Men's basketball to hold "Texas Tip Off" at Gregory Gym

For years, Texas Longhorns fans have been clamoring to see a men's basketball game played at Gregory Gym, which hosted the Horns until the construction of the Erwin Center at 1977. it won't be a regular season game, but Texas fans will now have that opportunity with next week's "Texas Tip Off."

Doors open at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday, October 21, when fans will have a chance to watch an intra-squad scrimmage that will represent the first public look at new head coach Shaka Smart's high-energy, up-tempo system. Tickets are free to the first 4,000 fans who claim them at TexasSports.com. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive free T-shirts, while the first 500 students will receive free food. Emcees and a DJ will provide entertainment.

"We want to create an atmosphere this season where people are fighting to get into our games. We know that if we present a product on the floor that is enthusiastic and committed to one another, we'll attract a lot of people," Smart said.

"We want people to care about what we do, and how we play. The intention behind hosting Texas Tip-Off at Gregory Gym is for our team and fans to spend some time around each other in a close environment, so we can start building a relationship with each other that will be the start to a fun and exciting basketball season."

The Texas men's basketball season opens the 2015-16 season in Shanghai against the Washington Huskies on November 13, with the home opener against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi following on November 21.