The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
West Virginia
No. 19/19 Men's Basketball preview: vs. West Virginia [Feb. 15, 2014]
02.13.2014 | Men's Basketball
With a victory in Saturday’s home game against West Virginia, the Longhorns would secure a 20-win season for the 14th time in 16 years under coach Rick Barnes.
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No. 19/19 Texas (19-5, 8-3 Big 12) vs. West Virginia (15-10, 7-5 Big 12)
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 - 7 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,540) - Austin, Texas
GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network. Paul Sunderland (pxp), T.J. Ford (analyst) and Kaylee Hartung (reporter) 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: Tied, 3-3. Last meeting: Texas, 80-69 (Jan. 13, 2014; Morgantown, W.Va.)
NOTABLES
• Looking for 20 wins ... again
With a victory in Saturday's home game against West Virginia, the Longhorns would secure a 20-win season for the 14th time in 16 years under coach Rick Barnes.
• Felix Gets Hot From Distance
Sophomore guard Javan Felix had one of his better long-range shooting performances during Tuesday's home win against Oklahoma State. Felix recorded a game-high 27 points (one shy of his career high) while setting a career high in three-point field goals made (6-of-8).
• Ridley Sees Double
Sophomore center Cameron Ridley posted his sixth double-double of the year (third in Big 12 play) with a 12-point, 13-rebound effort in Tuesday's victory against Oklahoma State. The 13 rebounds were one shy of his career high. In league play, Ridley is averaging 11.0 points, a team-best 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game while converting 53.3% (40-of-75) from the field.
TEXAS VS. WEST VIRGINIA
• Five of the six games between Texas and West Virginia have been decided by four points or less, including one in overtime. The cumulative series score is 420-412 in favor of Texas.
• The six previous meetings between Texas and West Virginia have been decided by a combined 22 points, and all but the previous contest on Jan. 13, 2014, has come down to the final possession. The largest margin of victory in the series came in the most recent 80-69 win by Texas in Morgantown.
• 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.
• The Longhorns and Mountaineers have met just once before in the Frank Erwin Center (Jan. 9, 2013) when West Virginia prevailed 57-53 in overtime.
NIGHT AND DAY
Through 24 games last year, the Longhorns had posted a 11-13 overall record, including a 3-8 mark in Big 12 Conference play. This season, the Horns are off to a 19-5 start, including an 8-3 mark in league play.
BUILDING A SOLID RESUME
The Longhorns have posted a 5-2 record against AP Top 25 opponents this year. UT's resume includes road wins against No. 14 North Carolina (86-83) and No. 24 Baylor (74-60) and home victories against No. 8 Iowa State (86-76), No. 22 Kansas State (67-64) and No. 6 Kansas (81-69). Texas owns a 6-3 record in away/neutral-site games this season.
A CHECK OF THE POLLS
Texas is ranked No. 19 in the most recent Associated Press poll (Feb. 10) and No. 19 in the most recent USA Today Coaches poll (Feb. 10). During the Rick Barnes era, the Horns have spent 178 weeks in The AP Top 25, including 84 in the Top 10.
WHAT'S IN A WIN
• A win would mark the 1,694th victory in program history.
• A win would mark head coach Rick Barnes' 378th victory at Texas and his 580th victory all-time as a head coach.
• A win would improve UT's record to 20-5, marking the program's best 25-game start to a season since 2010-11 (started 22-3). It would also mark the sixth time in the Rick Barnes era (last 16 years) that the Horns have opened the year with at least 20 wins in their first 25 contests (22-3 in 2005-06, 2010-11; 21-4 in 2003-04, 2007-08; 20-5 in 2009-10).
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING
In their three Big 12 Conference losses, the Longhorns allowed an average of 83.0 points per game on a combined 47.0% FG shooting (78-of-166), including a 43.6% mark from three-point range (24-of-55). In its eight league wins, Texas has allowed an average of 65.5 points per game on a combined 38.0% FG shooting (178-of-469), including a 29.5% mark from three-point range (46-of-156).
