Game #13: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (5-6) vs. No. 2 Texas Longhorns (12-0)
3:30 pm * Frank Erwin Center (16,734) * Austin, TX
TV: Fox Sports SW (Texas only) or ESPN Full Court * Radio: KVET (98.1 FM)
3:30 pm * Frank Erwin Center (16,734) * Austin, TX
TV: Fox Sports SW (Texas only) or ESPN Full Court * Radio: KVET (98.1 FM)
Ken Pomeroy Ratings: Texas #1; Texas A&M-CC #145
Pomeroy Prediction: Texas 84-55
Austin American Statesman on what Justin Mason means to the 'Horns
The Islanders are a decent basketball team. They defeated Oregon State on a netural court and only lost by seven at Texas Tech, by seven at Houston, and by 15 at Mississippi. The Longhorns should win easily but I don't expect the a Gardner-Webb size beatdown.
Quick Keys to the Game --
1) Create Turnovers: Pomeroy's stats reveal the Islanders to be extremely turnover prone. In fact, A&M-CC is coughing up the ball on over a quarter of their possessions.The Islanders also like to play a slower paced game than do the Longhorns. Expect Rick Barnes to go with a full-court trapping defense, as he did against Gardner-Webb, to speed up the game, create extra possessions, and generate easy baskets.
2) Sink Free Throws: I made this a key to the game against Gardner-Webb, and Texas responded with a season best performance from the line, 16-of-21. Free throw shooting remains a concern, though, as Dexter Pittman, Avery Bradley, and Dogus Balbay continue to struggle. I'm going to develop chest pains if the bricks continue against UConn, Kansas State, Kansas, A&M, etc later this season.
3) Quality Minutes from Back-up Bigs: Dexter Pittman and Damion James are both playing at elite levels, so this isn't a huge concern right now. However, it would be nice to see more production from Alexis Wangmene, Clint Chapman, and Matt Hill. I'd like to see Wingman play defense without fouling, Chapman play with more physical on defense and when rebounding, and Hill play with more energy. Gary Johnson has played extremely well off the bench, but we may need another sub with more size in games when Pittman or James get in foul trouble. Playing well this afternoon should help develop confidence for a productive conference season.
Hook 'em.