Nov. 11, 2008
Complete notes 
#7/8 TEXAS (0-0) vs. Stetson (0-0)
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 · 7 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,755) · Austin, Texas
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: None. Live video stream at TexasSports.TV. (Note: Due to Big 12 Conference rules, the video stream for this game is available only to viewers in the state of Texas.)
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. 241. Dave Garrett (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.
INTERNET VIDEO: Watch Texas Basketball home games on free TexasSports.TV. (Note: Due to Big 12 Conference television contracts, home games are available for viewing 72 hours after completion of the game.)
SERIES: Texas leads, 3-0. Last meeting: Texas 96-83 (Feb. 25, 1991; Austin)
The 103rd Season
Texas tips off its 103rd season of intercollegiate basketball when it plays host to Stetson on Friday, Nov. 14. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. at the Erwin Center. The Longhorns hold an all-time record of 1,563-935 (.626) in their previous 102 years of competition. UT played its first varsity basketball contest on March 10, 1906 and recorded a 27-17 victory against Baylor in Austin. The Horns went on to post a 7-1 mark in the program's opening season. Texas has fielded a varsity basketball team in every year since then with the exception of the 1907-08 season.
Texas in Season Openers
Texas has posted an overall mark of 83-19 (.814) in its previous 102 season-opening games. The Longhorns are 8-2 in season openers under coach Rick Barnes.
Texas in Home Openers
Texas has posted an overall mark of 87-15 (.853) in its previous 102 home-opening contests. UT is 26-5 in home openers since the Frank Erwin Center opened prior to the 1977-78 season. The Horns are 8-2 in home openers under coach Rick Barnes.
Series vs. Stetson
This marks the fourth meeting between Texas and Stetson and first since the 1990-91 season. The Longhorns hold a perfect 3-0 mark in the series entering Friday's contest. In the first meeting between the two schools (Dec. 11, 1971), UT posted an 86-58 victory at Gregory Gym in Austin. Texas followed with a 102-82 win in DeLand on Dec. 30, 1989. The road win was highlighted by a 46-point performance by UT guard Joey Wright. In the last meeting between the two teams (Feb. 25, 1991), the Horns registered a 96-83 victory in Austin.
A Check of the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 7 in the preseason Associated Press poll (Oct. 31) and No. 8 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches preseason poll (Oct 30). This marks the eighth consecutive year that the Longhorns have been ranked in The AP preseason poll and the eighth straight year that the Horns have been ranked in the coaches' preseason poll. During the Barnes era, the Horns have spent 128 weeks in The AP Top 25, including 52 in the Top 10.
Horns at Home
Texas begins its 32nd year of play in the Frank Erwin Center on Friday night. The Longhorns have posted an all-time record of 363-89 (.803) in the building. Since Rick Barnes arrived in Austin, UT has recorded a 138-18 (.885) mark at the Erwin Center, including a 69-11 (.863) record in Big 12 Conference home games. Texas has a 24-8 (.750) mark against AP Top 25 teams at home during the Rick Barnes era. The Horns have won 92 of their last 98 home contests.
Strength of Schedule
To say UT will play a difficult schedule this season would be a gross understatement. Texas will face at least six opponents in the regular season who are ranked in The AP preseason 25: No. 4 UCLA (Dec. 4 in Austin), No. 6 Michigan State (Dec. 20 in Houston), No. 12 Oklahoma (Jan. 12 in Norman, Feb. 21 in Austin), No. 23 Villanova (Dec. 9 in New York City, Jimmy V Classic), No. 24 Kansas (Feb. 7 in Lawrence) and No. 25 Wisconsin (Dec. 23 in Madison). The Horns also could face No. 1 North Carolina and No. 9 Notre Dame during the EA Sports Maui Invitational (Nov. 24-26).
In "Sweet" Company
Texas has reached the NCAA "Sweet 16" five times in the last seven years. The Longhorns are one of just three schools to accomplish this feat, joining Duke (5) and Kansas (5). Texas has made 10 trips to the "Sweet 16" since 1960. UT made "Sweet 16" appearances in 1960 (25-team tournament), 1963 (25-team tournament), 1972 (25-team tournament), 1997, 2002 and 2004. Texas also advanced to the "Elite Eight" in 1990, 2006 and 2008 and the Final Four in 2003.
An "Elite" Program
Texas has reached the NCAA "Elite Eight" twice in the last three years and three times in the last six seasons. During the Barnes era, the Horns have made trips to the regional final in 2003 (beat Michigan State to advance to the Final Four), 2006 (lost to LSU in overtime) and 2008 (lost to Memphis).
Defending Big 12 Champs
Texas claimed a share of the Big 12 Conference regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship during the 2007-08. This marked the second time in the last three years and the third time overall that the Horns have won the Big 12 title. All three championships have come during the Rick Barnes era. UT won the crown outright in 1998-99 and shared the league title with Kansas in 2005-06 (Texas was the No. 1 seed in the conference tourney that year as well).
20 Wins ... Again
With a school single-season record 31 victories, the Longhorns reached the 20-win mark for the ninth straight season. Texas also reached the 30-win plateau for the second time in the last three years (30-7 mark 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).
10 League Wins ... Again
Texas recorded a 13-3 mark in Big 12 play en route to claiming a share of the conference title. This marked the ninth time in 10 seasons under Rick Barnes that the Horns have reached double digits in league wins. Texas posted a 9-7 conference mark in 2004-05. UT has reached 12 league wins in each of the last 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' 10 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).
