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Dec. 1, 2012

Recap |  Box Score |  Notes |  Photo Gallery 

TEXAS

Head Coach Rick Barnes
On early in the game:
Javan didn’t get it going early. Demarcus got in and got the tempo going. From the beginning, defensively we weren’t technically where we wanted to do everything. We had tremendous effort and energy getting through some of the multiple ball screens they were running. We moved the ball. We didn’t stick to many times in people hands. We had great looks at the basket. The second half, I told our guys the thing I am most concerned about was them looking at the scoreboard, seeing we are up 20 and thinking this is it. We started the second half pretty well, we did what we wanted to. We did a little zone press on the sidelines, came up with a steal. But then, we got 28, 29 ahead. Instead of taking it to another level, they weren’t as intense on the bench. Myck was there and he has been a tremendous leader. Even the walk-ons would tell you that we didn’t play as hard the second half and that is part of learning how to finish and having the discipline to play for 40 minutes. It was a learning situation and we will build on that because where we want to go, you obviously can’t play 34 minutes. You have to play. Just look at [Papapetrou]. He made 3-of-4 3-pointers but then goes 4-for-10 and the free throw line. I though he did some great things handling the ball.

On jump shots: We just want to shoot the ball. We tell them; if you are open, shoot it. We wanted to get ball reversal and the very first time we ran a little roll back knowing we were going to reverse the ball all away around and we ran it. We ran it three more times and we just didn’t do. It goes back to the focus and that’s what we have worked on since we played Sam Houston State. We spent all of our time offensively executing, wanting to run in transition and getting down the floor. There were more good things. We ran some fake screen action and got where we could drive the ball. Some of that was good. It’s just the mentality there when you have the lead that we don’t stay engaged.

On Prince Ibeh: He started this morning at walk through and he wasn’t engaged from the beginning. You could just see it. He wasn’t alert or ready to play. It doesn’t just start at tip off. It starts long before that. We met last night to go over things and met again this morning. There is no reason not to come out and be ready to go. The second half, I told guys if they were not engaged they were coming right out. Javan [Felix] had a great opportunity tonight to push himself defensively, but he didn’t. That is why in the end we sat him. He will grow up a lot quicker because sitting out will get his attention.

On Julien Lewis: When he gets his feet under him he can shoot the ball, and he can drive the ball. He is getting better. We think he is a guy that can score. As quick as he is, we think he can score against anybody. He gets his balance and a lot of times he doesn’t do that. We moved the ball like we did today, we should be getting great looks at the three point line. We turned down shots early and when we do that, that is where you get into many turnovers in the game.

Julien Lewis
On what worked for the offense: A lot of ball movement, inside out, we all get each other involved more in the game, feeding each other, and playing off each other mostly.

On if the effort at practice is starting to translate over to the game: In practice it’s like a different level, we all go at each other and play hard. Mostly when we come out in the game, it may be like a daze, but once we get going that’s when we pick it up.

On the upcoming matchups: We’ve got a big game on Tuesday against Georgetown. It’s another good team that we have to go against, and we have to go out there and perform and do our jobs.

Ioannis Papapetrou
On what Julien Lewis brings to practice: He tries to teach us the right way to do things, the right way to defend. Coach talks about being an everyday guy, everyday he is going to bring it, he is going to play hard you are going to defend in practice, he is going to get on you if you’re not going hard, and that is the kind of guys we need to get better. If you make a mistake he’s going to come talk to you, he is a good teammate.

On playing a lot of positions on the court: Whatever coach tells me to do I’m going to do it. It doesn’t matter if you’re the 1 or if you’re the 5 you go out there and just play the game of basketball.

On if there is a spot he’s most comfortable with: Throughout my life I played everywhere, when I was in Greece I played point. I came here and played the 2 and 3. I came to college and realized that I have a lot of mismatches when I play the 4 and 5 because I can bring guys outside, and play in the perimeter. I feel comfortable playing every spot, I just have to go out and play basketball.

On if the team came into the game looking to shoot the 3 that much: We knew they were really going to try to guard the post because of our size, so we were ready to spot up and be ready to shoot. We did a really good job playing inside out. We put the ball inside and once they all closed in and tried to trap the post we just kicked it out and shot it.

UT ARLINGTON

Head Coach Scott Cross
Opening Statement: Our defense in the first half was not very good; we had no intensity or enthusiasm. I thought Texas defense was outstanding; it is the real deal, there is a reason they are No.1 in the country for field goal percentage. I think that our guys got wired from their physicality and size.

On the inability to get back into the game: We started pressing and they attached us really well, you have to give Texas and Coach Barnes credit for that. They had their shooters there in the corner, we did not do a good job rotating so they caught fire and never missed. We usually use our press to get back into games, but they [Texas] were attacking it so well that it neutralized us. It made it difficult to come back after that.

On the second half: I thought the second half was better. If we would have played like that for 40 minutes, I would have felt good even if we would have lost. It would have been a game that our guys competed in. I did not fell like our guys came out thinking they could win the game. I felt like we had an opportunity to win if we did the things that we have been doing all year long; play great defense and have great energy, but it seemed like our guys did not believe that or they got shocked up right away when a few of our shoots got blocked.

On the defense of the game: They were blocking shoots. We were going in there hoping that we would get foul calls but we didn’t, or we would turn the ball over, all those things make your guys be a little bit more on their heels. It began to start affect our defense, we should not like things affect our defense. We have to play with intensity and enthusiasm regardless of what happens on the defensive side.

On fixing the amount of turnovers for the next game: Step one is to do ball handling and passing drills on the bench. We will have to do simple things like passing and catching.