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March 5, 2009

Complete notes

TEXAS (20-9, 9-6 Big 12) at #9/9 Kansas (24-6, 13-2 Big 12)
Saturday, March 7, 2009 • 3 p.m. Central
Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) • Lawrence, Kan.
 
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION:  The game will be televised nationally by CBS. Tim Brando (pxp) and Mike Gminski (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: Kansas leads, 15-6. Last meeting: Kansas 84-74 (March 16, 2008; Kansas City).

Series vs. Kansas
Saturday’s contest marks the 22nd meeting between Texas and Kansas. The Jayhawks hold a 15-6 lead in the all-time series that dates back to a 36-34 Texas win in Austin on Dec. 16, 1938. The two teams split a pair of meetings last season. Texas is looking for its first win in school history at Allen Fieldhouse, as Kansas holds an 8-0 lead in games played in Lawrence entering Saturday’s contest.

20 Wins … Again
With its victory on Monday against Baylor, the Longhorns reached the 20-win mark for the 10th consecutive season. Texas has reached the 30-win plateau in two of the last three years (31-7 in 2007-08 and 30-7 in 2005-06). UT’s current streak of nine straight 20-win campaigns is a school record. Prior to the current streak, the previous school mark for most consecutive 20-win seasons was four (1988-89 to 1991-92).

Going for 10 League Wins … Again
A win in Lawrence on Saturday would mark the 10th time in 11 seasons under Rick Barnes that the Horns have reached double digits in league wins. Texas posted a 9-7 conference mark in 2004-05. The Horns have recorded at least nine wins in each of Barnes’ 11 seasons in Austin. UT reached 12 league wins in each of the previous three seasons (13-3 in 2005-06, 12-4 in 2006-07 and 13-3 in 2007-08) and recorded at least 13 conference victories in five of Barnes’ 11 seasons in Austin (13-3 in 1998-99, 13-3 in 1999-2000, 13-3 in 2002-03, 13-3 in 2005-06 and 13-3 in 2007-08).

Improving Offense
Beginning with UT’s home game against Oklahoma State on Feb. 10, Dogus Balbay was inserted into the starting lineup at the point guard spot. Since this change was made, Texas has been a much improved and more efficient team at the offensive end of the court. The Longhorns have a 5-2 record since inserting Balbay into the starting lineup.

Texas-Baylor Game Notes
• The Longhorns improved to 24-0 against Baylor during the Rick Barnes era.
• The senior duo of A.J. Abrams and Connor Atchley finished their four-year home careers with a 61-5 mark at the Erwin Center, including a 29-3 record in Big 12 play.
• Texas held Baylor to a season low in points (57) and field goal percentage (.316). It marked the 15th time in 29 games this year that UT has held its opponent below 40% FG shooting (12-3 mark in those games).
• The Horns posted a 41-29 advantage on the glass. This marked the 24th time in 29 games this year that Texas had outrebounded its opponent.
• Dexter Pittman (16 points) reached double digits in points for the 11th time this year and the 14th time in his career (94 games).
• A.J. Abrams (14 points) reached double digits in points  for the 21st time this year and the 89th time in his career (138 games).
• Justin Mason (14 points) reached double digits in points  for the seventh time this year and 28th time in his career (102 games).
• Damion James (11 rebounds) reached double figures in rebounds for the 16th time this season and 46th time in his career. (102 games).
• Harrison Smith set career highs in rebounds (six) and minutes played (21).
• Gary Johnson missed his third straight game with a left ankle injury.

Cleaning the Glass
Texas has outrebounded its opponent in 24 of its first 29 games. The Lonhgorns recorded a 41-29 edge on the glass during Monday’s home win against Baylor. UT posted a 41-29 rebound margin during the win against Texas A&M (Jan. 24). The Horns also registered a 40-25 advantage at Wisconsin (Dec. 23) and a 50-37 margin at Arkansas (Jan. 6). Texas has recorded at least a +10 rebound margin in nine of its first 29 games.

Abrams on a Roll
A.J. Abrams has put up impressive numbers at the offensive end of the court in five of the last seven games entering Saturday’s contest. Abrams has topped the 20-point mark in four of the last seven games and has averaged a team-best 18.0 points per game while converting 23-of-55 (.418) three-pointers in this stretch. The streak began with a 20-point outing against Oklahoma State (Feb. 10). He added 29 points at Colorado (Feb. 14) and 23 in the home upset of No. 2/2 Oklahoma (Feb. 21). Abrams tallied a game-high 24 points against Texas Tech (Feb. 25).

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 (1,880 points). Abrams also enters Saturday’s game in seventh place on the Big 12 Conference career scoring list.

James Joins 1,000-Point Club Damion James became the 30th player in UT history to reach the 1,000-point milestone during the game at No. 6/5 Oklahoma on Jan. 12. James joined the club with his three-pointer at the 11:15 mark of the second half. He currently ranks in 19th place on the school's all-time scoring list entering Saturday's contest with 1,218 points in 102 career games (11.9 ppg).

James Moves Up Rebounding Charts
With his 18 boards in last Saturday’s game at Oklahoma State, Damion James became just the fifth UT player to record at least 900 career rebounds. James already ranks fourth in school history with 921 rebounds in 102 career games (9.0 rpg). He set the school single-season rebound mark (393) last year as a sophomore.

James Sees Double
Damion James enters Saturday’s game with a team-best 14 double-doubles through the first 29 games this year. James has recorded five double-doubles in his last six games entering Saturday’s contest and is averaging 16.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game 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 (Feb. 21). He returned to post 20 points and 11 boards (16 points and 10 rebounds alone in the second half) during the victory against Texas Tech (Feb. 25). James recorded 18 points and tied his career high with 18 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes at Oklahoma State (Feb. 28).

Balbay Impressive in Starting Role
Dogus Balbay has made the most of his first seven career starts. In these last six games, Balbay has averaged 7.1 points per contest while recording 43 assists against just 12 turnovers. During the home win against Oklahoma State (Feb. 10), he posted 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). During the home victory against Texas Tech (Feb. 25), Balbay tallied a career-high 11 points (4-of-5 FG), four rebounds (all offensive) and five assists in 32 minutes.

Pittman Producing
Junior center Dexter Pittman ranks fourth on the team in scoring (9.0 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.7 rpg) in just 14.5 minutes per contest. He has converted a team-best 62.1% (95-of-153) field goals and 71-of-98 (.724) free throws. Pittman has reached double figures in scoring 11 times in the first 29 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).

Smith Provides Spark in Last Two Games
Harrison Smith has emerged as a valuable part of the backcourt rotation in each of the last two games. He had a career-high 12 points (5-of-9 FG, 2-of-5 threes) and five rebounds in 17 minutes at Oklahoma State (Feb. 28). Smith followed with six points and a career-best six boards in a career-high 21 minutes during Monday’s win against Baylor. Putting things in perspective, Smith has recorded 18 of his 46 career points and 11 of his 33 career rebounds over the last two contests.