Nov. 20, 2009
Complete Notes 
#3/3 Texas (2-0) vs. Iowa (1-2)
O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Semifinals
Monday, November 23, 2009 • approx. 9 pm (Central)
Sprint Center (11,197) • Kansas City, Mo.
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. Terry Gannon (pxp) and Stephen Bardo (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.
SERIES: Iowa leads, 2-1. Last meeting: Texas 68-59 (Nov. 23, 2005; Kansas City)
O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic
Twelve teams are competing in the ninth annual O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic. Texas, Pittsburgh, Wichita State and Iowa served as regional hosts for the event, and each of the four hosts advanced to the Championship Rounds, to be played Nov. 23-24 at Sprint Center in Kansas City. The tourney was initially established in 2001 as the Guardians Classic, in partnership with the NABC. The event is now named after the College Basketball Experience, an interactive facility for college basketball fans that is part of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Texas actually won the 2005 Guardians Classic (2005-06 team advanced to the NCAA "Elite Eight"), posting wins against No. 13 West Virginia (76-75) in the semifinals and No. 18 Iowa (68-59) in the championship game.
O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Championship Round Schedule
Monday, Nov. 23
Pittsburgh vs. Wichita State (ESPN2) 6:30 pm CT
Texas vs. Iowa (ESPN2) 30 min following Game 1
Tuesday, Nov. 24
Consolation Game (ESPNU) 6:45 pm CT
Championship Game (ESPN2) 30 min following Game 1
Series vs. Iowa
Monday's contest is just the fourth meeting between Texas and Iowa. It does mark the third time since the start of the 2004-05 season that the two schools have met in a November neutral-site tournament. The Hawkeyes hold a 2-1 lead in the all-time series. In the first meeting, Iowa recorded a 98-92 victory on March 19, 1992 during a NCAA First Round contest in Greensboro, N.C. The Hawkeyes then topped Texas 82-80 in the 2004 EA Sports Maui Invitational semifinals (Nov. 23, 2004). In the most recent meeting, then-No. 2 Texas registered a 68-59 win against No. 18 Iowa in the title game of the 2005 Guardians Classic at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City (Nov. 23, 2005).
On This Date ... Four Year Ago
Nov. 23, 2005. #2 Texas 68, #18 Iowa 59 (Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City). LaMarcus Aldridge posted 18 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Horns to a come-from-behind win in the Guardians Classic title game. Aldridge hit 8-of-14 field goals and added three blocks while earning tournament MVP honors. The UT defense held Iowa to 33.8% FG shooting, including a 5-of-25 (.200) mark from three-point range. Iowa held a 55-54 lead after a pair of Jeff Horner free throws at the 5:29 mark. Aldridge gave the Horns the lead for good on a dunk with 4:50 remaining. Brad Buckman converted a three-point play to increase the cushion to 59-55 at the 3:43 mark, and the Longhorns hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:07 to seal the victory. Daniel Gibson (16) and Buckman (14) joined Aldridge in double-figure scoring for the Horns.
Western Carolina Game Notes
• UT hit 53.2% from the floor, marking the second straight game that the Horns topped the 50% FG mark.
• The Longhorns limited Western Carolina to 41 points on 26.2% FG shooting, including a 7-of-31 (.226) mark in the second half.
• Texas posted a 47-32 advantage on the glass.
• Ten different UT players saw at least 11 minutes of action during the win. The highest number of minutes played for any Texas player was 29 (James).
• Damion James (18 points) reached double figures in scoring for the second time this year and the 71st time in his career (110 games).
• Gary Johnson (10 points) reached double figures in scoring for the first time this year and the 22nd time in his career (56 games).
• J'Covan Brown (10 points) reached double figures in scoring for the second time in as many games.
• Varez Ward (10 points) reached double figures in scoring for the first time this year and the third time in his career (34 games).
• Clint Chapman (flu) was unable to play.
Defense Wins
Solid defense continues to be a Texas trademark under coach Rick Barnes. In their first two contests, the Longhorns have held their opponents to an average of just 41.5 points per game on a combined 26.8% FG shooting, including a 5-of-29 (.172) mark from three-point range. In the season opener against UC Irvine, the Horns held UC Irvine to 42 points on 27.4% FG shooting, including a 7-of-34 (.206) mark in the second half. UT also held UC Irvine scoreless for a span of 9:12 (from 10:05 mark to 0:53 mark of first half), recording a 21-0 run during the stretch. During Wednesday's win against Western Carolina, UT held the Catamounts to 41 points on 26.2% FG shooting. WCU did not shoot better than 30% from the floor in either half. Since Barnes arrived in Austin, the Horns have held 184 of their 377 opponents to under 40% FG shooting. Texas sports a 167-17 (.908) mark in the Barnes era when accomplishing the feat.
Cleaning the Glass
Texas has been a dominating rebounding team during its first two contests. The Horns sport a +17.0 rebound margin (48.0-31.0) entering Monday's semifinal game. UT posted a 49-30 edge on the glass against UC Irvine, then returned to record a 47-32 advantage against Western Carolina.
James Getting Better by the Year
Damion James is off to a solid start in his senior year, leading the team in scoring (19.5 ppg) and rebounding (11.0 rpg) while converting 11-of-18 (.611) field goals, including 4-of-5 threes, and 13-of-16 (.813) free throws. He had 21 points and 15 rebounds in 22 minutes during the season opener against UC Irvine. James followed with 18 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes against Western Carolina.
Damion James: By the Numbers
Stat Fr. So. Jr. Sr.
Points per game 7.6 13.2 15.4 19.5
Rebounds per game 7.2 10.3 9.2 11.0
Double-doubles 4 17 16 1
James Nears 1,000 Career Rebounds
Damion James currently ranks third in school history with 990 rebounds in 110 career games (9.0 rpg). He needs just 10 rebounds to become the third player in school history to reach the 1,000 career rebound plateau. James is just 88 boards shy of becoming the school's all-time leading rebounder.
Most Career Rebounds in UT History
Rk. Name (Seasons) Rebounds
1. James Thomas (2001-04) 1,077
2. LaSalle Thompson (1980-82) 1,027
3. Damion James (2007- ) 990
James Close to 1,000-1,000 Club
Damion James is just 10 rebounds shy of joining some very impressive company in Texas Basketball history. He will become just the third player in UT history to record at least 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. LaSalle Thompson (1980-82) posted 1,463 points and 1,027 rebounds during his three seasons in Austin. James Thomas (2001-04) registered 1,149 points and 1,077 boards during his four years at Texas.
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