Nov. 20, 2008
Complete notes 
#7/8 TEXAS (2-0) vs. Saint Joseph's (1-1)
EA Sports Maui Invitational Opening-Round Game
Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 • 2 p.m. Central
Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) • Maui, Hawaii
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. Dave Barnett (pxp) and Jimmy Dykes (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, 3-0. Last meeting: Texas 70-61 (March 5, 1980; Austin)
EA Sports Maui Invitational
Texas heads to Maui, Hawaii to compete in the 25th annual EA Sports Maui Invitational on Nov. 24-26 (Monday-Wednesday). This year's eight-team tourney field includes: Alabama, Chaminade (host), Indiana, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oregon, Saint Joseph's and Texas. All games at the prestigious tournament are played at the 2,400-seat Lahaina Civic Center, a municipal recreation center located less than 1,000 yards from the Pacific Ocean.
2008 EA Sports Maui Invitational Schedule (All times Central)
Monday, Nov. 24
Game 1 Saint Joseph's vs. Texas 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 2 Indiana vs. Notre Dame 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 3 North Carolina vs. Chaminade 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 4 Oregon vs. Alabama 11 p.m. (ESPN2)
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Game 5 Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser 12:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 6 Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 7 Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 8 Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Game 9 Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner 1 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 10 Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 11 Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 12 Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Texas' History at the Maui Invitational
This marks UT's third appearance at the Maui Invitational. The Longhorns recorded a fifth-place showing (2-1 record) during the 1993 tournament. Texas returned in 2004 and placed third (2-1 record).
Texas Game-by-Game at the Maui Invitational (4-2)
Date Opponent Result
Dec. 21, 1993 #5 Kentucky L, 61-86
Dec. 22, 1993 Tennessee Tech W, 97-85
Dec. 23, 1993 Notre Dame W, 89-72
Nov. 22, 2004 Chaminade W, 84-62
Nov. 23, 2004 Iowa L, 80-82
Nov. 24, 2004 Tennessee W, 95-70
Series vs. Saint Joseph's
This marks the fourth meeting between Texas and Saint Joseph's and first since the 1979-80 season. The Longhorns hold a perfect 3-0 mark in the series entering Monday's contest. In the first meeting between the two schools (Dec. 20, 1947), Texas registered a 61-57 win in Philadelphia. Texas returned to Philadelphia the following year (Dec. 18, 1948) and posted a 55-54 victory. In the most recent matchup (Mar. 5, 1980), the Horns recorded a 70-61 win in a NIT First Round game in Austin.
A Check of the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 7 in the latest Associated Press poll (Nov. 17) and No. 8 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll (Nov. 17). 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 129 weeks in The AP Top 25, including 53 in the Top 10.
Texas-Tulane Game Notes
· Texas played its 2,500th intercollegiate contest in the sport of men's basketball. UT now owns a 1,565-935 record in 103 years of competition.
· UT started the season with back-to-back margins of victory of at least 20 points for the sixth straight season.
· The Horns recorded a 39-to-16 advantage in points off turnovers.
· UT had five players reach double figures in scoring for the first time since Feb. 16, 2008 (at Baylor).
· Damion James (16 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 40th time in his career (75 games). He tied his career high in steals (three).
· A.J. Abrams (15 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 70th time in his career (111 games).
· Connor Atchley (12 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 20th time in his career (104 games).
· Gary Johnson (11 points) reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time in his career (24 games). He also had a career-high three steals.
· Dexter Pittman (10 points) reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time in his career (67 games).
· Justin Mason (seven assists) was one assist shy of his career high.
Defense Wins
Solid defense continues to be a Texas trademark under coach Rick Barnes. The Horns limited their 38 opponents to an average of 64.9 points per game and a combined 38.9% FG shooting during the 2007-08 season. In its first two games this year, Texas has held its opponents to an average of 44.5 points per contest and a combined 28.7% FG shooting, including a 10-of-43 (.233) mark from three-point range. UT limited Stetson to 38 points on 26.0% FG shooting in the opener. Texas then held Tulane to 51 points on 31.0% FG shooting (18-of-58). Since Barnes arrived in Austin, the Horns have held 167 of their 342 opponents to under 40% FG shooting. Texas sports a 153-14 (.916) mark in the Barnes era when accomplishing the feat.
Playing with the Lead
Texas has not trailed in 80 minutes of basketball this season. The Horns scored the first seven points and never looked back in their opening win against Stetson (Nov. 14). Texas scored the first six points against Tulane (Nov. 18), before the Green Wave used a 6-0 run to tie the score at the 16:23 mark. The score was tied for a span of 1:28, before UT grabbed the advantage for good.
Dex-a-Trim
Junior center Dexter Pittman has dropped nearly 70 pounds since reporting to campus as a freshman at 366 pounds. Pittman also is expected to play a more prominent role in the frontcourt rotation this year. After a solid showing in spring individual workouts, he attended the prestigious Pete Newell's Big Man Camp in Las Vegas this summer. Pittman is averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while hitting 8-of-12 field goals in UT's first two contests. He has reached double figures in scoring in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Pittman made his second career start in the win against Tulane and recorded 10 points and six boards in 15 minutes.
