The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
14-5, 3-3
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Kansas
16-3, 5-1
No. 17/18 Men's Basketball falls to No. 11/14 Kansas, 75-62
01.24.2015 | Men's Basketball
Taylor scores 23 points in home loss.
AUSTIN, Texas – Isaiah Taylor led all scorers with a season-high 23 points, while Jonathan Holmes added 14, but the No. 17/18 Texas Longhorns fell to the No. 11/14 Kansas Jayhawks, 75-62, in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday afternoon at the Frank Erwin Center.
In front of 16,540 fans, the first sellout of the year, the game saw five ties and nine lead changes, but Texas (14-5, 3-3 Big 12) could not overcome a 19-8 second-half run by Kansas (16-3, 5-1 Big 12) and was outscored, 43-32, in the second period.
The Longhorns were out-rebounded, 37-36, for only the third time this season. Although Texas matched a season low with nine turnovers, Kansas only committed three, with all three coming in the first half.
Holmes scored nine of his 14 points in the second half, while Myles Turner finished with eight points, a team-high eight boards and swatted five shots. The Horns finished with nine blocks.
Texas rushed out to an 11-2 start before Kansas responded with a 15-4 run to take a 17-15 lead. The Jayhawks would not relinquish their lead for the last 10 minutes of the half and held a 32-30 advantage at the break.
After the opening period, Taylor led all scorers with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Turner pitched in five rebounds and three blocks.
Although Texas only held a 21-16 advantage on the glass, the Horns allowed only one Kansas offensive rebound, compared to seven from the home team.
Coming out of the locker room, the Horns started with a quick 7-2 run, led by five points from Holmes, to regain the lead, 42-38.
Four Jayhawks scored in double figures with Cliff Alexander leading the way with 15 points.
Texas returns to action on Monday, Jan. 26, when it travels to Ames, Iowa, to face the No. 9/12 Iowa State Cyclones in an ESPN "Big Monday" matchup. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Central at Hilton Coliseum.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
No. 11/14 Kansas 75, No. 17/18 Texas 62
January 24, 2015
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 16,540 (sellout)
Team Notes
Texas dropped to 34-20 against AP Top 25 opponents under Rick Barnes at the Erwin Center
UT lost the rebounding battle (KU won 37-36) for just the third time in the first 19 games. Texas entered the contest with a +12.2 rebound margin.
Texas recorded nine blocked shots in the loss. UT has blocked at least eight shots in 12 of its first 19 contests.
Reached double figures in scoring (14 points) for the 12th time this year and 53rd time in his career (114 games)
Topped the 20-point mark (23 points) for the first time this season and sixth time in his career (44 games)
Reached double figures in scoring for the sixth time this year and 33rd time in his career
Set a season high in field goals made (8-of-17)
Recorded five blocked shots (one shy of his career high), marking the sixth time this year (19 games) that he has blocked at least five shots
Texas Quotes
Head Coach Rick Barnes
On the turning of the game: I really thought the way we started the game was not good. I'm disappointed in the fact that we just settled for so many outside jump shots. I don't even think we had a post entry until about the 13-minute mark. Those turnovers were big. Kansas does a great job. Like most teams, they converted those plays and then we gave up too many loose-ball rebounds. In our offense, we just keeping digging ourselves a hole.
On the flow of the game: I think we let the fact that we aren't as affective on the offensive end affect finishing plays on the defensive end. The zone was fine today. We went man just to try and mix it up and get us going. We aren't playing at the pace I want us to play. To be honest, we aren't playing offense the way we do in practice and that's what is really disappointing to me.
On the quick turnaround vs. Iowa State: I'd rather play; I don't want to have another week of practice. The things we need to do are as mental as anything. It's just guys really understanding. This is what has got to take place, and then you're hoping that guys will consistently do that and then it will fall in place to where guys will know where their shots are coming from.
On urgency and the rest of the season: I think there is a sense of urgency every game. There is a long way to go. I mean, we can win them all and I believe that. I believe we could, but I also know if we play like this, we won't win any of the games we want to win. But I do believe that we could win every game we play. I think we could go on a run and do it, but we aren't going to do that until we understand what goes into it.
Senior Forward Jonathan Holmes
On how disappointing the game was: I mean, it's pretty disappointing, losing a game at home. We want to protect our own court and we just weren't doing the things we wanted to do towards the end of the game.
On the things they weren't doing that they needed to: Mostly just executing our offense, defending, limiting their second-chance points and taking care of the ball. We really didn't execute on offense like we wanted to.
On where it got away from them: I feel like they were on a run probably midway through the second half and we just didn't respond to it. We knew they were going to make runs, and we just didn't come back from it.
Sophomore Guard Isaiah Taylor
On if he felt like a couple of possessions got away from him: It did feel like we let just a couple get away from us. They beat us to loose balls, they got in transition some, got offensive rebounds and just hit open shots. They came out and played man (defense) the second half and I mean, we tried to respond to it, but we couldn't respond fully.
On not establishing a better inside game today: We know that we are an inside-out team. We have a lot of size in the inside. We have plays where we get it to our bigs. I think they did an alright job shading our bigs, and we do take pride in just getting it to them.
On if he felt like he needed to be the scorer today: Not exactly. My teammates just tell me to attack the basket, just put it up on the rim and they'll go get it. They encourage me to shoot the ball, but it's not my job to be a leading scorer or ever to score for our team. My job is just to put pressure on the defense and attack the rim.
Freshman Forward Myles Turner
On why Kansas was able to have success inside late in the game: They just started to pick up the pressure, we started to trap more and they started to find the open spots, as well as our zone. Credit to them.
On if he wanted the ball to prove himself: Yeah, I knew I had to get it going. It's winning time and the team counts on me to go down there and do my work. I knew it was time to do that. Collectively as a group we need to work on getting the ball inside better. We know we are an inside-outside team, and we got away from that this game.
Kansas Quotes
Head Coach Bill Self
On sophomore guard Frank Mason's leadership: He's been the most valuable player we've had without question, especially when Devonte' [Graham] went down, we really couldn't sub. He played well today, I wouldn't say great, but down the stretch he played great. He's been fabulous. He's probably surpassed what we thought he'd been this early in his career.
On not being intimidated by Texas' length: We had about five dunks blocked, and they had nine blocks, Myles [Turner] had five. So, their length did bother us without question. I thought it was different when we played against Kentucky's length, we shied away from it. Whereas today we didn't shy away from it. We went to it knowing that they were going to block some. I thought we attacked their length well, and I thought we actually drove to pass as opposed driving to score. It's hard to drive to score over length, it is much easier if you force help and pass to someone else for the shot. I thought we actually did a pretty good job of sharing the ball.
On holding Texas to only three three-pointers: We were fortunate they [only] made three. Connor [Lammert] came out firing obviously, and Myles [Turner]. Those guys, instead of going 1-for-8 could have easily gone 4-for-8 and it could have been an entirely different game. So, we were fortunate that they missed some good looks. But, we did defend pretty well on the scouting report with the exception of [Isaiah] Taylor, who we let get inside of us way too much.
On limiting Cam Ridley in the post: He did not get a lot of post touches, but I think we did a pretty good job of defending him, too. We were prepared to trap him on the post, which may have helped us, or they may have played behind that and hurt us. For the most part, I will have to go back and watch the tape, I think they got some good post touches. I think our big guys actually did the best job they have done in a while in denying the bigs touches.
Freshman Forward Cliff Alexander
On how the team executed so well today: I think we played well because we did what coach told us and we just played hard and wanted it more than them.
On getting easy points close to the basket towards the end of the game: We worked the middle. That's what coach told us, "Just get the ball to the middle, it's open every time." That's what we did, just got the ball to the middle and got easy shots.
On shutting down the Texas big men: Playing the post before they could get comfortable. Just playing the post before he catches it and just sitting on his knees.
Sophomore Guard Brannen Green
On point guard Frank Mason's leadership: It's been huge. He has stepped into the role. He didn't have much time last year. He played a little bit but not as much. He has come in and has been tremendous for us. He is just being a point guard. He is a press break by himself. He has been huge for us.
On if this is the best game they have played this season: From a competition standpoint, yes, and being on the road. This is a huge road win for us. I would say yes, it was big time.
On their defensive strategy tonight: [Isaiah] Taylor is their main scorer, and then they bring their best scorer off the bench in [Javan] Felix. [Texas] is huge. They start like 21 feet of big men. They have like three seven footers. So, our main thing was just controlling the glass. Their guards, [Johnathan] Holmes is a big time scorer, but [Demarcus] Holland is not much of a scorer. So our main thing was to just stick to our scouting report and rebound. We were more focused on their bigs.
