One of the more heralded recruits in recent North Texas history is finally going to get a chance to show what he can do as a starter today.

Eric Tramiel, who signed with UNT after earning first-team NJCAA All-America honors last season at Paris Junior College, will be in the lineup when the Mean Green looks to break a two-game losing streak in the second half of a Sun Belt Conference doubleheader against Middle Tennessee at the Super Pit

Tramiel came off the bench in the first 12 games of the year and has seen his role grow in the Mean Green’s last few outings.

“Eric is really solid and has done a tremendous job in the early part of the season,” UNT head coach Johnny Jones said. “When you break down the tape, he is always doing something positive defensively, taking care of the basketball and making solid plays. He has that toughness that we are lacking a little bit right now.”

Tramiel will take the place of sophomore George Odufuwa, who started the first 12 games of the season.

Tramiel is averaging 9.3 points a game to lead UNT’s frontcourt players and also ranks second on the team with an average of 5.6 rebounds a game. Odufuwa is pulling down 7.5 rebounds a game to lead the Mean Green (8-4, 1-1).

Tramiel has scored at least eight points in seven straight games and posted a career-high 16 points in a win over New Mexico State on Dec. 6.

Tramiel has also proven to be one of UNT’s best defenders in the post, which could be critical to the Mean Green’s chances of snapping its losing skid today against MTSU (7-5, 1-0) and its star forward Desmond Yates.

Yates, the Preseason Player of the Year in the Sun Belt, is averaging 18.5 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. He was named the MVP of the Travelers Tip-Off Classic last week after averaging 20.7 points while leading MTSU to three straight wins.

“We have to play like we are capable of playing,” Tramiel said. “We are capable of locking up anyone. We have to make sure he doesn’t get comfortable.”

MTSU and Yates appeared to regain their confidence in the Travelers tournament after dropping consecutive games.

The Mean Green is in much the same position after falling at New Orleans and at home to UT-Arlington on Monday. UNT had won seven of eight before its current slide.

Jones attributed the Mean Green’s losing streak to a shooting slump and some poor defense. UNT shot just 37 percent from the field in its loss to UNO and 40 percent against UTA.

The Privateers shot 52 percent from the field, while UTA shot 57 percent. UTA forward Anthony Vereen went 8-for-11 from the field while scoring 19 points.

Jones said that Yates is a different type of player than Vereen and has the ability to score facing the basket.

While Yates has the ability to score from just about anywhere, he will try to score some of his points in the paint, where UNT struggled against UTA.

“We didn’t defend as well in the post as we could have,” Jones said. “That was our biggest letdown. Our post defense has to get better.”

UNT won’t be able to afford another off night in the opener of what could be a tough stretch. The Mean Green will face Arkansas in a nonconference game, Arkansas-Little Rock (8-4) and Arkansas State (9-4) in its next three outings.

“This is a very important stretch with the start of conference,” Tramiel said. “Middle Tennessee is a good team with great players.”

The UNT women will also be looking to break out of a funk that has seen it lose two straight and four of its last five.

Ending that skid could be tough against MTSU, one of the Sun Belt’s perennial powerhouses. The Lady Raiders (9-4, 1-0) have won their last four games.

Amber Jackson is averaging 16.8 points a game to lead UNT (5-7, 1-1).

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.