Texas Basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. Sam Houston State

2) Bold predictions for Texas basketball vs. SHSU

Zach Nutall is held under a dozen points

There is one set in stone offensive spark plug to watch for the Longhorns when they’re on the defensive end of the floor in this game. Texas will need to do their best to shut down the star 6-foot-3 and 185 pound Sam Houston State junior shooting guard Zach Nutall. This could be a key matchup for the likes of versatile standout senior Texas guard Matt Coleman on this night.

Texas got mixed results in defending teams that have one or two volume scorers, like that of Sam Houston State, so far this season. The Longhorns took care of business in dominant fashion against the likes of Texas State and the UTRGV Vaqueros. But Texas played it a bit close against the Davidson Wildcats in the first round of the Maui Invitational last month.

Moreover, Nutall started in all seven games he’s played in for Sam Houston State so far this season. He’s averaged 21.1 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.1 blocks. And Nutall shot 45.7 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 75.0 percent from the free-throw line.

The two worst games that Nutall played offensively so far this season came in Sam losses to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and LSU Tigers. He registered a combined 27 points in those two games, and didn’t come close to even shooting 40 percent from the field in either outing.

With how good the Longhorns perimeter defense was so far this season, this looks like it could be a real struggle from the field for Nutall at the Erwin Center.