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Texas Basketball: What to expect from key matchup vs. Louisiana-Monroe

By Andrew Miller

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Keith Richard of the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks yells to his players as Lance Richard #22 sits on the bench during a game against the Canisius Golden Griffins during the 2015 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on December 22, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Canisius won 108-96 in triple overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Keith Richard of the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks yells to his players as Lance Richard #22 sits on the bench during a game against the Canisius Golden Griffins during the 2015 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on December 22, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Canisius won 108-96 in triple overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The third game of 2018-19 for each side should at least promise a lot of scoring between Texas basketball and Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 12.

Up next for Texas basketball this season is what should be an easier home battle against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at home at The Frank Erwin Center on Nov. 12. This is the third game of the 2018-19 regular season for Texas basketball, coming off the way too close overtime victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in El Paso, TX, on Nov. 9.

Head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart is hoping to defy the odds this season and breakthrough to the top five or top three teams in the Big 12 standings when it’s all said and done. Another thing that Smart needs to do for this Texas basketball program in 2018-19 is making a decent run in the NCAA Tournament.

Other accolades like finishing in the top three of the Big 12 regular season standings, potentially winning the Big 12, recruiting well, and boasting some players with individual awards, is all nice. However, the Texas Longhorns have to be fed up with the mediocrity the fans have seen on the court for the past three seasons under Smart.

Getting on the right track to making it further in the NCAA Tournament starts with taking care of business in very winnable games in non-conference play. Texas survived the scare from Arkansas and now has two winnable matchups in a row against Louisiana-Monroe and The Citadel.

Head coach Keith Richard and the Warhawks are off to a solid start this season with two dominant wins over Jackson State and Millsaps. However, ULM is yet to face a team like the Horns this season. Texas enters as a 19-point favorite at home over the Warhawks. The over/under for the game is set at 140.5 points.

The key for Texas in handling this ULM offense that put up a ton of points in its first two games of the regular season is containing this high-tempo back court. Being aware of the location of the former Wichita State Shockers transfer point guard Daishon Smith on the court at all times is key. Smith is averaging 17.0 points per game and two steals so far this season.

For Texas, getting senior forward Dylan Osetkowski and sophomore shooting guard Jase Febres on track in this game is huge. Osetkowski had two mediocre performances in the first two games, but still posted 10.0 points per game and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Febres is posting a solid shooting percentage from beyond the arc, at greater than 36, but could use more volume scoring to help out the Texas offense.

5 thoughts after the first two games of 2018-19 for Texas basketball. dark. Next

The matchup between ULM and Texas basketball tips off at 7 p.m. CT on the Forty Acres on Nov. 12. You can view all the action between these two teams live on the Longhorn Network. Texas women’s basketball also has a key game out-of-conference on Nov. 12 against North Texas which tips at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

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