Back to the drawing board for Texas

The Texas Longhorns men’s hoops team posted 91 points in a 40-point domination over Nebraska.

Now, Nebraska is at the bottom of the Big 12 foodchain, but Texas did something this game that they have had trouble all season, shoot free throws. Before the Nebraska game, the Longhorns were shooting 61 percent from the line. Aginst the Cornhuskers, they hit 22 of 30 free throws(73%).

J'Coven Brown has stepped for Texas, averaging 10 points in just 22 minutes a game in his freshman season.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Texas still needs more support from the bench. They accounted for 29 points against NU, but only came from two players. J’Coven Brown scored 28 in the losing effort against Kansas, the only player to score off the bench.

The Horns have a big road test against Missouri tonight, a team that has only lost one home game in the last two years. The bench will need to help the starting five on the road. Missouri has only given up 65 points a game this season.

Horns on Texas-size slide

Since being ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history, the Texas Longhorns have lost 5 of their last 7 games.

Texas began their reign atop the men’s college basketball ranks with a difficult road win at Iowa State. Texas returned home and was taken to overtime by rival Texas A&M. After staying perfect in their first week as the best team in the nation, it all went downhill from there.

On ESPN’s famed Big Monday, Texas traveled to Kansas State, who was ranked No. 9. The Longhorns started the second half down 36-26, and after staging a comeback, the Wildcats pulled away for a 71-62 win. The following Saturday, Texas went to UConn and was dominated the entire game, losing by 14 points.

Texas dropped to No. 6 in the Coaches’ Poll the following week. Texas Tech came to Austin and threatened Texas in the first half, before star Damion James broke out with 28 points. All of Texas’ starting five scored double figures.

Texas found themselves in their second overtime game of the season after finding themselves down nine points at home to the Baylor Bears. J’Coven Brown and Avery Bradley both missed 3-point field goals with less than ten second left and Baylor game texas their third loss of the year.

Texas traveled through Oklahoma to lay Oklahoma State. Jordan Hamilton came off the bench to score 27 in a 72-60 win over the Cowboys. The Longhorns went to Norman next to play a struggling Sooners team. Texas found themselves down 18 at the end of the first half and shot just 31%(10-27) from the free throw line all game, a problem they have been facing all year. Texas fell to Oklahoma 80-71.

No. 1 Kansas came to Austin and dominated Texas for their second straight loss. However, Texas might have found a permanent guard in J’Coven Brown, who scored 28 in the loss. Brown and Damion James scored 52 of the Horns 68 points. In fact, Brown’s 28 points were the only points to come from the bench.

Free throws have been Texas’ number one concern, ranking 326 out 334 teams in Division 1. They are in the top 5 in scoring offense, but field goal percentage has fallen in the past few weeks. They play Nebraska at home and then travel to Missouri and Texas Tech. As long as they establish a permanent guard and hit free throws, they will find their way back into the top 10.