The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
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Kansas
No. 4 Women's Basketball preview: Kansas [Jan. 13, 2016]
01.12.2016 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns and Jayhawks meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN3.
No. 4/4 Texas Longhorns (15-0, 4-0 Big 12) at Kansas Jayhawks (5-10, 0-4 Big 12)
Location: Lawrence, Kan. | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Time: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 | 7 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN3 (Josh Klingler, Brenda VanLengen)
Radio: 104.9 FM (Craig Way, Fran Harris)
Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio | ESPN3
LAWRENCE, Kan. - No. 4/4 Texas seeks its first 5-0 start to Big 12 Conference play since the 2002-03 campaign on Wednesday when the Longhorns travel to Lawrence, Kan., to face Kansas. Tip-off in Allen Fieldhouse is slated for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be carried live on ESPN3.
Texas (15-0, 4-0 Big 12 Conference) is led by senior center Imani Boyette, who is the two-time defending Big 12 Player of the Week. Boyette, who has recorded a double-double in each of the Longhorns' league games, is averaging 15.5 points per game, 13.3 rebounds per game and 5.3 blocks per game in Big 12 play. In all games combined, she is averaging 12.7 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game.
Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty follows with 11.3 points per game and sophomore guard Ariel Atkins adds 10.0 points per game. Junior center Kelsey Lang is the team's second-leading rebounder with 4.9 rebounds per game, while senior guard Celina Rodrigo has dished out 51 assists on the year.
"One thing I'm pleased about with our group right now is that we've struggled on the road in past years, and I actually think we're playing pretty well," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "We've, so far, been a pretty good road team, so it's another challenge against a team that will probably throw a lot of different looks at us, and we'll just have to make sure that we'll be prepared for everything they'll throw. It could be different defenses, things we haven't seen before, but I expect it to be a tough game."
Texas and Kansas meet for the 30th time in the history of the two programs on Wednesday. The Longhorns lead the all-time series 19-10 and have won five consecutive meetings against the Jayhawks.
Kansas enters Wednesday's game with a 5-10 overall record and an 0-4 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Jayhawks were predicted to finish 10th in the Big 12 Conference, according to the Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll.
Sophomore guard Lauren Aldridge leads Kansas in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game, while freshman guard Kylee Kopatich follows with 10.5 points per game. Junior forward Caelynn Manning-Allen leads the Jayhawks in rebounding, averaging 6.4 boards per game.
QUICK NOTES
- Texas has won the rebounding battle in 14 of 15 games this season. The Longhorns are averaging 44.3 boards per game and are winning the rebound margin by +12.5. Texas ranks eighth nationally in rebound margin.
- Texas ranks fifth in all-time victories by NCAA Division I institutions with 996. Just four teams in the history of the sport have achieved 1,000 wins - Tennessee (1,287), Louisiana Tech (1,065), James Madison (1,027) and Old Dominion (1,003). Stephen F. Austin has 993 all-time victories and is in sixth place all-time.
- Up next, Texas returns home to play host to No. 6/7 Baylor on Sunday, January 17. Tip-off in the Frank Erwin Center is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
PRE-GAME QUOTES
Head Coach Karen Aston
On tomorrow's game at Kansas…
"I think anytime you go on the road in the Big 12 you have to be concerned and you have to try to get your team to get an edge about themselves. One thing I'm pleased about with our group right now is that we've struggled on the road in past years, and I actually think we're playing pretty well. We've, so far, been a pretty good road team, so it's another challenge against a team that will probably throw a lot of different looks at us, and we'll just have to make sure that we'll be prepared for everything they'll throw. It could be different defenses, things we haven't seen before, but I expect it to be a tough game."
On what messages she is giving the team…
"I think the first thing is that this team, because we have good leadership and we have seniors and juniors who have been through the ringer of the Big 12, we had some really disappointing road losses last year that hurt our contention, and I think they understand that. They understand that it's one game at a time, that Sunday's game isn't any more important than Wednesday or the one we play next week. I really do think this group gets that because of our disappointments last year. They learned a lot of lessons along the way."
On the consistent personalities on the team…
"I think the older guards have been fairly consistent with their approach. I think that's one thing that's made a difference with our sophomores is that they really understand the difference in the preparation as opposed to last year. It really starts with our point guards. Celina Rodrigo has been a rock all year long, doesn't get a lot of hype, nobody talks about her, but she's been as consistent as she's been in her career, and it's a player that our team really counts on. They don't say it a lot, but I think they really count on her. Brooke [McCarty] prepares really well, Empress [Davenport] does, and then again you have a senior post player in Imani [Boyette] that really understands. Overall, I would say that's the one thing I've really noticed about this group is their preparation, day in and day out, has been very good."
On Imani Boyette's health this year…
"I think that's a huge piece, that she's really gotten to get quality reps in non-conference play. She's in shape, that's a big part of it, she's in game shape. There's a difference in training, and then all of a sudden you start playing in the game and the stoppages and the pace of the game is completely different along with the stress of the game. So, she's in shape. I think that would be top of the list with her. I think the other part is just that senior sense of urgency that this is it, I want to leave my mark, I have an opportunity to do that, and she's definitely doing that."
On if she talks about being undefeated…
"Not often, really not often with the group because we haven't done anything. It's not like we've been there and done that with this group before, and I think the day-to-day mantra that they have really stuck with has been really good for this team so there's no point in talking about it. We've talked about the 1,000 wins because I think that's a really big deal for a basketball program to win that many. There's only four teams that have done it in the history of women's basketball. So we have discussed that a little bit, and we have a little bit of a countdown for it, but that's part of Texas. It's part of our program and the history of women's basketball so I think it's important we acknowledge it. Other than that, just one day at a time with this group."
On improving from the past season…
"The players have held themselves pretty accountable with all of this, and I think Imani, I call her stat girl, so I don't have to tell the team much because she tells them everything. I don't know what she's going to do in life, but she probably should be a media relations person that enters stats all the time. She manages to make sure our program knows and our team know what we haven't done and what they could potentially do that would be history making or haven't been done. Imani takes care of all that, and I don't even have to worry about it."
Junior Center Kelsey Lang
On Wednesday's game at Kansas …
"We have to take care of business. It's obviously hard going to someone else's home court and having to play there, so we've been preparing for Kansas these past two days, and we'll continue tomorrow and then when we get back we'll prepare for the next game.
On the experience of the roster…
"It's great having so many people who already know what it takes to win at the Big 12, and then the freshmen that we have, they listen to us. They know that we know what it takes, and they are willing to listen to our advice, and they're just taking it really great."
On how the team has progressed in their preparation…
"I just think the way that we practice, we've learned to get into practice and get going right away. My first two years it definitely took us a while to get going, and now we're able to get in and get going quicker. I think the freshman being able to see the upperclassmen go first, then they're able to set the tone and they can follow in right behind and keep the pace up."
Senior Guard Celina Rodrigo
On focusing on one game at a time…
"We're just going to go in and staying focused. Our mentality right now is just to focus on Kansas and take care of that."
On setting an example as a senior…
"I think for me, it's just leading by example. I try to just go out there every day in practice. I know the days are limited now, so practices are running down and running out of time. I'm just trying to work as hard as I can every day because I know I won't get these days back. So I hope the younger players can feed off of that.
On fast starts …
"It's a collective effort from the group. When we start fast, I think it's all of us. With people taking charges at the beginning of the game and all of that, I think it really gives us momentum. I really think it starts with our defense as a momentum turner at the beginning of the game."
On her role on the team…
"For me, it's just trying to be solid every practice and every game. We're going to go through ups and downs, but I think it's my job to keep the team calm and make sure we don't get too rattled if we get down, or if we get up also just keep us calm and don't let us make mental mistakes."
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