Hearnes Center 
Columbia, Missouri
Dec 7, 1987*
Montana State L 55–65  1–4
Super Pit 
Denton, Texas
Dec 9, 1987*
TCU W 79–54  2–4
Super Pit 
Denton, Texas
Dec 12, 1987*
at Colorado State L 56–65  2–5
Moby Arena 
Fort Collins, Colorado
Dec 19, 1987*
vs. Southern Miss L 80–83  2–6
 
 
Dec 22, 1987*
at New Mexico State L 71–91  2–7
Pan American Center 
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Dec 26, 1987*
at New Mexico L 69–77  2–8
University Arena 
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dec 27, 1987*
vs. Long Beach State L 88–89  2–9
 
 
Jan 14, 1988*
at Alcorn State W 85–80  3–9
Davey Whitney Complex 
Lorman, Mississippi
Southland Regular season
Jan 16, 1988
at UT Arlington W 77–68  4–9
(1–0)
Texas Hall 
Arlington, Texas
Non-conference Regular season
Jan 18, 1988*
at Oklahoma State L 82–92  4–10
Gallagher-Iba Arena 
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Southland Regular season
Jan 21, 1988
Northwestern State W 87–75  5–10
(2–0)
Super Pit 
Denton, Texas
Jan 23, 1988
Louisiana-Monroe L 69–79  5–11
(2–1)
Super Pit 
Denton, Texas
Feb 25, 1988
at Louisiana-Monroe W 67–65  13–12
(10–2)
Fant-Ewing Coliseum 
Monroe, Louisiana
Feb 27, 1988
at Northwestern State W 76–61  14–12
(11–2)
Prather Coliseum 
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Mar 3, 1988
UT Arlington W 83–74  15–12
(12–2)
Super Pit 
Denton, Texas
Southland tournament
Mar 9, 1988*
McNeese State
Semifinals
W 82–61  16–12
Super Pit 
Denton, Texas
Mar 10, 1988*
Louisiana-Monroe
Championship game
W 87–70  17–12
Super Pit 
Denton, Texas
NCAA tournament
Mar 17, 1988*
(15 W) vs. (2 W) No. 7 North Carolina
First Round
L 65–83  17–13
Jon M. Huntsman Center 
Salt Lake City, Utah
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Coaches Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=West.
All times are in Central Time.

References

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  1. ^ "LOYOLA RUNS WILD, BEATS WYOMING 119-115". The Sun-Sentinel. March 18, 1988. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "1987-88 North Texas Mean Green Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 10, 2022.