The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Basketball preview: Lenoir-Rhyne
10.29.2006 | Men's Basketball
No. 19 TEXAS vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006 - 7 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,755) - Austin, Texas
Television: The game will be not be televised.
Radio: KVET-AM 1300 (Austin) will carry the game. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (color) will call the action.
Series: Texas leads, 2-0.
Last Meeting: Texas 97-36 (Nov. 9, 2005; Austin).
First of Two
Texas begins its two-game exhibition season when it faces Division II Lenoir-Rhyne College (Hickory, N.C.) on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Tip is set for 7 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center.
Up Next
Texas concludes its exhibition season when it faces Xavier University (New Orleans, La.), another Division II opponent, on Monday, Nov. 6. Tip is set for 7 p.m. at the Erwin Center.
Exhibition Games Free to Fans
Both of UT's exhibition games this season will be non-ticketed games. In addition, seating will be open, so fans can choose from any available seat in the arena.
Halloween Activities
The UT Athletics Marketing office has several activities planned to enhance the basketball experience on Halloween night:
- Three student bands (The Hudsons, Driver F, Fulton Read) will take the stage in the Lone Star Room at 5:30 for a pre-game party. Free food will be available in that area during the party.
- Halloween candy and popcorn will be distributed by student groups in the concourse of the arena.
- Halloween costume contest at halftime on the court
- Post-game autograph session with players and coaches
The 101st Season
Texas tips off its 101st season of intercollegiate basketball when it plays host to Alcorn State on Thursday, Nov. 9 in the opening round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. Tip is slated for 8:30 p.m. at the Erwin Center. The Longhorns hold an all-time record of 1,507-918 (.621) in their previous 100 years of competition. UT played its first varsity basketball contest on March 10, 1906 and recorded a 27-17 victory against Baylor in Austin. The Horns went on to post a 7-1 mark in the program's opening season. Texas has fielded a varsity basketball team in every year since then with the exception of the 1907-08 season.
The Lenoir-Rhyne Connection
Texas head coach Rick Barnes earned his bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1977. He was a three-year letterwinner for the Bears and earned the Captain's Award for Leadership as a junior and senior. Barnes was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Lenoir-Rhyne in 1997 and was inducted into the Lenoir-Rhyne College Hall of Fame on Oct. 5, 2002. He also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the school on May 7, 2005. Barnes is a native of Hickory, N.C., where Lenoir-Rhyne is located.
Series vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
Tuesday's game marks the third consecutive year that Texas and Lenoir-Rhyne have met in an exhibition contest. UT has won each of the two previous meetings. The Horns posted a 92-47 home victory against the Bears on Nov. 9, 2004. Texas then registered a 97-36 win in Austin last season (Nov. 9, 2005).
Experimental Rule in Play
Texas has elected to play with this year's experimental rule during both of its preseason exhibition games. This year's experimental rule is: - During all free throw attempts, the first lane space nearest the basket on each side of the lane will be eliminated. Players will use the current second, third and fourth marked lane spaces on each side of the lane.
Exhibition Perfection Under Barnes
Texas enters Tuesday's contest against Lenoir-Rhyne with a 16-0 record in exhibition games under coach Rick Barnes. Here's a game-by-game recap of how the Horns have fared in their previous 16 exhibition contests since Barnes came to Austin:
A Check of the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Today Preseason Top 25 Coaches poll (released Oct. 27). This marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons that UT has been ranked in the coaches' preseason poll. Texas was tabbed No. 22 in 1999-2000, No. 22 in 2001-02, No. 5 in 2002-03, No. 11 in 2003-04, No. 15 in 2004-05 and No. 3 last year. The preseason AP poll is slated for release on Monday, Nov. 6. During the Barnes era, the Horns have spent 99 weeks in the AP Top 25, including 41 in the Top 10.
Horns Picked Fourth in Preseason Big 12 Poll
Texas is picked to to finish fourth in the Big 12 Conference in a preseason vote of the league coaches, the conference office announced on Oct. 16. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Kansas was the unanimous pick to win the league, receiving all 11 possible first-place votes in polling and a total of 121 points. Texas A&M (109 points) was tabbed to place second, followed by Oklahoma State (97), Texas (95) and Kansas State (76).
Horns at Home
Texas enters its 30th year of play in the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns have posted an all-time record of 331-87 (.792) in the building. Since Rick Barnes arrived in Austin, UT has recorded a 106-16 (.869) mark at the Erwin Center, including a 54-10 (.844) record in Big 12 Conference home games. Texas is 19-8 (.704) under Barnes against AP Top 25 teams at the Erwin Center. The Horns have won 60 of their last 64 home games.
Barnes in Year Nine at Texas
Head coach Rick Barnes begins his ninth season at Texas and sports a 191-76 (.715) mark with the Horns. He has compiled a 393-210 (.652) record in 20 years as a head coach at George Mason, Providence, Clemson and Texas. Along the way, he has guided his teams to a total of 14 NCAA (current streak of 11 consecutive) and three NIT appearances.
