We’re less than 24 hours from the tip-off of the 2006-07 season, and I’m feeling like absolute shit. Nothing like a well-timed illness to take some of the luster out of the new basketball year.

Tonight we get our first look at the seven newest faces on the Longhorn roster. Or eight, if you feel like counting Ian Mooney as “new.” We have so much talent coming in that it’s hard not to have pie-in-the-sky dreams. But a quick reminder of how young our team is should temper any of those feelings.

Fans won’t really learn a whole lot from tonight’s exhibition against Lenoir-Rhyne, the alma mater of coach Rick Barnes. But it ought to be fun to see our highly-touted recruits beating up on incredibly overmatched competition. In particular, the play of Kevin “K-Smoove” Durant should blow away the crowd. Our other most exciting recruit is Damion James, a late signee after OU coach Kelvin Sampson made more (illegal) phone calls than a 15-year-old girl. James should also put up solid numbers, although he will not look at good as Durant. But in all honestly, who will?

For those thinking of attending the game, it’s free admission to all with general admission seating throughout the arena. If you’ve got little ones, arrive at 5:30 and race down to the front rows, courtside. It’ll be something they remember forever.

And of course, don’t forget your costumes. It’s Halloween, after all.