The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UC Irvine
James and Pittman lead No. 3 Men's Basketball in 89-42 win over UC Irvine
11.15.2009 | Men's Basketball
Box Score | Box Score 
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Postgame Notes | Postgame Quotes
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- When the freshmen looked nervous, No. 3 Texas had the luxury of a strong senior class to take control and lead the way.
Damion James had 21 points and 15 rebounds and Dexter Pittman scored 21 to lead the Longhorns to a season-opening 89-42 victory over UC-Irvine on Sunday.
Those two had flirted with going to the NBA after last season, but returned to play with one of the nation's top freshman classes.
And in the first game with such high expectations, it was senior steadiness that carried the day.
"We knew we had to set a tone. We had to show them how it was done," Pittman said. "We weren't trying to steal the show."
Texas coach Rick Barnes sprinkled the freshmen through the lineup and the start was a bit ragged. Freshman J'Covan Brown started at point guard and finished with 13 points, but had no assists and five turnovers. Two of the turnovers came in the first 2 minutes.
Barnes said he could see the nervous energy the night before the game.
"J'Covan Brown wore us all out before the game," Barnes said. "I've never seen a guy as amped up. Ever."
Avery Bradley, considered the top player among the freshmen, got in the game 4 minutes in, but misfired on his first couple of shots and didn't make his first basket until a steal and dunk with 3:26 left in the half.
Bradley won the McDonald's All-America dunk contest in high school but kept his first college slam pretty simple without any showboating.
The early miscues forced Pittman and James to make sure Texas (1-0) didn't fall far behind and they scored 15 of Texas' first 18 points. Aided by the Texas mistakes, UC-Irvine led 19-18 before the freshmen finally shook off their jitters.
Brown started the big run with a 3-pointer and Jordan Hamilton's 3 a couple of minutes later made it 26-19. James and Pittman dunked before another 3-pointer by James put Texas up by 20.
"We know how good they are. They're going to be great," James said. "You can't throw a freshman in there and expect them to just go to the top."
Brown's second 3-pointer with 48 seconds left made it 42-21 at halftime.
UC-Irvine had no way to match up with the 6-foot-10, 290-pound Pittman, who scored at will on 10-of-11 shooting. Pittman scored Texas' first two baskets after halftime and his dunk off a steal by Justin Mason put the Longhorns up 57-29.
Texas shot 57 percent for the game and outrebounded UC-Irvine 49-30.
"I've seen him on TV. He's a load inside," UC-Irvine coach Pat Douglass said of Pittman. "It's a stretch to remain positive. This was a tough assignment."
Once the game was in control, the freshmen looked much more comfortable. Brown finished with four 3-pointers and Hamilton and Bradley showed off with two flashy dunks.
Hamilton finished with 12 points and Bradley scored 10.
"At the end of the game, those young players were out there for a long time," Barnes said. "They probably have a great appreciation for just how hard it is and how hard the older guys play to sustain it."
Zack Atkinson scored 10 points to lead the Anteaters (1-1).
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Improved to 85-19 in season openers, including 10-2 in openers under Rick Barnes
- Improved to 89-15 in home openers, including a 28-5 mark since moving to the Erwin Center
- Improved to 62-5 at the Erwin Center in the last five seasons (dating back to the start of the 2005-06 season) and 152-20 at the Erwin Center under Rick Barnes
- Texas held UC Irvine scoreless from the 10:05 mark of the first half until the 0:53 mark of the first half (9:12), recording a 21-0 run during the stretch
- Improved to 11-5 all-time against current members of the Big West Conference
- Defense held an opponent under 50 points in an opener for the fourth consecutive season
- Has outscored opponents by an average of 37.3 points over the last six season openers
- Outshot the Anteaters .565-.274 for the game, including .667-.206 in the second half
Dogus Balbay
- Balbay logged 6 assists without a turnover in 19 minutes
Avery Bradley
- Made his first collegiate appearance at the 16:00 mark of the first half
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the first time in his career
J'Covan Brown
- Made his first career start and became the 24th freshman in UT history to start a season-opener
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the first time in his career
Jordan Hamilton
- Made his first collegiate appearance at the 14:37 mark of the first half
- Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the first time in his career
Damion James
- Scored 10 or more points for the 70th time in 109 career game
- Scored 20 or more points for the first time this season and the 11th time in his career
- Logged 10 or more rebounds for the 49th time in his career
- Logged 15 or more rebounds for the first time this season and the ninth time in his career
- Recorded his first double-double of the season and the 38th of his career
- Ended the game with 1,327 points, passing Lance Blanks (1,322 - 1989-90) for 17th place on the UT career scoring list
- Improved his career rebound total to 983, just 17 shy of becoming the third player in school history to log 1,000 rebounds.
Dexter Pittman
- Scored 10 or more points for the 19th time in 101 career games
- Scored 20 or more points for the first time this season and fourth time in his career
- Logged a career-high 10 field goals made (10-of-11), having previously made nine on two separate occasions
Alexis Wangmene
- Played in his first game since Nov. 26, 2008 (vs. Oregon)
Varez Ward
- Made his second career start (Arkansas - Jan. 6, 2009)
- Logged 4 assists without a turnover in 19 minutes
Shawn Williams
- Made his first collegiate appearance at the 4:15 mark of the first half
TEXAS QUOTES
HEAD COACH Rick Barnes
On the team's defense: It was okay. The details that we talked about, taking away vision, balance, were okay. Early, we thought we were playing hard, but maybe we were not really focused in on what we needed to be. As the game went on, the older guys did a really great job. I told our team the great thing was the freshmen were out there for a long period of time. Everything we taught, they didn't do in terms of the details. I think now they have a greater appreciation for just how hard it is and how hard those older guys play and how they can sustain it. We scrambled and we definitely broke down in terms of some of our technique. Our ability, quickness, speed and size was overwhelming. They played hard, but we probably were not as efficient as we would like it to be.
On the freshmen's nerves: J'Covan Brown wore us all out. I've never seen a guy that amped up, ever. We got through practice yesterday at 4:30, but he stayed up on the floor for another hour. At 5:30 he was still here. I came here at 7:30 last night for the team meeting, and he was already on the court, sweating. This morning they said after pre-game meal he went ahead and went to the practice facility to shoot some. I thought Avery settled in a little bit. So did Jordan. I thought Shawn Williams did the best job of taking care of the details, out of all the young guys. He's a very cerebral player. He did a really neat job of taking care of details. Shawn really understands what he's doing.
SENIOR Dexter Pittman
On giving advice to the freshmen for their first game: I had to tell Avery to calm down and remind him he's a good player and to just let it come to him. Once he got in the flow of the game, everything just started coming. They were kind of nervous. I don't think J'Covan was nervous. He was amped. I think he was ready to play. He's a competitor. He loves the competition. I don't think he'll back down from anything.
On being a leader for the freshmen: We think that because we are seniors, we had to set a tone on the court for the younger guys. We had to show them how it's done. We thought that playing hard would be a good example, and when we went to the bench we told them 'this is how it's done.' We told them to keep the tempo up.
On the team's talent: Basically on this team, we really don't have starters. Anyone can start on any night. The guys off the bench played great.
SENIOR Damion James
On the all the dunking that went on: That's the game plan. We've got to get the big guys going. If we do it like that every game, I'm going to be pretty happy.
On playing defense with Dexter Pittman: Every rebound belongs to me. [Dex] came up to me after the game and said 'man, you took rebounds from me.' I said, "they aren't your rebounds, you have to come get them from me." It's just great. Dexter has been great all during the offseason. He's continued to work hard and lost more weight. I love playing with him.
UC IRVINE QUOTES
HEAD COACH PAT DOUGLASS
Opening statement: We got into a situation where different players were trying to help us get back into our rhythm. We were tied and we didn't make some shots. In a game like this with a very talented team, you have to execute and make some shots, which we didn't. Once they started making their threes, then we had no answer. We didn't have too many solutions. They're a good ball club, and we had to play well and we didn't.
On new players for Texas: Their new players are obviously going to be a great addition to their club. They're fine players. It gives them a little bit more shooting then they have had. They're a nice ball club.
On the athleticism of Texas: They all look athletic to me. We had some layups and they were way up over the rim. They're very athletic.
