The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Michigan
Men's Basketball preview: vs. Michigan [NCAA Tournament | March 22, 2014]
03.21.2014 | Men's Basketball
The Longhorns, the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region, will play No. 2 seed Michigan at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee, Wis.
Complete game notes | Listen (internet audio) | Listen (radio) | Live Stats | Twitter | Instagram | #MarchMadness
No. 7 seed Texas (24-10, 11-7 Big 12) vs. No. 2 seed Michigan (26-8, 15-3 Big Ten)
Saturday, March 22, 2014 - 4:15 p.m. Central
BMO Harris Bradley Center (18,451) - Milwaukee, Wis.
GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by CBS. Ian Eagle (pxp), Jim Spanarkel (analyst) and Lewis Johnson (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. The game also will be carried nationally by Westwood One Radio. Wayne Larrivee (pxp) and Kelly Tripucka (analyst) will have the call.
• SERIES: Texas leads, 2-1. Last meeting: Texas 80-76 (March 15, 1996; Milwaukee, Wis.)
NOTABLES
• Searching for Sweets, Again
With a win on Saturday, Texas would advance to the NCAA "Sweet 16" for the sixth time in the last 13 years and first time since 2008.
• Ridley Joins the Madness
Sophomore Cameron Ridley recorded his 10th double-double of the season with a team-high 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in Thursday's win against Arizona State. Ridley also hit the game-winning putback as time expired, marking the first buzzer beater for him at any level of his playing career.
• Walker on a Roll
Freshman Martez Walker posted a career-high 16 points (3-of-4 FG, 9-of-10 FT) in 22 minutes off the bench during Thursday's win. A Detroit native, he has reached double figures in scoring in three of his last four games and is averaging 11.3 ppg during the stretch.
Texas vs. Michigan
• Saturday's meeting will be the fourth all-time between Texas and Michigan. The two teams have not met since 1996.
• The two teams last met in the 1996 NCAA Tournament First Round held in Milwaukee, Wis., where Texas claimed an 80-76 win.
• This is the third meeting between the Longhorns and Wolverines in the NCAA Tournament (1994, '96).
Texas in the Big Dance
This marks the 15th appearance in the last 16 seasons and 31st all-time appearance by the Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament. Texas sports a 35-33 (.515) record in its 31 trips to the Big Dance.
Searching for Sweets, Again
With a win on Saturday, the Longhorns would advance to the NCAA "Sweet 16" for the sixth time in the last 13 years and the first time since 2008. Texas has reached the NCAA "Sweet 16" in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008 under Rick Barnes. UT is one of just 13 schools to have advanced to the "Sweet 16" at least five times in the last 12 seasons entering Saturday's game, joining Duke (9), Kansas (9), Michigan State (7), Connecticut (6), Kentucky (6), North Carolina (6), Syracuse (6), Wisconsin (6), Arizona (5), Pittsburgh (5), Louisville (5) and Xavier (5). Texas has made 10 trips to the "Sweet 16" since 1960. UT made "Sweet 16" appearances in 1960 (25-team tournament), 1963 (25-team tournament), 1972 (25-team tournament), 1997, 2002 and 2004. Texas also advanced to the "Elite Eight" in 1990, 2006 and 2008 and the Final Four in 2003.
Tournament Tested
To say Texas has played a schedule that prepared it for the NCAA Tournament would be an understatement. Of Texas' 34 games this year, 19 have come against teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns hold a 10-9 mark against 2014 NCAA participants: 1-0 vs. Mercer, 1-0 vs. Stephen F. Austin, 0-1 vs. BYU, 1-0 vs. North Carolina, 0-1 vs. Michigan State, 0-2 vs. Oklahoma, 1-1 vs. Oklahoma State, 1-1 vs. Iowa State, 1-1 vs. Kansas State, 2-1 vs. Baylor, 1-1 vs. Kansas and 1-0 vs. Arizona State).
Barnes in the Big Dance
Texas coach Rick Barnes is no stranger to March Madness. Over the last 26 seasons in stops at Providence, Clemson and at Texas, he has now guided 21 of those teams to the NCAA Tournament. Barnes is making his 18th trip in the last 19 years to the Big Dance this season. Barnes now sports a 19-14 (.576) mark at Texas in NCAA Tournament games and an overall record of 21-20 (.512) in the Big Dance. His teams have made six trips to the "Sweet 16" in the last 17 years, including a Final Four appearance in 2003 and "Elite Eight" appearances in 2006 and 2008.
March Madness, Texas Style
Sophomore Cameron Ridley etched his place into classic moments in NCAA Tournament play with his game-winning putback as time expired in Thursday's win against Arizona State.
• Ridley's game-winning shot marked the first buzzer beater for him at any level of his playing career.
• This marked the first basket with no time left to win a NCAA Tournament game since Matt Howard of Butler against Old Dominion in 2011 (courtesy ESPN Stats).
• This marked the second true buzzer beater by Texas in a NCAA Tournament game in the Rick Barnes era. Kenton Paulino drained a 3-pointer in a 2006 Regional Semifinal in Atlanta to beat West Virginia, 74-71. That West Virginia team was coached by current Michigan coach John Beilein.
