Jan. 4, 2009
Complete notes 
#7/7 TEXAS (11-2) vs. ARKANSAS (11-1)
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009 • 8 p.m. Central
Bud Walton Arena (19,200) • Fayetteville, Ark.
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. Brad Nessler (pxp) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) 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.
INTERNET AUDIO: Listen to Texas Basketball games on subscription-based Yahoo! Sports College Broadcast.
SERIES: Arkansas leads, 85-65. Last meeting: Texas 80-76 (Dec. 20, 2006; Austin).
Series vs. Arkansas
Tuesday's contest marks the 151st meeting between Texas and Arkansas. The Razorbacks hold an 85-65 lead in the all-time series that dates back to 1924. Texas posted a 30-26 victory in Fayetteville on Feb. 26, 1924 in that first meeting between the two schools. In the last meeting between the two former Southwest Conference rivals (Dec. 20, 2006 in Austin), the Longhorns registered an 80-76 victory in Austin behind a 28-point, 13-rebound effort from Kevin Durant. This marks Texas' first appearance in Fayetteville since then-No. 2 Arkansas posted a 101-89 win on Jan. 10, 1991 in Barnhill Arena.
Series Quick Facts
Overall Series Record - Arkansas, 85-65
Barnes vs. Arkansas - 1-0
Most UT points - 117 (Jan. 29, 1972)
Most Arkansas points - 120 (March 9, 1991)
Fewest UT points - 7 (Feb. 6, 1926)
Fewest Arkansas points - 12 (Feb. 21, 1925)
Largest UT margin - 24 (117-93; Jan. 29, 1972)
Largest Arkansas margin - 36 (twice)
In overtime - Arkansas, 4-1
A Check of the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 7 in the latest Associated Press poll (Jan. 5) and No. 7 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll (Jan. 5). UT has now been ranked in The AP Top 25 for 33 consecutive weeks (dating back to the poll on Feb. 19, 2007) and in the ESPN/USA Today poll for 35 straight weeks (Feb. 19, 2007). During the Barnes era, the Horns have spent 136 weeks in The AP Top 25, including 60 in the Top 10.
Tough Road Test, Part Two
Texas will face its second true road game of the season, when it travels to Bud Walton Arena to take on former SWC rival Arkansas. The Horns picked up a solid victory in their first road test with a 74-69 win at Wisconsin on Dec. 23 before a sellout crowd at the Kohl Center (17,230). The Badgers entered the game with a 113-7 (.942) record in home contests during the eight years under Bo Ryan, including a 58-4 (.935) mark in non-conference home games.
Texas-Appalachian State Game Notes
• The Longhorns recorded their largest margin of victory (35 points) this season. No Texas player saw more than 29 minutes of action during the win.
• UT held the Mountaineers to 30.2% FG shooting, including a 3-of-18 (.167) mark from three-point range. The Horns limited ASU to just 28.0% FG shooting (7-of-25) in the second half. Texas improved to 8-0 on the year when holding its opponent below 40% FG shooting.
• Texas posted a +11 rebound margin (46-35). UT has now outrebounded the opposition in 10 of its first 13 games. This marked the fifth time this year that the Horns recorded at least a +10 rebound margin.
• The Horns recorded eight blocked shots during the win. UT's seven blocks in the first half were one shy of the school record for most blocked shots in a first half (8, three times) and two shy of the school mark for most blocks in a half (9 vs. Kansas State on Feb. 3, 2007).
• Dexter Pittman (21 points, 11 rebounds) posted his second double-double of the year and third of his career (78 games). Pittman set career highs in points, rebounds, minutes (26) and field goals made (8-of-12).
• Dexter Pittman reached the 20-point mark for the first time in his career. Pittman reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time this year and eighth time in his career. He reached double digits in rebounds for the second time this season and third time in his career.
• Damion James (14 points, 13 rebounds) recorded his third straight double-double, his sixth double-double of the year and 27th of his career (86 games). He reached double figures in scoring for the 12th time this year and 50th time in his career. James reached double digits in rebounds for the sixth time this season and 33rd time in his career.
• Gary Johnson (16 points, five blocks) reached double digits in scoring for the eighth time this year and 12th time in his career (35 games). He also set a career high with five blocked shots, recording all five rejections in the first half.
• Justin Mason tied his career high with four steals.
• Matt Hill registered a season high in minutes (12). His five points were the most he has scored since a five-point showing against Centenary on Dec. 28, 2006.
Abrams Getting Better by the Year
A.J. Abrams is the most experienced player in the Texas lineup, having played in 122 of a possible 123 games (86 starts) to date in his career. Through the first 13 games this year, Abrams has averaged a team-best 19.0 ppg while hitting 44.8% (43-of-96) from three-point range.
Abrams Climbs UT, Big 12 Career Scoring Lists
A.J. Abrams continues his steady climb up the UT career scoring chart. He currently sits in seventh place on the school's career scoring list (1,636 points). Abrams also enters Tuesday's game just 10 points shy of cracking the Top 20 list of career scoring leaders in Big 12 Conference history.
James Sees Double
Damion James enters Tuesday's game with three consecutive double-doubles and six total in the first 13 games. He had 15 points and 10 rebounds (four offensive) against No. 19/22 Michigan State (Dec. 20). James returned to post 18 points and a season-high 15 rebounds in the win at Wisconsin (Dec. 23). He followed with 14 points and 13 boards in just 19 minutes during Friday's win against Appalachian State. In these last three games, James has averaged 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per contest. He had 11 points and 12 rebounds against No. 8/8 Notre Dame (Nov. 25). James posted 21 points and 12 rebounds against Oregon (Nov. 26). He added 13 points and a game-high 13 boards against No. 12/9 UCLA (Dec. 4).
Mason Dishes the Rock
In the last seven contests (three against Top 25 opponents), Justin Mason has recorded 43 assists against just seven turnovers. Mason has posted 30 assists against just four turnovers in his last five games entering Tuesday's contest. He had six assists against just one turnover (along with five points, six boards and three steals) against No. 12/9 UCLA (Dec. 4). Mason tallied seven assists against two turnovers against No. 15/12 Villanova (Dec. 9) in New York at the Jimmy V Classic. He also had three assists against one miscue against No. 19/22 Michigan State (Dec. 20) and eight assists against just one turnover in the win at Wisconsin (Dec. 23).
Johnson Provides Spark Off the Bench
Sophomore forward Gary Johnson has given the Horns an impact player off the bench early this season. Through the first 13 games, Johnson ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.5 rpg) and third in scoring (10.5 ppg) in 24.6 minutes per contest. He recorded his first collegiate double-double with 14 points (5-of-8 FG, 4-of-5 FT) and a career-high 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes against Saint Joseph's (Nov. 24). Johnson added 10 points and eight boards against No. 8/8 Notre Dame (Nov. 25).
Johnson Steps It Up
Gary Johnson has posted three consecutive impressive offensive performances entering Tuesday's contest. Against No. 19/22 Michigan State in Houston (Dec. 20), Johnson posted 20 points (8-of-12 FG, 4-of-4 FT) in 35 minutes. He set career highs in points, field goals made and minutes. Johnson returned to record 16 points (7-of-10 FG, 2-of-2 FT) and eight rebounds in 33 minutes during the win at Wisconsin (Dec. 23). He then added 16 points (6-of-11 FG, 4-of-6 FT), nine boards and a career-high five blocks against Appalachian State on Friday. In the last three games, Johnson is averaging 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest while hitting 21-of-33 (.636) field goals and 10-of-12 (.833) free throws.
Pittman's Career Night
Dexter Pittman had the most complete performance in his collegiate career during Friday's win against Appalachian State. Pittman set career highs in points (21), rebounds (11), minutes (26) and field goals made (8-of-12). Six of his 11 boards came on the offensive glass. He recorded his second double-double of the season and third of his career. Pittman scored 13 consecutive points for the Horns to extend a 25-21 lead at the 4:47 mark of the first half to a 38-23 advantage with 17:56 left in the second half.
Balbay Thinking Pass
Sophomore guard Dogus Balbay has proven to be an improving distributor of the basketball in the last three games entering Tuesday's contest. Balbay registered a career-best five assists against one turnover in 14 minutes against No. 19/22 Michigan State (Dec. 20). He returned to post four assists against one turnover while adding two steals in the win at Wisconsin (Dec. 23). Balbay then added three assists without a turnover in Friday's win against Appalachian State. In the last three games, Balbay has registered 12 assists against two turnovers. In his first 12 contests, Balbay has posted 20 assists against nine turnovers and registered 11 steals in 13.8 minutes per game.
Hill Earning Increased Minutes of Late
Forward/center Matt Hill returns for his redshirt sophomore year after missing the entire 2007-08 season with a left heel injury. Last year, he had surgery on his left heel (Dec. 21) and was granted a medical redshirt year. Hill has played in eight of UT's first 13 games this season, but his minutes have dramatically increased in the last two contests. Hill saw seven minutes of work during the win at Wisconsin (Dec. 23). He then posted five points and one rebound in a season-high 12 minutes during Friday's win against Appalachian State. Hill's five points marked his highest scoring output, since he had five against Centenary on Dec. 28, 2006. As a true freshman in 2006-07, he played in 23 games. Hill saw action in all 18 games to start his career prior to a left foot injury that sidelined him on Jan 23. He missed 11 consecutive Big 12 Conference games before returning to play in five of the last six contests that year.
