Texas Basketball: 2 studs, 1 dud from UT's defensive gem vs. UNCG
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An amazing defensive performance from No. 21 Texas basketball saw this team hold the UNC Greensboro Spartans to their worst offensive output of the season so far. Texas and head coach Rodney Terry held a UNCG squad with the 17th-best offensive rating in the nation coming into this game to well under 40 points.
This was easily the most impressive and dominant defensive performance of the regular season to date for the Longhorns. Texas held UNCG to under 20 percent shooting from beyond the arc, and below 30 percent shooting from the field. UNCG couldn't even hit their looks from the free-throw line on this night.
No. 21 Texas basketball holds UNCG to nearly 100 fewer points than it had in its previous game
UNCG shot just 35.3 percent from the charity stripe (6-of-17).
Texas's defense was amazing tonight, holding the UNCG offense to just 37 points in the win. The Spartans came into the game 17th in the nation in offensive rating.
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) December 30, 2023
-37 points (82.0 season avg)
-29.8 FG% (47.9 season avg)
-15.8 FG3% (39.5 season avg)
-6 assists (15.5 season avg)
Texas's defense was extremely disruptive too. The Longhorns forced over 15 UNCG turnovers, which is a season-high for the Spartans. This all comes after UNCG set a record with 135 points and 55 field goals in a 135-57 win over Virginia-Lynchburg on Dec. 21 in their last game.
On the offensive end of the floor, the Longhorns were effective when they needed to be. This game was played at a slower pace, so Texas only scored 72 points despite shooting 47.2 percent from the field and nearly 44 percent from deep.
This was a big win for the Longhorns to continue building momentum before Big 12 play begins at home on Jan. 6 against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Here are two studs and one dud from the Longhorns' defensive gem of a performance in this 72-37 win over UNCG at the Moody Center on Dec. 29.
Stud: Dillon Mitchell, F
There was realistically only one stud we need to talk about from this game for the Longhorns. But sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell also deserves a nod for his efforts on the defensive end of the floor, including a game and season-high four blocks.
Insane hustle play here from Dillon Mitchell! pic.twitter.com/tEFqGCXglR
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) December 30, 2023
Mitchell made so many hustle plays on this night, which was a huge component of the Longhorns' ability to hold UNCG to a season-low 37 points. He was extremely disruptive defending around the paint, which contributed to Texas outscoring UNCG in points in the paint by a margin of 24-14.
As usual, Mitchell was effective on the glass on both ends of the floor. He tied a team-high with six rebounds, including two offensive boards.
Mitchell also played pretty spotless with his decision-making on the offensive end. While he only scored seven points, he was an efficient 3-of-4 shooting from the field and didn't turn the ball over once.
So far this season, Mitchell is playing extraordinarily efficient basketball regardless if he's the star player for the Longhorns or having to do some of the dirty work behind the scenes.