Coming off its first true road game of the season with a 70-62 win over Seton Hall on Saturday, Texas is back in action at the Erwin Center. The No. 14 Longhorns (5-1) welcome the Eagles of North Texas (3-2) to Austin for an instate matchup.
Home has certainly been sweet for Texas, as the Longhorns have won 32 of their last 33 home games entering tonight's game. The only loss in that stretch was a 72-67 defeat at the hands of then-No. 24 Oklahoma State on Jan. 24.
Texas is a perfect 2-0 at home this year, with an average margin of victory nearly as high as the average attendance. Texas State and Coppin State fell to Texas by an average of 34 points in front of an average crowd of only 8,157.
The fans that have been at Texas' first two home games will see something they have yet to see in tonight's game - Mike Williams in game action. The freshman forward was cleared to play for the first time prior to Saturday's game.
"I can't say that I was too anxious [to finally play], but I was excited. I was just looking forward to going into the game and doing what Coach [Barnes] told me to do," Williams said.
It took only two seconds for the McDonald's All-American to make an impact for Texas. He scored his first basket on an inbounds play, just two seconds after being inserted into the Longhorns' lineup for the first time.
"It was unexpected, because we all ran the play, and everyone did what they were supposed to," Williams said. "Luckily, I was open, so the ball came to me, and I put it in."
Williams' first basket was his only basket, but Barnes walked away from Saturday impressed by the new edition to his frontcourt.
"He played really well for a guy that hadn't played," Barnes said. "On post defense [he] is really good. I actually pointed out to our team that if we can get the kind of effort that he gave us in his short time there, that we can be an outstanding interior defensive team.
"He rebounded and ran - I was impressed with him. It's just a matter of him getting back in and getting his legs and really understanding what we are trying to do."
Williams added six rebounds to go along with his two points.
The freshman was held from the season's first five games as the NCAA investigated alleged plane ticket that were given to his family by his AAU coach, Mark Komora. A University panel held a due process internal hearing for Williams last Thursday and cleared him to play hours before Saturday's tip off.
"Since the process is over, I am not looking back," Williams said. "I'm moving forward and letting all that stuff stay behind me and continuing on with my season."
Texas' interior players led the way for Texas in Saturday's win, as the team relied on its inside game to overcome its first poor perimeter shooting performance of the season. Jason Klotz led offensive charge by the Longhorn post players, but Brad Buckman had the most complete game.
Buckman was largely responsible for stopping Seton Hall's biggest offensive threat, Kelly Whitney. Whitney entered the game having led Seton Hall in scoring in each of its first three games, averaging 16.6 points per game, but was held to only six against Texas.
"That was one of my keys coming into the game - to stop Whitney," Buckman said. "I wanted to guard Whitney, because I knew I needed to work hard. I think my offense comes from my defense, so guarding him made my offense that much better too."
Buckman not only stopped Whitney but scored 11 points of his own and grabbed eight rebounds. He also recorded two blocks in the game, including one in a pivotal moment of the second half.
North Texas comes into tonight's game coming off a 10 point loss to TCU on Saturday. Texas won't be the first big-time team North Texas has faced, as the Eagles fell at Alabama 85-71 on Nov. 21.
Despite the fact that a trip to No. 6 Wake Forest is only two games away, there is no concern from Barnes about looking past this game.
"We are never going to overlook anybody," he said. "We know that this is the next step and if we get beat it is because we are not mentally ready to play."
North Texas is led by senior guard Leonard Hopkins, who averages 18.2 points per game. Hopkins has scored more than 20 points in each of North Texas' last two games, and posted 19 against Alabama.
Tip off for tonight's game is at 7 p.m. from the Erwin Center.
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