The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Men's Basketball preview: Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship First Round (Texas Tech)
03.10.2015 | Men's Basketball
UT has held its last two opponents to an average of 54.0 points per game on a combined 34.7% FG shooting.
Texas Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Postseason Guide
Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Central
Texas (19-12, 8-10 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (13-18, 3-15 Big 12)
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - approx. 8:30 p.m. Central
Sprint Center (18,972) - Kansas City, Mo.
Radio Affiliates | Free Audio | Live Stats | Twitter | WatchESPN
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU. Dave Flemming (pxp) and Miles Simon (analyst) 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.
TEXAS TECH SERIES INFO
• Texas leads, 81-54. Last meeting: Texas 56-41 (Feb. 14, 2015; Austin).
Wednesday's contest marks the 136th meeting between Texas and Texas Tech.
The Longhorns hold an 81-54 lead in the all-time series that dates back to a 48-28 Texas victory in Austin on Dec. 15, 1939.
UT is 36-5 against the Red Raiders since the Big 12 began in 1996-97.
The Horns have won 13 of the last 14 and 19 of the last 21 games against Tech.
UT is 32-4 against Texas Tech during the Rick Barnes era.
Texas is 2-1 against Tech at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. The Horns won 86-83 in the 1998 first round, dropped a 92-81 decision in the 2003 quarterfinals and posted a 77-70 victory in the 2006 quarterfinals.
NOTABLES
• Defense Wins: Texas has held its last two opponents (No. 14/16 Baylor and Kansas State) to an average of 54.0 points per game on a combined 34.7% FG shooting (41-of-118). The Horns are 17-4 when holding their opponent below 40% FG shooting this year.
• Block Party: UT tied a school single-game record with 14 blocks in Saturday's victory against K-State. The Horns have reached double figures in blocks in each of their last three contests entering postseason play and rank FIRST nationally in blocks per game (7.9 bpg).
• Holland Gets Offensive: Junior guard Demarcus Holland has reached double figures in scoring in four straight games entering postseason play. During the stretch, Holland is averaging 13.3 points per game while hitting 62.1% from the floor (18-of-29), including a 57.1% mark from three-point range (8-of-14).
Texas in Conference Tournaments
Texas holds a 44-37 (.543) all-time record in league tournament games, including a 23-18 (.561) mark in its previous 18 trips to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
In the previous 16 appearances during the Rick Barnes era, UT has posted a 21-16 (.571) mark in the Big 12 Championship.
Texas has reached the finals of its league postseason tourney 11 times in the last 24 years, including five times in the Southwest Conference (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1996) and six times in the Big 12 (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011).
UT has claimed two conference postseason tourney titles, both coming during its time in the SWC (1994 and 1995).
Success in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship
The Horns have reached at least the semifinal round in 13 of their first 18 appearances in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, including 12 of their first 16 trips under Rick Barnes.
The Longhorns have advanced to the title game of the Big 12 Championship in five of the last 11 years (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011).
Success in Big 12 First-Round Games
Texas enters Wednesday's contest with a 3-1 mark in Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship first-round games during the Rick Barnes era. The Horns have won three consecutive first-round contests in the league's postseason tourney (2009 vs. Colorado, 2010 vs. Iowa State and 2013 vs. TCU).
BIG 12 Conference Awards
A total of three UT players claimed spots on the 2014-15 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men's Basketball Award teams, the league announced March 8.
Myles Turner was named the Freshman of the Year, becoming the fifth UT player to earn the accolade (joining T.J. Ford in 2001-02, Daniel Gibson in 2004-05, Kevin Durant in 2006-07 and Tristan Thompson in 2010-11).
Turner and Isaiah Taylor each claimed a spot on the five-person All-Big 12 Third Team, while Jonathan Holmes was one of 11 individuals named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Team.
In addition, Turner was named to both the six-person Big 12 All-Defensive Team and the five-person Big 12 All-Newcomer Team.
Looking to reach 20-Win Mark ... Again
With a victory on Wednesday night, the Longhorns would reach the 20-win mark for the 15th time in 17 seasons under coach Rick Barnes. UT had a school-record streak of 13 consecutive 20-win seasons snapped in 2012-13. Prior to that streak, the previous school mark for most consecutive 20-win seasons was four (1988-89 to 1991-92). The Longhorns have reached the 20-win plateau of total of 29 times in their previous 108 seasons of basketball.
Lone Star State Success
Since Rick Barnes arrived in Austin prior to the 1998-99 season, the Longhorns have emerged as the dominant college basketball program in the state of Texas.
The Horns have posted a 148-22 (.871) record against in-state foes during the Barnes era entering Wednesday's game in Kansas City, including marks of 30-9 against Baylor, 32-4 against Texas Tech, 23-7 against Texas A&M and 8-0 against TCU.
