Texas basketball (10-2, 0-0 SEC) hosts the final non-conference game of the regular season on Sunday against the Northwestern State Demons (5-6, 2-0 Southland) at the Moody Center.
Start of SEC play roughly one week away from Texas basketball, approaching the final tune-up game vs. Northwestern State on Sunday
The Longhorns exploded for 98 points in a 36-point victory over the New Orleans Privateers at the Moody Center 10 days ago. Junior guard Jordan Pope scored a career-high 42 points on 15-of-21 shooting from the field vs. New Orleans in the convincing victory.
Without freshman guard Tre Johnson and senior forward Jayson Kent due to lingering injury issues, the Longhorns have found other sources of scoring on the offensive end in the past few games. Pope, senior forward Arthur Kaluma, and junior guard Chendall Weaver have all scored in double figures in Texas's past two wins.
Since the Dec. 12 win over the New Mexico State Aggies, the Longhorns have averaged over 100 points per game on over 45 percent shooting from the field as a team and 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Head coach Rodney Terry and the Longhorns have won three straight games and nine of their last 10 since the season-opener loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in Vegas.
Texas must be able to find its defensive identity and continue to build offensive cohesion in the non-con finale later today against Northwestern State.
Here are three bold predictions for the Longhorns in the final tune-up game in non-conference play against Northwestern State at the Moody Center on Dec. 29.
Arthur Kaluma puts up his first career 15-point, 15-rebound double-double
Kaluma registered his third double-double of the season against New Orleans, helping the Longhorns win the battle on the boards with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
I don't think it's wild to say that Kaluma has been Texas's most consistent player this season. His rebounding production has been off the charts this season, averaging a team and career-high 8.1 rebounds per game.
Kaluma is also averaging career highs in points per game (14.6), assists (2.2), blocks (0.8), steals (0.9), and a career-low in turnovers (1.7).
Regarding his usage on the offensive end of the floor, I like how Texas has found ways to get Kaluma high-percentage and efficient shots to make the most of his off-ball skill set in the settled half-court offense. Kaluma has been taking more open catch-and-shoot opportunities from beyond the arc and cutting looks at the rim for high-percentage shots at the basket.
Over 85 percent of Kaluma's field goal attempts this season have come in the paint/at the rim or from downtown in three-point range.
Given the fact that opponents have shot over 35 percent from beyond the arc against Northwestern State and the Demons ranked in the bottom half of the Southland Conference in offensive rebounding percentage, this looks like an advantageous matchup for the Longhorns.