• Roster
• |
• Schedule/Results
• |
• Stats
• |
• News
• |
• Archives

Feb. 12, 2009

Complete notes

TEXAS (16-7, 5-4 Big 12) at Colorado (9-14, 1-8 Big 12)
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 • 1 p.m. Central
Coors Events Center (11,064) • Boulder, Colo.

GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Ron Franklin (pxp) and Fran Fraschilla (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, 11-8. Last meeting: Texas 69-67 (Jan. 19, 2008; Austin).

Series vs. Colorado
Saturday's contest marks the 20th meeting between Texas and Colorado. UT holds an 11-8 lead in the all-time series which dates back to a 90-75 Colorado win in Boulder on Dec. 11, 1967. The Horns have won three straight against the Buffaloes entering Saturday's game, including a 102-78 victory in Boulder two years ago. Texas is 10-3 against Colorado during the Rick Barnes era entering Saturday's contest. The Horns are 3-5 all-time against Colorado in games played in Boulder, including a 3-2 mark in the Barnes era.
 
Texas-Oklahoma State Game Notes
• The Longhorns set team season highs in points (99), first-half points (52), field goal percentage (.569) and assists (19). Texas also tied its season high in field goals made (33).
• Texas had five players reach double figures in scoring for the third time this season (3-0 mark in those games).
• The Horns posted a 30-23 advantage on the glass. This marked the 18th time in 23 games this year that Texas had outrebounded its opponent.
• A.J. Abrams (20 points, 4-of-5 threes) reached the 20-point mark for the ninth time this year and 32nd time in his career (132 games). He reached double figures in scoring for the 17th time this year and 85th time in his career. Abrams converted at least four 3-pointers in a game for the 10th time this year.
• Damion James (19 points) reached double digits in scoring for the 21st time this year and 59th time in his career (96 games). He also set a season high in assists (four).
• Connor Atchley (14 points) reached double figures in points for the fourth time this year and 22nd time in his career (124 games). He tied his season high in scoring. Atchley reached double figures in scoring for the first time since he had 11 points vs. Rice on Nov. 30, 2008.
• Gary Johnson (12 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 15th time this year and the 19th time in his career (45 games).
• Dogus Balbay (10 points, seven assists) made his first career start. He set career highs in points (10), field goals made (5-of-9), assists (seven) and minutes (33). He also recorded a 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Road Warriors
Texas has proven to be a very successful road team during the Rick Barnes era. Barnes has guided the Horns to a 53-31 (.631) road record in Big 12 games during his 11 seasons in Austin -- the second-best league record in road games during this span.
 
Better Offense ... In Perspective
Texas enters Saturday's game fresh off its finest all-around performance as a team offensively to this point in the season. The Horns set team season highs in points (99), first-half points (52), field goal percentage (.569) and assists (19) while committing just seven turnovers. UT also tied its season high in field goals made (33-of-58) and hit 26-of-31 (.839) from the free throw line.
• UT's previous best scoring output of the year was 88 points against Texas Southern. The Horns topped this mark with 7:54 remaining.
• Texas' previous best scoring output in Big 12 play this year was 81 points in an overtime loss to Kansas State. The Horns topped this mark with 9:59 remaining.
• The Longhorns had five players reach double figures in scoring for the third time this year and first time in Big 12 play. It marked the first time this had been achieved since Nov. 30 against Rice.
• UT set a season high in field goal percentage in a half during the opening 20 minutes (.633, 19-of-30).
• Texas' 19 first-half field goals made equaled the total number of field goals made in its previous game at Nebraska.

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 sixth place on the school's career points list (1,774 points). Abrams also enters Saturday's game in 12th place on the Big 12 Conference career scoring list.

Atchley Breaks Out Against Oklahoma State
Senior forward/center Connor Atchley had one of his finest offensive performances of the season during Tuesday's home win against Oklahoma State. Atchley tied his season high in scoring with 14 points while hitting 4-of-6 FG (2-of-4 threes) and 4-of-4 FT to go along with four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 20 minutes off the bench. He reached double digits in points for the first time since Nov. 30 vs. Rice (11 points). Atchley also knocked down a pair of three-pointers for the first time since Dec. 20 vs. Michigan State (2-of-4 threes).

Balbay Impresses in First Start
Sophomore guard Dogus Balbay made the most of his first career start during Tuesday's home win against Oklahoma State. Balbay posted 10 points (5-of-9 FG), seven assists against just one turnover and two steals in 33 minutes. He set career highs in scoring, field goals made, assists and minutes played.

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 nine league contests, Balbay has posted 27 assists against just seven turnovers (a 3.9-to-1 ratio). He also has averaged 4.0 ppg and 2.6 rpg while hitting 15-of-25 (.600) field goals in 20.3 minutes per contest. In the loss at No. 6/5 Oklahoma (Jan. 12), he registered eight points (4-of-5 FG), seven rebounds and six assists against just one turnover in 28 minutes. During the win at Baylor (Jan. 27), Balbay had eight points (3-of-3 FG), four rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes.