Jan. 8, 2009
Complete notes 
#7/7 TEXAS (11-3, 0-0 Big 12) vs. IOWA STATE (11-4, 0-0 Big 12)
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 • 3 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,755) • Austin, Texas
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised regionally by the Big 12 Network (formerly presented as ESPN Plus). Check TexasSports.com for a complete listing of affiliates carrying the game. Mitch Holthus (pxp) and Dan Hughes (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: Texas leads, 9-8. Last meeting: Texas 71-65 ot (Feb. 9, 2008; Ames).
Success in Big 12 Home Openers under Barnes
Entering Saturday's contest, the Longhorns have posted a perfect 10-0 mark in Big 12 Conference home openers in the Rick Barnes era. Texas is 11-1 in league home openers since the Big 12 began play in 1996-97.
Series vs. Iowa State
Saturday's contest marks the 18th meeting between Texas and Iowa State. UT owns a 9-8 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to the 1966-67 season. In that first meeting, the Cyclones posted a 101-87 win in Phoenix on Dec. 21, 1966. Texas has won three straight and is 7-3 against the Cyclones during the Rick Barnes era. The Horns hold a 6-1 advantage in games played in Austin.
Record-Setting Opportunity
Texas enters Saturday's contest against Iowa State sporting a 12-game home win streak in Big 12 Conference games. The current streak is tied for the longest Big 12 home win streak in school history.
Texas-Arkansas Game Notes
• UT held Arkansas to 38.7% FG shooting, including a 5-of-18 (.278) mark from three-point range. Texas has held nine of its first 14 opponents to below 40% FG shooting (8-1 mark in these games).
• Texas posted a +13 rebound margin (50-37). UT has now outrebounded the opposition in 11 of its first 14 games. This marked the third consecutive game and sixth time this year that the Horns recorded at least a +10 rebound margin.
• Gary Johnson (15 points, 12 rebounds) posted his second double-double of the season and his career (36 games). His 12 boards marked a career high. He reached double digits in scoring for the ninth time this year and 13th time in his career. Johnson reached double figures in rebounds for the second time this season and his career.
• Damion James (17 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 13th time this year and 51st time in his career (87 games).
• Dexter Pittman (10 points) reached double figures in scoring for the sixth time this year and ninth time in his career (79 games). He tied his career high with three blocked shots.
• Justin Mason (10 points) reached double digits in scoring for the fourth time this year and 25th time in his career (87 games).
Success Against the AP Top 25
During his 11 seasons in Austin, Rick Barnes has registered a school-record 47 career victories against AP Top 25 opponents (previous mark: 10-44 by Tom Penders, 1989-98). Barnes has guided the Horns to a 47-51 (.480) record against ranked teams. Barnes has posted 77 career victories against AP Top 25 foes.
Beating the Best
UT posted two victories against AP Top Three teams during the 2007-08 season. Texas' win at No. 2 UCLA last year equaled the highest-ranked (AP) opponent that the Longhorns have defeated in school history. The Horns also claimed a home win against No. 3 Kansas last season. Four of UT's seven all-time wins against AP Top Three teams have come in the Rick Barnes era.
Defending Big 12 Champs
Texas claimed a share of the Big 12 Conference regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship during the 2007-08 season. This marked the second time in the last three years and the third time overall that the Horns have won the Big 12 title. All three championships have come during the Rick Barnes era. UT won the crown outright in 1998-99 and shared the league title with Kansas in 2005-06 (Texas was the No. 1 seed in the conference tourney that year as well).
Cleaning the Glass
Texas has outrebounded its opponent in 11 of its first 14 games to start the season. UT has posted a double-digit rebound advantage in each of its last three games and has averaged a +13.0 rebound margin (45.3-to-32.3) in this span. The Horns registered a 40-25 advantage on the glass at Wisconsin, a 46-35 edge against Appalachian State and a 50-37 advantage at Arkansas. Texas has recorded at least a +10 advantage in six of its first 14 games.
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 (1,643 points). Abrams also enters Saturday's game just three points shy of cracking the Top 20 list of career scoring leaders in Big 12 Conference history.
James Nears 1,000 Point Milestone
Damion James enters Saturday's game just 30 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point plateau in his collegiate career. He has recorded 970 points in 87 career games (11.1 ppg). James will become the 30th player in UT history to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
Johnson Steps It Up
Gary Johnson has posted four consecutive impressive offensive performances entering Saturday'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 (Jan. 2). During Tuesday's game at Arkansas, Johnson recorded his second career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. In the last four games, Johnson is averaging 16.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest while hitting 26-of-46 (.565) field goals and 15-of-18 (.833) free throws.
Pittman Likes Home Cooking
Dexter Pittman has been at his best inside the friendly confines of the Erwin Center this season. In seven home games, Pittman has averaged 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while hitting 67.4% (31-of-46) from the floor and 80.6% (25-of-31) from the free throw line in 15.7 minutes per contest. During UT's last three home games (Texas State, Texas Southern, Appalachian State), Pittman has averaged 19.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest.
