AUSTIN, Texas – After losing the season opener to Ohio State, Texas men’s basketball had a 90-68 victory over Delaware State, giving the team its sixth straight win.
The Longhorns (6-1, 0-0 SEC) were led by guard Tre Johnson, who finished the night with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting. It was the sixth time in seven games this year that a true freshman led Texas. In scoring.
Rodney Terry’s club applied defensive pressure from the start, racing ahead of the visiting Hornets (3-5, 0-0 MEAC) and forcing nine turnovers in the first half. He scored 13 points off turnovers and 15 points on fast break points.
The win puts a cap on the opening month of the season, which Terry has emphasized as a pivotal period in building the team’s identity.
“I think we’ve improved a lot over the past month,” Terry said of his team’s 6-1 start. “We’re still not where we want to be from a defensive standpoint. It’s still a work in progress.” he said.
Through the first seven games of the season, Texas ranks 22nd in the nation in overall defense and 19th out of 364 programs in fewest points allowed per game, holding teams to an average of 60.7 points.
“I still want us to have a killer mentality in terms of really trying to put together stops. I was disappointed that we couldn’t put together stops in the second half. We were, in a sense, Swap baskets, do scoreboards, and that’s not really what we’re going to do. No, I don’t mean to disrespect Delaware State, but this is us trying to continue from a defensive standpoint, trying to keep our man-to-man defense, guys outside the paint. A chance opportunity due to a physical box-out that keeps him away from second place.
Texas held Delaware State to 9-of-33 field goals in the first 20 minutes of the game, leading 41-22 into the break. The 22 points allowed are the fewest the Longhorns have allowed in a first half this season.
Forward Kadin Shedrick had an effective night offensively, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, tying the Texas career high for rebounds he set last year against Texas State.
“I’ve been working on a lot of matchups this offseason, and I think the first few games I was a little hesitant to get into my moves right away,” Shedrick said of his offensive growth.
The 6-foot-11, 215-pounder is averaging a career-high 10.8 points through the first seven games of the year.
“The last few games, with (Terry) guiding me in that direction, my focus was just working on my moves and repeating them.
Kansas State forward Arthur Calma has scored in double figures in every game this season, scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
Tramon Mark added a season-high 15 points in his third game back after missing the first four games of the season with an ankle injury.
Mark was one of four Longhorns with double-digit wins.
Terry’s club now turns its attention to the SEC-ACC Challenge, with the Longhorns taking on North Carolina State on Dec. 4 in Raleigh, N.C., then on Dec. 8 against the two-time defending champions. A home date with UConn will take place.
“(North Carolina State) is a well-coached team with good players and a strong inside presence,” Terry said of the Wolfpack, who started the season 5-2.
“They’ve got some good players who played well on the biggest stage last year. We’re going to have our hands full trying to build a really good team. Our guys and staff are going to join the team and take on the challenge. We’ve got to do a great job of getting ready to play really hard, take care of basketball and try to have a physical mindset. ”
