The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
Men's Basketball dumps Texas State in season opener
11.19.2004 | Men's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A new position was no problem for P.J. Tucker in No. 16 Texas' season opener.
An undersized power forward as a freshman last season, Tucker moved to small forward to make better use of his ball-handling skills. He had little trouble finding his shots in his first game at his new position, scoring 18 points to the lead the Longhorns to a 95-63 win over Texas State on Friday night.
"It really doesn't matter where," Tucker said. "As long as I'm on the court, I'm comfortable."
He was 8-of-10 from the floor with an array of jumpers, layups and a pair of thunderous dunks against the overmatched Bobcats (0-1).
Tucker led six Longhorns in double figures. Brad Buckman and Kenton Paulino each scored 13.
Paulino made all three attempts from 3-point range and was 4-of-4 from the foul line. The Longhorns hit 13 of 22 shots from long range.
The game also was the much-anticipated debut of the Longhorns' freshman class, regarded by some of the top recruiting class in the nation. They were brought in to replace four departed seniors who were the backbone of four NCAA tournament teams, including three straight trips to the round of 16 and a Final Four appearance in 2003.
Point guard Daniel Gibson and LaMarcus Aldridge, a 6-foot-10 forward, were McDonald's High School All-Americans last season and were the first pair of freshmen to start for Texas since 1986.
Gibson scored 11 points and had five assists. Aldridge added 10 points and nine rebounds.
"Those four guys that left last year, they had to pick up the slack," Buckman said. "No matter where we were, people were knocking down shots. Even the young people on this team know what to do. Nobody acts young."
Another freshman, Dion Dowell, scored three points. Mike Williams, sitting out as Texas tries to resolve questions about his eligibility with the NCAA, and Connor Atchley are two other members of the recruiting class who did not play.
Bobcats coach Dennis Nutt was impressed with the Longhorns' new lineup.
"Texas just reloads," Nutt said. "They lose a few guys but they keep reloading with more .... They have size and speed and that's a deadly combination."
Anthony Dill scored 19 points to lead Texas State, which kept the score close early as the Bobcats made six of their first eight 3-pointers.
Gibson responded for Texas with two 3-pointers, picking up where he left off when he hit seven 3s on the same floor in leading his high school team to a state championship last March.
"It was great having my first night out and coming out with a win," Gibson said. "This was the first test we had and I was a little nervous."
Texas finally broke it open with a 20-7 run that gave the Longhorns a 45-30 lead.
Tucker capped the run with six straight points. He made a 15-foot jumper, a dunk off a steal, and a reverse layup when he grabbed a rebound and maneuvered around two players to get off the shot.
The Longhorns are 48-3 against in-state rivals since Rick Barnes took over the program in 1998. Texas next travels to Hawaii next week to play in the Maui Invitational.
Postgame Quotes
Texas Head Coach Rick Barnes
ON THE DEFENSIVE EFFORT:
"We wanted to see if we've improved defensively, primarily on our ability to get through screens. At the start of the game, I thought P.J. (Tucker) gave us some good energy defensively. They came out in the beginning making shots but we adjusted to the three point line and were able to chase some of their shooters off the line."
ON Kenton Paulino:
"Kenton Paulino was without question, the best player we had on the floor tonight. He was doing a lot of things out there that we need done and he really has a great pace to his game. He also did a great job of getting the ball inside tonight."
ON THE INSIDE GAME:
"In the first half, I don't think we had one shot where the post man was attacking the rim. For the majority of the half, we were taking fall away jump shots. In the second half, we did a much better job and started getting deep post position. There were some passes that came from the perimeter that helped set that up, but it can't work if we don't get deep post position."
Brad Buckman, Junior Forward
ON THE WIN OVER TEXAS STATE:
"I think we played hard for 40 minutes. Coach had a game plan before the game and I think everyone achieved their goals, so it was definitely a great game. Kenton (Paulino) came out and shot lights out and Daniel (Gibson) did what he does and I think everyone contributed."
P.J. Tucker, Sophomore Forward
ON DION DOWELL AND PLAYING THE WING:
"I think Dion Dowell (has improved), he has worked a lot and he has worked hard. He has come a long way since he came here and he is starting to get more comfortable out there. I think he is going to get more minutes as the season goes on. I have been practicing at the wing since April, so I feel comfortable anywhere on the court. It really doesn't matter."
Kenton Paulino, Junior Guard
ON HIS PERFORMANCE:
"We have been practicing hard and I just tried to do what I do in practice in the game. Year in and year out, Texas is a deep team, so everyday in practice, if you have a let down, it can cost you minutes. It makes us better as a team knowing that if we don't do our job then someone else will."
Daniel Gibson, Freshman Guard
ON TONIGHTS GAME:
"It was great to come out with a win on my first night out. This was really the first test we had so far this season so I was a little nervous. I got a couple of fouls, but I got a chance to watch Kenton run the team and get everybody involved. I learned a lot from him."
Texas State Head Coach Dennis Nutt
ON PLAYING TEXAS:
"Our guys did well, I'm proud of their effort. But (Texas) reloads. With players of their size like (Jason) Klotz and (Brad) Buckman, you have to pick your poison. They made a run midway through the first half and that was the difference. They got a lead on us and we couldn't cut into it. Daniel Gibson kept good control of the game and knocked down his open shots. Josh (Naylor) hit a few early, but they made a conscious effort to stay on him and they did a good job of that."
Josh Naylor, Senior Guard
ON TEXAS STATE'S EARLY 19-18 LEAD:
"I felt like we did a really good job of getting open. We had the right mindset going in, but little by little, they chipped away at that and came back."
Anthony Dill, Senior Forward
ON TEXAS'S SIZE:
"Any time they have size on you, it is definitely an advantage. I've played around big guys all my life. The main thing is stepping up your play. But, it is difficult with players of their size."
