HOOPS GAME THREAD: #5 TEXAS @ #1 GONZAGA

[HornSports Staff]

After thrashing Houston Baptist University 92-48 in their season opener this week, Texas Basketball (1-0) heads to the Pacific-Northwest to face the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-0).  The game will serve as an early season barometer for Chris Beard's team, which consists of several returning players and a slew of highly-coveted portal transfers.

The task will be tall for the Longhorns, as they have never beaten an AP No. 1 team in program history.  Texas has never beaten Gonzaga, but came close in 2017 when the two teams went to overtime in Portland.  The Bulldogs emerged with the win 76-71.

The basketball season just started and anything can happen, but Beard says his team wins regardless of the final outcome on the scoreboard.

"We’re going to learn so much about ourselves."  "It’s exactly what we need early on in the season, to kind of see where we’re at.”

The Longhorns had six players reach double-digits in scoring in Tuesday's win against the Huskies.  They also held HBU to 32.7 percent shooting from the floor.  Beard spread the minutes around to his players as well, with ten Longhorns averaging at least 14 minutes on the hardwood.

This year marks the second straight year in which Gonzaga begins the season at the top of the rankings.  The Bulldogs beat Dixie State 97-63 in their opener last week.  Julian Strawther had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Chet Holmgren had 14 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and seven blocks. Rasir Bolton added 15 points and Drew Timme chipped in 11. The Bulldogs held Dixie State to 35 percent shooting from the field.

What: Texas Longhorns (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-0, 0-0 WCC)
Venue: McCarthy Athletic Center
Location: Spokane, WA
When: Saturday, November 13th, 2021
Time: 9:30 p.m. (CST)
TV: ESPN2
All-Time Series: Gonzaga leads Texas 3-0
Last Meeting: Gonzaga defeated Texas 76-71 OT (11/25/2017 Portland, OR)

 

[longhorndon]

Gonzaga is great, Texas...  not so much so far.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

It's obvious this team needs a lot more time together.

 

[605Longhorn]

Agreed, ever time time I have coached I tell my players, “it’s not what you do in the regular season. It’s what you do in the post season!”

 

[longhorn_mig]

Meh, I saw what I needed to see. We hung in there and the potential is there. We need some time to play together and we will make noise come tourney time.

 

[david ficken]

Meh, I saw what I needed to see. We hung in there and the potential is there. We need some time to play together and we will make noise come tourney time.

I agree.  We hung with the #1 team. We will get better as the year and team learns how to get the each other the ball where they can fully use their skill set. Plus we still need to add in Disu as he starts playing.  Will know how well we have gelled by the start to middle of conference play. Post season is where Smart and the last few of Barnes' teams failed. 

 

[tejasrulz]

It's obvious this team needs a lot more time together.

I agree.  We hung with the #1 team. We will get better as the year and team learns how to get the each other the ball where they can fully use their skill set. Plus we still need to add in Disu as he starts playing.  Will know how well we have gelled by the start to middle of conference play. Post season is where Smart and the last few of Barnes' teams failed. 

Well stated gentlemen

 

[Johnny Depp]

No problem with where we are. I'm tired of the Texas pre season champion label. It's the Big 12 and Tournament that matter. Things look good.