Dec. 16, 2010
Complete Notes 
#22/25 Texas (8-2) vs. North Carolina (7-3)
Saturday, December 18, 2010 • 3 p.m. Central
Greensboro Coliseum (22,025) • Greensboro, N.C.
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by CBS. Verne Lundquist (pxp) and Clark Kellogg (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. In addition, Compass Media Networks will broadcast the game nationally. Drew Bontadelli (pxp) and Tim Hardaway (analyst) will call the action.
SERIES: Texas leads, 3-2. Last meeting: Texas 103-90 (Dec. 19, 2009; Arlington, Texas)
Series vs. North Carolina
Saturday’s contest marks the sixth meeting between Texas and North Carolina. UT holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series which only dates back to the 1992-93 season. In the first matchup, No. 7 UNC posted a 104-68 victory in the championship game of the Diet Pepsi Tournament of Champions (Charlotte, N.C.) on Dec. 4, 1992. Two years later, the two squads opened the regular season (Nov. 26, 1994) against each other with No. 2 North Carolina recording a 96-92 win in Chapel Hill. Texas registered a 74-72 upset of No. 14 North Carolina in Austin on Dec. 30, 1995. No. 12 Texas posted a 78-75 win in the 2004 NCAA Second Round in Denver (March 20, 2004). Last year (Dec. 19, 2009), then-No. 2 UT recorded a 103-90 victory against the No. 10 Tar Heels at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Last Year at Cowboys Stadium
No. 2/2 Texas 103, No. 10/10 UNC 90. Dec. 19, 2009 -- Damion James posted a game-high 25 points, 15 rebounds and four steals, while Dexter Pittman added 23 points, 15 boards and two blocks to pace the Longhorns to a 13-point victory in the first basketball game played at Cowboys Stadium. The attendance of 38,052 marked the fourth-largest crowd to see a Texas Basketball game and the second-largest crowd to watch a UT regular-season game. Texas posted a 60-41 (+19) rebound margin, including an impressive 29-to-12 advantage on the offensive glass. Pittman’s 12 offensive rebounds matched the entire team total of North Carolina. The Horns had a total of four players reach the 20-point mark on the day, as J’Covan Brown (21 points, five rebounds) and Avery Bradley (20 points, three steals) joined James and Pittman in that company. Texas became the first team to score 100 points in a regulation game against North Carolina since Maryland on Jan. 9, 2002. Ed Davis paced the Tar Heels with 21 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, while Tyler Zeller added 16 points (7-of-8 FG) off the bench.
Not Unfamiliar Territory
Texas is no stranger recently to playing at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Longhorns played their NCAA First and Second Round games during the 2009 tourney in the arena. UT recorded a 76-62 win against Minnesota in the first round, before losing to No. 2 seed Duke 74-69 in the second round.
Barnes Returns to Carolina
Texas coach Rick Barnes was born just 90 miles from Greensboro in Hickory, N.C. (July 17, 1954) and later graduated from Hickory HS in 1973. He moved on to Lenoir-Rhyne College (Hickory) where he lettered three years in basketball and won the Captain’s Award for Leadership as a junior and senior. Barnes earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Lenoir-Rhyne in 1977 and was named the college’s Distinguished Alumnus in 1997. He was inducted into the Lenoir-Rhyne College Hall of Fame on Oct. 5, 2002 and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the college on May 7, 2005.
North Florida Game Notes
• Texas recorded its 25th consecutive non-conference home victory.
• The Horns held UNF to 48 points on 28.3% FG shooting, including a 3-of-16 (.188) mark from three-point range. Texas limited the Ospreys to 16 points on 6-of-24 (.250) FG shooting in the opening 20 minutes.
• UT posted a team season high in rebounds (51) and tallied a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points.
• The Longhorns posted a +17 (51-34) rebound margin, including an 18-9 advantage on the offensive glass. UT has outrebounded its opponent in nine of its first 10 games.
• Cory Joseph (18 points) reached double digits in scoring for the fifth time this year.
• Gary Johnson (17 points, 12 rebounds) recorded his second double-double of the year and seventh of his career (98 games). He tied his career high in rebounds and tied his season high in scoring. Johnson reached double figures in scoring for the sixth time this year and 42nd time in his career. He reached double digits in rebounding for the second time this season and eighth time in his career.
• Tristan Thompson (two blocks) has blocked at least two shots in nine straight games.
• Matt Hill tied his career high in blocks (three), set a season high in minutes (21) and tied his season high in rebounds (six).
• Alexis Wangmene set his season high in rebounds (five) and tied his career high in free throws made (4-of-4).
• Jai Lucas set his UT career high in assists (four).
Defense Wins
Solid defense continues to be a Texas trademark under coach Rick Barnes. UT has held its first 10 opponents to an average of 61.2 ppg on 35.6% FG shooting, including a 44-of-153 (.288) mark from three-point range. Texas has limited six of its first 10 opponents this year to below 40% FG shooting and three below 30% FG shooting. The Horns also have allowed just 85 assists against 149 turnovers through the first 10 contests. Since Barnes arrived in Austin, the Horns have held 201 of their 419 opponents to under 40% FG shooting. Texas sports a 183-18 (.910) mark in the Barnes era when accomplishing the feat.
Hamilton Off to Solid Start
Jordan Hamilton has been a much improved all-around player to start the 2010-11 season. Through the first 10 contests this year, Hamilton leads the team in scoring (18.9 ppg) and is third in rebounding (6.9 rpg). He has converted 65-of-147 (.442) field goals, including 23-of-56 (.411) from three-point range, and 36-of-47 (.766) free throws.
Johnson Grabs Leadership Role
Gary Johnson is in his fourth season in the frontcourt rotation, having played in 98 career games (27 starts). Through the first 10 contests this year, Johnson leads the team in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and ranks second in scoring (11.7 ppg) while converting 42-of-82 (.512) field goals.
Johnson Sees Double
Gary Johnson posted his second double-double of the season and seventh of his career with 17 points (5-of-9 FG, 7-of-9 FT) and 12 rebounds during Tuesday’s win against North Florida. He earlier tallied 17 points and 10 boards in the season opener against Navy (Nov. 8).
Thompson’s Block Party
Tristan Thompson leads the team in blocked shots (23) through the first 10 games this year. In each of the last nine contests, Thompson has posted at least two blocks. He recorded a career-high five blocks in the overtime win against No. 13/16 Illinois (Nov. 18).
Joseph Doing a Little Bit of Everything
Cory Joseph has been called the team’s “most complete guard” by coach Rick Barnes. Through his first 10 collegiate games, Joseph is averaging 11.0 points (fourth on the team), 3.8 rebounds (fourth on the team), 2.9 assists (tops on the team) and leads the squad in minutes played (31.9 mpg).
Joseph Gets Offensive
Over the last five contests, Cory Joseph has averaged a team-best 15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while converting 27-of-52 (.519) field goals, including 16-of-30 (.533) from three-point range. He had 14 points (5-of-8 FG, 4-of-6 threes) and three assists without a turnover in 34 minutes against Rice (Nov. 27). Joseph then added 16 points (6-of-10 FG, 3-of-6 threes), a career-high nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in 34 minutes against Lamar (Dec. 1). Joseph tallied a career-high 19 points (7-of-11 FG, 5-of-8 threes) in 31 minutes against Texas State (Dec. 11). He posted a team-high 18 points (4-of-8 threes) and five rebounds in 29 minutes during Tuesday’s win against North Florida.
Brown Dials Long Distance
J’Covan Brown has improved his shooting from beyond the arc during the last three games. Brown has averaged 12.0 ppg while converting 6-of-12 (.500) from three-point range and 10-of-11 (.909) from the free throw line in the last three contests. He had 17 points (2-of-6 threes, 5-of-5 FT) and three assists in 29 minutes at USC (Dec. 5). Brown returned to record a season-high 18 points (5-of-8 FG, 4-of-5 threes, 4-of-4 FT) and three steals in 24 minutes against Texas State (Dec. 11).
Hill Earning Minutes in Frontcourt Rotation
Matt Hill, who started the first two games this season, is averaging 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 14.2 minutes per contest. Hill tied his career high with three blocks and grabbed six rebounds (one shy of his career high) in 14 minutes against Sam Houston State (Nov. 23). He added five points, six boards and three blocks in 19 minutes against Lamar (Dec. 1). Hill had three blocks, six boards and four points in a season-high 21 points during Tuesday’s home win against North Florida.
