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[LongJim]

From Rivals:

The first opponent looking to hand the Longhorns their first loss of the season is a good North Texas team that was a member of the field of 65 a year ago in the NCAA Tournament.

North Texas enters Wednesday night's game, which will be televised on Fox Sports in Texas only, with a 5-1 record. The Mean Green has posted a home win over Oklahoma State 82-73 and a road victory over New Mexico State 75-72. The lone loss for the 2007 Sun Belt Champions was at Texas-Arlington 72-64.

Unless North Texas attempts to take the air out of the ball, which two teams have tried to do against Texas in Austin this year, the pace should be quick, as both teams average more than 80 points per game. The Mean Green has proven to be a team capable a creating turnovers with three quarter court traps and full court pressure, but will have a tough task as Texas turns the ball over only 9.9 times per game on the season.

Freshman guard Josh White is the key for the Mean Green. The 5-foot-10 scoring guard is averaging 16.2 points, is the top three-point shooter on the team and gets to the free throw line off the dribble. South Florida transfer Collin Dennis is the second leading scorer for North Texas at 14.8 points per game. Dennis, the sixth man, is the second best three-point shooter on the team.

If North Texas is to play spoiler, they will have to slow down the nations leading field goal and three-point shooting team in Texas. The Longhorns come into Wednesday's game converting 54.4 percent from the field and 48.6 percent from three-point land behind the stellar play of D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams at guard.

Texas and North Texas have played 33 times since 1913 with the Longhorns holding a 28-5 advantage, including 22-1 in Austin. The last meeting between the two programs was December 7, 2004 with the Longhorns prevailing 86-57.

The game will be televised by Fox Sport Southwest in Texas only except in Houston and Dallas because of NBA games. In Houston, the game will televised on KNWS. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m..

A look at the numbers

Texas shoots 54.4 percent overall, 48.6 percent from the three-point line and 73.7 percent from the foul line.

North Texas checks in at 45.7 percent from the floor, 32.4 percent from three and 71.7 percent from the free throw line.

Texas holds opponents to 36.7 percent from the field, while the Mean Green check in at 40.2 percent.

The Longhorns hold a +3.9 rebound differential to +9.3 for North Texas.

Texas turns the ball over just 9.9 times per game to 15.3 by the Mean Green.

The projected starters

G D.J. Augustin 5-11 sohpomore (17.7 points, 6.6 assists, 2.1 steals)

G A.J. Abrams 5-11 junior (18.7 points, 2.6 rebounds)

G Justin Mason 6-2 sophomore (11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists)

F Damion James 6-7 sophomore (11.7 points, 8.4 rebounds)

C Connor Atchley 6-11 junior (11.4 points, 4.7 rebounds)

Key reserves for the Longhorns are 6-8 freshman Alexis Wangmene (4.6 points, 3.3 rebounds), 6-10 freshman Clint Chapman (2.4 rebounds), 6-10 sophomore Dexter Pittman (3.3 points) and 6-1 senior J.D. Lewis (3.4 points).

G Ben Bell 6-3 senior (6.0 points, 3.7 assists)

G Josh White 5-10 freshman (16.2 points, 3.0 rebounds)

G Tristan Thompson 6-5 freshman (8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds)

F Keith wooden 6-9 senior (12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds)

F Quincy Williams 6-8 senior (7.7 points, 7.5 rebounds)

Key reserves include 6-2 junior Collin Dennis (14.8 points, 3.0 rebounds), 5-11 senior Dez Willingham (6.6 points, 2.1 assists), 6-7 freshman Kendrick Hogans (3.2 points) and 6-8 junior Harold Stewart (4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds).

[MeanGreen61]

North Texas (5-1) at (4) Texas (7-0)

Wednesday, December 5th, 8:00 p.m. (et).

The Sports Network

By Pat Taggart, Associate College Basketball Editor

FACTS & STATS: Site: Frank Erwin Center (16,496) -- Austin, Texas. Television: Local. Home Record: North Texas 3-0, Texas 4-0. Away Record: North Texas 1-1, Texas 1-0. Neutral Record: North Texas 1-0, Texas 2-0. Conference Record: North Texas 0-0, Texas 0-0. Series Record: Texas leads, 28-5.

GAME NOTES: The fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns are clearly favored in tonight's non-conference contest against the North Texas Mean Green. Still, don't expect North Texas to go down without a fight, as the team owns an impressive 5-1 record that includes victories in two straight games. They are coming off a 75-72 decision over New Mexico State on the road, and they also beat Oklahoma State a few weeks ago by nine points. Texas remained undefeated and sent a message to the college basketball world with Sunday's 63-61 victory over fellow powerhouse UCLA in Los Angeles. The Longhorns have recorded seven consecutive victories to open the season, and the first six were all double-digit wins, including a 19-point romp over SEC power Tennessee just two weeks ago. Texas owns a commanding 28-5 lead in the all-time series with North Texas, and has won the last six meetings. The Mean Green have won just once in Austin, doing so in a 29-26 final way back in 1930.

North Texas is racking up 81.5 ppg this season while limiting opponents to 70.2 ppg on 40.2 percent shooting from the floor, including 28.4 percent accuracy from three-point range. Strong rebounding has been key to the success of the Mean Green, as they are pulling down 9.3 rpg more than the opposition. The top offensive performer for UNT is Josh White, as he is netting 16.2 ppg on 52.7 percent shooting from the field, including 52.4 percent from behind the arc. Collin Dennis checks in with 14.8 ppg, and Keith Wooden adds 12.0 ppg to the mix. Dennis was outstanding in the win over New Mexico State on Saturday, as he poured in 21 points in only 16 minutes of action off the bench. White tallied 15 points for the Mean Green, who won despite shooting a lowly 36.5 percent from the floor. They managed to force the Aggies into 19 turnovers, key to the victory.

Texas shot 53.1 percent from the floor in the first half against UCLA and led 37-25 at intermission. Although the Longhorns weren't nearly as efficient at the offensive end in the second half, they were able to hold off the surging Bruins and score the narrow victory. Texas only turned the ball over nine times in the clash, helping to make up for a lackluster 2-of-5 effort from the foul line. A 34-28 rebounding edge helped the cause as well. D.J. Augustin and Damion James scored 19 points apiece for the Longhorns, and James pulled down 10 rebounds as well. A.J. Abrams, who was quiet against UCLA, continues to lead Texas with 18.7 ppg on the strength of his 47.5 percent shooting from three- point range. Augustin is close behind with 17.7 ppg, and he has dished out 46 assists through seven games. Three other players, including James, are averaging double figures in scoring for Texas, which is posting 84.4 ppg as a team while limiting foes to just 59.7 ppg.

Expect the home team to win this one rather easily, as Texas is on a whole different level than North Texas. Keep an eye on Augustin, as he is one of the nation's premier point guards.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas 84, North Texas 68