Texas Basketball Game Preview: #6/7 Texas at #1/1 Kentucky | Horns Illustrated

#6/7 Texas (7-0, 0-0 Big 12) at #1/1 Kentucky (7-0, 0-0 Southeastern)
SEC / Big 12 Challenge
Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 - 6 p.m. Central
Rupp Arena (23,500) - Lexington, Kentucky

GameDay Links
Radio Affiliates  |  Free Audio  | Live Stats  | Twitter  |  WatchESPN

GameDay Quick Facts
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Dan Shulman (pxp), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Shannon Spake (reporter) will call the action.

• RADIO: The Longhorn Sports Network and KVET (FM 98.1/1300AM Sportsradio the Zone) broadcast every UT game on the statewide network. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (analyst) will call the action. Check www.TexasSports.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game.

Notables
• LOOKING TO MAKE HISTORY: The Texas basketball Team will be looking for their first victory in program history against the AP's top-ranked team. Since the AP began its poll in 1949, UT is 0-7 against No. 1 teams.

• DEFENSE AND REBOUNDING: Texas has held each of its first seven opponents to below 60 points AND 37% FG shooting. The Horns also have outrebounded their opponents in six of their first seven games and sport a +13.9 rebound margin (44.9-31.0) entering Friday's contest.
• TURNER SEES DOUBLE: Freshman forward Myles Turner recorded his second double-double of the year with his 18-point, 10-rebound and five-block effort in Tuesday's win against UT Arlington. Turner leads the team in blocks (23, 3.3 bpg) and ranks second on the squad in scoring (12.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg).

KENTUCKY SERIES INFO
• Friday's contest marks the second meeting between Texas and Kentucky.
• In the only previous meeting (Nov. 21, 1993), then-No. 5 Kentucky recorded an 86-61 victory in the opening round of the Maui Invitational (Maui, Hawaii).

HISTORICALLY GOOD DEFENSE                                   

Texas has held each of its first seven opponents to below 60 points. The last time UT held its first seven opponents under 60 points to open a season was 1950-51. Texas held all 27 of its opponents that year to below 60 points.

 

BLOCK PARTY

UT has averaged 8.3 blocks per contest in its first seven games this year (58 total blocks).

The Horns have posted at least seven blocks in each of their last six contests.

Texas tied a single-game school record with 13 blocks in Tuesday’s win against UT Arlington (also blocked 13 vs. UTSA on Dec. 29, 2004 and vs. Cal on Nov. 15, 2000).

UT recorded eight blocked shots in Sunday’s win at No. 24/22 Connecticut (Nov. 30).