The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Western Carolina
Men's Basketball routs Western Carolina, 73-41
11.18.2009 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2009
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Gary Johnson is a prime example of the depth No. 3 Texas has and what it means for the players.
Minutes on the court will be limited. Get in the game, it's time to produce or it's back to the bench.
"When you're out there, you have to do everything right. You have to play as hard as possible," Johnson said after scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 19 minutes of Texas' 73-41 win over Western Carolina on Wednesday night.
Texas (2-0) has a luxury of depth with senior forwards Damion James, Dexter Pittman, and a freshman class many consider the best in the country. James scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds against the Catamounts (1-1).
Johnson, a junior forward, said he had to swallow his pride knowing others are being counted on for the scoring he once expected to produce.
"I just want to do whatever will make this team win. That's all that matters as you get older and mature. I'm a junior now. Things change. I know I can score," Johnson said.
The lineup is only going to get deeper. Florida transfer Jai Lucas, a guard, will be eligible to play in mid-December.
Texas coach Rick Barnes loves the challenge of getting everyone on the court.
"It's hard to get everybody out there," Barnes said. "I'll tell you this: If guys do their job, they're all going to find a way to get on the court."
The freshmen are still feeling their way around the college game. They looked nervous in the season-opener against UC-Irvine and this one wasn't without early mistakes.
Freshman point guard J'Covan Brown scored 10 points and had his first assists of the season, finishing with three against six turnovers in 21 minutes. Avery Bradley, considered by some the top recruit in the country, put up an air ball on his first shot and finished with four points in 17 minutes.
Brown was academically ineligible last season and is still working the rust off his game.
"He's turning the ball over way too much. He's a very good basketball player. I know he's better than that," Barnes said.
A 20-6 run in the first half put Texas firmly in control. Johnson scored six in the run.
Brown found his shooting touch late in the first half. He made two 3-pointers and a driving, scoop layup at the buzzer that gave Texas a 43-24 halftime lead.
Brown also got a rude welcome to college ball when the Catamounts, hardly the most physical team Texas will play this season, ran him into a hard screen midway through the second half. He stayed on the ground for a few seconds but was able to keep playing.
Texas outrebounded Western Carolina 47-32 and held the Catamounts to 26 percent shooting. Western Carolina scored just 17 points in the second half.
"They really get after you defensively," coach Larry Hunter said. "I think we have a decent offensive team. They can run a lot of people at you."
Harouna Mutombo scored 10 points to lead Western Carolina.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Started the season 2-0 for the seventh consecutive year and the 10th time in 12 years under Coach Barnes
- Improved to 63-5 at the Erwin Center in the last five seasons (dating back to the start of the 2005-06 season) and 153-20 at the Erwin Center under Rick Barnes
- Improved to 7-3 all-time against current members of the Southern Conference
- Texas held the opponents in their first two games to a combined 100 points or less for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in five seasons
- Texas held a double-digit rebounding advantage (47-32) for the second time this season
- Outshot the Catamounts .532-.262 for the game, including .500-.226 in the second half
- The Longhorns are holding opponents to .215 (14-of-65) shooting from the field in the second half of games this season
- The Longhorns have held opponents to under .300 shooting in three of four halves this season
- The Longhorns have held opponents to .173 (5-of-29) shooting from three-point range through two games
- The Longhorns have held opponents under 25 points in all four halves this season
J'Covan Brown
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the second time in his career
Jordan Hamilton
- Grabbed a career-high six rebounds
Damion James
- Reached double figures in scoring (18 points) for second time this season and the 71st time in 110 career games
- Led Texas in scoring for the second time this season and the 16th time in his career
- Improved his career rebound total to 990, just 10 shy of becoming the third player in school history to log 1,000 rebounds
Gary Johnson
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the first time this season and the 22nd time in 56 career games
- Grabbed his most rebounds (seven) since UT's 71-49 win at Texas Tech on Jan. 17, 2009
Varez Ward
- Reached double figures in scoring (10 points) for the first time this season and the third time in 34 career games
TEXAS QUOTES
HEAD COACH Rick Barnes
On the defensive effort: That's the one thing I told the team after the game. After we played Irvine the other night, we played hard but not as hard as I thought we should ave played with certain people. One thing tonight I thought we came out and we spent a day after the Irvine game just working on defense. I thought tonight it was a conscious effort of our team doing that. Offensively, we didn't talk a lot about it before the game, and it showed up. We had 20 turnovers, not a very effective job from the free throw line. The defense is what we concentrated on, and we did a good job with it.
On getting help off the bench from Gary Johnson: The other night I thought that Dogus changed the game when he came in. Tonight, no question Gary changed the game when he came in and Alexis changed the game. That's what I told Gary at shoot around, what I want you to be is a game changer when you come in. He did that tonight. He rebounded, he played hard, he did some really good things.
JUNIOR FORWARD Gary Johnson
On his play tonight: I feel like I did pretty good. I feel like I played my role tonight and that's what this team is based on, guys playing roles. I feel like we're going to win as long as guys don't get out of what they do, what they work on and what they practice. Me playing my role, I feel like I did a pretty good job tonight.
On coming off of the bench: I think people look at me and see me not starting and they think that I can't be that good, so when I come in I try to change the game and have an impact offensively, defensively, or anything I'm given the opportunity to do.
SENIOR FORWARD Damion JamesOn Dexter's play on the inside: For us to get where we want to go, Dexter has to do that, because we look to get the ball to the big guy and let him do his thing down there. If he does that we'll be great because we can always get the ball outside. We've got to pound the ball and make the defense respect that too. That's what we've got to do.
WESTERN CAROLINA QUOTES
HEAD COACH LARRY HUNTER
Opening statement: It was a typical Rick Barnes basketball team. They played very, very hard, and they executed well. They got themselves pretty good shots and shot a pretty good percentage. They really get after you offensively. They do not make it easy on you. I think that we have a decent offensive team, but we sure did not show it tonight. You have to give them a little credit because of their defense. It is very physical. They can run a lot of people at you. They are good off the dribble. I am sure Rick was not pleased with all of their turnovers, but I would like to think that our effort and some of our defense was a little bit of a factor too.
On whether he was surprised that J'Covan Brown was the lead scorer and on the game overall: Well, maybe it was a surprise that he was the leading scorer, but I know he is a good player. I saw him in the AAU circuit, know his reputation, and have some feel for his game.
On what the team can take away from this loss: I do not think that a game like this defines Western Carolina win or lose or Texas win or lose. What you do after this and later on in conference play is the key, but you learn from situations like this. Hopefully we created some situations for Texas where they can get better and improve, and I am sure they will. There are some things out there that we have to learn from and get better at.
