The Texas basketball team (10-2) has one more warmup game before it starts its first SEC campaign. Not only do the Longhorns hope to shake off some rust after 10 days off for the holiday break, but they also want to continue the good vibes from their last game, a 98-62 win over New Orleans.
Jordan Pope, a 6-foot-2 junior guard who transferred to Texas from Oregon State in the offseason, scored a career-high 42 points against New Orleans, the most for a Longhorn since Reggie Freeman scored 43 points against Fresno State in 1996. It also set a scoring record for Moody Center, which opened in 2022.
What can the Longhorns do against 5-6 Northwestern State (11 a.m. Sunday, Moody Center, SEC+ Network, 1300, 98.1) that will help them prep for the nation’s toughest conference? Here’s what you need to know for the matchup:
Texas vs Northwestern State time
Day: Sunday
Start time: 11 a.m.
Location: Moody Center in Austin
How to watch Texas vs Northwestern State
TV channel: SEC+ Network
Livestream: Fubo (free trial), ESPN+, SEC+
Tre Johnson, Jayson Kent: Will they play Sunday?
Freshman Tre Johnson, a 6-6 shooting guard who leads the SEC in scoring (19.9 points per game), missed the past two games with a hip issue but participated in pregame warmups against New Orleans. Head coach Rodney Terry has indicated that the injury isn’t serious and that Johnson is “day to day.” Johnson is shooting 48% from the floor, 43.3% from 3-point range and 83.9% from the foul line. Forward Jayson Kent, a 6-8 senior, also could return Sunday after missing the past eight games with a wrist injury. He averages 6.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.8 minutes a game.
Arthur Kaluma: Continuing a career year
Senior forward Arthur Kaluma, who transferred to Texas in the offseason from Kansas State, recorded his third double-double through the first 12 games with 15 points and 10 rebounds against New Orleans. The 6-7 Kaluma, who spent his first two seasons at Creighton, is having a career year with high marks in scoring (14.6), rebounding (8.1), shooting (55.8%) and 3-point shooting (51.7%).
Northwestern State: Addison Patterson is key
Forward Addison Patterson, a 6-7, 205-pound senior from Ontario, could give a thin Texas frontcourt fits. He’s coming off a career game with 33 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the Demons’ 89-79 win over Southern-New Orleans.
Texas vs. Northwestern State prediction
Texas. The Demons have played four teams from a power conference — Texas Tech, Oklahoma, California and LSU — and have lost by at least 16 points each time. Don’t expect anything different against a Texas team that might play with its full roster for the first time this season.
