Preview: Texas

Photo Attribution: USATSI

Vitals

Tip: 3:00 PM CST
Location: Stillwater, OK
TV: ESPN
Online Stream: here
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Online radio: here
Announcers: Jon Sciambi and Fran Fraschilla
Line: Cowboys -12

Records

Cowboys – 21-6 (11-4)
Horns – 13-15 (5-10)

Best win

Cowboys – Kansas (KenPom: #8)
Horns – UNC (KenPom: #29)

Worst loss

Cowboys – Virginia Tech (KenPom: #158)
Horns – Chaminade (KenPom: NR)

KenPom rank

Cowboys – #16
Horns – #100

Data nerds

[table id=101 /]

Adj. efficiency – Points per 100 possessions (adjusted for quality of opponent and site of game).
Adj. tempo – Possessions per game (adjusted for schedule and pace of other team).
Effective FG % – Takes into account extra value of 3s.

Three things to watch

1. Confident Horns? – Well, I’m a little worried Texas thinks it can go for the four-day Oklahoma sweep after coming back on OU from 21 down late in the second half. But Marcus Smart in GIA is a little different animal than Amath M’Baye in Austin. Still, I don’t need a suddenly-excited UT squad hanging around until late in the second half today.

2. Myck Kabongo – He has had 24 and 31 in each of his last two games. I’ll be watching who Ford puts on him but my guess is that Ford drapes Smart all over him. This isn’t even close to the same Horns team OSU saw in Austin…and Kabongo is the main reason for that. His offensive rating in the last two games (131 and 141) is better than anything Smart has put up since the Iowa State game at home.

3. Brian Williams role – Namely, what is it? Is he the defensive stopper to be dispensed only in specific situations? Is he our new sixth man? Is he a spark to be had from deep off the bench? I’m interested to see how Ford sets him up for the postseason run over these next three games.

Last time

The last time OSU played Texas, the Pokes won 72-59 in Austin. Marcus Smart had seven turnovers but Javan Felix topped him with eight. Nobody on Texas scored more than 15 points. Phil Forte missed all his threes.

Prediction

Porter: Pokes – 72-62
KenPom: Cowboys – 70-56