The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State *
No. 20 Women's Basketball preview: at K-State [Feb. 4, 2015]
02.03.2015 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns face Wildcats on Wednesday evening in Manhattan, Kansas (6 p.m. Central, FOX Sports Midwest).
Game 21: #20 TEXAS (15-5, 4-5) at Kansas State (13-7, 3-6)
Date/Time: Wednesday, Feb. 4 | 6 p.m. Central
Site: Manhattan, Kansas | Bramlage Coliseum
TV: FOX Sports Midwest - Brian Smoller (play-by-play), Missy Heidrick (analyst)
Radio: KVET AM-1300 or TexasSports.com - Jon Madani (play-by-play), Fran Harris (analyst)
Live Stats: KStateSports.com
Notes at a Glance
• No. 20 Texas seeks its first Big 12 Conference road win of the season when facing Kansas State on Wednesday, Feb. 4 in Manhattan, Kansas (6 p.m. Central, FOX Sports Midwest).
• SERIES: The Longhorns and Wildcats are meeting for the 29th time in series history on Wednesday. Texas hold a 15-13 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last two meetings. K-State has a 7-5 edge in games play in Manhattan. UT swept last season's regular season series, 2-0. The all-time series dates back to a 93-73 Texas victory on Dec. 11, 1982 in Austin.
• ATKINS - NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Freshman guard Ariel Atkins was named the USBWA National Freshman of the Week and Phillips 66 Big 12 Freshman of the Week after averaging 17.0 points in two games last week. This season, Atkins averages 10.0 points per game and leads UT in free throw percentage (.875).
• McGEE-STAFFORD ON A ROLL: Junior center Imani McGee-Stafford is coming off her most productive week since missing eight games due to preseason leg surgery. Against OU and TCU last week she averaged 18.5 points on 64 percent shooting with 9.5 rebounds. McGee-Stafford led UT to a double-overtime win over No. 24 Oklahoma (Jan. 29) by posting her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes. She added a game-high 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting in 27 minutes at TCU (Feb. 1).
• LANG STAYING CONSISTENT: Sophomore center Kelsey Lang has been a consistent force for the Longhorns this season as the team's active leading scorer (10.7 ppg), rebounder (6.3 rpg) and shooter (.552 FG%). Lang has five consecutive games with double-figure points and has reached at least five rebounds in 17 of her 19 games played.
• SANDERS STEPPING UP: Junior guard Brady Sanders leads the Longhorns in assists (2.6 apg). Sanders posted six assists and seven rebounds against TCU on Sunday.
• WINS AND LOSSES: During UT's 15 wins this season, Texas has averaged 72.9 points on 45.1 percent shooting from the field (426-945 FG). UT is 14-0 when scoring 60 or more points. During UT's only five losses, the Horns average 58.0 points on 34.8 percent shooting (105-302 FG).
• CLEANING THE BOARDS: Texas has out-rebounded 19 of 20 opponents this season. UT's +11.1 rebounding margin ranks 9th in the nation. The Horns are averaging 43.6 rebounds per game. Texas out-rebounded TCU, 47-28, on Sunday.
• DEEP BENCH: 11 Longhorns average more than 10 minutes per game. Texas' bench out-scores its counterpart by an average of 27-to-15.
• SHOOTING DEFENSE: Texas has the 20th-ranked shooting percentage defense in the country. The Longhorns are holding opponents to 35.3 percent shooting. Only four opponents have shot 40 percent or better against the Longhorns.
• POINTS IN THE PAINT: Texas is out-scoring its opponents in the paint by an average of 36-to-20.
• PLUS/MINUS: Freshman guard Ariel Atkins has the highest per-game plus/minus on the team (+8.6 points). Sophomore guard Brianna Taylor has the highest per-40-minute plus/minus on the team (+19.9 points).
• WIDE MARGINS: Texas ranks 11th in the nation in rebounding margin (+10.6) and 26th in scoring margin (+13.1).
• HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Texas holds an 12-1 record at home this season. The Horns are 26-3 at the Frank Erwin Center since last season.
• TEXAS SIGNEES NAMED TO McDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN TEAM: It was announced on Wednesday that Texas signees Lashann Higgs (Round Rock, Texas) and Jordan Hosey (Pearland, Texas) will participate in the 2015 McDonald's All American Game on April 1 (ESPNU).
• ENEMKPALI OUT FOR THE SEASON: Senior forward Nneka Enemkpali suffered a season-ending injury on Jan. 19 at Baylor. At the time of her injury Enemkpali led the Big 12 in rebounding (10.6 rpg), double-doubles (9), and rebounding in conferece-only games (12.0 rpg). She was on pace to become the fifth Longhorn to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, finishing with 1,116 points (30th at UT) and 899 rebounds (9th at UT). This week, Enemkpali was named to the Wooden Award (national player of the year) Midseason Top 20 list and as one of 30 candidates considered for the Senior CLASS Award.
• WINNING STREAK: Texas started the season with a 13-0 record, its third-best start in program history.
• NON-CONFERENCE PERFECTION: Texas became the first Longhorn team since 1985-86 to finish its non-conference regular season schedule with an undefeated record (11-0).
• TOP 10 TOPPERS: The Longhorns are 3-1 against top-10 opponents, with wins at No. 6/1 Stanford (Nov. 20), against No. 4/5 Tennessee (Nov. 30), and against No. 4/5 Texas A&M.
