No. 7 Texas will look to continue to build on an impressive start to the early season when it squares off against Grambling on Monday in Austin, Texas.
Monday’s contest is the third of a three-game homestand for the new-look Longhorns (2-0), who have swamped their first two opponents by a combined 98 points. Texas returns to the floor after a 98-50 walloping of Gardner-Webb on Thursday as seven players, led by Matas Vokietaitis’ 16 points, scored in double figures.
Isaiah Johnson added 15 points for Texas in the victory, while Joe Sterling and Marcus Spears Jr. hit for 13 points each, Austin Goosby had 11, and David Punch and Elyjah Freeman contributed 10 points apiece. Texas shot 60.7% from the field for the game and racked up 54 points in the paint.
Vokietaitis, who is Texas’ leading returning scorer on a roster that features mostly transfers, also had seven rebounds. The Longhorns followed up a 109-59 win over Chicago State in their season opener on Nov. 2 with another near-complete performance.
Texas coach Sean Miller said his team got what it wanted out of both games.
“One of the things that I liked is that we were really consistent with our effort,” Miller explained. “Not perfect, but if you evaluated our defense or our effort level, mid-second half, early first half, late in the game, start of the second half, I feel comfortable saying that I thought we had five guys that are really playing with effort and were unselfish and playing to win.”
One of the hallmarks of a great team in today’s age of college basketball is a balanced attack that keeps everyone involved and on the same page. While that’s easy to accomplish against inferior opponents, Miller said wins and efforts like the ones over the first two games by the Longhorns can carry over to tougher contests.
“The best teams are balanced — they’re not reliant on one player,” Miller said. “If you can cultivate that versatility and that depth and that unselfishness, I think that’s what takes you the furthest. It isn’t always fun. Players have to sacrifice, embrace their role.
“I do believe that we’re going to be at our best when guys who don’t start the game really come into the game and impact almost as if they are a starter.”
Into this gauntlet come the Tigers (1-0), who travel to Austin after a gritty 89-87 win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 2 in Rock Hill, S.C., as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon.
Isaiah Miranda led Grambling with 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting. Dwayne Pierce added 19 points, Isaiah Howard scored 13, Mekhi Fitts finished with 12, and Antoine Shannon pitched in 11 points as the Tigers shot 64% from the floor and outscored the Northern Illinois 48-28 in the paint.
After the clash with Texas, Grambling will face another tough test in No. 23 Kentucky on Nov. 16. They are also scheduled to take on No. 2 Duke in December.
“Our big thing this year is to stay process-oriented, making sure we’re good to go at the most important time for us and everybody on this level, which is March,” Grambling coach Patrick Crarey II said. “Texas might be the best team out of the three. It’ll be great environments for our guys. If you want to be the best, you have to play against the best.”