The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Kenny's Korner: Kenton Paulino
01.12.2005 | Men's Basketball
After converting on a team-leading 59 three pointers last season, senior guard Kenny Taylor is off to another strong season for the Longhorns, averaging 11.5 points per contest in nearly 29 minutes per game (28.8). When Taylor plays at Texas A&M (1/12) and at Nebraska (1/15) this week, it will be his return against opponents that last saw him score 18 and 13 points, respectively, on 8 of 17 (47.1%). Taylor also has post-basketball ambitions that may involve a career in sports journalism. He has been on the receiving end of interviews with the likes of CBS' Bonnie Bernstein and ESPN The Magazine. Now, Taylor moves to the other side of the microphone. Throughout the season, he will interview one of his Texas teammates for TexasSports.com.
This week, Kenny sits down with junior guard Kenton Paulino. A backup to Longhorn legend T.J. Ford during his freshman year, Paulino came on strong in his sophomore season starting 23 of the final 25 games during Texas' Sweet Sixteen run last season. Now, Paulino and freshman Daniel Gibson are proving a solid point guard tandem for Texas. Entering the Texas A&M game, Paulino is averaging 7.7 points per game in just over 20 minutes per contest (20.4) while leading the team in three-point percentage with 53.3 percent (24-45). This week he sits down to talk about entering Big 12 conference play.
Kenny Taylor: What is the best thing about playing a non-conference schedule before opening Big 12 play?
Kenton Paulino: You get to play teams from other conferences to find out what style of play is used outside the Big 12.
KT: What does playing a non-conference schedule do to prepare the team for the postseason tournaments?
Paulino: It prepares us because most of the time you won't end up playing another Big 12 team in the NCAA Tournament, so you get a feel for other conferences during the regular season.
KT: What is the best thing about the Big 12 conference?
Paulino: The teams. You have to play hard in every game because Baylor, Kansas State or any other team in our conference can win.
KT: What makes the Big 12 conference one of the best in the nation?
Paulino: Every year, teams like Kansas, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are right there on the national scene and we have to play them once or twice every year.
KT: What is your best Big 12 game memory?
Paulino: Probably last year when Brandon (Mouton) hit that three pointer to force the Texas Tech game into overtime and then we ended up winning the game by one point in OT.
