North Texas was stuck in one rather large rut just a year ago when it came to the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

UNT had rolled into the event in some years and came in slumping in others. The situation never seemed to matter.

For four straight seasons, UNT always found a way to lose its opening round game.

In 2004, New Orleans took out the Mean Green in double overtime, while Arkansas State blew UNT out in 2006.

The Mean Green turned its fortunes last season by winning four straight games and the tournament title.

Those wins won’t do the Mean Green any good today when it takes on Western Kentucky in the quarterfinals at 9 p.m. – at least not directly. Ask UNT’s veterans, though, and they will tell you there is a lingering effect.

This time around, the Mean Green believes in itself and its ability to win when it counts most.

“It’s a huge advantage for our upperclassmen and the guys who have been there before,” UNT head coach Johnny Jones said. “They can share what they know with the younger guys. Winning the tournament last year gives us a sense of confidence.”

That confidence showed throughout the season for the Mean Green, which comes into today’s game in the midst of its second consecutive 20-win season. The Mean Green finished 23-11 last season and is 20-10 this year.

UNT has a win over Oklahoma State on its resume and has won six of its last seven games, including an 85-63 drubbing of ASU in a first-round game at the Super Pit on Wednesday.

Despite that impressive run, UNT comes into today’s game as an underdog and isn’t among consensus top two favorites to win the tournament now that it has moved to Mobile, Ala., for the final three rounds.

South Alabama is the top seed, has the best overall record at 25-6 and is playing on its home court. WKU is 24-6 and actually tied with USA for the best conference record at 16-2.

One of the Hilltoppers’ wins in conference play came at the Super Pit on Feb. 7, when WKU hammered UNT 94-84 behind 31 points from senior guard and Sun Belt MVP Courtney Lee.

The loss and a subsequent setback against Arkansas-Little Rock served as a wakeup call for UNT, which has been a different team since. The Mean Green put an emphasis on playing better defensively and has struck a balance offensively.

Junior guard Collin Dennis scored a career high 34 points in a win over Troy, freshman guard Josh White scored 23 against ASU in a regular season game and junior guard Adam McCoy tallied 21 in the rematch with the Indians in the conference tournament.

The Mean Green has only given up more than 70 points twice since its two-game losing streak against WKU and UALR.

UNT’s performance defensively and the variety of players who have shown they can score have the Mean Green believing it can continue its late-season surge.

“It’s a really good sign that we have had several players have big games at the end of the season,” senior forward Quincy Williams said. “When teams scout us they will see that a lot of different guys can have a big night. We have a lot of different guys who can score in a lot of different ways.”

Dennis and White are both averaging 13.9 points a game, while Williams is posting 10.0.  All five of UNT’s starters are averaging at least 8.5 points a game.

The Mean Green will need each to be at the top of their games today in a showdown between the Sun Belt’s top two offensive teams. UNT led the Sun Belt with an average of 77.2 points a game, while WKU finished just behind at 77.1.

UNT actually scored just two more points than WKU on the season (2,315 to 2,313).

Lee finished the regular season ranked second in the Sun Belt with an average of 20.9 points a game and is part of a potent backcourt that also includes Tyrone Brazelton, who is averaging 13.1 points a game.

UNT believes it is better equipped to slow down WKU now than in the teams’ first meeting.

“We have to defend and keep their guys from penetrating,” UNT senior guard Ben Bell said. “We are a lot better defensively now than we were at the beginning of the year. We are helping each other and all five guys are defending.”

That focus and the experience UNT gained last season has the Mean Green believing it can make another run in the tournament this season.

“We know that it can be done,” Bell said. “That experience makes a big difference.”