Jan. 29, 2009
Complete notes 
#11/12 TEXAS (15-4, 4-1 Big 12) vs. KANSAS STATE (13-7, 2-4 Big 12)
Saturday, Jan. 31, 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. Please check TexasSports.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game. Dave Armstrong (pxp) and Reid Gettys (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: K-State leads, 9-8. Last meeting: Texas 74-65 (Feb. 25, 2008; Manhattan).
Slater Martin Jersey Retirement
Former University of Texas star and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Slater Martin will be in attendance for Saturday's game. The University of Texas will officially retire the No. 15 jersey of Martin during a halftime ceremony. Martin will become the second UT basketball player to have his jersey retired, joining T.J. Ford. Martin led UT to a 63-14 mark from 1947-49, including a third-place finish at the NCAA Tournament during his sophomore season in 1946-47. He earned third-team All-America honors as a junior and first-team All-America accolades (Helms Foundation) in his senior year. Martin set a school single-game record with 49 points against TCU on Feb. 26, 1949. Martin had an 11-year career in the NBA with the Minneapolis Lakers (1949-50 to 1955-56) and St. Louis Hawks (1956-57 to 1959-60). He led his teams to five World Championships and earned All-NBA honors seven times. In 1981, Martin became the first and only Texas player to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
Series vs. Kansas State
Saturday's contest marks the 18th meeting between Texas and Kansas State. The Wildcats hold a 9-8 lead in the all-time series which dates back to an 87-60 Kansas State win in Manhattan on Dec. 8, 1971. The Longhorns are 7-3 against K-State in the Rick Barnes era. Texas holds a 5-3 advantage in games played in Austin entering Saturday's contest.
Suits and Sneakers Weekend
The Texas coaching staff will be wearing sneakers with their suits during Saturday's game. They are joining thousands of coaches nationwide this weekend (Jan. 30 - Feb. 1) to show support for the Coaches vs. Cancer program. The Suits and Sneakers weekend is designed to raise awareness about the fight against cancer and the American Cancer Society's efforts to eliminate this disease. Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that empowers basketball coaches, their teams and communities to join the fight against cancer. Since the program's inception in 1993, more than 500 coaches have raised nearly $45 million to support the Society's efforts to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. For more info about the Coaches vs. Cancer program, call 800/ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
Record-Setting Big 12 Home Win Streak
Texas enters Saturday's contest against Kansas State sporting a 14-game home win streak in Big 12 Conference games. The current streak is the longest Big 12 home win streak in school history. The streak dates back to a 77-68 win against Iowa State on Feb. 10, 2007. The last time the Horns suffered a defeat in a Big 12 game at the Erwin Center came in a 73-72 loss to Kansas State on Feb. 3, 2007.
Horns at Home
Texas is in its 32nd year of play in the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns have posted an all-time record of 372-89 (.807) in the building. Since Rick Barnes arrived in Austin, UT has recorded a 147-18 (.891) mark at the Erwin Center, including a 71-11 (.866) record in Big 12 Conference home contests. Texas has a 25-8 (.758) mark against AP Top 25 teams at home during the Rick Barnes era (current streak of nine straight wins). The Horns have won 19 straight and 101 of their last 107 home games.
Home Win Streak Ranks Fourth Nationally
Texas enters Saturday's contest sporting a 19-game home winning streak. The 19-game streak is the fourth-longest current home win streak in Division I (as of Jan. 27).
Texas-Baylor Game Notes
• Texas improved to 23-0 against Baylor during the Rick Barnes era.
• The Longhorns improved to 53-30 (.639) in Big 12 road games during the Rick Barnes era.
• UT held Baylor to 37.5% FG shooting (24-of-64), including a 29.0% (9-of-31) mark in the first half. Texas has limited 12 of its first 19 opponents to below 40% FG shooting this year (11-1 record in those games).
• Texas posted a 26-17 advantage in bench scoring.
• A.J. Abrams (19 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 13th time this year and 81st time in his career (128 games). He also became the sixth player in UT history to reach the 1,700-point plateau for his career (1,712).
• Damion James (14 points, 12 rebounds) recorded his seventh double-double of the season and the 28th of his career (92 games). He reached double figures in points for the 18th time this year and 56th time in his career. James reached double digits in rebounds for the seventh time this year and the 37th time in his career.
• Dogus Balbay set a career high in minutes (31) and tied his career high in points (eight).
• Varez Ward set a career high in free throws made (6-of-6). He had his highest point total (eight), since he scored 12 against Texas Southern on Dec. 16.
Abrams Ties Big 12 Career Triples Mark
A.J. Abrams is on the verge of becoming the all-time leader in career three-point field goals made in Big 12 Conference history. Abrams has 338 career triples to his credit entering Saturday's game, tied for the most in league history (Jeff Boschee, Kansas, 1999-2002). He is just the third player in Big 12 history to convert at least 300 career three-pointers.
James Joins 800-Rebound Club
With his 12-rebound effort in Tuesday's win at Baylor, Damion James became the seventh UT player to record at least 800 career rebounds. James has grabbed 806 rebounds in 92 career games (8.8 rpg). He set the single-season rebound mark (393) last year as a sophomore.
James Sees Double
Damion James enters Saturday's game with a team-best seven double-doubles through the first 19 games this year. He had 14 points and 12 rebounds during Tuesday's win at Baylor. In the last nine games, James has averaged a team-high 17.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest. 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 against Appalachian State (Jan. 2). 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).
Balbay Better in Big 12 Play
In his first collegiate season, Dogus Balbay has been much more productive and efficient since the start of Big 12 Conference play. During UT's first five league contests, Balbay has posted 17 assists against just five turnovers. He also has averaged 4.8 ppg and 3.6 rpg while hitting 10-of-15 (.667) field goals in 21.6 minutes per contest. During Tuesday's win at Baylor, Balbay had eight points (tied his career high) on 3-of-3 FG, four rebounds and four assists in a career-best 31 minutes.
