Jan. 24, 2011
Complete Notes 
#7/8 Texas (16-3, 4-0 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (14-5, 2-3 Big 12)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 • 6:30 p.m. Central
Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611) • Stillwater, Oklahoma
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Mark Jones (pxp), Fran Fraschilla (analyst), Doug Gottlieb (analyst) and Holly Rowe (reporter) will call the action.
RADIO: The Longhorn Sports Network and KVET (FM 98.1/1300 AM Sportsradio The Zone) broadcast every UT game on the statewide network and on XM Satellite Radio Ch. 231. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (analyst) will call the action. Check TexasSports.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game.
SERIES: Texas leads, 42-35. Last meeting: Texas 69-59 (Feb. 24, 2010; Austin)
Series vs. Oklahoma State
Wednesday’s contest marks the 78th meeting between Texas and Oklahoma State. UT holds a 42-35 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to a 33-9 Texas win in Austin on Feb. 8, 1918. The Longhorns have won eight of the last nine and 11 of the last 14 meetings between the two schools dating back to the start of the 2004-05 season. Texas is 6-6 against OSU in games played in Stillwater during the Rick Barnes era entering Wednesday’s contest. The Horns recorded a two-game sweep of the Cowboys last year, posting a 72-60 win in Stillwater (Feb. 1, 2010) and a 69-59 victory in Austin (Feb. 24, 2010).
Kansas Game Notes
• Texas recorded its first win in Lawrence (1-9 all-time) and its first victory at Allen Fieldhouse (1-7 all-time) in program history. The victory ended KU’s 69-game home win streak (Kansas school record and nation’s longest active home court winning streak) that dated back to Feb. 3, 2007.
• UT faced a 27-12 deficit with 7:41 left in the first half and a 37-26 deficit with 16:35 remaining in the game. The Horns outscored Kansas by a 48-26 margin over the final 16:30.
• The Longhorns held the Jayhawks to 63 points on 35.9% FG shooting. Kansas entered the game averaging 83.2 ppg on 52.4% FG shooting on the year.
• Texas hit 63.6% from the floor (14-of-22) while limiting KU to an 8-of-30 (.267) mark in the final 20 minutes. UT outscored the Jayhawks by a 51-28 margin in the second half.
• Texas tallied a 42-33 advantage on the glass. UT has outrebounded its opponent in 16 of its first 19 games.
• J’Covan Brown (23 points) set a season high in scoring. He topped the 20-point mark for the second time this year and fifth time in his career (52 games). Brown reached double digits in scoring for the eighth time this season and 23rd time in his career. He tied his career high in free throws made (8-of-10). Brown had 17 of his 23 points in the second half (4-of-5 FG, 2-of-3 threes, 7-of-8 FT).
• Jordan Hamilton (17 points) reached double digits in scoring for the 18th time this season and 36th time in his career (53 games). He tied his career high in free throws made (7-of-7).
• Tristan Thompson (12 points) reached double digits in scoring for the 15th time this season. He tied his career high in blocks (five).
• Cory Joseph (11 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 11th time this year. He tied his career high in rebounds (nine).
A Tale of Two Halves in Lawrence
Saturday’s victory at No. 2/2 Kansas saw the Longhorns rally from an early 15-point deficit (trailed 18-3 at the 14:41 mark) and an 11-point deficit (37-26) with 16:35 remaining in the contest.
• Kansas claimed a 35-23 halftime advantage and held the Horns to 30.8% FG shooting (8-of-26) in the opening 20 minutes. UT had two assists against nine turnovers in the first half.
• The Horns recorded a 51-28 margin in the second half. Texas converted 63.6% (14-of-22) from the floor, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, and 19-of-23 (.826) free throws in the half. UT held Kansas to 26.7% (8-of-30) FG shooting, including a 2-of-11 (.182) mark from three-point range in the second half. Texas posted a 22-14 advantage on the glass and held KU to three assists against seven turnovers in the final 20 minutes.
Texas Three-Peat ... Did You Know?
With Saturday’s 74-63 win at No. 2/2 Kansas, the Longhorns have now recorded victories against a trio of college basketball’s elite programs. Texas defeated North Carolina (78-76 on Dec. 18 in Greensboro, N.C.), Michigan State (67-55 on Dec. 22 in East Lansing, Mich.) and Kansas (74-63 on Jan. 19 in Lawrence, Kan.). UT is the first team to defeat all three of these elite programs in one year AND win all three games away from home since Michigan accomplished the feat during the 1992-93 season. Michigan, which finished that year as the NCAA runner-up, beat North Carolina and Kansas in the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii and defeated Michigan State in East Lansing (note courtesy of ESPN Research).
Just Call Them Streak-Busters
• UT’s 74-63 win at No. 2/2 Kansas (Jan. 22) snapped a 69-game home win streak by the Jayhawks. The streak was the longest active home winning streak in the nation, a KU school record and dated back to Feb. 3, 2007.
• Texas also snapped Michigan State’s 52-game home win streak against non-conference foes with a 67-55 victory on Dec. 22. That streak dated back to a MSU loss to Duke on Dec. 3, 2003.
A Check of the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 7 in the latest Associated Press poll (Jan. 24) and is ranked No. 8 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll (Jan. 24). UT was tabbed No. 25 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll, marking the 10th consecutive year that the Longhorns have been ranked in the coaches’ preseason poll. During the Rick Barnes era, the Horns have spent 168 weeks in The AP Top 25, including 77 in the Top 10.
Beating the Best
UT’s win at No. 2 Kansas (Jan. 22) equaled the highest-ranked (AP) opponent the Longhorns have defeated in school history. Six of Texas’ nine all-time wins against AP Top Three teams have come during the Rick Barnes era.
Building a Solid Resume
UT is 4-2 this year against AP Top 25 opponents with wins against No. 13 Illinois, No. 12 Michigan State, No. 11 Texas A&M and No. 2 Kansas. The two defeats were a two-point setback against No. 5 Pittsburgh (68-66) and a one-point overtime loss to No. 8 Connecticut (82-81).
Defense Wins
Solid defense continues to be a Texas trademark under coach Rick Barnes. UT has held its first 19 opponents to an average of 61.4 ppg on 37.0% FG shooting, including an 85-of-294 (.289) mark from three-point range. Texas has limited 12 of its first 19 foes this year to below 40% FG shooting (11-1 mark in those games) and four below 30% FG shooting. UT has held its first four Big 12 Conference opponents to an average of 55.2 ppg on a combined 38.8% FG shooting, including a 13-of-59 (.220) mark from three-point range.
Better at the Stripe Recently
Despite shooting at a 66.1% mark from the free throw line on the season, the Longhorns have shown major improvement from the charity stripe of late. In the last two games, Texas has converted 44-of-53 (.830) free throws. UT hit 19-of-22 (.864) in Wednesday’s win against No. 11/10 Texas A&M. The Horns then converted 25-of-31 (.806) during Saturday’s victory at No. 2/2 Kansas.
Hamilton Likes the Big 12
Jordan Hamilton is off to an excellent start in league play. In his first four Big 12 games, Hamilton has averaged a team-best 19.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. He has converted 53.1% (26-of-49) from the floor, including an 8-of-20 (.400) mark from three-point range, and hit 17-of-20 (.850) free throws.
Joseph Taking Care of the Rock
Cory Joseph has done an excellent job of distributing the ball without making mistakes of late. In the last nine games, Joseph has recorded 29 assists against just nine turnovers (3.2-to-1 ratio). He had a career-best five assists against Coppin State (Dec. 31) and posted four assists without a turnover in the overtime loss to No. 8/9 Connecticut (Jan. 11).
Thompson Not Playing Like a Freshman
Tristan Thompson has played beyond his years on both ends of the court. Through his first 19 collegiate contests, Thompson leads the team in rebounding (7.6 rpg), blocks (42) and steals (22) and ranks second in both scoring (13.1 ppg) and double-doubles (three). He has converted 89-of-167 (.533) field goals on the year.
Thompson on a Roll
In the last eight games, Tristan Thompson has averaged 16.4 points and 7.9 rebounds while converting 49-of-82 (.598) field goals. In his first four Big 12 Conference games, he is averaging 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per contest while hitting 57.5% (23-of-40) from the floor.
Thompson’s Block Party
Tristan Thompson leads the team in blocked shots (42) through the first 19 games this year. Thompson has posted at least two blocks in 14 of the first 19 contests. He recorded a career-high five blocks in the overtime win against No. 13/16 Illinois (Nov. 18). Thompson added four blocks against No. 11/10 Texas A&M (Jan. 19) and tied his career high with five blocked shots during Saturday’s victory at No. 2/2 Kansas (Jan. 22).
Balbay Solid with the Rock
Dogus Balbay currently ranks as the school’s career leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (min. 200 assists). He has recorded 258 assists against 107 turnovers (2.41-to-1 ratio) in 80 career games. Balbay has tallied 45 assists against just 18 turnovers in the first 19 contests this season (2.5-to-1 ratio).
Brown Provides Spark in Lawrence
J’Covan Brown posted a game-high 23 points (6-of-10 FG, 3-of-6 threes, 8-of-10 FT) and added three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 29 minutes to lead Texas to its come-from-behind win on Saturday at No. 2/2 Kansas. Brown recorded 17 of his season-high 23 points in the decisive second half, when he hit 4-of-5 field goals, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 free throws. He tied his career high in free throws made (8-of-10).
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