The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State
No. 15/18 Men's Basketball preview: at Kansas State [Feb. 8, 2014]
02.06.2014 | Men's Basketball
The Longhorns begin the second half of Big 12 Conference action against the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.
Complete Game Notes | Watch [ESPN3] | Watch [Big 12 Network] | Listen | Live Stats | Twitter | #TEXvsKSU
No. 15/18 Texas (18-4, 7-2 Big 12) at Kansas State (15-7, 5-4 Big 12)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 - 12:45 p.m. Central
Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) - Manhattan, Kan.
GameDay Quick Facts
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised regionally by Big 12 Network. Mitch Holthus (pxp) and Reid Gettys (analyst) will call the action. Check www.TexasSports.com for a listing of affliliates.
• 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: Kansas State leads, 16-11. Last meeting: Texas, 67-64 (Jan. 21, 2014; Austin, Texas)
Notables
• Dominating the Boards
Texas posted a +31 (56-25) rebound margin during Tuesday's win at TCU. This marked the fourth-highest single-game rebound margin in school history (since 1961-62), and the largest rebound margin by the Horns in a Big 12 Conference contest. UT registered as many offensive rebounds (25) as TCU did total rebounds (25). For the year, UT sports a +7.9 rebound margin (42.4-34.5) and has outrebounded 17 of its first 22 opponents (15-2 mark in those games).
• Defense Wins
UT held TCU to 32.7% FG shooting (17-of-52), including a 7-of-21 (.333) mark from beyond the arc, during Tuesday's win in Fort Worth. The Longhorns have held 14 of their first 22 opponents to under 40% FG shooting and sport a perfect 14-0 mark in those games.
• Holmes Seeing Double
Junior forward Jonathan Holmes recorded his fourth double-double of the year with a game-high 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in Tuesday's win at TCU. He had a double-double in the second half alone, registering 17 points and 10 rebounds in the final 20 minutes. In his last two contests, Holmes is averaging 21.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while converting 11-of-24 (.458) field goals, including 3-of-6 threes, and 17-of-22 (.773) free throws.
TEXAS VS. KANSAS STATE
• Saturday's contest marks the 28th meeting between Texas and Kansas State. The Wildcats hold a 16-11 lead in the all-time series which dates back to an 87-60 K-State win in Manhattan on Dec. 8, 1971. The teams met again in the 1971-72 season at the NCAA Midwest Regional, resulting in a 66-55 K-State win in Ames, Iowa (March 16, 1972).
• The Longhorns are 10-10 against K-State in the Rick Barnes era.
• Texas is 11-11 against KState since the Big 12's inception in 1996-97.
• The Longhorns won the previous meeting in this season's series after Jonathan Holmes sank a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 67-64 victory over the then-No. 22 Wildcats (Jan. 21).
NIGHT AND DAY
Through 22 games last year, the Longhorns had posted a 10-12 overall record, including a 2-7 mark in Big 12 Conference play. This season, the Horns are off to a 18-4 start, including a 7-2 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).
A CHECK OF THE POLLS
Texas is ranked No. 15 in the most recent Associated Press poll (Feb. 3) and No. 18 in the most recent USA Today Coaches poll (Feb. 3). During the Rick Barnes era, the Horns have spent 177 weeks in The AP Top 25, including 84 in the Top 10.
WHAT'S IN A WIN
A win would improve UT's record to 19-4, marking the program's best 23-game start to a season since 2010-11 (started 20-3). 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 19 wins in their first 23 contests (20-3 in 2005-06, 2010-11; 19-4 in 2003-04, 2007-08, 2009-10).
HORNS ON SEVEN-GAME WIN STREAK
After starting league play with an 0-2 mark, the Longhorns have responded with seven consecutive Big 12 wins, including four of the last five against ranked opponents in No. 8 Iowa State, No. 22 Kansas State, No. 24 Baylor and No. 6 Kansas. Texas has hit 70.0% from the free throw line during the seven-game stretch, while holding its opponents to a combined 38.3% FG shooting, including a 28.7% mark (41-of-143) from three-point range.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Texas has outrebounded 17 of its first 22 opponents this season while posting double-digit rebound advantages in nine of its first 22 games. For the season, UT owns a +7.9 rebound margin (42.4-34.5).
• UT posted double-digit rebound margins against South Alabama (40-30), Stephen F. Austin (41-26), Houston Baptist (52-33), Temple (55-42), Rice (42-29), Oklahoma State (45-33), West Virginia (49-30) and TCU (56-25).
• The Longhorns recorded a season-high 56 rebounds in the win at TCU (Feb. 4), including a season-best 25 offensive boards. Jonathan Holmes' game-high 16 rebounds (six offensive) were the most this season by a Longhorn.
• UT posted a 56-25 advantage on the glass at TCU (Feb. 4). Texas' +31 rebounding margin was its fourth-highest single-game mark in school history (since 1961-62).
