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Feb. 24, 2009

Complete Notes

#25/24 TEXAS (18-8, 7-5 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (12-15, 2-10 Big 12)
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 • 8:30 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,755) • Austin, Texas
 
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION:  The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. 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 www.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, 69-53. Last meeting: Texas 71-49 (Jan. 17, 2009; Lubbock).

Kevin Durant Jersey Retirement
Former University of Texas star and 2006-07 consensus National Player of the Year Kevin Durant will be in attendance for Wednesday's game. The University of Texas will officially retire the No. 35 jersey of Durant during a halftime ceremony. Durant will become the third UT basketball player to have his jersey retired, joining T.J. Ford and Slater Martin. He is in his second season with the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly Seattle Sonics).

Series vs. Texas Tech
Wednesday's contest marks the 123rd meeting between Texas and Texas Tech. The Longhorns hold a 69-53 lead in the all-time series which dates back to 1940. UT has won 38 of the last 48 meetings between the two schools dating back to the 1988-89 season. Texas is 24-4 against Texas Tech since the formation of the Big 12 Conference, including a 20-3 mark against the Red Raiders during the Rick Barnes era.

Success Against Texas Tech in Austin
Texas holds a 39-21 edge in games played in Austin. The Horns have won 12 straight games against the Red Raiders at the Erwin Center. UT is 10-0 against Tech in Austin during the Barnes era.

Lone Star State Dominance
Since Rick Barnes arrived in Austin, the Longhorns have emerged as the dominant college basketball program in the state of Texas. The Horns have posted a 91-10 (.901) record against in-state foes during the Barnes era, including marks of 23-0 against Baylor, 17-6 against Texas A&M and 20-3 against Texas Tech.

A Check of the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 25 in the latest Associated Press poll (Feb. 23) and No. 24 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll (Feb. 23). In the polls released on Feb. 9, UT had its streak of consecutive weeks ranked in The AP Top 25 stopped at 37 straight (dating back to the poll on Feb. 19, 2007) and its streak of consecutive weeks ranked in the ESPN/USA Today poll stopped at 39 straight (Feb. 19, 2007). During the Barnes era, the Horns have spent 141 weeks in The AP Top 25, including 60 in the Top 10.

Texas-Oklahoma Game Notes
• Texas' win against No. 2 Oklahoma marked the highest-ranked (AP) opponent the Horns have defeated in a home game in school history.
• Texas' win against No. 2 Oklahoma equaled the highest-ranked (AP) opponent the Longhorns have defeated in school history. UT previously won at No. 2 UCLA (63-61) on Dec. 2, 2007 and recorded a neutral-site victory against No. 2 Louisville (74-70) at the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage on Nov. 30, 1986.
• UT has won six consecutive home games against AP Top Five opponents. The Horns have won 10 straight home contests against Top 25 foes.
• Texas has won seven of the last eight meetings against Oklahoma. The Horns are 12-4 against the Sooners over the last 16 meetings.
• The Horns posted a 36-35 advantage on the glass. This marked the 21st time in 26 games this year that Texas had outrebounded its opponent.
• A.J. Abrams (23 points, 5-of-11 threes) reached the 20-point mark for the 11th time this year and 34th time in his career (135 games). He reached double figures in scoring for the 19th time this season and 87th time in his career. Abrams hit five 3-pointers in a game for the sixth time this year.
• A.J. Abrams scored 18 of UT's last 20 points during the final 8:00 of the contest. He scored 16 consecutive points for the Horns from the 8:00 mark to the 1:13 mark of the second half.
• A.J. Abrams set the UT career record for most games played (135).
• Damion James (16 points, 10 rebounds) recorded his 12th double-double of the year and 33rd of his career (99 games). He has three straight double-doubles and six in his last eight contests. James reached double digits in scoring for the 24th time this year and 62nd time in his career. He reached double figures in rebounds for the 13th time this season and 43rd time in his career.
• Dogus Balbay (10 points, nine assists, eight rebounds) reached double digits in points for the second time this year. He tied his career high in points and set career highs in both assists and rebounds.
• Gary Johnson left the game at the 8:50 mark of the second half with a left ankle injury.

Beating the Best
Saturday's win against No. 2 Oklahoma marked the highest-ranked (AP) opponent the Horns have defeated in a home game in school history. The victory also equaled the highest-ranked (AP) opponent the Longhorns have defeated in school history. Five of UT's eight all-time wins against AP Top Three teams have come in the Rick Barnes era.

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 fifth place on the school's career points list (1,833 points). Abrams also enters Wednesday's game in eighth place on the Big 12 Conference career scoring list.

Abrams Nears UT Career Minutes Mark
A.J. Abrams has emerged as one of the most durable players in UT history and is closing in on the school record for most career minutes played. Abrams enters Wednesday's contest having played 4,327 minutes in 135 career games (32.1 mpg). He is averaging 37.4 minutes per game in his senior season. The school record for career minutes played is 4,352 by Terrence Rencher (1992-95).

James Sees Double
Damion James enters Wednesday's game with a team-best 12 double-doubles through the first 26 games this year. James has recorded three consecutive double-doubles entering Wednesday's contest and is averaging 17.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game while hitting 22-of-42 (.524) field goals during this stretch. He tallied 21 points (9-of-14 FG) and 14 rebounds during the overtime win at Colorado (Feb. 14). James had 16 points and 11 rebounds at Texas A&M (Feb. 16) and added with 16 points and 10 boards in 25 minutes against No. 2/2 Oklahoma on Saturday. Over the last eight games, he has posted six double-doubles and is averaging 15.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.
 
Balbay's Near Triple-Double
Sophomore guard Dogus Balbay had one of his finest all-around performances during Saturday's win against No. 2/2 Oklahoma. Balbay nearly recorded just the second triple-double in school history, as he posted 10 points (5-of-9 FG), nine assists against just two turnovers and eight rebounds in 34 minutes. Reggie Freeman registered the lone triple-double in UT history with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists at TCU on Feb. 11, 1996.

Balbay Impressive in Starting Role
Dogus Balbay has made the most of his first four career starts. In the four games, Balbay has averaged 7.3 points per contest while recording 28 assists against just seven turnovers. During the win against Oklahoma State (Feb. 10), he posted a career-high 10 points (5-of-9 FG), seven assists against just one turnover and two steals in 33 minutes. Balbay returned to post six points and seven assists against just one turnover in a career-high 37 minutes at Colorado (Feb. 14). He had three points and five assists at Texas A&M (Feb. 16), before his near triple-double in the win against No. 2/2 Oklahoma on Saturday.

Pittman Producing
Junior center Dexter Pittman ranks fourth on the team in scoring (8.7 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.5 rpg) in just 13.9 minutes per contest. He has converted a team-best 61.8% (81-of-131) field goals and 64-of-87 (.736) free throws. Pittman has reached double figures in scoring nine times in the first 26 games after achieving the feat just three times in his first two seasons (65 games). He posted his third double-double this year with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes at Texas A&M (Feb. 16).