The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
West Virginia
Men's Basketball preview: West Virginia [Jan. 13, 2014]
01.12.2014 | Men's Basketball
Coming off their first Big 12 win, the Longhorns head to Morgantown to battle West Virginia in another conference tilt on Monday night (6 p.m. Central, ESPNU) at WVU Coliseum.
Texas Longhorns (12-4, 1-2 Big 12) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (10-6, 2-1 Big 12)
Monday, Jan. 13, 2014 - 7:00 p.m. Central
WVU Coliseum (14,000) - Morgantown, W. Va.
Game Notes | Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Live Tweets
GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU. Mike Schick (pxp) and Bob Valvano (analyst) will call the action.
• RADIO: The Longhorn Sports Network and KVET (FM 98.1/1300AM Sportsradio the Zone) broadcast every UT game on the statewide network. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (analyst) will call the action. Check www.TexasSports.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game.
• SERIES: West Virginia leads, 3-2. Last meeting: West Virginia, 60-58 (Feb. 4, 2013; Morgantown)
TEXAS VS. WEST VIRGINIA
- All five games between Texas and West Virginia have been decided by four points or less, including one in overtime. The cumulative series score is 343-340 in favor of WVU.
- The five previous meetings between Texas and West Virginia matchups have been decided by a combined 11 points, and all five have come down to the final possession.
- The largest margin of victory in the series came in last year's 57-53 overtime win by WVU in Austin.
- UT's most memorable win in the series came in a 74-71 victory courtesy of a Kenton Paulino three-pointer at the buzzer in the 2006 NCAA "Sweet 16" in Atlanta.
- West Virginia leads the all-time series, 3-2, after the Mountaineers swept both meetings from Texas last season.
- Texas won both games in the 2005-06 season on buzzer-beater shots. WVU won the first meeting between the schools on Dec. 20, 1973.
WHAT'S IN A WIN
- A win would mark the 1,687th victory in program history.
- A win would mark head coach Rick Barnes' 371st victory at Texas and his 573rd victory all-time as a head coach.
- A win would improve UT's record to 13-4, marking the program's best 17-game start to a season since 2010-11 (started 14-3). It would also mark the 12th time in the Rick Barnes era (last 16 years) that the Horns have opened the year with at least 13 wins in their first 17 contests (17-0 in 2009-10; 15-2 in 2005-06; 14-3 in 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2007-08, 2010-11; 13-4 in 2001-02, 2006-07 and 2008-09).
USUALLY A TIGHT ONE
The five previous meetings between Texas and West Virginia matchups have been decided by a combined 11 points, and all five have come down to the final possession. The largest margin of victory in the series came in last year's 57-53 overtime win by WVU in Austin. UT's most memorable win in the series came in a 74-71 victory courtesy of a Kenton Paulino three-pointer at the buzzer in the 2006 NCAA "Sweet 16" in Atlanta.
TAYLOR TIME
After struggling during his first two Big 12 Conference games, freshman point guard Isaiah Taylor recorded a team-high 14 points (5-of-9 FG, 4-of-4 FT) and added four assists against just two turnovers and three rebounds in 31 minutes during Saturday's win against Texas Tech. Taylor leads the team in assists (3.8 apg) and ranks second in scoring (11.3 ppg) and minutes played (28.0 mpg) while posting a 61-to-41 assist-to-turnover ratio.
IMPROVING AT THE FREE THROW LINE
Texas has been a much improved team at the free throw line during Big 12 play, converting 47-of-64 (.734) in its first three league contests. The Horns hit just 63.1% (251-of-398) from the stripe during their first 13 non-conference games. UT shot a season high 85.7% (18-of-21) from the line in Saturday's win against Texas Tech, including converting its final four attempts from the stripe in the final 31 seconds to rally for the victory.
