Texas Missing The Point
By Brobury Sports
The Texas Longhorns are dealing with another point guard injury as they host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Wednesday night. Here’s the scoop from BroburySports.com.
Texas is a nine-point home favorite at Brobury. ESPN2 will broadcast at 9 pm ET.
Texas (21-6 SU, 10-13 ATS) just learned that point guard Dogus Balbay (knee) is out for the season. Point guard Varez Ward (quad) was lost for the year back in November.
That’s a big blow for a team that is already struggling. They started out the season at 17-0 straight-up (SU) and had high profile wins over North Carolina and Michigan State.
Things have been far different since, going 4-6 SU. The ATS record has been in freefall, going 2-12 the last 14 games.
It’s hard to point to one area of failure. Center Dexter Pittman is certainly struggling big-time. He’s scored in double-digits twice in the last 13 games. His minutes have been lowered with Gary Johnson getting more time off the bench.
Texas has relied on three freshmen all year. Avery Bradley (12.6 PPG) has been starting, with J’Covan Brown (10 PPG) and Jordan Hamilton (9.5 PPG) coming off the bench. All three have been inconsistent and Brown only played five minutes last game at Texas Tech (71-67 Texas win).
Either Brown or Justin Mason will have to play the majority of point guard minutes. Brown has been in coach Rick Barnes’ doghouse, so you have to assume it’s Mason to start.
Oklahoma State looking to avoid season sweep
Oklahoma State (19-7 SU, 12-7-1 ATS) is one of seven Big 12 teams looking at a March Madness bid.
The Cowboys’ last game was Saturday at home versus Baylor, winning 82-75 as 2 ½-point favorites. OSU shot 14-of-26 in three-pointers or 56 percent. They do live and die with the ‘three’, but they’re very hard to beat when on.
OSU hosted Texas on Feb. 1, losing 72-60 as three-point dogs. OSU was just 4-of-18 from long range and they couldn’t control Hamilton (27 points).
Texas is 5-1-1 ATS in the last seven home meeting between the teams. The ‘under’ is 7-1 in the last eight meetings there.
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