Longhorns spotlight: Matt Hill
Jan. 9, 2009
Jonathan Mann, Texas Media Relations Last week, the Longhorns started off 2009 right with a 35-point victory over Appalachian State. Juniors Dexter Pittman and Damion James each turned in a double-double to accompany a five-block effort from sophomore Gary Johnson. Another valuable performance came from redshirt sophomore Matt Hill, who tallied five points and a rebound in a season-best 12 minutes. For Hill, the game was yet another landmark on the long road to recovery. In his first season on campus, the 6-foot-10 post from Lincoln, Neb. saw action in 18 consecutive games before suffering a stress fracture in his left foot. The injury forced Hill to miss 11 conference games, but he returned to play in five of the last six contests, logging 13 minutes in the season finale against No. 3 Kansas. Despite his recovery from the stress fracture, Hill was once again sidelined by an injury - again in his left foot - during the offseason. Calcium deposits had formed in his heel, and Hill was forced to sit out the entire 2007-08 season. He watched from the bench as the Longhorns claimed the Big 12 title and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. "It was tough, especially because we were having such a good year," Hill said of last season. "I wanted to be a part of it, but sometimes I didn't feel like I was just because I wasn't suited up, practicing with them and going through some of the stuff." Head coach Rick Barnes, along with fellow teammates, provided a sufficient support system to keep Hill going through the rigorous rehabilitation process.
"They were great," Hill said. "Coach Barnes was always messing around with me when I was hurt, cracking jokes and stuff. They were always asking for updates, seeing how long it would be before I could do certain things. They were always positive and kept me up when I got down on myself or when I was frustrated with everything." "It was tough on him, but no one had a better attitude about it than Matt," Barnes said. "He'd make every parent proud to have him as a son, because of the way he handles himself. He's just a great kid and everybody in this program loves him to death." Last season proved to be an opportunity for Hill to learn new things about himself and the game of basketball. "I learned how to be patient, and that doing hard work pays off," Hill said. "It made me realize how much I love basketball, and how much I really missed it while I was out. But it also made me realize that there are other things to life, not just basketball, and you have to appreciate those, too." Justin Mason, who was part of the same freshman class as Hill, praised his teammate for staying focused in lieu of becoming discouraged. "Last year, he was out for most of the year, but he was still a support system for us," Mason said. "He never was down, even though he couldn't play. He came to all the film sessions and made sure he was working out all the time. I think that shows a lot about his character." This season, some may mistake Texas' number 21 for a new player. The unfamiliarity could be attributed to his year on the bench, but others chalk up the confusion to the drastic change in hairstyle between his freshman season and now. "Sometimes I do [miss the old haircut], but I like the short hair," Hill said. "I feel freer, lighter, and my shower time is cut in half." Despite the buzz cut, Hill continues to entertain plenty of ribbing from his teammates. "We still give him a hard time about his hair," Mason said. Hill couldn't care less. He's just happy to be part of the action instead of watching it from the bench. "It's been great to be back on the court," Hill said of the new season. "I feel like I'm improving as the year goes along, and I've just got to keep doing that. If I do, it'll carry me right into the offseason and next season."
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