Dec. 18, 2008
Complete notes 
#5/5 TEXAS (9-1) vs. #19/22 MICHIGAN STATE (7-2)
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 • 1 p.m. Central
Toyota Center (18,500) • Houston, Texas
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised regionally by CBS. Carter Blackburn (pxp) and Bill Raftery (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: Tied, 2-2. Last meeting: Michigan State 78-72 (Dec. 22, 2007; Auburn Hills, Mich.)
Series vs. Michigan State
Saturday's contest marks the fifth meeting between Texas and Michigan State and the third straight year that the two schools have met on the hardwood. The series is tied at two wins apiece entering Saturday's game. All four of the previous matchups have come at neutral sites. In the first meeting (Nov. 27, 1999), No. 20 UT recorded an 81-74 victory against the No. 3 Spartans in the title game of the Puerto Rico Shootout in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The Spartans went on to win the 2000 NCAA Championship. In the second matchup, UT posted an 85-76 win in a NCAA Tournament "Elite Eight" contest in San Antonio's Alamodome on March 30, 2003. With the victory, Texas advanced to the Final Four for the third time in school history and the first time since 1947 (span of 56 years). In the third contest (Nov. 16, 2006), Drew Neitzel hit a runner in the lane with 2.4 seconds left to lift the Spartans to a 63-61 win against No. 19 Texas in the semifinals of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic at Madison Square Garden. Last year (Dec. 22, 2007), No. 9 Michigan State topped the No. 4 Horns 78-72 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Toyota Center, Part Four
Saturday's contest marks UT's fourth trip to Houston's Toyota Center. The Horns are 3-0 in the building in their previous three appearances. No. 2 Texas defeated Rice 85-58 on Dec. 5, 2005. On Dec. 10, 2006, the Horns posted a 76-75 overtime upset of No. 9 LSU. Last year (Dec. 8, 2007), No. 4 Texas topped Rice 80-54.
Houston-Area Connections
· Connor Atchley is from Clear Lake, a suburb of Houston. He played at Clear Lake HS (head coach Lynn McDonald). Atchley averaged 15 points, eight boards and three blocks per game as a senior while helping Clear Lake reach the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
· Gary Johnson was a four-year starter at Aldine HS (head coach Ezekiel Smith). The Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Texas, he averaged 26 points and 13 boards per contest while leading Aldine to a 32-2 mark and the 5A Region III semifinals.
· Dexter Pittman is from Rosenberg and was a three-year starter at Rosenberg Terry HS (head coach Bennett Hatten). Pittman averaged 17.1 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 3.0 bpg as a senior while leading Terry to a 25-11 mark and the 4A Region III semifinals.
· Harrison Smith played at Houston Jones HS (head coach Barrie Jones). The MVP of District 21-4A as a senior, he averaged 30 points, seven boards and five assists per game. During his sophomore year, Smith started alongside former UT guard Daniel Gibson on Jones' Class 4A state championship team (2003-04).
· Assistant coach Rodney Terry is a native of Angleton and attended Angleton HS. He also spent one year (1995-96) as the head coach at Angleton HS.
Texas-Texas Southern Game Notes
· Texas won its 16th consecutive home game. The Longhorns have won 98 of their last 104 home contests.
· The Horns recorded six blocked shots in the win. This marked the eighth consecutive contest and ninth time in the first 10 games that Texas had at least six blocked shots.
· A.J. Abrams (27 points) reached the 20-point mark for the sixth time this year and 29th time in his career (119 games). He reached double figures in scoring for the ninth time this season and the 77th time in his career. Abrams jumped from ninth to seventh on UT's all-time scoring list (1,598 points).
· Dexter Pittman (19 points) reached double figures in scoring for the fourth time this year and sixth time in his career (75 games). He recorded career highs in points, field goals made (7-of-9), minutes (24) and blocked shots (three).
· Varez Ward (12 points, seven assists) reached double figures in scoring for the first time in his career. He set career highs in points, assists, field goals made (4-of-7) and minutes (28).
· Justin Mason (six assists, no turnovers) has posted at least six assists in six of the first 10 contests. Mason has 15 assists without a turnover in the last two games and 28 assists against just three turnovers in his last four games.
Strength of Schedule
To say the Longhorns will play a difficult schedule this season would be a gross understatement. UT's game against No. 19/22 Michigan State in Houston marks the fourth Top 25 opponent for Texas in its first 11 contests. The Horns enter Saturday's contest with a 2-1 mark this year against the AP Top 25. UT dropped an 81-80 decision to No. 8/8 Notre Dame on Nov. 25 (EA Sports Maui Invitational semifinals) and defeated No. 12/9 UCLA 68-64 on Dec. 4 in Austin. Texas also topped No. 15/12 Villanova 67-58 at the Jimmy V Classic in New York on Dec. 9 In addition, the Horns scrimmaged No. 22/20 Davidson and No. 8/7 Gonzaga in the preseason. Here's a look at some of the top remaining challenges on UT's schedule (AP/coaches polls as of Dec. 15) this year:
Success from Beyond the Arc
Texas has converted 38.8% (59-of-152) from beyond the arc in its first 10 games. The Horns hit 8-of-15 (.533) three-pointers in their opening win against Stetson (Nov. 14). The Longhorns made 9-of-20 (.450) threes against No. 12/9 UCLA (Dec. 4). Texas also hit 6-of-11 (.545) threes in Tuesday's win against Texas Southern. UT converted 38.6% (309-of-800) from three-point range during the 2007-08 season.
Abrams on a Roll
A.J. Abrams enters Saturday's contest riding a string of four straight solid offensive outings. In his last four games, Abrams is averaging 28.5 points per game while hitting 18-of-33 (.545) three-pointers and 28-of-33 (.848) free throws. After his 31-point effort against No. 12/9 UCLA (Dec. 4), Abrams registered 26 points (4-of-9 threes, 6-of-9 FT) and four assists without a turnover in the win against No. 15/12 Villanova at the Jimmy V Classic (Dec. 9). He followed with 30 points (5-of-7 threes, 11-of-12 FT) and four steals in the home win against Texas State (Dec. 13). Abrams then posted a game-high 27 points on 10-of-17 FG (4-of-8 threes) along with two assists without a turnover during Tuesday's victory against Texas Southern.
The Atchley Factor
Coach Rick Barnes has repeatedly said when Connor Atchley is a factor on the offensive end of the court, Texas usually is playing its best basketball. The numbers back up Barnes. When Atchley has reached double figures in scoring during his career, Texas is a perfect 21-0 (including a 3-0 mark in 2008-09).
Mason Dishes the Rock
In the last four contests (two against Top 15 opponents), Justin Mason has recorded 28 assists against just three turnovers. He has posted 15 assists without a turnover in his last two games entering Saturday's contest. Mason had six assists against just one turnover (along with five points, six boards and three steals) in the 68-64 home win against No. 12/9 UCLA (Dec. 4). He returned to post seven assists against two turnovers during the 67-58 win against No. 15/12 Villanova (Dec. 9) in New York at the Jimmy V Classic. Mason added a career-high nine assists without a turnover against Texas State (Dec. 13). He tallied six assists without a turnover in Tuesday's home win against Texas Southern.
Pittman Posts Back-to-Back Career Efforts
Dexter Pittman enters Saturday's game after posting two of his best all-around performances in his UT career. In the last two contests, Pittman has averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while hitting 12-of-18 (.667) field goals and 12-of-15 (.800) free throws in 19.0 minutes per contest. He recorded his first double-double of the year and second of his career with his 17-point, 10-rebound effort in just 14 minutes against Texas State (Dec. 13). Pittman set career highs in points (17) and free throws made (7-of-7) and tied his career high in rebounds (10) and field goals made (5-of-8). He returned to record 19 points while hitting 7-of-9 field goals to go along with five rebounds and three blocks in 24 minutes during Tuesday's win against Texas Southern. Pittman established career highs in points, field goals made, blocks and minutes played.
The Lone Freshman
Freshman guard Varez Ward is the only newcomer on the 2008-09 Texas Basketball team. After a solid preseason, he has played in nine of the first 10 games (missed the Tulane contest with a right ankle injury) and is averaging 16.2 minutes per game (sixth on the team). Ward had his most complete effort to date during Tuesday's win against Texas Southern. He posted 12 points (4-of-7 FG, 3-of-3 FT), five rebounds and seven assists against just two turnovers in 28 minutes. Ward set career highs in scoring, field goals made, assists and minutes played.
