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Texas Longhorns
RECORD: 23 - 7 REGION: Atlanta SEED: 3
COACH: Rick Barnes CONFERENCE: Big 12 |
RESULTS| STATS| HISTORY | MESSAGE BOARD | TEXAS INSIDER
Road to the Final Four ...................................................................................
| REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS |
| Points Per Game |
81.3 |
Rebounds Per Game |
42.3 |
| Assists Per Game |
16.3 |
Steals Per Game |
7.8 |
| Blocks Per Game |
7.5 |
Turnovers Per Game |
15.3 |
| Field Goal % |
.546 |
Free Throw % |
.620 |
| 3-Point % |
.373 |
3-Pointers Per Game |
0.8 |
TO THIS POINT At-Large Bid How They Got Here: The Longhorns started slowly against Princeton and finished unsteadily against North Carolina. Most everything in between was just what Rick Barnes ordered. The Tigers' style took some getting used to, but Texas dominated the second half in route to a 15-point victory. Then the Longhorns used their depth and inside advantages to control the Tar Heels before surviving a late rally.
If Texas is able to get to the Final Four it will have earned it as being the most adaptable team in the tournament. Next up is Xavier, which plays more at North Carolina's pace, but has gotten here with dominance from the 3-point arc. How Texas defends that and how much the Longhorns capitalize on a distinct size advantage will determine an Elite Eight appearance with Duke looming following a matchup with Illinois.
Texas played Duke just before Christmas and got run out of Madison Square Garden by the Blue Devils, 89-61. Longhorn veterans Brandon Mouton and Royal Ivey shot a combined seven-for-25 in a game that was as humiliating as the final score would indicate. That version of the 2003-04 Longhorns still hadn't figured out how to function without a true point guard. This one has.
Yes, the Longhorns lost twice to Big 12's best in March, but Oklahoma State is not going to be anywhere near Texas until San Antonio -- if both get there. So, the second-best team will go about its business with plenty of confidence. Of UT's seven losses, only two were of the "bad" variety -- at Kansas State and Iowa State. The Horns also lost to Arizona in NYC, but also won at Providence and handled Wake Forest in Austin.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Brandon Mouton | G | Senior
For Texas to advance, the Horns will need a consistent scorer to emerge -- and that means Brandon Mouton. The senior can knock down the three or the mid-range jumper and can get to the basket. Mouton picked up the scoring pace late in the season and had an outstanding 2003 tourney.
ROSTER
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