The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State
No. 22 Women's Basketball preview: at Kansas State
12.20.2020 | Women's Basketball
The Longhorns christen Big 12 play with a Monday visit to Manhattan, Kan., to battle the Wildcats
Women's Basketball Preview
#22 Texas [5-1, 0-0 Big 12] at Kansas State [5-3, 0-1 Big 12]
December 21, 2020
Where: Manhattan, Kan.
Arena: Bramlage Coliseum [12,528]
Time: 7 p.m. CT
TV: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ [Brian Smoller, Missy Heidrick]
Video Stream: LINK
Radio: TexasSports.com [Craig Way, Kathy Harston] - LINK
Live Stats: LINK
All-Time Series: Texas leads 23-17
NOTES
• Big 12 Openers: Texas enters Monday's game at Kansas State with a 13-11 all-time record and a 1-0 mark against the Wildcats [Jan. 5, 2000] in Big 12 Conference openers. The Longhorns are just 5-7 in Big 12 road openers, but have won their last two at West Virginia (2015) & at Oklahoma (2017).
• Turning Turnovers into Points: Texas is having success utilizing its defense to create offense as the Longhorns are currently averaging 27.7 points off 23.3 turnovers forced per contest. UT has managed at least 20 points off turnovers in all six games of 2020-21 with a high of 39 in the season-opening win over SMU. Texas managed 33 points off turnovers in Friday's 101-80 victory over Drake.
• Against Kansas State: Texas leads its all-time series over Kansas State, 23-17, but the two squads are tied at 9-9 in match-ups in Manhattan, Kan. The Wildcats have won three of the last four overall meetings, while the Longhorns knocked off KSU in Bramlage Coliseum during their most recent visit earlier this year on Jan. 19, 2020, 71-63.
• Just "Charge" It: The Longhorns defense is making taking charges an art form this season as Texas has drawn 21 total charges through its first six games. Junior guard/forward Audrey Warren hasn't hesitated to step in front of any opponent, drawing a squad-best 11 of those charges.
• Scoring at a Solid Pace: Texas' offense is currently averaging 85.8 ppg this season, which is on pace to be the second-highest single-season scoring average in program history behind only the 1983-84 squad (89.4 ppg). Four Longhorns players are averaging in double figures through the opening six games of 2020-21: Charli Collier (23.7 ppg), Celeste Taylor (13.4 ppg), Audrey Warren (13.3) and Joanne Allen-Taylor (13.2 ppg).
• Collier's in Charge: Preseason National Player of the Year candidate Charli Collier keeps putting up the stats, averaging 23.7 points-per-game to rank No. 18 in NCAA Division I and second in the Big 12 Conference. She has four 20+ point efforts in 2020-21 and also rates third in the NCAA in free throws made (43), seventh in double-doubles (four), fifth in total points (142), 19th in total rebounds (63), 14th in FG's made (48) and 31st in rebounding average (10.5). Against North Texas, Collier scored a career-high 44 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, marking the first time a Big 12 player had scored 44 points and grabbed at least 15 boards in a game since at least 1999-2000. For her opening week efforts, she earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors (Nov. 30) for the second time in her career.
