The Mean Green basketball team had high hopes entering 2007.&nbsp; Though the team had played .500 ball for the past several years, many felt this had the potential to be Coach Jones’s breakout season.&nbsp; JJ’s squads had routinely gone on end of conference play swoons, which hung over the fan base throughout most of the 2006-2007 campaign.&nbsp; This however, was mostly avoided, in what was arguably the most successful season in NT Basketball since the Bill Blakely era. <br /><br />The season tipped off on November 10th, 2006.&nbsp; The victim was Cameron(85-47), in what has become routine under JJ.&nbsp; Coach Jones is undefeated in season openers in his six seasons on campus.&nbsp; We really saw the potential the squad might have in our next contest versus UNC-Charlotte in front over five thousand 49ers fans.&nbsp; The Mean Green had 5 players in double figures led by KD’s 20, as we beat them soundly (90-72).&nbsp; It was the first victory NT had ever posted over an Atlantic 10 school, the first in several milestones we would have throughout the course of the season.&nbsp; .<br /><br />The squad returned to Denton flying high.&nbsp; So far our games had been beat downs, but this was not to last.&nbsp; In the 34 games NT played this season, nearly half were decided by 4 points or less, in overtime, or both.&nbsp; UT-Arlington was the first, as the Moving Mavs fought us tooth and nail.&nbsp; UTA led most of the way, but when Kendrick Davis tied the game with 8.5 seconds, you had to like our chances in overtime.&nbsp; However, Jermaine Griffin hit a shot at the buzzer, which replays on NTV showed to be AFTER the horn.&nbsp; As it turns out, we had no monitors on the court, so the referees awarded the ‘W’ to UTA.&nbsp; KD was so angry he punched thru a glass door and had to sit out the next eight games.&nbsp; This may have been a blessing in disguise - as we would later learn.<br /><br />The team went down to Houston to play Rice in another down to wire game.&nbsp; Rice’s Dustin Almond, who at season’s end would be named CUSA player of the year, poured in 38, but NT prevailed 71-69.&nbsp; We followed that up with a home victory over Tulsa.&nbsp; Despite the Golden Hurricanes being a shadow of their great teams from 8-15 years ago(having been to the Sweet 16 or further several times), this marked the 2nd consecutive season we had beaten them.&nbsp; A huge statement by our program, most would say.&nbsp; Michael Sturns led the way with 21, but Calvin Watson hit the big shot to seal the 65-63 win.&nbsp; The next victim was Texas State.&nbsp; Despite a tight first half, we put the pedal to the metal in the 2nd and won going away 95-77.<br /><br />Our next game was a huge setback, as we ended November getting thumped by Nebraska in Lincoln.&nbsp; The game was never competitive as the Huskers opened up 18-2 on the Mean Green and never looked back.&nbsp; The final was 76-57, and probably wasn’t that close.&nbsp; Needing a win badly after that debacle, we got it as we traveled to Nacogdoches to play SFA.&nbsp; The Lumberjacks played tenaciously, especially considering we shot 65.9% from the floor, as we never could put them away.&nbsp; Watson continued to lead in KD’s absence as he lit up SFA for 21.&nbsp; Our interior which had shown some early signs, was also beginning to blossom as Keith Wooden added 15.&nbsp; The inside/outside combo was just deadly enough to hold on for a 76-70 victory.&nbsp; We continued our roadie, heading out to Thibodaux to play Nicholls State.&nbsp; The Colonels were 0-10 entering the game, but had been on the road for them all.&nbsp; In their home opener, they responded with a huge effort in a see saw affair.&nbsp; Watson and Williams provided the inside/outside combo on this night as the two put up nearly half our points.&nbsp; A late 3 by the Colonels went wide, sealing our 74-71 victory.&nbsp; At this point we were 7-2 and thinking big.&nbsp; Despite jumping out of league play twice more in weeks to come, Conference season was upon us and we appeared ready.<br />