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Men's basketball
May 7, 2012
Tulsa hoops player transferring to Missouri
The Jordan Clarkson saga has been resolved, although not to the satisfaction of his family.
Clarkson, an all-Conference USA guard from San Antonio, averaged 16.5 points a game as a sophomore last season for the Tulsa basketball team. He elected to transfer after coach Doug Wojcik was fired. Clarkson will transfer to Missouri, sit out for a year, and then have two seasons of eligibility.
There was a good chance Clarkson would have picked Texas, his father, Mike, said. But Tulsa, for unspecified reasons, would not release him to Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor or Texas Tech. Clarkson was released to several schools. Without a release, Clarkson would have had to pay his own way for a year.
“I never got an answer why Tulsa did that,” Clarkson’s father, Mike, said on Monday. “I know Jordan would have considered coming home to play at Texas.”
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April 19, 2012
Tulsa guard, potential Longhorn, has hearing scheduled
Jordan Clarkson, an All-Conference USA basketball player at Tulsa last season as a sophomore, will have a hearing with university officials on April 26 with hopes that they will expand the list of schools to which he can transfer without penalty.
Texas, Baylor and Texas A&M are among the schools that the 6-foot-4 guard wants to consider.
Without such approval from Tulsa, Clarkson, who averaged 16.5 points a game, would have so sit out one season without the benefit of a scholarship. With a release from Tulsa, Clarkson would still have to sit out for a season, but he could be on scholarship.
Clarkson, who is from San Antonio, elected to transfer after Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik was fired in March. His father, Michael Clarkson, told the American-Statesman that Tulsa athletics director Ross Parmley has granted releases to only three schools: Colorado, Vanderbilt and TCU. A Tulsa spokesman said neither Parmley nor new coach Danny Manning would comment on the situation.
There has been media speculation that Manning, a former Kansas star and assistant coach, was helping Jayhawks coach Bill Self by declining to issue releases to some Big 12 schools. But Tulsa spokesman Donald Tomkalski said the decisions were made by Parmley before Manning was hired.
“Danny has nothing to do with this,” Tomkalski said.
Why limit Clarkson to three schools? A source told the Tulsa World newspaper that Clarkson, or somebody representing him, “may have” contacted other schools during this past season.
Michael Clarkson vehemently denied that in an interview with the American-Statesman.
Earlier Thursday, Wisconsin and its coach, Bo Ryan, lifted non-conference transfer restrictions on redshirt freshman Jarrod Uthoff while still declining to release him to other Big Ten schools. Ryan had been vilified in the media for his original stance — declining to release Uthoff to Atlantic Coast Conference schools as well as to a few others.
Michael Clarkson said his son should receive the same consideration.
“He should be able to go anywhere outside the conference (USA),” Michael Clarkson said. “
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Report: Gibbs to Seton Hall
Sterling Gibbs, a reserve point guard for the Longhorns as a freshman last season, will transfer to Seton Hall in New Jersey, according to The Record newspaper.
Gibbs, who averaged 2.6 points in 7.5 minutes a game last season, recently announced that he would transfer, citing primarily family reasons. Gibbs is from New Jersey.
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April 11, 2012
Ridley signs with Texas on Wednesday
UPDATE
Cameron Ridley, the 6-10 center from Fort Bend Bush High, has signed his national letter of intent to become a Longhorn basketball player next season during a ceremony at his school.
Cameron Ridley, a center regarded by many as one of the top 10 recruits in the country, will sign with the Longhorns at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to his coach at Fort Bend Bush High, Ronnie Courtney.
Ridley, a senior, has been committed to Texas for more than a year, but he did not sign a binding letter of intent during the fall period.
The 6-foot-10 Ridley averaged 22.5 points, 15.2 rebounds and 5.6 blocks a game, Courtney said.
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April 10, 2012
Longhorn guard Gibbs will transfer
Sterling Gibbs, a reserve point guard for the Longhorns as a freshman last season, will transfer to another school, a team spokesman said Tuesday.
Gibbs averaged just 7.5 minutes a game — last among nine players on the team — and 2.6 points last season.
He has not selected a new school, the spokesman said.
Gibbs recently indicated through his Twitter account that he missed New Jersey; he is from Scotch Plains.
More likely, though, Gibbs will transfer because of a lack of playing time. He likely would have been third string next season behind sophomore Myck Kabongo and incoming freshman Javan Felix.
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April 8, 2012
Longhorns get hoops recruit
Demarcus Holland, a guard from Garland Naaman Forest High School, has committed to play basketball for the Longhorns next season, according to Hookem.com, the American-Statesman’s Internet partner.
The 6-foot-3 ½ Holland had formerly been committed to South Florida. Holland was a high school teammate of Texas 2012 recruit Prince Ibeh, a 6-10 post player.
Holland averaged 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.1 steals last season.
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April 2, 2012
J'Covan Brown leaving for NBA draft
Longhorn guard J’Covan Brown will forego his senior season and enter the NBA draft, he announced today.
According to mock drafts on the Internet, Brown, who led the Big 12 in scoring as a junior with 20 points a game, is not projected as a first-round draft pick, status that brings a guaranteed contract. But he elected to roll the dice.
“There were a lot of reasons to come back to school next year, most importantly getting my degree and being around my teammates every day,” Brown said in a statement. “But the time has come for me to pursue a career in professional basketball and take care of my daughter, Jordyn.”
Nearly two weeks ago, the American-Statesman and other news outlets reported that Brown would leave for the draft, the Statesman citing an NBA source. Brown issued a statement in response indicating that no decision had been made.
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March 26, 2012
Kabongo will stay with Longhorns
Myck Kabongo, the Longhorns’ freshman point guard, will return to the team next season, he just announced.
Kabongo who averaged nearly 10 points a game and more than 5 assists, had contemplated leaving for the NBA.
Recent Internet mock drafts indicated that Kabongo, once regarded as a possible first-round lottery pick, could slip to the second round.
The Longhorns are still waiting on a decision from J’Covan Brown, their junior guard. Last week Brown refuted reports, including one in the American-Statesman, that he would leave for the NBA. Brown said he had not made a decision.
The NCAA allows players until April 10 this year to remove their names from the draft. But the NBA deadline for submitting names is not until April 29. That means players could change their plans during that span of time.
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March 22, 2012
J'Covan Brown: no NBA decision yet
Longhorn junior J’Covan Brown issued a statement Thursday saying he has not made a decision about entering the NBA draft. The statement comes after reports, including one in the American-Statesman, saying that he will leave school for the draft.
Brown has until April 10 to decide.
The statement:
“I’d like to let our fans know that I have not made any decision on my basketball future. The main thing I’ve been focused on after the season ended has been getting caught up with my academics. Just so everyone knows what I’m doing, I’m heading home for the weekend to spend some time with my family and talk with them. Then I’ll talk with our coaching staff here at Texas when I get back. I also plan to get some info from the NBA on where I might be picked, if I decide to enter the draft. When my decision is made, I’ll let everyone know.”
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March 21, 2012
Longhorn Brown will enter NBA draft
J’Covan Brown, the Longhorn junior who led the Big 12 in scoring this season, will leave school for the NBA draft, according to an NBA source.
Brown, who averaged 20 points a game, told reporters after the Longhorns were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament last week that he was considering leaving for the NBA so he could support his family, including a young daughter.
The NBA source said Brown has made that decision.
Another Longhorn, freshman Myck Kabongo, might also leave for the NBA but has not made a final decision, according to the source.
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March 11, 2012
Longhorns to face Cincy in first round of NCAAs
The Longhorns were handed a No.11 seed by the NCAA Tournament men’s selection committee Sunday. They will face No. 6 Cincinnati on Friday in Nashville.
If the Longhorns win, they face the survivor of the Florida State-St. Bonaventure matchup. The second game would be on Sunday.
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March 6, 2012
Brown makes district player of the year
Longhorn junior guard J’Covan Brown was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association District VII Player of the Year. The district includes all Division I schools in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Brown is the sixth Longhorn to receive that recognition in the last seven years, joining Jordan Hamilton (2011), Damion James (2010), D.J. Augustin (2008), Kevin Durant (2007) and P.J. Tucker (2006.
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March 4, 2012
Wangmene finished for the season
Longhorn forward Alexis Wangmene will miss the rest of the season after injuring his left wrist against Kansas Saturday, said a source close to the situation.
Wangmene, a senior, was the Longhorns’ toughest and best interior defender. The team is now left with three post players — Clint Chapman, Jonathan Holmes and Jaylen bond.
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February 27, 2012
Longhorns getting to the free throw line
Watching the Longhorns on offense - the way they often stand around, fail to set good screens or make the correct pass - you might guess that they are not adept at getting to the free throw line.
You would be wrong. Coach Rick Barnes’ team leads the Big 12 in free throws attempted and converted during conference games for the second straight season.
The Longhorns’ 402 attempts are 59 more than the No. 2 team, Oklahoma State. The Longhorns 302 free throws made are 30 more than No. 2 Oklahoma State.
The Longhorns’ 74.2 percent accuracy ranks fourth in the Big 12 and is considerably better than their 63.8 percent last-place mark from 2010-11.
Asked about his team’s success at getting to the free-throw line, Barnes at first offered a criticism.
“We’d be a whole lot better if we moved more,” Barnes said.
But then Barnes added, “We’re trying to be aggressive. You have to attack high-percentage areas. We’ve done that, but we don’t do that consistently enough.”
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February 20, 2012
Barnes: Brown reacting better to refs
Longhorn basketball coach Rick Barnes says junior guard J’Covan Brown has harnessed his emotions better since receiving a technical foul during a game against North Carolina State on Nov. 21 in East Rutherford, N.J.
The technical, also his fifth personal foul, with 8:25 remaining disqualified Brown from the game. The Longhorns lost a 13-point lead after that, and they lost the game 77-74.
Brown, the team’s leading scorer, still sometimes shows displeasure with the refs, as other players do. But Barnes said, “He’s grown up with it. There are some times this year, I can tell you, he ought to be upset. I would say he has not gotten great whistles for a guy who gets guarded the way he does.”
Longhorn freshman Myck Kabongo was named Big 12 rookie of the week Monday. He scored 35 points in games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, passing for seven assists against the Sooners. His 22 points against OSU were a season high.
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February 16, 2012
Brown Academic All-Big 12
J’Covan Brown, the Longhorns’ junior guard, has been named to the academic All-Big 12 men’s basketball first team.
Brown qualified by maintaining a 3.2 grade point average or better.
www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DBOEMID=10410&ATCLID=205380102
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February 6, 2012
Aggie starters still missing
Injured Texas A&M starters Khris Middleton and Dash Harris will not play basketball tonight against the Longhorns in College Station, Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said.
Middleton has missed the last four games with a knee injury. Harris has missed the last three with an injured foot.
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January 16, 2012
Brown, Barnes and the ankle
Longhorn guard J’Covan Brown scored 34 points Saturday during a loss at Missouri, the most by a Tigers’ opponent in Mizzou Arena since the building opened during the 2004-05 season.
After the game, when I asked Brown about his injured right ankle, he estimated that he was operating at about 70 percent capacity and was taking treatment three times a day.
“It feels better than when I (injured) it in the Iowa State game (Jan. 4)” Brown said. “I couldn’t walk. In the Oklahoma State game, I couldn’t move on it. So it feels way better today.”
On Monday, a reporter asked coach Rick Barnes about Brown’s ankle during a Big 12 teleconference. Brown had told somebody it was 70-75 percent operational, the reporter said.
“How do you know what’s 70-75 percent?” Barnes said. “I’m not sure. That’s like going in and ordering spicy food. Do you want it one, two, three, four or five?. I don’t know the difference. I don’t know how anybody could say they are 75 percent.
“You know what? He’s living,” Barnes continued. “I don’t make a big deal about injuries. If he can’t play, he can’t play. Bottom line is, I don’t think players ought to talk about it. When players are talking about things like that, they are going to have a built in excuse when things don’t go well. I think you go out and play the game. I wouldn’t tell anybody I was hurt. I wouldn’t give anybody an advantage.”
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January 3, 2012
Big 12 men's hoops weekly power rankings
This week’s Big 12 men’s basketball power poll, put together by our own Kevin Lyttle:
No. 1: BAYLOR (14-0) —- The men are perfect, the women are perfect, and RG3 is Mr. Heisman. Buy green & gold. Next game: at Texas Tech (Sat.).
No. 2: MISSOURI (13-0) —-The diminutive Tigers run, shoot, score, entertain. And, oh yeah, WIN. Next game: at Kansas State (Sat.)
No. 3: KANSAS (10-3) —- KU’s got the league’s strongest resume, but a smaller margin for error than usual. Next game: vs. Kansas State (tonight)
No. 4: KANSAS STATE (11-1) —- Their first three Big 12 games: Kansas, Mizzou, Baylor. What, the OKC Thunder weren’t available? Next game: at Kansas (tonight)
No. 5: TEXAS (10-3) —- Perhaps a generous rank, given spotty results. Freshmen, it’s time to grow up. Next game: at Iowa State (tonight).
No. 6: OKLAHOMA (10-2) —- Nobody saw the Sooners rising, but new coach Lon Kruger can do more with less. Next game: vs. Kansas (Sat.)
No. 7: IOWA STATE (10-3) —- A melting pot of talented transfers, the Cyclones are struggling with Chemistry 101. Next game: vs. Texas (tonight)
No. 8: TEXAS A&M (9-3) —- The league’s big disappointment is following the example set by the football team. Next game: vs. Iowa State (Sat.)
No. 9: OKLAHOMA STATE (7-6) —- Battle-tested Cowboys have lost four of five, but there wasn’t a single cupcake in the bunch. Next game: vs. Texas Tech (tonight)
No. 10: TEXAS TECH (7-5) —- It’ll be a long, painful year, but freshman Jordan Tolert’s a revelation. Next game: at Oklahoma State (tonight)
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November 21, 2011
J'Covan Brown honored again
J’Covan Brown, the Longhorns’ junior guard, was named Big 12 basketball player of the week Monday. He received the same recognition last week.
Brown averaged 30 points, 7.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals during a victory over Rhode Island and a loss to Oregon State.
He scored a career-best 35 points against Rhode Island had made a career-high nine assists against Oregon State.
Brown hit10 of 18 3-point shots in the two games,
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November 14, 2011
Brown Big 12 player of the week
J’Covan Brown, the Longhorns’ junior guard, was picked as Big 12 basketball player of the week Monday.
Brown matched a career best with 28 points and had a career-high 8 assists during an 82-46 victory over Boston University Sunday night.
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October 22, 2011
Barnes lands another recruit
Rick Barnes, having restored his Longhorn frontcourt with recruits from the high school class of 2012, added a much needed wing player with good size on Saturday.
Ionnis Papapetrou, a 6-foot-8 small forward/guard from Greece who attends Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, pledged to the Longhorns.
Before Saturday, Barnes had not secured a small forward in this class but had gained commitments from three post player: 6-9 Cameron Ridley, 6-10 Prince Ibeh and 6-9 Connor Lammert, all with different skills.
The Longhorns also have a commitment from point guard Javan Felix.
Papapetrou had considered signing with Kansas. He had offers from Florida, Alabama, George Mason and Florida State, according to Hookem.com, the American-Statesman’s Internet partner that covers recruiting.
The week-long fall signing period, when recruits can make their commitments binding begins on Nov. 9.
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October 13, 2011
Longhorns get hoops recruit
Prince Ibeh, a 6-foot-10 center from Garland, has committed to play basketball for Texas coach Rick Barnes next season.
Ibeh, an adept shot-blocker with potential to become a very good offensive player as well, picked Texas over Arkansas and Vanderbilt.
A senior at Naaman High School, Ibeh is ranked the 54th best recruit in the senior class by two national services and 79th by another.
Ibeh is the fourth recruit committed to Texas in the class of 2012, and the third big men. The others are 6-9 Cameron Ridley from Fort Bend Bush High and 6-9 Connor Lammert of San Antonio Churchill.
A point guard, Javan Felix from New Orleans, also has committed.
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Longhorns picked fifth in men's basketball
Big 12 men’s basketball coaches have picked the Longhorns to finish fifth, behind Kansas and Texas A&M (tied for first), Baylor and Missouri.
The next five are Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Oklahoma and Tech were voted tied for ninth in the 10-team league.
The Longhorns begin practice Friday with only three returning players, none of them starters.
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October 6, 2011
J'Covan Brown on preseason All-Big 12 team
J’Covan Brown, the Longhorns’ junior guard, is one of five players on the preseason All-Big 12 basketball team.
Brown, who averaged 10.4 points a game last season, is joined on the All-Big 12 team by sophomore forward Perry Jones III of Baylor, junior forward Thomas Robinson of Kansas, junior forward Khris Middleton of Texas A&M and senior guard Macus Denmon of Missouri.
Jones was voted preseason player of the year, Oklahoma State forward LeBryan Nash is freshman of the year and Iowa State forward Royce White is newcomer of the year. White, a sophomore, transferred from Minnesota.
The team is selected by the league’s head coaches.
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October 2, 2011
Longhorns land power forward
Connor Lammert, a power forward from San Antonio Churchill High, has committed to play basketball for the Longhorns in 2012-13.
The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Lammert picked Texas over Texas A&M, according to Hookem.com, the American-Statesman’s Internet partner that covers recruiting. Lammert also visited Texas Tech and Vanderbilt, according to Hookem.
Lammert is capable of shooting from the perimeter and playing inside.
He is the third player who has committed to Texas in the class of 2012, joining 6-9 center Cameron Ridley, a top-10 national recruit from Bush High in Richmond and point guard Javon Felix from St. Augustine High in New Orleans.
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August 24, 2011
Hoops recruit gets release to play this season
Jaylen Bond, a 6-7 forward who originally signed with Pittsburgh and changed his mind, will be eligible to play basketball for the Longhorns this season.
Bond received a release from Pittsburgh, enabling him to play under NCAA rules without sitting out for a season.
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Texas hoops recruit does not qualify
Kevin Thomas, a forward who signed to play basketball for the Longhorns this season, did not qualify academically, a team official said.
Thomas will play at a junior college this season, according to Gerry Hamilton of Hookem.com, the Statesman’s Internet partner that covers recruiting.
I predict that there will be some good news for the Texas program. I would be surprised if recruit Jaylen Bond is denied the chance to play this season. Bond,a 6-7 forward who signed with Pittsburgh and changed his mind, is enrolled at Texas. He needs a release from Pitt to play this season.
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August 21, 2011
Two top players visit Texas hoops
Guard Marcus Smart and small forward Jerami Grant made unofficial visits to the University of Texas this weekend.
The 6-foot-4 Smart, from Flower Mound Marcus, is regarded as one of the top 15 prospects in the class of 2012.
The 6-7 Grant, from DeMatha High in Maryland, is rated a top-50 caliber player. Grant is the son of former NBA forward Harvey Grant, who played at Clemson and Oklahoma.
Longhorn coach Rick Barnes has two commitments for 2012: 6-9 center Cameron Ridley from Bush High in Richmond and point guard Javan Felix from New Orleans.
According to Gerry Hamilton of Hookem.com., the Statesman’s Internet partner, Smart is considering Texas, Kansas, Texas A&M and North Carolina.
Grant’s list: Texas, Syracuse, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, North Carolina State and perhaps Maryland.
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August 8, 2011
Texas gets 2012 hoops recruit
Jevan Felix, a point guard from St. Augustine High in New Orleans, has committed to play for the Longhorns in 2012.
Felix picked Texas over Baylor, Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida, according to ESPN.com
Gerry Hamilton, recruiting analyst for Hookem.com, the American-Statesman’s Internet partner, said the 5-10 Felix would bring “intangibles” to the program and help solidify the point guard position in the future along with 2011 recruit Sterling Gibbs.
Coach Rick Barnes has NBA prospect Myck Kabongo, a freshman, at point guard this season. But Kabongo has the kind of talent indicative of a short-term college player passing through en route to the NBA.
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August 4, 2011
Longhorn men's basketball schedule
The Longhorns’ basketball schedule is complete, although several game times are not set.
http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/tex-m-baskbl-sched.html
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August 2, 2011
Texas gets 2011 hoops recruit
Jaylen Bond, a forward from Philadelphia, has committed to play basketball for the Longhorns.
Bond has yet to receive the release from Pittsburgh that is necessary for him to play this season for the Longhorns as a freshman. But a source close to the Longhorn program told the American-Statesman Tuesday night that the coaching staff is confident Bond will receive the release.
The athletic, 6-7 Bond signed with Pitt, opted instead to develop his game at a prep school in Connecticut in 2011-12, then changed his mind again.
Texas could use the help at either power forward or small forward. One 2011 recruit, forward Kevin Thomas, is still trying to become eligible for the 2011-12 season, according to Hookem.com, the American-Statesman’s Internet partner
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July 1, 2011
North Carolina, UCLA highlight men's non-conference schedule
Road games at North Carolina and UCLA highlight Texas’ men’s basketball non-conference schedule for next season, which was released Friday.
The Longhorns travel to UCLA on Dec. 3, then will play at North Carolina three weeks later on Dec. 21. That game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
Texas has beaten North Carolina twice in the past two seasons, both away from Austin. The Longhorns beat the Tar Heels in Dallas in 2009, 103-90, and again last season in Greensboro, N.C., 78-76.
Texas opens its season Nov. 13 against Boston University, as part of the Legends Classic that also includes Rhode Island here before the tournament moves to New Jersey on Nov. 19-21, with North Carolina State, Oregon State and Vanderbilt also in the mix.
Texas’ best non-conference home matchup is against Temple, on Dec. 17. Other home matchups include Sam Houston State, North Texas, Texas-Arlington, Texas State, Nicholls State and Rice.
Here’s the Longhorns’ non-conference schedule:
Nov. 13: Boston U. (Legends Classic, regional)
Nov. 15: Rhode Island (Legends Classic, regional)
Nov. 19: Legends Classic semifinals in East Rutherford, N.J. Other teams: North Carolina State, Oregon State, Vanderbilt
Nov. 21: Legends Classic semifinals in East Rutherford, N.J. Other teams: North Carolina State, Oregon State, Vanderbilt
Nov. 26: Sam Houston State
Nov. 29: North Texas
Dec. 3: at UCLA
Dec. 6: Texas-Arlington
Dec. 10: Texas State
Dec. 13: Nicholls State
Dec. 17: Temple
Dec. 21: at North Carolina
Dec. 31: Rice
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May 18, 2011
Longhorns in Legends Classic
Rick Barnes’ Longhorn basketball team will join North Carolina State, Oregon State and Vanderbilt in the championship round of the Legends Classic Nov. 19 and 21 in the New Jersey Meadowlands.
Those four schools will also host early round games from Nov. 13-17, opponents to be named later. Regardless of the results in the early rounds, the four host schools will advance to the semifinals in New Jersey.
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May 16, 2011
Longhorns get point guard
Sterling Gibbs, a point guard from New Jersey, has committed to play for the Longhorns next season, according to the American-Statesman’s Internet partner, Hookem.com.
Gibbs had been committed to Maryland but changed plans after coach Gary Williams retired.
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May 11, 2011
UT gives Barnes a $200,000 raise
Longhorns men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes received a $200,000 raise on Wednesday, bringing his overall yearly salary to $2.4 million, which keeps him among the nation’s 10 highest-paid men’s coaches.
The raise, approved by UT’s board of regents this afternoon, includes an annual $75,000 bump in pay that was part of his restructured 2007 contract.
Barnes’ raise applies to his base salary, which is now $1 million, up from $800,000; his overall compensation, however, include additional compensation for TV and radio appearances, a shoe deal with Nike, and summer camps.
This past season, Texas —- which began the unranked —- went 28-7, finished second in the Big 12, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Longhorns started 11-0 in the Big 12 and got as high as the No. 3 ranking in the country in mid-February.
Texas beat Oakland in the first round of the NCAA tourney, then fell to Arizona in the second round, 70-69.
Overall, Barnes has gone 322-122 in his 13 years at Texas, with three Big 12 Conference championships. His Longhorns teams have made the NCAA tournament every season since 1999, including five Sweet 16s, three Elite Eights and one Final Four.
Those 13 straight NCAA tournament appearances is tied for the fourth-longest streak in the nation, behind Kansas’ 22, Duke’s 16 and Michigan State’s 14. Over the past 10 years, the Longhorns have won 17 NCAA tournament games, which is tied for the sixth-most in the country.
But Barnes has his share of critics —- disenchantment among some fans and criticism from local, regional and national media, from those who have found recent seasons unacceptable for a coach who regularly recruits NBA-level talent.
In 2010, Texas earned its first-ever No. 1 national ranking, then plummeted down the stretch, finished tied for sixth in the Big 12 and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In 2009, Texas finished tied for fourth in the conference.
Four of those five schools that rank ahead of Texas in tournament wins over the past 10 years —- Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and Connecticut —- also have won NCAA championships. Another, Michigan State, won a title in 2000 and has been to several Final Fours.
UCLA, tied with Texas at 17 NCAA victories in that span, made it to three Final Fours from 2006-08, but missed the tournament last season. Florida has one less victory during that span, but also has won two NCAA titles. And in nine of Barnes’ 13 seasons, Texas has fallen to a lower seed in the NCAA tournament, though four of those came to teams seeded just one spot lower.
How does Barnes’ new salary rank among the nation’s best-paid coaches? Still in the Top 10, according to a report by USA Today a month ago:
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke: $4.1 million
John Calipari, Kentucky: $4 million
Rick Pitino, Louisville: $4 million
Bill Self, Kansas: $3.6 million
Tom Izzo, Michigan State: $3.4 million
Billy Donovan, Florida: $3.3 million
Thad Matta, Ohio State: $2.5 million
Rick Barnes, Texas: $2.4 million
Sean Miller, Arizona: $2.3 million
Roy Williams, North Carolina: $2 million
Ben Howland, UCLA: $2 million
In the Big 12, Barnes’ salary is only behind Self at Kansas.
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May 8, 2011
Longhorn Joseph leaving for NBA
Cory Joseph, a freshman guard on the Longhorn basketball team, will leave school for the NBA, a source close to the program said.
Teammates Jordan Hamilton and Tristan Thompson also are leaving for the NBA.
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May 6, 2011
Joseph to work out for NBA teams
Longhorn freshman Cory Joseph will work out at an NBA camp hosted by the New Jersey Nets Saturday and Sunday.
Joseph is among 22 players scheduled to work out for NBA teams on Saturday. Twenty-two more are scheduled for Sunday.
College players have until late Sunday night to remove their names from the draft and retain college eligibility.
The players listed to attend the camp are generally second-round draft prospects.
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April 22, 2011
Hamilton to enter NBA draft
Longhorn sophomore basketball player Jordan Hamilton will enter the NBA draft with an agent, his mother, Karen, told the Austin American-Statesman.
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April 21, 2011
Sources: Thompson's going pro
Tristan Thompson, who was a relentless offensive rebounder and shot-blocker for the Longhorns last season, will not return to Texas for his sophomore season and instead will make himself eligible for the NBA Draft, a source close to his family said.
The source said he spoke to Thompson this week.
An NBA scout familiar with Thompson’s situation also said the player would leave school.
The NBA allows college players until Sunday to submit their names for the draft. The NCAA permits players to remove their names from the draft by May 8 and still retain college eligibility providing they have not signed with an agent.
Thompson said last week, at the Longhorns’ annual awards banquet, that if he did enter the draft, it would be with an agent.
Jordan Hamilton, Texas’ leading scorer, also is deliberating between coming back to Texas or going pro.
Some mock drafts in the Internet indicate that Thompson could be selected in the middle of the first round.
His value was enhanced when higher rated players - Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, Perry Jones III of Baylor and Harrison Barnes of North Carolina - elected to remain in school.
Thompson averaged 13.1 points, ranked second in the Big 12 with 7.8 rebounds a game and first with 2.4 blocked shots. The 6-foot-8 forward’s 3.8 offensive rebounds a game led the league.
He was named a first-team freshman All-American by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
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April 14, 2011
Longhorn basketball awards from banquet
Freshman Tristan Thompson was named MVP of the Longhorn basketball team Thursday night during the annual banquet at the Erwin Center. Thompson was picked by his teammates.
Longhorn basketball team awards:
Mike Wacker comeback award: Dogus Balbay
Solid citizen award: Dogus Balbay
Jack Gray Award (outstanding character): Matt Hill
Scholar-athlete: Dogus Balbay
Jay Arnette Award (behind the scenes contributions): Jai Lucas
Hard Hat Award: Alexis Wangmene
Earlene Fulmer three-point attack: Cory Joseph
Assists: Cory Joseph
Blocked shots: Tristan Thompson
Field-goal percentage: Tristan Thompson
Free-throw percentage: J’Covan Brown
Rebounding: Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton
Hustlin’ Horns: Andrew Dick
Spirit: Dean Melchionni
Outstanding defensive player: Dogus Balbay
Most improved: Jordan Hamilton
Team captains: Dogus Balbay, Matt Hill, Gary Johnson, Jai Lucas
Most valuable player: Tristan Thompson
Slater Martin Award (support of the program): Athletic trainer Eric Fry
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Longhorns say they are undecided on NBA draft
Longhorn basketball players Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton and Cory Joseph said they have yet to decide whether to enter the NBA draft.
College players have until April 24 to submit their names. The NCAA’s deadline for players to remove their names and retain college eligibility is May 8. They can retain eligibility if they do not sign with an agent.
Thompson and Hamilton are regarded as first round picks likely to be selected in the top 20, according to one NBA scout.
Joseph, a freshman, is not considered a first-round pick this year, the scout said.
Hamilton, a sophomore, said he would go home to Los Angeles this weekend to discuss the issue with his parents. Hamilton said he did not know whether he would hire an agent if he submits his name.
Thompson, a freshman, indicated that he would hire an agent if he entered the draft but that he does not have one now.
“Either I’ll stay or enter my name,” Thompson said.
Joseph said he would not hire an agent if he entered the draft to test his value. College players can enter and remove their name once and still remain eligible.
“I don’t know if I’m a two-year guy. A three-year guy, a four-year guy,” Joseph said.
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Thompson: No decision yet
Here’s a Tristan Thompson update:
Texas’ freshman forward who is deciding between returning to the Longhorns next season or jumping to the NBA is doing just that: still deciding.
Our own Mark Rosner just bumped into Thompson prior to the Longhorns’ annual basketball banquet, and asked him whether he’s made a decision yet.
“Nope,” Thompson said. “I still have time.”
Thompson was reminded that several NBA scouts have said they think he’s leaving Texas to turn pro.
“They don’t know that,” he said.
The deadline for underclassmen to throw their names into the NBA draft is April 24. Jordan Hamilton also has been deliberating between coming back to Texas or going pro.
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It's official: Longhorns sign Kevin Thomas
Kevin Thomas, a 6-foot-7 forward from Ontario, Canada, has signed to play basketball for the Longhorns, giving coach Rick Barnes five players in his class of 2011.
The 200-pound Thomas averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks as a senior at Faith Christian Academy in Creedmoor, N.C.
ESPN.com ranks Barnes’ class fifth best in the country behind Kentucky, St. John’s, Duke and North Carolina.
The rest of the class consists of forward Jonathan Holmes and guards Myck Kabongo, Sheldon McClellan and Julien Lewis.
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April 13, 2011
Paulino hired at Lamar U
Former Longhorns basketball standout Kenton Paulino has been hired as an assistant coach at Lamar University.
There, he’ll work for Pat Knight, the former Texas Tech coach who has been hired to lead the Beaumont school’s men’s team.
Paulino, 27, has spent the past three seasons as a special assistant at Texas, helping with all of the internal operations of the men’s program.
Paulino, who played four years and started two seasons at Texas, ranks third in Longhorns history for 3-point field goal percentage. He played professionally for two years, once in Turkey, the other with the Austin Toros.
He played in 106 career games at Texas and helped the Longhorns to a 75-30 overall record and make it to two Elite Eights and one Final Four. Paulino was a tri-captain his senior year, when Texas went 30-7, won the Big 12 regular season title and made it to the Elite Eight.
“I really wanted to bring someone from Coach (Rick) Barnes’ staff,” Knight said in a statement. “He was a great player in the Big 12; he can recruit Texas and he is from California, so that opens that area up for us.”
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April 12, 2011
Lanier ready to return to Longhorns
Rob Lanier will leave his position as an assistant basketball coach at Florida, the school announced, paving the way for his return to the Longhorns.
A source familiar with the situation said Lanier will replace Rodney Terry, who left coach Rick Barnes’ staff last week to become head coach at Fresno State.
Lanier was an assistant at Texas from 1999-2001. He left to become head coach at Siena, where he spent four seasons before getting fired in 2005.
Lanier was then an assistant at Virginia for two seasons before spending the next four at Florida.
While at Texas, Lanier was the point man in the recruitment of T.J. Ford, Barnes’ first major score. Lanier also recruited Royal Ivey, who was not highly regarded but turned out to be a very good player at Texas.
According to a reporter in Gainesville, Lanier was instrumental in recruiting Kenny Boynton, a high school All-American who plays for the Gators. Lanier also helped sign Brad Beal, a McDonald’s All-American who will join the Gators next season.
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April 7, 2011
Barnes: Terry's departure 'bittersweet'
Rodney Terry, an assistant to Longhorns basketball coach Rick Barnes the last eight seasons, has been named the new head coach at Fresno State.
Terry, 43, was a key recruiter for Barnes. Terry’s connection to Toronto AAU coach Ro Russell helped the Longhorns sign Tristan Thompson and Corey Joseph, important players this past season as freshmen.
Two others from Toronto, Myck Kabongo and Kevin Thomas, will be freshmen next season.
Thompson, Joseph and Kabongo were McDonald’s All-Americans.
Terry also recruited Gary Johnson, J’ Covan Brown, Dexter Pittman, Justin Mason, Harrison Smith and others.
Barnes, in a statement, said he knows Terry will work hard at Fresno State, but called Terry’s departure “bittersweet”:
“For everyone here in our program, this is a bittersweet day. We are so excited for Rodney as he deserves this opportunity. But at the same time, we’re sad to be losing him. Rodney has been such a huge part of our program’s success over the last nine years.
“There is no question that Rodney is more than ready for this challenge. He has been ready for an opportunity like this for a long time, but he just needed to find the right fit. Fresno State University is getting a great person who does things the right way to lead its basketball program.”
Terry came to Texas in 2003.
Rob Lanier, a former Longhorns assistant who left in 2001 and now is an assistant at Florida, is regarded as somebody Barnes could target as a candidate to replace Terry, according to a source close to the program.
Lanier helped Barnes establish his program as the point man in the recruitment of point guard T.J. Ford.
A formal press conference has been called Thursday afternoon in Fresno to introduce Terry.
“Over the course of his career, Rodney has clearly demonstrated a genuine commitment to institutional integrity and student-athlete welfare,” Fresno State athletic director Thomas Boeh told The Fresno Bee. “Along the way he has also developed a national reputation as an excellent mentor, floor coach and recruiter. These attributes, along with his close ties to the recruiting base in the state of California, make him the perfect fit for Fresno State.”
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April 3, 2011
Coaches name Hamilton All-American
Longhorn Jordan Hamilton was named second-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Hamilton is joined on the NABC second team by Ben Hansbrough (Notre Dame), Marcus Morris (Kansas), Kyle Singler (Duke) and Derrick Williams (Arizona).
The five-player first team includes Jimmer Fredette (BYU), JaJuan Johnson (Purdue), Nolan Smith (Duke), Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) and Kemba Walker (Connecticut).
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March 30, 2011
Gary Johnson in all-star game
Longhorn senior forward Gary Johnson is one of 20 players who will participate in the Reese’s College All-Star game on Friday. The contest will played at Houston’s Reliant Stadium as part of the 2011 NCAA Final Four. Tip time is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised nationally by TruTV.
Johnson will play for the West All-Stars along with Andrew Goudelock (College of Charleston), Tai Wesley (Utah State), Kenneth Faried (Morehead State), Malcolm Thomas (San Diego State), Kalin Lucas (Michigan State), Tristan Thompson (North Texas), Alex Stepheson (USC), Mickey McConnell (St. Mary’s) and Cameron Jones (Northern Arizona).
The East All-Stars roster includes Dwight Hardy (St. John’s), Lavoy Allen (Temple), Brad Wanamaker (Pittsburgh), Chris Warren (Mississippi), Austin Freeman (Georgetown), Mike Davis (Illinois), Gary McGhee (Pittsburgh), Jacob Pullen (Kansas State), Vlad Moldoveanu (American) and Jimmy Butler (Marquette).
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March 29, 2011
Barnes is a 'good guy'
Rick Barnes is this year’s recipient of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Good Guy Award, which honors coaching excellence and cooperation with the media.
He’ll get the award on Friday in Houston.
Past winners of the Good Guy Award are former Vermont coach Tom Brennan, former Purdue coach Gene Keady, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and IUPUI’s Ron Hunter.
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Longhorn hoops recruit on television
Longhorn basketball recruit Myck Kabongo will appear in several televised games this week.
Kabongo, a point guard, will play for the West team in the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago Wednesday at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
Then Kabongo will travel to Washington, D.C., to play for Findlay College Prep in the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational tournament Thursday-Saturday.
Findlay’s first game, against Dwyer (Fla.) will be Thursday at 3 p.m. on ESPNU.
The bracket: http://rise.espn.go.com/boys-basketball/events/2011/04/NHSI/Brackets.aspx
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March 19, 2011
Hamilton, Thompson say they will return
For what it’s worth, and often not much this time of year, Longhorns Tristan Thompson and Jordan Hamilton said Saturday they would return to the team next season instead of entering the NBA draft. In the past, Longhorns and players from other teams have said they were coming back and did not.
Thompson, a freshman, and Hamilton, a sophomore, are regarded as NBA first-round draft picks. However, a lockout might cancel the 2011-12 NBA season. The draft, however, is in late June, before the league’s collective bargaining agreement expires. Prospects who are not seniors will have to decide before they know of there will be a lockout.
A return by Hamilton would be the bigger surprise. Even so, he said, “I’m coming back next year. I think we will have a great team.” Thompson at first said he would discuss his future with his family and coach Rick Barnes after the season. Then Thompson said another year or two with strength coach Todd Wright would help him. He also said he would not mind playing next season with recruit Myck Kabongo, a friend from the Toronto area who will be a Longhorn freshman next season.
“I’ll come back another year for him,” Thompson said. “I’ll come back another year.”
Barnes said he does not know why anybody would ask players about returning before the end of the season.
“They have plenty of time to think about what their next move will be,” Barnes said. “But if that’s why they said, it’s truly what they feel.”
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March 18, 2011
Texas-Arizona game time set
The Longhorns will face Arizona Sunday at 5:10 p.m. in Tulsa in their third-round NCAA basketball game.
TNT will televise the game.
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It's over: Texas 85, Oakland 81
Texas has beaten Oakland in their second-round game, 85-81.
Mark Rosner and Kirk Bohls are courtside in Tulsa, covering the Texas-Oakland second round game of the NCAA tournament.
Here are some postgame thoughts, from Rosner:
“Sounds of the NCAA tournament: bands playing, fans clapping, Oakland coach Greg Kampe screaming, and cha-ching —- every time Tristan Thompson blocks a shot, grabs a rebound or runs the floor on the fastbreak.
“Texas’ 6-8 freshman produced 17 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocks Friday as the Longhorns beat Oakland 85-81 in what is now called the second round of the tournament, but was the opener for those two.
“Thompson, an NBA first-round draft prospect, made himself some money Friday, although he has not indicated an intent to leave school this year.
“Jordan Hamilton had 19 points and 10 rebounds. J’Covan Brown led Texas with 21 points off the bench, making all 12 of his free throws.
“Keith Benson, Oakland’s 6-11 senior, had a quiet double-double —- 15 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Reggie Hamilton scored 25.
“The Longhorns could have won more handily, but they missed some easy shots while Oakland hit seven 3-pointers and worked the boards for second chance points.”
Texas (28-7), seeded No. 4 in the West Region, will face the winner of Friday afternoon’s Arizona-Memphis game in the third round on Sunday.
Texas 85, Oakland 81: Odds and ends …
Texas’ top players: Hamilton (19 points, 10 rebounds), Brown (21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Thompson (17 points, 10 rebounds, 7 blocks), Gary Johnson (8 points.
Oakland’s top players: Reggie Hamilton (25 points, 6rebounds), Keith Benson (15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks), Will Hudson (14 points, 11 rebounds).
Jordan Hamilton topped reached double-digits in scoring for the 34th time this year and 52nd time in his career.
J’Covan Brown reached double figures in scoring for the 17th time this year and the 32nd time in his career.
Cory Joseph scored in double figures for the 21st time this season.
Texas and Oakland battled to a draw on the glass. Both grabbled 34 rebounds.
Texas was 4 for 9 from 3-point range, or 44 percent. Oakland? 7 of 29, or 24 percent.
Texas is making its 13th straight trip to the NCAAs, tied with Gonzaga and Wisconsin for the fourth-longest active streaks behind Kansas (22), Duke (16) and Michigan State (14).
Where do the Longhorns’ 85 points rank among their high-point performances this season? It was the sixth-best effort of the year, behind the 101 points scored against Texas State, the 95 vs. Coppin State, the 90 vs. Illinois (in overtime), and the 89 put up against Colorado (in a loss) and Louisiana Tech.
The Grizzlies had the nation’s No. 2-rated offense heading into Friday’s game, and had scored more than 81 points in 15 of their last 16 games.
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Horns defeat Oakland, 85-81
UPDATE: Horns win a hard-fought second round game against Oakland. More to come.
EARLIER: Mark Rosner and Kirk Bohls are courtside in Tulsa, covering the Texas-Oakland second round game of the NCAA tournament.
Here are some halftime thoughts, from Rosner:
The Longhorns lead by 8 at the half, and somehow it seems like they should be ahead by more. Texas has dominated in the paint, with a 26-16 edge. **Tristan Thompson** has five blocks —- three of them against the 6-foot-11 **Keith Benson**. Oakland has an edge in 3-point baskets (4-2), but the Grizzlies needed 13 attempts to get them.
And, from Bohls:
Texas is on a 92-point pace after scoring 46 in the first half. That’s a good thing. If the Longhorns can keep relative clamps on Oakland’s 3-point shooters, they ought to be fine. Getting balanced scoring and Tristan Thompson more involved offensively late in the first half were big.
Numbers that matter:
Texas’ top player, so far: Tristan Thompson. He’s got 9 points, 4 rebounds and 5blocks.
Oakland’s top player, so far: Will Hudson. He has 9 points and 4 rebounds.
How’s Benson doing?: Oakland center Keith Benson, who’s projected to be a first-round NBA pick, has 6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. He’s 3 for 6 from the field, has one foul, has committed one turnover and is 0 for 3 so far at the free throw line.
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March 15, 2011
NCAA tickets for sale
Tickets to NCAA Tournament games in Tulsa, including the Longhorns against Oakland, can be purchased beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Here’s the link.
http://www.bokcenter.com,">http://www.bokcenter.com,
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2 Longhorns on freshman all-America team
Longhorns Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph were voted to freshman all-America teams by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Thompson made the first team with Harrison Barnes (North Carolina), Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Terrence Jones (Kentucky) and Brandon Knight (Kentucky).
Joseph is on the second team with Tobias Harris (Tennessee), Perry Jones III (Baylor), Kendall Marshall (North Carolina) and Doug McDermott (Creighton).
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March 14, 2011
Hamilton second team All-American
Longhorn Jordan Hamilton was voted second team All-American by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
The first team: Jimmer Fredette, BYU; JaJuan Johnson, Purdue; Nolan Smith, Duke; Jared Sullinger, Ohio State; Kemba Walker, Connecticut.
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Hamilton a Wooden finalist
Longhorn sophomore Jordan Hamilton is among 20 finalists for the Wooden Award presented to the top player in college basketball.
Hamilton is one of four candidates from the Big 12. The others are Marcus Morris of Kansas, Jacob Pullen of Kansas State and Alec Burks of Colorado.
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March 13, 2011
We have a basketball game time
The Longhorns’ NCAA Tournament first round game against Oakland will be at 11:15 a.m. Friday. CBS will telecast the game.
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March 12, 2011
Horns will play Oakland in West Region
Texas will be a No. 4 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament, and will face Oakland in the first round of the West Region in Tulsa.
Oakland, a No. 13 seed, was 25-9 this season, including a 17-1 mark in Summit League play. It’s the second straight NCAA tournament appearance for the Golden Grizzlies.
The Longhorns’ game will be Friday. They would meet either No. 5 Arizona or No. 12 Memphis in the second round.
No. 1 Duke and No. 2 San Diego State are the top seeds in the West.
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March 10, 2011
Barnes gets another recruit
Longhorns basketball coach Rick Barnes added a fifth player to his 2011 recruiting class Thursday when Kevin Thomas, a 6-foot-7, 205-pound forward from Canada, committed.
Thomas averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks as a senior at Creedmoor Faith Center Academy in North Carolina. He picked Texas over North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Seton Hall and New Mexico.
Thomas comes from the same AAU program in Toronto as current Longhorns Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph and future point guard Myck Kabongo, who will be a freshman at Texas next season.
The five-player 2011 class, ranked among the top 10 in the country, also includes guards Julien Lewis and Sheldon McClellan from the Houston area and forward Jonathan Holmes from San Antonio.
ESPN.com recruiting analyst Dave Telep rates Thomas as the 39th best power forward prospect in the country.
“Kevin is a kid who gives them depth at the power forward slot and in time may be able to see minutes as a small forward,” Telep said. “He’s got strong character and I see him as a rotation player for a good team.”
Gerry Hamilton, recruiting analyst for Hookem.com, the American-Statesman’s Internet partner, says Thomas has potential for significant improvement.
“I think he has a skill set where, with a couple of years of development, he could look like he was underrated coming out of high school,” Hamilton said.
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March 9, 2011
Hamilton, Thompson honored
Longhorns Jordan Hamilton and Tristan Thompson were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All-District 8 first team.
Also named to the first team were Marcus Morris of Kansas, Alec Burks of Colorado and LaceDarius Dunn of Baylor.
District 8 includes the entire Big 12 Conference.
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February 28, 2011
Hamilton finalist for national award
Longhorn sophomore Jordan Hamilton is one of 10 finalists for a national player of the year award, the Oscar Robertson Trophy, presented by the United States Basketball Writers Association.
The others: Jimmer Fredette (BYU), JaJuan Johnson (Purdue), Terrence Jones (Kentucky), Marcus Morris (Kansas), Kyle Singler (Duke), Nolan Smith (Duke), Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Kemba Walker (Connecticut) and Derrick Williams (Arizona).
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February 25, 2011
Thompson a finalist for top freshman
Longhorn Tristan Thompson is one of five finalists for the Wayman Tisdale Award, presented to the top freshman in the country by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Thompson is joined on the list by Baylor’s Perry Jones III, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger, and Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones of Kentucky.
The 6-foot-8 Thompson averages12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks a game. He leads the Big 12 in blocks.
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February 24, 2011
Wangmene will return for K-State
Alexis Wangmene’s suspension from the men’s basketball team for his DWI arrest last weekend will end after Saturday’s game at Colorado.
Wangmene will be eligible to play again Monday for the Longhorns’ home game against Kansas State, head coach Rick Barnes said today.
Wangmene was arrested on a drunken driving charge at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, hours after the Longhorns returned to Austin from their game last Saturday at Nebraska. Barnes announced his indefinite suspension Tuesday, just before tipoff of the Texas-Iowa State game.
He’s averaging 2.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 9.7 minutes a game this season.
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February 23, 2011
Wangmene arrested for DWI
Alexis Wangmene, a reserve on the Longhorn basketball team, was arrested Sunday morning for driving while intoxicated, a Travis County Sheriff’s Department spokesman confirmed on Wednesday.
Wangmene was stopped by a Department of Public Safety officer at 4:30 a.m. in the Interstate 35/Airport Blvd. area, the spokesman said.
Wangmene, a junior forward, did not play on Tuesday against Iowa State. Coach Rick Barnes announced in a prepared statement before the game that Wangmene was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.
Wangmene averages 2.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 9.7 minutes a game.
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February 22, 2011
Wangmene to miss Iowa State game
Longhorn reserve Alexis Wangmene will miss the Longhorns’ game against Iowa State tonight for violating unspecified team rules. He was suspended indefinitely by coach Rick Barnes.
Wangmene, a junior, averages 2.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 10 minutes a game.
He was sitting on the Longhorns’ bench during warmups.
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February 21, 2011
Horns drop to No. 5 in both polls
Texas dropped to No. 5 in both The Associated Press and coaches polls, released this afternoon.
Duke, which was ranked No. 1 to start the season, reclaimed the top spot, moving up from No. 5.
Kansas, which was ranked No. 1 last week, slipped back to No. 3 in the AP poll and and to No. 2 in the coaches poll. Ohio State is No. 2 and No. 3 in both polls.
The Longhorns, who lost 70-67 at Nebraska on Saturday, did receive one first-place vote in the AP poll.
Texas hosts Iowa State on Tuesday.
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February 17, 2011
Longhorns top Big 12 academic awards
The Longhorns placed three players on the Academic All-Big 12 men’s basketball first team, more than any other school.
Seniors Dogus Balbay and Gary Johnson made the 12-player first team along with sophomore J’Covan Brown. Sophomore Jordan Hamilton is on the four-player second team.
First-team members must carry a 3.20 GPA. Second-team membership requires a 3.00.
To qualify, students must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulatively or for the two previous semesters.
Freshmen and transfer students are not eligible in their first year.
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February 14, 2011
Longhorns second, third in polls
CORRECT: Kansas has 22 first place votes
The Longhorns moved up one spot to No. 2 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll today but remained at No. 3 in the Associated Press poll.
Kansas is No. 1 in both polls after previously undefeated Ohio State’s loss at Wisconsin Saturday.
Ohio State moved from No. 1 to No. 2 in the AP poll and to No. 3 in the coaches poll.
Texas has more first place votes in the AP poll (23) than either Kansas (22) or Ohio State (14). Kansas has the most overall points (1549), followed by Ohio State (1536) and Texas (1535).
Kansas has seven more points (753-746) and one more first-place vote than Texas (14-13) in the coaches poll.
The Longhorns have three losses but handed Kansas its only defeat of the season, by 11 points, in Lawrence.
On the other hand, Texas lost to Pittsburgh, which is No. 4, in New York City, albeit by just two points.
Longhorn coach Rick Barnes said Pitt had the most impressive week, winning at West Virginia and Villanova without leading scorer Ashton Gibbs.
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Thompson rookie of the week
Longhorn freshman Tristan Thompson has been named Big 12 rookie of the week.
Thompson averaged 14 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks during victories over Oklahoma and Baylor.
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February 2, 2011
Tickets available for Big 12 tourney
The Big 12 says some tickets still available for its men’s basketball tournament.
http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DBOEMID=10410&ATCLID=205087996
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January 31, 2011
Longhorns move up in both polls
The Longhorns moved up today to No. 3 from 7 in the Associated Press men’s basketball poll. They moved up to No. 3 from 8 in the coaches poll.
Ohio State is No. 1, followed by Kansas in both polls.
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January 26, 2011
Longhorns bring flowers
The Longhorns brought ten bouquets of flowers to Gallagher-Iba Arena on a night when Oklahoma State is commemorating the 10th anniversary of a plane crash in which 10 members of the basketball team’s traveling party died, including two players. The flowers were placed by a memorial inside the arena.
Both teams are wearing orange tee-shirts inscribed with Remember the Ten during warmups.
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January 25, 2011
Hamilton receives national award
Longhorn sophomore Jordan Hamilton was named national player of the week Tuesday by the U.S Basketball Writers Association.
Hamilton averaged 22 points and 8.5 rebounds during victories against Texas A&M and Kansas.
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January 24, 2011
The Longhorns' newfound accuracy
The Longhorns have converted just 66 percent of their free throws this season, which ranks 248th in the country. But they have hit 44 of 53 in their last two games, against Texas A&M and Kansas, an impressive 83 percent mark. Wisconsin leads the nation with 81.9 percent for the season.
Longhorn freshman Tristan Thompson has converted 8 of 11 in the last two games, elevating himself to 50.7 percent for the season.
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Longhorns move up
The Longhorns, after beating Texas A&M and Kansas by an average of 16 points last week, moved up to No. 7, from 10, in the Associated Press rankings.
Texas (16-3) is still behind Kansas, which moved down from No. 2 to 6 after losing for the first time this season.
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Longhorns sweep Big 12 awards
Longhorn sophomore Jordan Hamilton was named Big 12 player of the week Monday. His teammate, freshman Tristan Thompson, is the league’s rookie of the week.
Hamilton produced 44 points and 17 rebounds during victories against Texas A&M and Kansas last week. He hit 10 of 14 shots against the Aggies, scoring 27 points.
Thompson had 30 points and 12 rebounds and anchored the Longhorn defense with nine blocks in the two games. He leads the league in blocks per game with 2.21.
The Longhorns won those two games by an average of 16 points.
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January 19, 2011
A few tickets still left for Texas-Texas A&M
As of 10 a.m. today, there were less than 200 tickets still left for tonight’s game at the Erwin Center between No. 10 Texas and No. 11 Texas A&M, according to Longhorns officials.
Tipoff’s at 8 p.m.
There are $15 mezzanine seats at the end of the court, $20 mezzanine seats at mid-court, and $50 arena level seats.
Tickets can be found online at TexasBoxOffice.com or by calling (512) 471-3333.
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Jammin' Jordan Hamilton
Longhorn Jordan Hamilton nominated for dunk of the year
http://www.facebook.com/dunksoftheyear#_blank
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January 18, 2011
Tickets still available for A&M-Texas
As of Tuesday morning, about 700 tickets remained for the Longhorn men’s basketball game Wednesday against Texas A&M in the Erwin Center.
They can be purchased by calling 471-3333 or going to TexasBoxOffice.com.
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January 17, 2011
Longhorns return to top 10
The Longhorns are ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press men’s basketball poll, returning to the top 10 for the first time since Feb. 8, 2010. They dropped out that day.
They face Texas A&M, ranked No. 11, on Wednesday at the Erwin Center.
The Aggies, winners of 13 straight games, are No. 10 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, one spot ahead of the Longhorns.
About 1,000 tickets remain for the game Wednesday, which tips at 8 p.m.
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January 14, 2011
Barnes gets big commitment
Cameron Ridley, a 6-foot-10 junior center from Fort Bend Bush High School, has committed to Texas, ESPN’s Dave Telep reported.
Ridley is the No. 5 ranked player nationally in the class of 2012, according to ESPN.com.
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January 6, 2011
Hamilton makes the Wooden cut
Longhorn sophomore Jordan Hamilton is among 30 players who made the midseason cut for the Wooden Award, presented annually to the national basketball player of the year. Previous winners include former Longhorns T.J. Ford and Kevin Durant.
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Hoops tickets going, but not gone
About 1,200 tickets remain, upstairs and down, for the Longhorn basketball game against Connecticut on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Erwin Center.
The price range is $7 to $50, the phone number 471-3333. They can also be purchased at TexasBoxOffice.com.
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January 5, 2011
Tickets for UCONN/Texas available
Tickets still remain for the Longhorns’ basketball game against Connecticut on Saturday, 2:30 p.m., in the Erwin Center.
Lower level seats are $50 and $15. Tickets for the upper level are $7.
They can be purchased by calling 471-3333 or going to TexasBoxOffice.com
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January 4, 2011
Source: Shawn Williams to SMU
Former Longhorn forward Shawn Williams will transfer to SMU this semester, said a source familiar with the situation.
Williams could not be reached for comment.
Williams, a freshman, left the Texas team the day of the team’s opener this season.
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December 27, 2010
Cheap seats!!!
General admission Tickets for the Longhorn men’s basketball game against Coppin State Friday in the Erwin Center can be purchsed for $3 — lower and upper levels. Game time is 1 p.m.
The lower level seats, behind both baskets, are usually taken by students, but UT is between semesters.
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Thompson gets rookie award
Longhorn freshman Tristan Thompson was named Big 12 rookie of the week Monday after producing 17 points, 15 rebounds and 3 steals during a 67-55 victory at Michigan State on Dec. 22.
The Longhorns have been off since that game. They play again on Friday against Coppin State at 1 p.m. at the Erwin Center.
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December 15, 2010
A bit of basketball recruiting news
Myck Kabongo, the high caliber point guard who signed with Texas in November, will appear on ESPN Thursday when his Findlay Prep team faces Houston Yates, 8 p.m. at Texas Southern Univeristy.
Meanwhile, DeAndre Daniels, the forward who committed to Texas in 2009 and then broke that pledge in 2010, might not be lost to the Longhorns.
Several recruiting services, including 247sports.com and ESPN.com, have reported that Daniels will visit Texas at that point. Kansas, Kentucky, and perhaps others are also contenders.
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Durant honored by USA Basketball
Former Longhorn Kevin Durant, MVP of the 2010 FIBA World Championships, was named USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year today.
“It means a lot,” Durant said in a statement. “My goal was to represent my country to the best of my ability. I really appreciate all of the coaches and players that I got to share that experience with. I am very humbled by this honor.”
Durant averaged a team-best and U.S. World Championship scoring record 22.8 points per game to help lead the USA to the FIBA World Championship gold medal Aug. 28 - Sept. 12 in Istanbul, Turkey.
“Kevin brought maturity and a winning mindset to every practice and every game last summer,” said Mike Krzyzewski, USA Men’s National Team and Duke University head coach. “He was a critical part of our success, and his teammates wanted him to have the ball in critical situations. They knew he’d deliver, and he did repeatedly. Despite his level of accomplishment at such a young age, Kevin wants to be a better player at both ends of the court. He’s motivated, and there’s no ceiling on his game. He’s a very special player and deserving of any honors he receives.”
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November 22, 2010
Longhorns will return to hoops poll
UPDATE
Texas is No. 20
The Longhorn basketball team, which fell from the Associated Press top-25 rankings in February, will return today when the poll is released.
They will almost certainly be No. 20.
Texas was last ranked on Feb. 22. The Longhorns began last season 17-0 and reached No. 1 for two weeks in January. They were dismissed with a 22-7 record.
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Hamilton honored again
Longhorn sophomore Jordan Hamilton was voted Big 12 basketball player of the week. He received the honor Monday for the second straight week.
Hamilton averaged 26.5 points and 7.5 rebounds during a victory over Illinois and a loss to Pittsburgh. He converted 17 of 35 shots, including 7 of 12 three pointers.
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November 15, 2010
Player of the week: Jordan Hamilton
Longhorn sophomore Jordan Hamilton was named Big 12 basketball player of the week after averaging 22.5 points and and 7 rebounds during victories against Navy and Louisiana Tech last week.
Hamilton and the Longhorns will get a bigger test when they face No. 13 Illinois and either No. 5 Pittsburgh or unranked Maryland Thursday and Friday in New York City.
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November 10, 2010
Barnes gets four signatures
All four basketball recruits who committed to play for Texas coach Rick Barnes next season have signed today, according to 24/7sports.com
The four: Myck Kabongo, Sheldon McClellan, Jonathan Holmes and Julien Lewis.
ESPN.com ranks the recruiting class sixth in the nation.
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November 8, 2010
Second update on Shawn Williams
Before the first shot goes up, before the first rebound is grabbed - before the opening tip of the season - the Longhorns lost a basketball player.
Shawn Williams, a redshirt freshman reserve forward, has left the team.
Williams, rated a top-50 level freshman in the country last season by some recruiting services, played in just seven games before undergoing ankle surgery.
He averaged 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.6 minutes. Under NCAA rules, Williams regained his freshman season of eligibility because he appeared in fewer than 30 percent of the Longhorns’ games before the injury.
Williams and coach Rick Barnes issued statements through the athletics department media relations office about the player’s departure, but neither specified why he left.
Williams, reached later, said, “It was a mutual agreement between me and coach. It was a lot of stuff. I don’t want to go into details”.
A source familiar with the situation said Williams considered transferring to another school during the summer because of concerns about playing time.
The source said that Barnes gave Williams pep talks about his role on the team, but that Williams did not necessarily believe he would receive a lot of playing time.
The situation became worse recently. Barnes was hard on Williams, according to the source, because of mistakes he made in practice. Williams did not react well to the criticism, the source said.
Said Williams, “He was no harder on me than anybody else. He was just doing his job.”
Here is Williams’ statement: “I have decided to leave the Texas Basketball program. I will continue to take classes at UT and finish the fall semester academically. This is a move that I need to make now in my best interest.”
Barnes’ statement: “We want to thank Shawn for being a part of our program for the last year and a half. He is a model student-athlete and a well-respected individual who comes from a great family. We wish Shawn nothing but the best as he moves forward.”
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Williams leaves Texas basketball program
Redshirt freshman Shawn Williams has left the Longhorn basketball program.
Williams, limited to seven games last seven because of an ankle injury, issued a statement through the athletic department media relations office.
“I have decided to leave the Texas Basketball program. I will continue to take classes at UT and finish the fall semester academically. This is a move that I need to make now in my best interest.”
Coach Rick Barnes also issued a statement:
“We want to thank Shawn for being a part of our program for the last year and a half. He is a model student-athlete and a well-respected individual who comes from a great family. We wish Shawn nothing but the best as he moves forward.”
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Horns hoops season preview chat
The Texas men’s basketball team tips off its season Monday night at home against Navy. But before then, Longhorns beat writer Mark Rosner and special guest Gerry Hamilton of 247Sports.com will be here at 1 p.m. to talk about the upcoming season:
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November 5, 2010
Johnson an award candidate
Longhorn senior forward Gary Johnson has been named one of 30 candidates for the Division I Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in men’s basketball.
To be eligible for the award, an athlete must be classified as a NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas: classroom, character, community and competition.
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November 4, 2010
Point guard rejoins Longhorns
Myck Kabongo has re-committed to the Longhorns, according to Gerry Hamilton of 247Sports.com.
Kabongo, the No. 2-ranked point guard in the country in the Class of 2011, had committed to Texas when he was a sophomore in high school. Now a senior at Findlay Prep in Hendrickson, Nev., he broke his commitment last week, saying he was considering Texas, North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky and Syracuse.
Hamilton reported that Kabongo plans to sign with the Longhorns next week.
Hamilton spoke to Kabongo’s AAU coach, Ro Russell, who told him of the player’s plans.
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November 2, 2010
Where will Horns finish in hoops this year?
Last year, the Texas men’s basketball team jumped out to a 17-0 start, reaching No. 1 in the polls, before sputtering to the end with a 7-10 finish. The Horns are unranked going into the season, and the players are welcoming the lack of respect and see it as a chance to surprise people.
Where do you think the Horns will finish this year? Does the underdog role suit them? Texas fans need something to cheer for this season …
The AP top 25
1) Duke
2) Michigan State
3) Kansas State
4) Ohio State
5) Pittsburgh
6) Villanova
7) Kansas
8) North Carolina
9) Florida
10) Syracuse
11) Kentucky
12) Gonzaga
13) Illinois
14) Purdue
15) Missouri
16) Baylor
17) Butler
18) Washington
19) Memphis
20) Georgetown
21) Virginia Tech
22) Temple
23) Tennessee
24) Brigham Young
25) San Diego State
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Close, but not quite there
Two Longhorn basketball players who had surgery last season are practicing full time with the team but said they are still in the process of restoring their full capabilities.
Senior point guard Dogus Balbay had surgery to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after suffering an injury on Feb. 20 at Texas Tech. Two seasons earlier, Balbay had ACL surgery on his right knee.
“I almost have my full strength and quickness back,” said Balbay, an adept defender on the perimeter. “As the season goes on, I’ll be 100 percent on defense.”
Freshman forward Shawn Williams had surgery to his left ankle - which had caused him problems since high school - after playing in just seven games last season.
Williams, allowed to repeat his freshman season, is a wing player. But the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Williams also is working as a face-up power forward on the perimeter, a role at which Brian Boddicker excelled on coach Rick Barnes’ Final Four team in 2003.
“I’m healthy,” Williams said. “I’m about 95 percent. Sometimes cutting hurts a little bit.”
Fifth-year senior Matt Hill, meanwhile, said he is healthier than at any time since his freshman season. The 6-10 Hill has undergone surgery for foot and heel injuries during his career, the latter preventing him from playing during the 2007-08 season.
Hill, according to Barnes and some of his teammates, has performed well enough in practice to earn a significant role on the team.
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October 30, 2010
Texas hoops recruit decommits
Myck Kabongo, the big-time point guard who was supposed to sign with the Longhorns, told ESPN.com that he has broken his commitment. Kabongo is widely regarded as the second-best point guard in the class of 2011.
Kabongo, a Canadian who plays at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., said he will still consider signing with Texas. But he also is looking at Syracuse, Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Kabongo told ESPN.com he is 60 percent sure he will sign in the spring instead of in the fall. Two of his AAU teammates from Canada, Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph, are Longhorn freshmen.
Kabongo said he wants to give himself the best chance to win, but he also likes the fact that Texas coach Rick Barnes has sent point guards to the NBA.
“Texas has done well with point guards at the next level,” he said. “They’re still going to be up there.”
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October 28, 2010
Longhorns not in hoops top 25
The Longhorns did not receive enough votes to be ranked in the Associated Press top 25 preseason men’s basketball poll for the first time since 2000-01. They are 27th in the voting.
Texas is ranked 25th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll.
The AP Preseason Top 25:
- Duke
- Michigan State
- Kansas State
- Ohio State
- Pittsburgh
- Villanova
- Kansas
- North Carolina
- Florid
- Syracuse
- Kentucky
- Gonzaga
- Illinois
- Purdue
- Missouri
- Baylor
- Butler
- Washington
- Memphis
- Georgetown
- Virginia Tech
- Temple
- Tennessee
- BYU
- San Diego State
Next Five: Wisconsin, Texas, Georgia, West Virginia, Minnesota
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October 22, 2010
Will Big 12/Pac-10 hardwood series end?
Big 12 athletic directors will discuss Thursday whether to continue the annual Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series of basketball games, said Bob Burda, an assistant commissioner for the Big 12.
One league source said he believes the series will be terminated. But Burda said, “We don’t know if that’s for certain.”
The ADs will speak by conference call.
A four-year deal will be complete after this season’s set of games. Texas faces USC in Los Angeles on Dec. 5.
One possible reason for not continuing the series is that Nebraska and Colorado are leaving the Big 12 next season. Reduced to 10 teams, the Big 12 will play a double round robin schedule - 18 games instead of 16.
Big 12 schedules will undoubtedly become more difficult under the league’s new format. Texas, for example, will face Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State twice each season instead of once.
In addition, two Big 12 teams would have to play twice in the series, because the Pac-10, with the addition of Colorado and Utah, will have 12 schools. Under the current format, two Pac-10 teams play twice.
The tougher Big 12 schedule leaves schools with the prospect of reducing the difficulty of non-conference schedules.
Burda said the two leagues have discussed making the format more flexible by allowing for some neutral site games and not requiring that schools face each other two years in a row. The Longhorns met UCLA the first two years before a two-game matchup with USC.
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October 14, 2010
All-Big 12 preseason basketball team
Longhorns Gary Johnson, Jordan Hamilton and Cory Joseph received honorable mention on the Big 12 preseason all conference basketball team.
The preseason freshman of the year, Josh Selby of Kansas, has yet to be declared eligible.
The team is picked by the coaches.
Preseason Player of the Year - Jacob Pullen, Kansas State, G Preseason Newcomer of the Year - Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri, F Preseason Freshman of the Year - Josh Selby,Kansas, G
2010-11 Preseason All-Big 12 Team Name, School, Pos.
LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor, G
Cory Higgins, Colorado, G
Marcus Morris, Kansas, F
Curtis Kelly, Kansas State, F
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State, G
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school): Alec Burks, Colorado; Josh Selby and Tyshawn Taylor,Kansas; Jamar Samuels, Kansas State; Kim English, Missouri; Jordan Hamilton, Gary Johnson and Cory Joseph, Texas; David Loubeau, Texas A&M; John Roberson and Mike Singletary, Texas Tech
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October 7, 2010
New tricks for Daniel Gibson
During his first four seasons in the NBA, former Longhorn guard Daniel Gibson attempted 279 free throws in 249 games.
Indeed, Gibson, a hybrid point guard/shooting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, did not do much but find an open spot behind the three-point line and wait for LeBron James to pass him the ball. Gibson was good at that.
Gibson was not much good at driving to the basket and drawing fouls.
But James is gone now, having taken his talents to South Beach, and Gibson appears to have become more assertive. He shot 10 free throws, converting all of them, during the Cavs’ preseason game Tuesday against Charlotte.
“He’s much better than I expected,” Byron Scott, the team’s new coach, said, according to the News Herald newspaper in Ohio. “I saw that the first day I was here. I kept hearing about the things he couldn’t do. When I saw him up close, I didn’t see those things he couldn’t do. I saw things he could do.”
Scott said he was impressed with Gibson’s basketball IQ and his defense.
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October 5, 2010
Big 12 coaches pick Horns third
The Big 12 men’s basketball coaches have picked Texas to finish third in the league this season, behind Kansas State and Kansas. The results of the preseason poll were announced by the conference today.
Kansas State, which fell a victory short of the NCAA Final Four last season, received 10 first-place votes from the coaches. Kansas received the other two first-place votes.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Jayhawks have won at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season championship for six straight years.
Texas, Baylor and Missouri rounded out the poll’s top five.
Texas A&M was picked sixth, followed by Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Iowa State.
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October 4, 2010
Junior college center picks Alabama
Moussa Gueye, a 7-foot junior college center recruit in Illinois, picked Alabama over the Longhorns.
Coach Rick Barnes was hoping Gueye, from Senegal, could bolster his frontcourt next season.
Barnes did receive a commitment from 6-8 Johnathan Holmes last week. Holmes is from San Antonio.
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Hamilton on Wooden Preseason list
Longhorn sophomore Jordan Hamilton is one of 50 players on the preseason Wooden Award list of national basketball player of the year candidates.
Two Longhorns have received the award, T.J Ford and Kevin Durant. Durant was the recipient as a freshman. Freshmen, however, are not included on the preseason list. Transfer students are also banned. Freshmen and transfers can be added later on the midseason list in December and on the official ballot in March.
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2010-11 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 List
Name Height Class Position University Conference
Ty Abbott 6-3 Sr. G Arizona State Pac-10
Lavoy Allen 6-9 Sr. F Temple Atlantic 10
Kevin Anderson 6-0 Sr. G Richmond Atlantic 10
Talor Battle 6-0 Sr. G Penn State Big Ten
Kenny Boynton 6-2 So. G Florida SEC
William Buford 6-5 Jr. G Ohio State Big Ten
Alec Burks 6-6 So. G Colorado Big 12
Randy Culpepper 6-0 Sr. G UTEP Conference USA
Malcolm Delaney 6-3 Sr. G Virginia Tech ACC
LaceDarius Dunn 6-4 Sr. G Baylor Big 12
Kim English 6-6 Jr. G Missouri Big 12
Corey Fisher 6-1 Sr. G Villanova Big East
Jimmer Fredette* 6-2 Sr. G Brigham Young Mountain
West
Austin Freeman 6-4 Sr. G Georgetown Big East
Ashton Gibbs 6-2 Jr. G Pittsburgh Big East
Steven Gray 6-5 Sr. G Gonzaga West Coast
Jordan Hamilton 6-7 So. G/F Texas Big 12
Elias Harris 6-7 So. F Gonzaga West Coast
Jeremy Hazell 6-5 Sr. G Seton Hall Big East
John Henson 6-10 So. F North Carolina ACC
Cory Higgins 6-5 Sr. G Colorado Big 12
Tyler Honeycutt 6-8 So. F UCLA Pac-10
Robbie Hummel* 6-8 Sr. F Purdue Big Ten
JaJuan Johnson 6-10 Sr. F/C Purdue Big Ten
Kris Joseph 6-7 Jr. F Syracuse Big East
Kawhi Leonard 6-7 So. F San Diego State Mountain West
Jon Leuer 6-10 Sr. F Wisconsin Big Ten
Kalin Lucas* 6-1 Sr. F Michigan State Big Ten
Shelvin Mack 6-3 Jr. G Butler Horizon League
Demetri McCamey 6-3 Sr. G Illinois Big Ten
E’Twaun Moore 6-4 Sr. G Purdue Big Ten
Marcus Morris 6-9 Jr. F Kansas Big 12
Jacob Pullen 6-0 Sr. G Kansas State Big 12
John Shurna 6-8 Jr. F Northwestern Big Ten
Kyle Singler* 6-8 Sr. F Duke ACC
Chris Singleton 6-9 Jr. F Florida State ACC
Nolan Smith 6-2 Sr. G Duke ACC
Tracy Smith 6-8 Sr. F North Carolina State ACC
Durrell Summers 6-5 Sr. G Michigan State Big Ten
Jeffery Taylor 6-7 Jr. G/F Vanderbilt SEC
Isaiah Thomas 5-9 Jr. G Washington Pac-10
Trey Thompkins 6-10 Jr. F Georgia SEC
Klay Thompson 6-6 Jr. G Washington State Pac-10
Joe Trapani 6-8 Sr. F Boston College ACC
Brandon Triche 6-4 So. G Syracuse Big East
Nikola Vucevic 6-10 Jr. F USC Pac-10
Kemba Walker 6-1 Jr. G Connecticut Big East
Derrick Williams 6-8 So. F Arizona Pac-10
Jordan Williams 6-10 So. F Maryland ACC
Chris Wright 6-8 Sr. F Dayton Atlantic 10
(Based on a preseason poll. Players listed alphabetically.)
*indicates player chosen to the 2010 Wooden Award ballot
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October 1, 2010
Longhorns get hoops recruit
Jonathan Holmes, a forward from Antonian College Prep in San Antonio, committed Friday to play for the Longhorn basketball team next season, according to Jeff Howe of 247sports, who attended Holmes’ announcement in San Antonio.
Holmes, 6 feet 8 inches and 231 pounds, can play both power forward and small forward. He averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks last season for Antonian, a private school that plays in TAPPS Class 5A.
Holmes is ranked the 69th-best senior in the country by Scout while Rivals lists him at No. 83. He also considered Baylor, Texas A&M and Purdue.
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August 20, 2010
Ward's leaving Texas basketball program
Varez Ward, a sophomore guard on the Longhorn basketball team, is transferring, a source familiar with his situation said.
The source said that Ward has not selected a new school, but there have been rumors about Auburn. Ward is from Montgomery, Ala. He lives a 35 minute drive from the Auburn campus. His mother, Sharon, has a heart condition, and Ward is said to be angling to live closer to her.
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August 16, 2010
Longhorns lose basketball recruit
DeAndre Daniels, a highly regarded senior forward from Los Angeles who had committed to Texas for 2011, has broken his commitment, according to Scout.com.
The 6-foot-7 Daniels, who plays both forward positions, was ranked the No. 10 player in the senior class by Rivals.com. Other services rate him a top-30 player.
Either way, it’s a blow to Rick Barnes. The Longhorns coach has three other players committed to sign in November, but all off of them are guards. Barnes needs some frontcourt players badly.
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August 5, 2010
Longhorns to face Illinois in NYC
Texas will face Illinois in the semifinal round of the 2K Sports Classic basketball tournament, organizers have announced.
The Longhorns and Illini will play Nov. 18 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will tip off 30 minutes after the end of the first semifinal between Pittsburgh and Maryland. Those teams are scheduled to play at 6 p.m.
Both semifinal games will air on ESPN2.
The tournament consolation game will be at 4 p.m. Nov. 19, and the championship game will follow at approximately 6:30. Again, both games will air on ESPN2.
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July 19, 2010
Longhorns on two Big Monday telecasts
The Longhorns will appear on two ESPN Big Monday basketball telecasts next season: Jan. 31 at Texas A&M and Feb. 28 against Kansas State in the Erwin Center.
The Big 12 schedule has not yet been released, but the league did release its slate of Monday games.
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June 30, 2010
Longhorn recruit puts up big numbers
Myck Kabongo, the exceptionally quick point guard who plans to sign with the Longhorns in November, produced 32 points and 9 assists for Canada Tuesday night during a 122-89 loss to the USA team in the FIBA Men’s Under 18 championship semifinals at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
Kabongo will be a senior this fall at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada.
Kabongo is known more for his drives to the basket than for his shooting. But he has improved his jump shot. Kabongo converted 3 of 4 three-pointers against the USA.
The star of the game was Austin Rivers — Doc’s son — who led the USA with 35 points. He hit nine treys.
The USA faces Brazil tonight at 7 for the championship.
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June 29, 2010
Longhorns non-conference basketball schedule
The Longhorns have released dates for their non-conference men’s basketball schedule. The marquee home games are against Connecticut and Arkansas.
Nov. 8 Navy (Coaches vs. Cancer tournament regional, Erwin Center)
Nov. 10 Louisiana Tech (same event, Erwin Center)
Nov. 18-19 Coaches vs. Cancer semifinals and finals, Madison Square Garden, New York (Texas, Illinois, Maryland, Pittsburgh, matchups not yet announced)
Nov. 23. Sam Houston
Nov. 27 Rice
Dec. 1 Lamar
Dec. 5 at Southern Cal (Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series)
Dec. 11 Texas State
Dec. 14 North Florida
Dec. 18 North Carolina (Greensboro, N.C.)
Dec. 22 at Michigan State
Dec. 31 Coppin State
Jan 4. Arkansas
Jan. 8 Connecticut
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June 28, 2010
Hoops injury updates
Forward Shawn Williams will be the first of three injured Longhorn basketball players to return to the court, coach Rick Barnes said Monday.
Williams, who underwent surgery on his left ankle in January, should be back this summer, Barnes said.
Guards Varez Ward (right quadriceps tendon) and Dogus Balbay (left ACL) should be back on the court by September, Barnes said.
Williams, who played in seven games last season, will return as a freshman. Ward played in three games and was awarded a do-over for his sophomore season.
Balbay played in 27 games. He will be a senior.
Barnes believes that having freshmen Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson around for both summer semesters will help them and the team.
Last year, only Williams was around for both sessions. Jordan Hamilton and Avery Bradley arrived in Austin for the second summer semester, and J’Covan Brown did not qualify academically until the fall semester.
Barnes and his staff are not allowed to coach players on the court in the summer. But players can work out in the weight room and solicit help from strength coach Todd Wright. They can also gain value from pickup games with current and former Longhorns.
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June 24, 2010
Pittman taken by Miami
Dexter Pittman, the Longhorns’ senior center, was selected by Miami with the second pick in the second round of the NBA draft, No. 32 overall.
That was higher than most projections.
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Celtics draft Bradley
Longhorn guard Avery Bradley was drafted by the Boston Celtics Thursday night. Bradley, a freshman, was taken with the 19th pick.
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June 9, 2010
Horns will host Coaches vs. Cancer hoops regional
Texas will serve as host for the first two regional rounds of the 16th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Classic tournament in November, UT officials announced today.
The Horns will play Navy on Nov. 8 at the Erwin Center, then will face Louisiana Tech on Nov. 10.
Navy was 13-17 last year. Louisiana Tech went 24-11 — its most wins since 1985 — and also posted 13 non-conference victories, also the most since 1985.
Matchups for the ensuing sub-regional rounds at Toledo and UC-Irvine, as well as for the championship rounds at Madison Square Garden, will be announced later.
Other regional matchups (all with the same Nov. 8/Nov. 10 dates) include:
- Pittsburgh Regional: Rhode Island vs. Pitt, Illinois-Chicago at Pitt.
Pitt was 25-9 last year, finishing No. 18 in the country and with a second-round loss in the NCAA tourney.
- College Park Regional: Seattle vs. Maryland, Charleston vs. Maryland.
Maryland went 24-9 last year and won a share of the ACC title. The Terps finished the year ranked No. 20. Charleston went 22-12 — its third straight 20-win season — while Division II Seattle went 17-14 against a mostly Division I schedule.
- Champaign Regional: UC-Irvine vs. Illinois, Toledo vs. Illinois.
Illinois, 21-15 last year, was an NIT quarterfinalist. UC-Irvine’s Russell Turner will be making his head coaching debut after spending six years as a Golden State Warriors assistant. Toledo also has a first-year coach in Tod Kowalczyk, who came over from Wisconsin-Green Bay.
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June 5, 2010
UT recruit to new but familiar high school
Myck Kabongo, a Longhorns basketball recruit at point guard for 2011, will transfer to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev. from St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark N.J for his senior season.
Kabongo’s coach at St. Benedict’s, Dan Hurley, was recently hired as head coach at Wagner College in New York.
Two Longhorns’ incoming freshmen played at Findlay - Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph. Former Longhorn Avery Bradley also played at Findlay.
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May 19, 2010
Basketball recruit picks Georgia
Marcus Thornton, a forward from Atlanta, will play college basketball at Georgia next season.
The 6-foot-7 Thornton picked Georgia over Texas, Alabama and Georgia Tech.
Thornton, a three-star recruit, according to Scout.com and Rivals.com, could have helped the Longhorns front-court depth next season.
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May 13, 2010
Ward, Williams given NCAA waivers
As expected, Longhorns Varez Ward and Shawn Williams, lost to the basketball team early last season with injuries, have received medical hardship waivers from the Big 12 conference.
Ward, who suffered a torn right quadriceps tendon after three games of his sophomore season, can return in 2010-11 as a sophomore.
Williams, who played in seven games as a freshman before having surgery to his left ankle, can return as a freshman.
NCAA rules allow players to receive a waiver if they appear in fewer than 30 percent of their team’s games.
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May 12, 2010
Report: Longhorns angling for transfer player from UTEP
Arnett Moultrie, a 6-foot-11 forward at UTEP last season, has left the team and will transfer. Texas is one of several schools that has inquired about Moultrie, according to a source close to the Longhorns.
Moultrie averaged nearly 10 points and 6.7 rebounds a game as a sophomore last season. He is regarded as an NBA prospect.
NCAA rules require that Moultrie sit out for one season after transferring.
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May 11, 2010
Damion James impresses ESPN draft guy
Chad Ford, who writes about the NBA draft for ESPN.com, recently watched former Longhorn Damion James during a training workout in Los Angeles.
Ford was impressed: “He’s got big hands, terrific strength and attacks every drill like he’s trying to kill. In one drill, during which (former NBA forward Don) MacLean had players moving from box to box and dunking each time they came to the rim, James nearly ripped the rim from the backboard on every play.”
Ford predicted that James might work his way into the middle of the first round.
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May 7, 2010
Avery Bradley: still gone
Garry Ward, AAU coach for Avery Bradley, confirmed Friday that the Longhorns’ freshman guard is leaving school for the NBA.
“His goal was to be a first-round pick,” Ward said. “And that’s the feedback he’s getting.”
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Texas among four schools for hooops recruit
Texas made the cut when Marcus Thornton, a senior forward from Westlake High in Atlanta, narrowed his list of prospective schools from seven to four.
The 6-foot-7 Thornton lists Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Texas — in alphabetical order, he says — as the remaining candidates. He eliminated Clemson, Kentucky and Michigan.
Thornton originally signed with Clemson but received a release when coach Oliver Purnell left the school to become coach at DePaul.
Thornton averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds last season, receiving the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Mr. Basketball award as the No. 1 player in Georgia. He has a 3.7 GPA, according to the Journal Constitution.
He is listed, however, as a three-star player (out of five) by Scout.com. and Rivals.com
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May 4, 2010
NBA scource: Bradley has picked an agent
UPDATE
An NBA scout has told the American-Statesman that Longhorn freshman guard Avery Bradley will remain in the draft and has picked an agent — Dan Fegan from Best Entertainment in Santa Monica, Calif.
An agent with Best, Mitch Butler, said the agency is advising Bradley and his family but that Bradley has not signed with the group.
Butler said Bradley has made a good impression on NBA teams and that Best hopes to sign him if he remains in the draft.
A UT spokesman said Bradley has not advised the program of his intentions. According to an NCAA rule, he has until Saturday to remove his name from the draft. Signing with an agent would make him ineligible for college ball.
Two NBA scuuts have estimated that Bradley will likely be selected somewhere between 17th and 30th in the first round of the draft on June 24.
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April 28, 2010
Texas-USC hoops rematch on Dec. 5 in L.A.
The Longhorn basketball team will meet USC on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles as part of the Big 12/Pac 10 Hardwood Series. Game time has not been determined.
Texas beat USC 69-50 last season in the Erwin Center.
The Longhorns are 3-0 since the inception of the Hardwood Series, having defeated UCLA twice.
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April 26, 2010
Texas gets signed letter from Joseph
Point guard Cory Joseph has made it official. The Longhorns have received Joseph’s signed letter of intent, a team spokesman said.
Joseph, a senior at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., had committed to Texas on Friday. He is widely regarded as one of the top 20 high school players in the country — No. 7, according to Rivals.com.
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April 23, 2010
Barnes gets point guard recruit
Cory Joseph, one of top point guards in the country, has committed to play for the Longhorns next season, according to a source close to the program.
Joseph, who played at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., is ranked among the top five point guards in the senior class. Rivals.com rates him the No. 7 player in the class. ESPNU ranks him No. 16.
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April 16, 2010
Thompson on TV again
Longhorn basketball recruit Tristan Thompson, a 6-9 forward, will play in the Jordan Brand Classic all-star game Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The game will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Thompson already has competed in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit.
Also competing is Cory Joseph, a point guard the Texas coaching staff hopes to have in the lineup next season.
Joseph has yet to pick between Texas, Connecticut, Minnesota, UNLV and Minnesota.
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April 9, 2010
Thompson to play in Nike Hoop Summit
Longhorn basketball recruit Tristan Thompson will play for the World Team against a U.S. squad Saturday at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore.
Thompson, a 6-foot-9 post player, is from Canada but played high school ball at Findlay Prep in Nevada. He will join the Longhorns next season.
Point guard Cory Joseph, a player the Longhorns hope to sign this spring, also will play for the World team.
The game will be televised by FSNSW beginning at 9:30 p.m. after the Astros’ game.
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April 8, 2010
Bradley confirms NBA intentions
Longhorn freshman Avery Bradley has confirmed that he will submit his name for the NBA draft without hiring an agent.
By not hiring an agent, Bradley can remove his name from the draft and return to the Longhorns as long as he meets the NCAA’s May 8 withdrawal deadline.
Bradley said he will continue attending class this semester.
“I will continue to go to class and complete the spring semester here at Texas,” Bradley said. “I will schedule workouts with different NBA teams over the next month around my class schedule.”
Two NBA scouts have told the American-Statesman that Bradley is a solid first-round draft prospect.
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April 6, 2010
Report: Bradley to test NBA draft status
UT basketball officials say that freshman basketball player Avery Bradley has not told them he will submit his name for the NBA draft, but FoxSports has reported that he will. Fox did not name its source.
According to the report, Bradley will submit his name without hiring an agent, enabling him to maintain college eligibility if he chooses to return to the Longhorns.
The NBA deadline for Bradley to submit his name is April 25. The NCAA has imposed a May 8 deadline for players to remove their names and maintain eligibility.
Bradley, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 11.6 points a game last season.
Two NBA scouts have told the American-Statesman that Bradley has a chance to be a first-round draft pick this year.
Bradley is regarded as a strong defender. There are questions about whether he is tall enough to play shooting guard, his natural position, in the NBA. But one scout said he views Bradley as a combo guard who might play some at the point.
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April 5, 2010
Arnette makes Hall of Fame
Jay Arnette, an all-America basketball player for the Longhorns in 1960, will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team.
The induction of that gold-medal winning team is on Aug. 13.
The team included Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Walt Bellamy and Jerry Lucas. Pete Newell coached the team, which consisted of amateur players. According to UT, Arnette averaged 2.9 points playing in all eight games during the Olympics.
The 1992 U.S Olympic team — the Dream Team — also will be inducted this year. That was the first U.S. Olympic squad with NBA players.
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April 3, 2010
Findlay Prep, with UT recruit, wins title
Longhorn basketball recruit Tristan Thompson produced 15 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks as Findlay Prep of Nevada defeated Montverde Academy from Florida 59-46 Saturday to win the ESPN Rise national high school invitational tournament in Baltimore.
Guard Cory Joseph, who might sign with Texas this month, scored 17 for Findlay.
Once gain, the 6-foot-10 Thompson showed a consistently nice shooting touch around the rim with both hands. A few times he made power moves to the basket. He led the fastbreak a few times as well, once passing to Joseph for a layup.
Thompson rose above the rim to block a shot down the stretch.
His main weakness is free throw shooting. Thompson converted just 51 percent this season, and he missed several on Saturday.
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April 2, 2010
Thompson, Findlay prep reach Rise finals
Longhorns basketball recruit Tristan Thompson of Findlay Prep in Nevada was limited to 9 points, 7 fewer than his average, by a tough, physical team from Mountain State Academy in West Virginia Friday afternoon.
But Mountain State paid dearly for the attention it paid the 6-foot-10 Thompson. His pal Cory Joseph, a point guard the Longhorns hope to sign this spring, scored 32 as Findlay won 68-53 in the semifinals of the ESPN Rise national high school invitational in Baltimore.
Findlay, seeded second, will try to win the tournament for the second straight year when it faces No. 1 seed Montverde Academy from Florida Saturday at 12:30. ESPN will carry the game.
Joseph could help solve some issues the Longhorns have if he joins the team next season. He’s a good perimeter shooter who makes his free throws.
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Longhorn hoops recruit excels
Tristan Thompson, headed to the Longhorn frontcourt next season, produced 16 points and 9 rebounds Thursday night as Findlay Prep of Henderson, Nev., beat Charlotte Christian 65-50 in the first round of the ESPN Rise national high school invitational tournament in Baltimore.
The 6-foot-10 Thompson also made 3 blocks and 3 steals.
Findlay Prep will face Mountain State Academy from West Virginia in the semifinals today at 1 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN2. The championship game is Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ESPN will carry that game.
Thompson displayed some of his best assets during the game Thursday: good hands; an ability to score inside with either hand; enough athleticism and ball-handling skill to lead the fastbreak.
He is, however, a poor free-throw shooter and does not appear to have a reliable perimeter jump shot. The associate head coach at Findlay, Todd Simon, said the staff is working with Thompson on his shooting mechanics. Simon said Thompson’s perimeter shot has improved.
ESPN Rise is an eight-team event that Findlay won last year.
Thompson played produced 8 points and 5 rebounds Wednesday in the McDonald’s All-America game in Columbus, Ohio.
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March 31, 2010
Thompson in the McDonald's game
Longhorn recruit Tristan Thompson has three easy dunks in the first three minutes of the second half, but his most impressive play was still the bank shot in the first half.
Longhorn recruit Tristan Thompson has converted his only shot attempt early in the McDonald’s All-America game tonight.
Thompson, a senior at Findlay Prep near Las Vegas, is left handed, but he hit a bank shot with his right hand. The associate head coach at Findlay, Todd Simon, told me this week that Thompson is so adept around the rim with either hand that you could not tell which is dominant if you did not already know.
Findlay point guard Cory Joseph, who might sign with Texas, has hit one of his two three-point attempts. Joseph won the three-point shooting contest on Monday.
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March 30, 2010
UTEP hires Tim Floyd
UTEP has hired Tim Floyd as its head basketball coach.
Longhorn assistant coach Rodney Terry said he interviewed for the job. Terry also interviewed with Central Florida, which has since hired a coach, and with Houston, which has not.
Terry has some support among UH alumni, according to the Houston Chronicle, as does Villanova assistant Chris Walker. Former head coaches Billy Gillispie and James Dickey are in the mix as well.
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March 29, 2010
James makes third-team All-American
Longhorn senior Damion James was named third-team All-American by the Associated Press Monday.
James averaged 18 points and 10.3 rebounds a game.
FIRST TEAM
Evan Turner, Ohio State; John Wall, Kentucky; Wes Johnson, Syracuse; Scottie Reynolds, Villanova; DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky.
SECOND TEAM
James Anderson, Oklahoma State; Sherron Collins, Kansas; Greivis Vasquez, Maryland; Jon Scheyer; Duke, Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia.
THIRD TEAM
Greg Monroe, Georgetown; Cole Aldrich, Kansas; Damion James, Texas; Luke Harangody, Notre Dame; Darington Hobson, New Mexico.
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Thompson excels at McDonald's workout
Tristan Thompson, the 6-foot-10 Longhorn basketball recruit for 2010 from Findlay Prep in Nevada, looked good during the first day of practice for the McDonald’s All-America game, according to Scout.com.
According to Scout, Thompson played aggressively around the basket.
Thompson will be joined in the McDonald’s game on Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, by high school teammate Cory Joseph, a point guard the Longhorns hope to sign in April.
ESPN will carry the game at 7 p.m.
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March 23, 2010
UT coaches in the mix
A source close to the Longhorn basketball program said he’s pretty sure two assistant coaches will interview for head coaching positions, Russ Springmann at Charlotte and Rodney Terry at Houston.
Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com reports that Springmann is a candidate at Charlotte along with assistants Joe Dooley of Kansas and Pat Kelsey of Xavier.
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Bradley to draft report premature, AAU coach says
Longhorn freshman Avery Bradley has not made a decision on whether to enter the NBA draft, according to his AAU coach in Seattle, Garry Ward.
The Website NBAdraft.net has reported that Bradley will leave school and enter the draft. NBAdraft.net also reported that entering the draft would be a risk for Bradley, a marginal first-round pick according to the Website, citing NBA scouts as sources.
“I just spoke to him,” Ward said. “I think he will decide by the middle of next week.”
The NBA’s early entry deadline is April 25.
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March 21, 2010
Report: Penders to step down
Tom Penders will step down as basketball coach at the University of Houston, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The Chronicle lists former Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie as a possible candidate to replace Penders, the former Texas coach.
Sources have told the American-Statesman and the Chronicle that Longhorn assistant coach Rodney Terry is a possible candidate.
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March 19, 2010
Hamilton says he'll return to UT
Longhorn freshman Jordan Hamilton, who scored 19 in the loss to Wake Forest Thursday, has told me twice that he will return to the team this season.
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March 18, 2010
Pittman contacted by White House
Longhorn Dexter Pittman told Sports Illustrated that First Lady Michelle Obama’s staff has contacted him about a possible visit to the White House to discuss her “Let’s Move,” initiative to fight childhood obesity.
The 6-10 Pittman told the American-Statesman before his freshman season that he weighed 388 pounds near the end of his senior year in high school. He has since lost nearly 100 pounds, becoming an inspiration to a lot of overweight children.
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Can Longhorns prevail inside?
Unless something changes at the last minute, coach Rick Barnes will start out with his big lineup for the third straight game. The configuration includes Dexter Pittman, Damion James and Gary Johnson.
With Johnson in the game, James moves from power forward to small forward, working more on the perimeter at both ends of the court.
That lineup was great against Iowa State during the first round of the Big 12 tournament, the frontcourt trio combining for 59 points and 31 rebounds — 16 by James.
The next night, against Baylor, Pittman and James combined for 32 points, but Johnson disappeared, hitting just 1 of 6 shots.
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March 17, 2010
The President makes his picks
It’s well-known that President Obama loves his hoops. When he filled out his NCAA brackets for both the men and women’s tournaments, he gave a bit of love to the Longhorns.
Obama picked the Texas men to beat Wake Forest in Thursday’s first-round game, but believes they will lose to top-seeded Kentucky.
He likes the women’s chances a bit better, picking the sixth-seeded Longhorns to reach the Sweet 16 before losing to Duke.
Obama has two Big 12 teams in the Final Four — Kansas and Kansas State. He likes the Jayhawks to win the national title. He also has Texas A&M and Baylor (is the Lone Star State turning blue?) to make it to the Sweet 16.
On the women’s side, Obama is projecting five Big 12 teams to make the round of 16.
Obama does have a soft spot in his heart for the Longhorns. He met the Texas football team in 2008, throwing the football around with now former Longhorns Colt McCoy and Quan Cosby.
On Jan. 8, the day after Texas lost to Alabama in the national championship game, the president called coach Mack Brown. He also wanted Brown to pass along his congratulations to McCoy for his career.
The president provided his brackets as an exclusive to ESPN.
Check out his men’s bracket here and his women’s bracket here.
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March 16, 2010
James on all-district team
Longhorn senior Damion James was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 8 team.
(District 8 includes all Big 12 Conference schools)
First Team Cole Aldrich (Kansas), James Anderson (Oklahoma State), Sherron Collins (Kansas), Damion James (Texas), Donald Sloan (Texas A&M).
Second Team Craig Brackins (Iowa State), LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor), Marcus Morris (Kansas), Jacob Pullen (Kansas State), Ekpe Udoh (Baylor).
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March 14, 2010
Longhorn basketball tickets on sale
The UT ticket office is taking requests from season ticket holders and Longhorn Foundation members. Tickets may be ordered until noon on Tuesday. They cost $66 for each round, providing Texas reaches the second round. Tickets may be ordered by calling (800) 982-BEVO, (512) 471-3333 or (512) 471-4439. …
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Longhorns to New Orleans
The Longhorns received their NCAA tournament assignment: No. 8 seed in the East, starting in New Orleans against ninth seeded Wake Forest on Thursday.
The winner probably gets Kentucky.
Game times are expected to be announced later Sunday.
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March 9, 2010
James named 2nd-team All-American
Damion James was named to the All-America Second Team today by the Sporting News, joined by fellow second-teamers Sherron Collins of Kansas, Jon Scheyer of Duke, Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson and Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins.
The first team? Oklahoma State’s James Anderson, Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds, Ohio State’s Evan Turner, Kentucky’s John Wall and Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez.
James is the 19th All-American in school history and the seventh Longhorn in Rick Barnes’ 12 seasons at Texas, joining Chris Mimh, T.J. Ford, P.J. Tucker, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant and D.J. Augustin.
Heading into the Big 12 tournament, James is averaging 17.7 points and 10.2 rebounds, leading the team in both categories.
The Horns play Iowa State at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the Big 12 tourney.
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March 7, 2010
James makes All Big 12
Longhorn senior Damion James is one of six players selected to the All-Big 12 first team by the league’s coaches. James and Oklahoma State’s James Anderson were the only unanimous selections. Anderson was voted player of the year.
Frank Martin of Kansas State was named coach of the year.
No Longhorn made the second or third teams, but freshman Avery Bradley received honorable mention. Bradley was named to the all-rookie team. Longhorn Dogus Balbay was voted to the all-defensive team.
http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=106110&SPID=13134&DBOEMID=10410&ATCLID=204903228
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March 6, 2010
Texas-Baylor hoops
CORRECTION: Baylor had 54 points in the paint, not 57, as the box score said. Can’t have an odd number of points that came inside the three-point line.
Baylor sweeps regular season games from Texas for the first time since 1998, Tom Penders’ final year as Longhorn coach. Bears won Saturday 92-77 behind 30 points by Lace Dunn. Sub Quincy Acey scored a career high 24. He made 10 dunks.
Baylor ended an 11-game home losing streak against Texas with its third straight victory over the Longhorns.
Texas committed 18 turnovers, which Baylor turned into 22 points. Baylor had a 57-32 edge in the paint.
Baylor finished the first half with an 8-2 push after Damion James left the game with two fouls. The Bears lead 42-34.
Rick Barnes went after one of the refs at halftime, complaining that J’Covan Brown was fouled while missing a shot at the end of the period. Baylor coach Scott Drew appeared to complain that Barnes should have received a technical.
Texas, learning nothing from its turnover-plagued loss to Baylor iin Austin, has 12 at the half.
Gary Johnson excelled for Texas with 15 points, working inside Baylor’s zone.
Lace Dunn has 16 for the Bears.
Baylor has a 13-5 edge in points off turnovers and 6-0 in fastbreak points.
The Longhorns are tied with Baylor 9-9 at the 15:40 mark, but they are having turnover problems again.
Avery Bradley already has two; he had five when Texas lost to Baylor in Austin. Jordan Hamilton barely made it into the game before getting a pass stolen.
Now that Texas A&M has defeated Oklahoma, the Longhorns can not get a No. 4 seed and a first round bye in the Big 12 tournament next week in Kansas City.
If the Longhorns beat Baylor today, they are the fifth seed. They would face Nebraska at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
If the Longhorns lose today, they will be the No. 6 seed and meet Iowa State at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
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March 1, 2010
AP finds another No. 1 team that left the poll
The Associated Press has found a fifth team that was ranked No. 1 during a basketball season only to fall out of the poll: Alabama in 2002-03.
The AP originally reported that Texas on Monday was the fourth team to suffer that distinction.
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Texas-Oklahoma hoops
Given halftime to rest and regroup, the Longhorns have been awful on defense again. Bradley missed a layup and forced a jump shot. James forced a shot. Pittman got posted up by a freshman, Tiny Gallon. OU by 46-38
Well, the Longhorns almost went in at halftime tied. But Tiny Gallon made a follow shot to give OU a 40-38 lead. Somebody didn’t box out.
Here’s some progress for Texas: OU has “only” seven three-point baskets. The Sooners made nine in the first half when they beat the Longhorns in Norman in February.
Damion James is keeping Texas in the game with some inspired play, not to mention 12 points. Texas is defending the three-pointer better, but OU is still 7-10 and leading 38-35.
The Sooners are not cooling down. They are 6-7 on three-pointers and lead 28-20. Longhorns might have to start switching more on defense.
Oklahoma is 5-6 on three-pointers, leads 23-14 with 10:36 left in half. Cade Davis is 3-3 on treys.
Tony Crocker, a 34 percent three-point shooter for Oklahoma, converted his first two treys, and one slightly shorter. OU has a 12-7 lead with 15:49 left in half.
Longhorn Gary Johnson will switch from jersey No. 1 to No. 4 tonight in honor of injured teammate Dogus Balbay.
And if Johnson does not meet the high standard Balbay set for playing defense?
“He’ll have to change his jersey at halftime,” Balbay joked.
Balbay said he will undergo surgery on his left knee next week.
Although J’Covan Brown (neck strain) has been cleared to play tonight against Oklahoma, it looks like Rick Barnes will opt for Jai Lucas as his point guard.
That means Lucas has gone from third string, before Dogus Balbay was injured, to starter.
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We're No. ... 26?
The Longhorns, who held the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press basketball poll in January, are no longer in the top 25. They are 26th in votes this week. Syracuse is the new No. 1 after Kansas, Kentucky and Purdue lost games. Here’s the poll.
Texas is the fourth team in the history of the poll that has held the No. 1 position at some point during a season only to slip out of the poll, according to the AP’s Jim O’Connell.
The others: Loyola of Chicago in 1963-64; UCLA in 1965-66; Indiana in 1979-80.
The Horns host Oklahoma tonight at 8 p.m.
Texas is No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll.
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Brown will play for Longhorns tonight
Longhorn coach Rick Barnes said J’Covan Brown (strained neck) will play tonight against Oklahoma.
He hit his head on the court at A&M Saturday.
Barnes said senior Damion James had ankle and allergy problems last week.
“When he doesn’t play with energy, there is something wrong,” Barnes said.
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February 28, 2010
UT guard Brown still day to day
J’Covan Brown, the Longhorn guard who suffered a neck strain when he hit his head on the court at Texas A&M on Saturday, was listed as day to day as the team prepares to face Oklahoma Monday in the Erwin Center.
Seniors Damion James, Dexter Pittman and Justin Mason will be playing in their final home game Monday.
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February 27, 2010
J'Covan Brown update
Longhorn freshman J’Covan Brown is listed as day to day after suffering a neck strain Saturday with 1:40 left in the game at Texas A&M.
The back of Brown’s head hit the ground, and he was down on the floor for several minutes before being carried off on a flat board. Brown was later taken to a hospital in College Station, where he was evaluated and released.
Brown will be evaluated again, by the Longhorn medical staff, on Sunday.
He was injured while driving in the lane. Brown was called for a charging foul. Aggie guard B.J. Holmes, who took the charge against Brown, injured his foot on the play and was carried off the court.
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Texas at Texas A&M hoops
Longhorn guard J’Covan Brown was carried off the court on a stretcher with 1:40 left in a game Texas lost at A&M 74-58.
Brown landed hard on his head after driving into the lane. He has a neck injury, according to a team spokesman.
Brown was conscious and moving about a half hour after the game. He was carried on a stretcher out of Reed Arena and taken to The Physicians Center in College Station.
The Aggies, thanks to an 11-2 push in the middle of the first half, have a 31-23 halftime lead over the Longhorns. The 23 points are fewest in the first half this season by Texas.
Damion James has been miserable so far, missing five of six shots and committing a few defensive lapses. He does not have a rebound; Aggies have a 23-15 edge on the boards.
Freshman reserve Ray Turner, who is 6-8, has made all four of his shots for A&M.
Both teams shooting in the mid-30 percent range.
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February 26, 2010
Barnes defends his quote
Message boards have been buzzing today over quotes from Rick Barnes in an upcoming story in ESPN The Magazine, in which he’s quoted as saying:
“We would love to win a national championship, but we’re not obsessed by it because we’re obsessed with these guys trying to live their NBA dream. What’s happened to Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, T.J. Ford — I’d give up a national title for all our guys to be able to live their dream.”
It’s in the March 8 issue of the magazine, which hasn’t hit the stands yet. The story, written by Elena Bergeron, is headlined “Too Much of A Good Thing” and examines Texas’ fall from No. 1 and the frustrations of finding the right lineup through all of Barnes’ roster tinkerings.
The outrage, as expected, deals with the notion that the Horns’ basketball coach is more interested in getting big-name players who can go to the NBA rather than winning a national title.
It brings back memories of Cedric Benson saying he’d rather win a Heisman than a national championship.
Mark Rosner spoke with Barnes today about it, and coach clarified — and defended — the quote, which was the result of the reporter’s question: Do you feel pressure this year to not only go to the Final Four, but to win the national championship?
“I’ve always said that I think our job here is to help these guys realize their dreams,” Barnes said today. “… If you help these guys develop the potential that they have, that is gonna help you win a national championship one day.
“I can tell you this: We are as happy for what’s happened to Kevin Durant, D.J. Augustin and all those guys as we would be winning a national championship.
“First of all, how many teams want to win the national championship? Everybody. There’s one a year. That’s your goal. That’s what you strive for. But we have an obligation to these guys who are here trying to help us do that. That’s my point.
“Anybody is crazy to think that all coaches don’t want to win the national championship. But the fact is, we have more obligation than just that.”
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February 24, 2010
Texas-Oklahoma State hoops
James and Hamilton combined for 25 of the Longhorns 37 points in the first half. They lead by 2.
Brown is 0-4 with no assists.
James Anderson, in and out of the game with two fouls, has just 6 points for OSU.
Cowboys are hanging thanks to 6 3-pointers, 3 by Muonelo.
Damion James must be impressing some NBA scout here tonight with his 15 points, 6 rebounds with 3:26 left in the first half. Jordan Hamilton, who scored 27 last time against OSU, has 10.
James Anderson is back for the Cowboys with two fouls.
Texas has gone to its big lineup: James, Johnson, Pittman for the first time tonight.
Brown’s back for Texas; he’s 0-1 tonight. Freshman Jordan Hamilton has a pair of 3-point baskets, the only ones for Texas. OSU has five treys.
Damion James has scored 10 of the Longhorns’ 19 points in the first 9 minutes. OSU with four treys, leads by a point. James Anderson is on the bench with two fouls.
Brown was replaced by Rick Barnes after less than five minutes. Has yet to return.
J’Covan Brown is back in the starting lineup tonight for the Longhorns. Brown lost his starting spot for the game at Texas Tech Saturday. He replaces the injured Dogus Balbay.
Oklahoma State is without starting forward Matt Pilgrim, suspended for violating team rules.
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James up for Naismith Trophy
Longhorn senior Damion James is among 30 players under consideration for the Naismith Trophy presented annually to the college basketball player of the year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Fan voting (through text messaging) will account for an unprecedented 25 percent of the final result. Beginning March 22, AT&T wireless customers and sports fans on other wireless networks will be able to text their votes.
2010 Naismith Trophy Mid-Season Candidates
Cole Aldrich, Kansas; Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest; James Anderson, Oklahoma State; Luke Babbitt, Nevada; Trevor Booker, Clemson; Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga; Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia; Sherron Collins, Kansas; DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky; Devan Downey, South Carolina; Jerome Dyson, Connecticut; Jimmer Fredette, BYU; Luke Harangody, Notre Dame; Gordon Hayward, Butler; Robbie Hummel, Purdue; Damion James, Texas; Wesley Johnson, Syracuse; Dominique Jones, South Florida; Sylven Landesburg, Virginia; Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech; Kalin Lucas, Michigan State; Greg Monroe, Georgetown; Jacob Pullen, Kansas State; Scottie Reynolds, Villanova; Omar Samhan, St. Mary’s; Jon Scheyer, Duke; Evan Turner, Ohio State; Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State; Greivis Vasquez, Maryland; John Wall, Kentucky.
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February 22, 2010
Longhorns slip to 21st in AP hoops poll
The Longhorns, who lost at Missouri last week and won at Texas Tech, fell from No. 15 to 21 in the Associated Press basketball poll. They went from 17 to 21 in the coaches’ poll.
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Balbay out for the season
Longhorn point guard Dogus Balbay tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Saturday at Texas Tech. He will miss the rest of the season.
Balbay was injured while driving to the basket.
“I think it just buckled on him,” coach Rick Barnes said. “As soon as he went down, he knew.”
Balbay, a junior who started 22 of the Longhorn’ 27 games, led the team with 3.9 assists a game. He had a 2.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He was also the Longhorns’ best defender.
“We’re gonna miss Dogus’ toughess,” Barnes said. “We’re gonna miss his defense.”
Barnes has used three other players at point guard: J’Covan Brown, Jai Lucas and Justin Mason, who handled most of that responsibility after Balbay was injured five minutes into the game at Tech.
Brown, a freshman who has the most offensive skills of the three, fell out of favor with Barnes after what the coach viewed as a substandard effort and performance at Missouri on Wednesday.
A starter for two games prior to Tech, against Nebraska and Missouri, Brown played just five minutes in Lubbock.
How can Brown regain his footing?
“One word: consistency,” Barnes said. “In all areas of the game. That’s what we’ve looked for all year. People wonder why we go back and forth. It’s consistency. It’s every day. It’s preparation. It’s the details. It’s accountability. He knows what we need from him. He needs to prepare every day, not just when it’s convenient. It’s not just him. People need to understand what their roles are.”
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February 20, 2010
Mason back in starting hoops lineup
James misses 2 free throws with 25 seconds left, giving Tech a chance to tie or win. But Tech’s Okorie misses jumper, and Brown secure 71-67 win with two free throws
Gary Johnson’s 22 points is a career best, but Texas is trying to find a way to lose. Ahed by 4 with 1:54 remaining. Okorie has 9 straight for Tech.
The Longhorns used a six-point possession to move ahead of Tech by 14, but now they are up 11.
Tech got called for an intentional foul (2 free throws by Pittman) and a technical foul (two free throws by Brown). The Longhorns retained possession, and Bradley hit a jumper.
Pittman, scoreless in 3 first-half minutes, scored the first 5 of the second half.
Tech’s struggling to score as John Roberson plays with bruised ribs. He’s 0-3.
The Longhorns, who led by 15, are ahead 37-30 at the half. Tech made a 10-0 push that ended when Longhorn Avery Bradley dunked the rebound off a miss by Gary Johnson.
Johnson has 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Rick Barnes has used three point guards, none of them named Brown.
Gary Johnson (12 pts, 6 rebs) and Mason (6 pts. 4 assists) are keeping Texas in good shape without James. Chapman just helped out with 2 hoops.
On the other hand, Hamilton just missed two more tree throws and for an encore allowed his man to drive by and dunk.
Balbay (left knee) is finished for the day. No status beyond that.
Texas is trying to hold on with James on the bench. Tech has cut a 15-point deficit to 9 with 7:42 left in half.
Texas leads 23-10 with 12 min left in half, but Pittman has not returned, James is out with 2 fouls, and Balbay was helped off with an apparent injury to his left leg. Meanwhile, J’Covan Brown has yet to play.
Not much has happened in first four minutes: Pittman went to locker room after getting hit in the head; Mason, back in starting lineup, has hit 2 of 2 3-point attempts, and James is out with 2 fouls. Texas leads 16-8.
Longhorn Dexter Pittman leaves game after getting hit in head by teammate Damion James during scramble for ball.
Senior Justin Mason has replaced freshman J’Covan Brown in the starting lineup for the Longhorns today at Texas Tech.
Mason, a starter until recently, scored a season-best 18 points when the Longhorns beat Tech in Austin on Jan. 27.
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February 16, 2010
Mason cleared; James an award finalist
Longhorn guard Justin Mason, who missed the game against Nebraska Saturday with an injured left foot, has been cleared to play Wednesday at Missouri.
Forward Damion James is one of 16 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, presented to the national player of the year by the United States Basketball Writers Association.
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February 15, 2010
Horns drop in hoops poll
The Texas men dropped to No. 15 in the Associated Press poll and to No. 17 in the coaches poll, both released today.
Kansas remained No. 1 for the third straight week, but there was a lot of shakeup in the top 10, which saw four teams from last week’s poll lose:
Kansas State moved up from No. 9 to No. 7. That’s the highest the Wildcats have been rated since 1962, when they finished the season No. 6.
Former No. 1 Kentucky moved up one spot, from No. 3 to No. 2.
Villanova moved up a spot, to No. 3. And Purdue is now No. 4 — the sixth time this season that the Boilermakers have been ranked fourth.
Syracuse, which lost to Louisville on Sunday, dropped from No. 2 to No. 5. Duke, which beat Maryland on Saturday, moved up from No. 8 to No. 6.
West Virginia, which lost to Villanova and Pittsburgh last week, fell from No. 5 to No. 8, followed by Ohio State and Georgetown, which lost to Rutgers on Sunday.
Michigan State, which lost to Purdue, dropped one spot to 11th and was followed by New Mexico, Gonzaga, Wisconsin, Texas, BYU, Vanderbilt, Butler, Pittsburgh and Tennessee, which dropped eight spots after losing to Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
The last five teams were Temple, Baylor and newcomers Wake Forest, Texas A&M and Richmond.
No. 1 Kansas and No. 24 Texas A&M meet tonight, in College Station.
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February 13, 2010
Texas-Nebraska/Mason injured
Avery Bradley finally misses a 3-pointer after hitting six of them. He’s saving them now for road games next week against Missouri and Texas Tech.
Going against type: Texas is 13-17 at the free throw line.
Avery Bradley has not slowed down. He is now 6-6 from treyland and just added a mid-range basket.
Texas, with a 20-0 push, leads Nebraska 53-26 at the half. Bradley has scored 20. Johnson has 11 points, 6 rebounds.
Now this is teamwork: Jai Lucas dove to recover a loose ball, starting a fastbreak that Avery Bradley finishes with alley-oop dunk, assisted by J. Brown.
Bradley has season-best five 3-point baskets before halftime.
Avery Bradley just hit his fourth trey in as many attempts, assisted by J. Brown. Texas is up by 14.
Longhorns are hitting a hot 58 percent, with Bradley converting all three of his 3-point attempts. Nebraska is 6 for 8 and trails by 9.
Here’s progress: Jordan Hamilton passed up a 3-pointer, drove into the lane and passed back out to Bradley for a trey. Texas leads 21-12.
Texas leads Nebraska 15-9 behind 6 pts. from Bradley and 5 from Brown. Huskers missed first 5 shots but made 3 straight.
Longhorn senior Justin Mason will not play today against Nebraska because of an injured left ankle.
Mason was hurt during practice on Thursday, and he is not ready to return. He is listed as day to day.
Mason, a four-year starter, moved to a reserve role against Kansas on Monday.
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February 12, 2010
Barnes: it's time for J'Covan Brown
Longhorn coach Rick Barnes said freshman guard J’Covan Brown has earned a starting position against Nebraska Saturday with a more diligent approach to practice. A reduction in turnovers and improved defense are also factors.
Barnes, meanwhile, wants either current starter Dogus Balbay or former starter Justin Mason in the game at all times because of their toughness.
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Longhorn hoops recruit chose for McDonald's game
Tristan Thompson, the 6-foot-10 post player from Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev. who will join the Longhorns next season, was selected for the McDonald’s All-America game.
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February 8, 2010
Texas-Kansas hoops
The Longhorns are clueless on offense, but they trail by just 34-24 at the half. James has 15 of the 24. He has hit 6 of 9 shots. The rest of the Longhorns are 3-19. Kansas made a 22-0 run but shot just 40 percent in the half.
The Longhorns finally score after nearly 11 minutes. It was an accident, of course, banked in trey by James.
The Longhorns just committed tturnovers on three straight possessions, helping Kansas continue its run, 22-0 and counting. No points in more than nine minutes.
The Longhorns have not scored in 7:30. Kansas is on a 12-0 push and leads 20-14.
In another twist, Rick Barnes just went to a realy big lineup: Pittman, James, Johnson up front with 6-7 Hamilton at one of the guards.
The Longhorns are using the bigger lineup, two guards instead of three, and they still look better offensively than they have recently. Damion James has two catch-and-shoot 3-point baskets. This is the Longhorns’ fourth sellout of the season, and they had one near sellout. Last year they had three.
Starting lineup change for the Longhorns: Gary Johnson replaces Justin Mason.
The Longhorns, who face No. 1 Kansas tonight, are one victory away from their 11th straight 20-win season. And one loss away from five defeats in their last seven games.
The Longhorns have an impressive streak going at the Erwin Center against highly-ranked teams. They have won six straight against teams ranked in the top five, most recently Oklahoma last February 21.
Texas has a one-game losing streak at home, though, having lost its last one to Baylor in overtime on Jan. 30.
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Horns have new jerseys for Kansas
Tonight’s Texas-Kansas hoops game will feature new uniforms for the Longhorns.
The new Nike HyperElite unis are lighter than the regular ones and are designed with intricate details, including an image of a longhorn and UT campus landmarks.
Sounds like the Texas football team’s new uniforms that were used for the Texas A&M game, which the Longhorns won. Whether these new, lighter basketball unis will help at the free throw line is another matter …
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Longhorns drop to No. 14
The Longhorn men’s basketball team, after beating Oklahoma State in Stillwater and losing at Oklahoma last week, dropped from No. 9 to 14 in the Associated Press media poll.
Kansas — which faces the Horns tonight — remained the runaway No. 1, receiving 55 first-place votes from the national media panel.
Syracuse (23-1), which received eight first-place votes, moved up one spot to become the fourth No. 2 in as many weeks. The ranking is the highest for the Orange since a six-week stretch at No. 1 in 1989-90.
Kentucky (22-1), which was No. 1 on two ballots, moved up one place to No. 3, while Villanova and West Virginia, which met Monday night, were fourth and fifth.
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February 3, 2010
Damion James a finalist for award
Longhorn senior Damion James is a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award. Here’s a release from Lowe’s:
Twenty NCAA® men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court were tabbed as finalists today for the 2009-10 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the two basketball divisions. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - classroom, character, community and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School™, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 men’s candidates and 30 women’s candidates who were announced in October.
Nationwide balloting begins immediately to determine the winner. Lowe’s, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce the Senior CLASS Award winners during the 2010 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours in early April.
The 2009-10 men’s finalists are: Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga University; Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia University; Marquis Hall, Lehigh University; Luke Harangody, University of Notre Dame; Damion James, University of Texas at Austin; Adam Koch,University of Northern Iowa; Chris Kramer, Purdue University; Raymar Morgan, Michigan State University; Jon Scheyer, Duke University; and Josh Young, Drake University.
The women’s finalists for 2009-10 are: Jayne Appel, Stanford University; Amy Beggin, University of New Mexico; Joy Cheek, Duke University; Alysha Clark, Middle Tennessee State University; Tyra Grant, Pennsylvania State University; Kelsey Griffin, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Allison Hightower, Louisiana State University; Ashley Houts, University of Georgia; Ashley Sweat, Kansas State University; and Bianca Thomas, University of Mississippi.
These 20 names will be placed on the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award basketball ballot for a nationwide vote beginning today and concluding March 22. Fan balloting will be available on the award’s official Web site, http://www.seniorCLASSaward.com, as well as through text messaging. Fans can text MBBALL to 74567 to vote for men’s finalists and WBBALL to 74567 to vote for women’s finalists. These votes will be combined with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.
“Like all student-athletes, basketball players have many demands on their time,” said Tom Lamb, Lowe’s senior vice president of marketing. “These finalists have made it a priority to use some of their spare time to improve their communities through various service projects. Lowe’s puts a premium on community service and values the contributions these young people make each day.”
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February 1, 2010
Texas-Oklahoma State hoops
Hamilton scored 11 straight for Texas, reaching a season and career best of 22, before taking a brief rest, like 26 seconds.
Freshman Jordan Hamilton has scored 8 of the Longhorns’ last 10, giving them a 52-45 lead. He;s tied season high with 17 points.
Longhorns take first lead in a long time, 46-45, with 12 minutes left on a spinning shot by Gary Johnson in the lane. They had led 10-8.
Rick Barnes didn’t change his starting lineup tonight, but J’Covan Brown replaced Justin Mason at the start of the second half.
Longhorns are fortunate to escape the first half trailing by just 36-32. Anderson scored 24 for OSU.
James Anderson, after slow start, has 17 points for OSU. He’s hit 6 of 7. Texas is a sizzling 10 of 28. Down by 8 with 3:43 left in half.
Longhorns back to familiar ways, missing shots at the rim — Johnson and Mason on the same possession. The good news: they haven’t attempted a free throw.
OSU on 7-0 march, Texas calls time out, having hit 2 of its last 12
Kevin Durant just walked in, fashionably late, with his Longhorns ahead 10-8, 11:31 to go in first half. Texas has hit just 2 of its last 9 shots. On the other hand, OSU’s James Anderson, leading scorer in Big 12, has just 3.
Longhorns have hit 3 of 4 shots, nice start, but Pittman has 2 turnovers. They lead 6-2
Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford has altered his starting lineup, replacing one of his guards with 6-8 Matt Pilgrim.
Pilgrim started the first two games of the season but got into foul trouble.
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Longhorns fall to 9th in poll
The Longhorns, who face Oklahoma State tonight in Stillwater, Okla., slipped from sixth to ninth Monday in this week’s Associated Press basketball poll.
Kansas replaced Kentucky at No. 1.
Coach Rick Barnes, speaking on the weekly Big 12 coaches teleconference Monday, said “our offense is killing our defense.”
Barnes cited turnovers and shot selection, adding that the Longhorns, young and old, are in a hurry and thinking “I gotta go do something” when the team falls behind.
Barnes also said he is concerned about fatigue with freshman Avery Bradley, who ranks second on the team in minutes played, 28 a game.
“He’s played hard all year,” Barnes said.
To see the full poll, click here.
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January 30, 2010
Texas-Baylor hoops today
The Longhorns miss four free throws in overtime lose by 3
Texas and Baylor go to overtime. J’Covan Brown missed one of two free throws with 16 seconds left, only his fourth miss of the season. Anthony Jones ties game with putback. No Longhorn was near him to box out on the missed shot.
Texas and Baylor tied at 57 with 3:17 left. Pittman James have 12 points apiece. James has 19 rebounds, and Pittman managed to get his first recently.
Avery Bradley’s second 3-pointer of the game, with 7:20 left, leaves Baylor with a 54-53 lead. Can the Longhorns overcome themselves?
Longhorns are making a game of it, trailing by 5 with 12:59 left. Four straight free throws by J’Covan Brown, the one guy who makes them.
Longhorns rally, cut deficit from 14 to 10 four minutes into second half. Nice start though, with four straight missed free throws and a blown layup.
Longhorns, shooting a sizzling 36 percent and committing 10 turnovers, trail Baylor 38-29 at halftime. Baylor has a 15-2 edge in points off turnovers.
You know the Longhorns are awful then their best statistical category is free throws. They’ve hit 3 of 4 and missed everything else, including several layups. Quite clumsy. Down 32-24 with 3:03 left in half.
Longhorns, generous on defense and still careless with the ball, trail Baylor 30-24 with 6:23 left in half. Texas has 7 turnovers — 3 by sub Jai Lucas. Baylor has just one.
Turns out Dexter Pittman is still with us. He’s off to a fast start with 6 points and a block in the first 8 minutes. But the careless Longhorns have 3 turnovers and trail Baylor 17-14.
One statistical factor to watch when the Longhorns face Baylor is turnovers.
Baylor is nationally ranked in several defensive categories, and the Bears protect the basket well with their 2-3 zone. But they do not force a lot of turnovers with the zone. Through five Big 12 games, their opponents have committed an average of 10.2, fewest in the Big 12. The Bears rank 12th in turnover margin with minus-5.2.
During losses at Colorado and Kansas, the margin was minus-26.
The Longhorns, using their extended man to man approach, have induced 13 turnovers a game from opponents in the Big 12 — 17 for all games. They are about even in turnover margin in the Big 12.
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January 29, 2010
Kudos to football, from basketball
Longhorn assistant basketball coach basketball Rodney Terry wanted to talk football on Friday. Terry was impressed with the late recruiting haul by the Texas football staff, which received commitments from 5-star defensive recruits Jackson Jeffcoat and Jordan Hicks.
“I love the kids they are getting,” Terry said.
The Texas basketball coaches are familiar with Jeffcoat, who also plays basketball and reminds them of former Longhorn P.J. Tucker.
“He’s off the charts,” said Terry, who recruited a big star for next season as well, 6-10 Tristan Thompson.
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January 27, 2010
Back to the court for Longhorns
This isn’t startling news, but Rick Barnes has advantages that Mack Brown does not enjoy.
A bad game, certainly two, can eliminate a football team from national title contention.
A basketball coach, on the other hand, can watch his team look horrible on shots at the rim or on defense and then create a blueprint for improvement as the NCAA Tournament approaches.
I say this as the Longhorns prepare for their return to the court tonight against Texas Tech in the Erwin Center — where Barnes has won 11 straight against the Red Raiders — after consecutive defeats at Kansas State and Connecticut.
While Barnes has the benefit of time, he does not have a lot. This team, probably his most talented, is regarded as national title material. It would clearly help the Longhorns’ chances in the tournament if they were seeded No. 1 or no lower than No. 2.
A top-three seed probably would get Texas the edge of starting the tournament in Oklahoma City or New Orleans.
But the Longhorns probably need a No. 1 or No. 2 seed to be earmarked for Houston in the regionals.
A few defeats do not have to be devastating. North Carolina, the big favorite last season, lost twice, to Boston College in Chapel Hill and at Wake Forest, on Jan. 11. The Tar Heels won the national title.
The Longhorns have issues to resolve before they concern themselves with positioning for the tournament.
They might improve at free-throw shooting as the season progresses, but probably not by a lot.
They have to find ways to score if it turns out that Dexter Pittman really is not good enough to handle the attention he gets from defenders inside.
Texas does not have a great offensive player, but it has enough good ones. There is too much talent and athleticism on the team to miss so many shots at the rim, even against long opponents like K-State and UConn.
It would help the team if Barnes can induce something out of the backup big men — Alexis Wangmene, Matt Hill and Clint Chapman. They have produced little lately except for the six points Chapman had at Kansas State.
Freshman guard J’Covan Brown needs to emerge from a two-game slump in which he has missed 10 of 11 shots. Barnes said Brown, like a lot of freshman, allows the disappointment of missed shots to affect his defense.
If the Longhorns can benefit at all from missed shots at the rim, it is because Damion James and Pittman sometimes use those as an opportunity for putbacks.
A few of those tonight would help James set another Big 12 record. A double-double would be his 48th, one more than the mark he shares with former Longhorn Chris Mihm.
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Tech's missing two starters
When Texas Tech meets Texas tonight in the Erwin Center, the Red Raiders will be without two players who are listed as starters in the team’s game notes, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Both players are forwards. Darko Cohadarevic is serving a one-game suspension and D’walyn Roberts is recovering from a bone bruise.
The two combine for 14.5 points and 11.9 rebounds.
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January 25, 2010
Horns drop to No. 6 in coaches poll
The Texas men, who became the third No. 1-ranked team in the country to lose twice in one week since the weekly top 25 coaches poll began in the 1997-98 season, dropped five spots to No. 6 in Monday’s national poll.
The Longhorns play Texas Tech on Wednesday.
As expected, Kentucky — the last undefeated men’s team, at 19-0 — took over the No. 1 spot. Meanwhile, defending national champion North Carolina fell out of the top 25 altogether for the first time since 2006.
Kansas moved up from No. 3 to No. 2. The Jayhawks face the Longhorns at the Erwin Center on Feb. 8.
To see the full poll, click here.
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January 19, 2010
Back to the Big Apple
The Longhorns do not have a game scheduled this season in New York City, as they often do, but Texas will return next season.
The Longhorns will play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic on Nov. 18 and 19 in Madison Square Garden. Also in the event are Maryland, Illinois and Pittsburgh.
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James gets another weekly award
Longhorn forward Damion James was named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Jan. 17, the United States Basketball Writers Association announced Tuesday.
James averaged 24.5 points and 13 rebounds against Iowa State and Texas A&M. He scored 23 in the second half, including 7 in overtime, against the Aggies. He also made a key blocked shot late in overtime.
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January 18, 2010
Barnes: areas that need improvement after A&M game
As Longhorn coach Rick Barnes prepares for Kansas State tonight, he cites some areas of deficiency from two days earlier during a victory over Texas A&M in overtime.
He said the Longhorns lacked proper spacing and patience on offense.
“We got jumpy,” Barnes said.
On defense, the Longhorn big men allowed A&M’s Bryan Davis (17 points) to establish position too close to the basket, Texas offering little resistance.
“Didn’t fight back enough,” Barnes said. “We kept giving up ground.”
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Students camped out in Manhattan
Kansas State coach Frank Martin says students have been camped outside 12,528 seat Bramlage Coliseum since 4 a.m. waiting for the basketball game against Texas tonight at 8.
The game is sold out.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever walked into a building where I feel more passion,” Martin said.
Martin, a tough guy by nature, was blowing kisses at the Longhorns Monday.
“They are the best team in the country, one of the best coached teams in the country,” Martin said. “Damion James is the best player in college basketball right now. Dexter Pittman is an incredible presence who makes you adjust.”
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James player of the week
Longhorn senior Damion James was named Big 12 basketball player of the week Monday.
James averaged 24.5 points and 13 rebounds during victories against Iowa State and Texas A&M. He scored 23 of his 26 in the second half against the Aggies, including 7 in overtime. He also blocked three shots, including a 3-point attempt that could have tied the game near the end of overtime.
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January 11, 2010
Horns hoops is No. 1
The Texas men’s basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the country in the latest national top 25 poll, which was released Monday.
It’s the first time that a Longhorns team has ever reached the top ranking.
Former top-ranked Kansas suffered its first season loss on Sunday, to 15th-ranked Tennessee. That opened the door for Texas, which was ranked No. 2.
The Longhorns (15-0) and Jayhawks (14-1) meet at the Erwin Center on Feb. 8, the day after the Super Bowl. Kansas dropped to No. 3 on Monday.
“I do think this is a compliment to our program and to this year’s team for what they have done to this point,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said. “Every former player here at Texas should take ownership in this ranking today, for they are all a part of it.
“But, it’s like I told our guys, I can’t honestly tell you who the No. 1 team was in the country on the second week of January last year,” Barnes continued. “But I do know who won the national championship.”
Texas received 56 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel, 47 more than Kentucky. The Wildcats (16-0) moved from third to second.
There was a lot of movement in the poll following a week in which 15 ranked teams lost at least once, including five in the top 10.
Villanova was ranked No. 4, followed by Syracuse, Purdue, Michigan State, Duke, Tennessee and West Virginia. Baylor, Miami and Clemson entered the rankings.
To see the full rankings, click here.
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Bradley freshman of the week
Longhorn freshman Avery Bradley has been named Big 12 rookie of the week.
Bradley, a guard, averaged 20.5 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists during wins over Arkansas and Colorado.
He set season bests with 29 points and 9 rebounds against Colorado.
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December 31, 2009
Williams to miss another hoops game
Longhorn freshman reserve Shawn Williams will miss his fifth straight basketball game, with an injured left ankle, when the team faces Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday at 3:30 in the Erwin Center.
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December 30, 2009
Cheap tickets for Longhorn basketball
Mezzanine-level tickets for the Longhorn men’s basketball game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday are on sale for $3 each.
Tip is 3:30 p.m. at the Erwin Center.
To order tickets, go to www.TexasBoxOffice.com, or (800) 982-BEVO, or (512) 471-3333. Tickets also are available for purchase at any Texas Box Office outlet.
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December 21, 2009
Pittman Big 12 player of the week
Longhorn center Dexter Pittman was named Big 12 player of the week after his 23-point, 15-rebound, 2-block game against North Carolina.
Longhorns have first sellout of the season for Michigan State Tuesday.
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December 20, 2009
Barnes' radio show moves for this week
Longhorn coach Rick Barnes’ weekly call-in radio show has been moved to Monday instead of Thursday this week.
The show is conducted live at Pluckers, 2222 Rio Grande Street, near campus, and carried locally by KVET-AM (1300).
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December 18, 2009
Basketball injury update
Freshman guard J’Covan Brown (left ankle) has been cleared to play Saturday against North Carolina.
Freshman forward Shawn Williams (left ankle) will miss the game.
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Michigan State basketball tickets
UT is selling tickets to the basketball game Tuesday against Michigan State that were unclaimed by students. Lower level seats cost $20. Upper level tickets are $7.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 512-471-3333 or at TexasBoxOffice.com.
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