The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Eastern Illinois
Men's Basketball preview: Eastern Illinois
11.04.2018 | Men's Basketball
The Longhorns tip off their 113th season of intercollegiate basketball on Tuesday night (7 p.m. CT, Longhorn Network).
Frank Erwin Center (16,540) - Austin, Texas
GameDay Quick Facts
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network. Lowell Galindo (pxp) and Lance Blanks (analyst) will call the action.
• RADIO: The Longhorn IMG Radio Network broadcasts 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.
• SERIES: First meeting
Notables
• FOR OPENERS: The Horns have won 15 of their last 16 season openers and have posted an overall mark of 92-20 (.821) in its previous 112 season-opening games.
• SUCCESS IN HOME OPENERS: UT has won 16 straight home openers and is 36-5 (.878) in home openers since the Erwin Center opened prior to the 1977-78 season. The Longhorns are 97-15 (.866) all-time in home openers.
• RETURNING AT THE POINT: For the first time since his first season at Texas (Isaiah Taylor in 2015-16), Shaka Smart has the luxury of a returning point guard. An Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection last year, sophomore Matt Coleman III led the team in assists (4.1 apg) and posted a 1.88 assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman.
• FRESHMAN CLASS DEBUTS: Tuesday's contest marks the collegiate debut for UT's five-man freshman group that ranked as the No. 8 recruiting class in the country by ESPN and 247Sports.
