With a revamped roster, several unknowns are ahead of the season. Before Monday’s tipoff, however, KT Turner, head men’s basketball coach, said the team would play fast and showcase an exciting game.
Seconds after tipoff the ball was smacked away from the Mavericks, causing graduate guard Jaden Wells to storm after it and crash into the media desk.
“It’s great to have somebody diving on the floor the first play of the game, and that sets the tone,” Turner said.
The team’s return to College Park Center saw dunks, blocks and four players reaching double-figure scoring as the Mavericks defeated the University of North Texas at Dallas in its season opener 90-55 on Monday.
“I was pleased with the guys’ energy,” Turner said. “We still got a lot to get better with that. Wasn’t expecting a perfect game today, but at the end of the day — pleased with them.”
The team ebbed and flowed from the beginning, and even when shots were missed, nobody gave up. Team chemistry has been good since practice started, he said.
Wells credited his parents with instilling him with high spirits and said the goal is to keep the team in a positive headspace every day. By the end of the game, he led all scorers with 22 points and had four rebounds.
“Every day my goal is to bring energy, talk, be loud, just make it fun to play the game of basketball and build chemistry with this team,” Wells said.
Junior forward Raysean Seamster was perfect from the field and recorded 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. Graduate forward Diante Smith added 11 points and six rebounds.
“This might be my first game I was perfect,” Seamster said. “Coming in, coaches told me what I needed to do to get it done, score, and that's what I went out there and did tonight.”
Before the season, Turner said fans would see more dunks this season and kept the promise when the audience saw graduate guard Darius Burford erupt for the bucket.
“We’re more athletic than we were last year, so you’re going to see that,” Turner said. “You’re gonna see some exciting games where these guys are flying up and down, making shots.”
Turner credited Josh Howard, UNT Dallas men’s basketball head coach and former Dallas Mavericks player, for UNT Dallas’ significant progress compared to last season and said they played tough, finding ways to challenge UTA.
Getting the first game and victory out of the way felt great, Seamster said. The team didn’t expect a big crowd, so players knew they had to bring the energy.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks will prepare for their annual homecoming game, where players like Wells can finally say they’ve played in one.
“I know we’re all excited for that and to see the energy in the crowd and just see all the fans out there and just use it to our advantage,” Wells said.
The Mavericks will be back in action 5 p.m. Saturday against Louisiana Tech University at College Park Center.
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