It’s official. The coaches and media agree — Texas is the best basketball team in the country right now.

The Longhorns took home 56 of the 65 first-place votes in the Associated Press poll that was released this afternoon, while 30 of the 31 coaches slotted Rick Barnes’ team first in the nation.

Today marks the first time in school history that Texas was honored with the top ranking in the country. Previously, the Longhorns had held the Associated Press’ No. 2 ranking for a total of twelve different weeks — the previous six weeks of this season, five weeks in 2005, and one week in December of 2002.

Texas is one of four Big 12 teams in the Top 25, as Kansas, Kansas State, and Baylor are all ranked in both polls. Texas A&M, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech also received votes in both polls.

If that bevy of talented teams in conference play wasn’t enough of a challenge for Texas, they are also less than two weeks away from a road trip to Connecticut, where they will face the 15th-ranked Huskies.

The Longhorns will put their newly-minted ranking to the test with a visit to Ames on Wednesday night. Tip for their game against the Iowa State Cyclones is set for 7 P.M.

With Kansas’ stunning road loss to a depleted Tennessee Volunteers team yesterday afternoon, the Jayhawk stranglehold on the No. 1 ranking is finally over. And with Purdue falling at Wisconsin just a day earlier, that leaves only two undefeated contenders vying for that top spot — the Kentucky Wildcats and your Texas Longhorns.

The Wildcats were pushed for 38 minutes by the Georgia Bulldogs in Rupp Arena on Saturday, while Texas logged double-digit victories against Colorado and on the road against Arkansas. The Longhorns already had eight first place votes in last week’s AP Poll, while one coach tabbed Texas as the best team in the land. Kentucky managed just one vote for first, in the Associated Press rankings.

All signs point to the first-ever No. 1 ranking in school history for the Longhorns. This afternoon, we’ll find out if it really happens.

The Longhorns march into Big 12 play this afternoon with a perfect 14-0 mark, tied for the school’s best start in the modern era. Texas opened the season with 20 wins in 1932 and with a school-record 23 wins in 1923. While a chance to match those rarefied numbers is still weeks away and would require some tough road wins, the Longhorns do have a shot to storm into conference play with an opening slate that includes Colorado, Iowa State, and Texas A&M.

This afternoon’s opener comes against the Buffaloes, who were picked by most outlets to finish dead last in the conference. Don’t be surprised, however, if Jeff Bzdelik‘s team manages to climb out of the league cellar this year. Last season, the Buffs put scares into Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, despite having a very young team. They have added a solid five-man recruiting class to the mix, and finally have the offensive potency to move past the slow, grind-it-out style of basketball that Bzdelik had to implement in past seasons just to keep his team in the games.

Historical numbers are certainly not on Colorado’s side this afternoon. The Buffaloes have lost 26-straight road games in conference play, dating all the way back to January of 2006. Colorado has also lost twelve straight conference openers, while the Longhorns have won eleven consecutive home openers in conference play. If you put any stock into historical trends, things don’t look good for the visitors.

By the numbers

As we’ve mentioned already, the Buffaloes are no longer a slow-down team that hopes to win a game in the 50- or 60-point range. Their 69 possessions per game is soundly in the middle of the NCAA, although it is still a good deal slower than Texas’ 76-plus possessions per contest. While the Buffaloes may try to slow things down just a bit to mitigate the talent discrepancies in this game, this season they are certainly more capable of playing an up-tempo game with the Longhorns.

The thing that the Buffaloes do best is earn points at the line. They are one of the top 25 teams in the country at getting to the foul stripe, as their quick dribble drives and constant motion on offense often leads to opponents getting behind the play and hacking in desperation. Once Colorado gets to the line, they also make it worth their time. The Buffs are second in the nation with a 78.2% success rate at the stripe, and even led the country at one point earlier in the week.

Colorado is a smaller team that typically runs four guards and one undersized forward. Many of these “guards” actually play more of a swingman role for the team, but they are usually hanging around the perimeter unless they are driving to the basket. Even the Buffalo post player is often found near the three-point line, setting screens that open up driving lanes and get the team’s offense running. All of this adds up to absolutely awful offensive rebounding numbers. The Buffaloes grab barely more than a quarter of their misses, which is only 318th out of the 347 D-I schools.

The Buffaloes also make up for their size disadvantages by running a ton of different zone looks that confuse opponents and allow them to press the issue far from the basket. Unfortunately, when bigger teams manage to work it inside, the fouls pile up quickly for Colorado. The free-throw rate for the Buffaloes on defense is 309th in the nation, and the team’s platoon of big men has combined to foul out seven times this year.

Meet the Buffaloes

The biggest reason for the improvement in Colorado’s performance is the addition of five newcomers to the roster, although freshman Shannon Sharpe is medically redshirting this year after pre-season knee surgery. Coach Bzdelik addressed the team’s lack of height by adding 6’11” Aussie freshman Shane Harris-Tunks. He still needs some seasoning, but already has a good skill set thanks to his time spent at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Junior-college transfer Marcus Relphorde adds a tenacious rebounder to the roster, along with a solid passer in the high post. He also brings three-point range, which is a key in Bzdelik’s offense. While Relphorde can knock down the long-range shots, he’s struggled a bit from behind the arc so far this year. He’s made just 32.5% of his attempts, but is capable of much more. He certainly knows that, as he keeps firing up the long bombs — so many, in fact, that he’s second on the team in attempts.

The jewel of the class, however, is freshman Alec Burks. In his senior season of high school, Burks was named Gatorade’s Player of the Year in the state of Missouri, and he’s quickly making an impact in the college ranks. At 6’6″, he actually leads the team in rebounds and is second in scoring with 16.3 points per game. He is quick off the dribble, which opens up his teammates for good looks when he penetrates. His long wingspan is also very valuable when Colorado throws out their 1-3-1 zone and traps opponents on the wings.

The star of team is still Cory Higgins, who can beat you any way you want it. He’s a solid shooter, hitting just a shade under 50% from the field, and worked hard on his outside shot in the offseason. That work has led to a 40% mark from behind the arc this season, up from 36% last year. He’s also nearly automatic when he gets to the line, where last season he had streaks of 45 and 23 consecutive makes. This year, he’s knocked down 86% of his attempts from the line, and his quick attack on the dribble-drive means that defenders are often sending him there.

The other thing Higgins brings to the table is a set of really quick hands. He’s leading the team in steals, and was even near the top of the Big 12 ranks in that category last season. Texas has shown its moments of sloppiness and carelessness with the ball, so they will have to be careful when the junior guard is nearby on defense.

The Buffaloes score their points by driving and finding the open man, and often when the defenses collapse that means the open man is somewhere behind the arc. Texas has one of the best defenses in the country, but so far this season they have shown that they are content with stopping teams inside and daring opponents to beat them from outside. This could lead to a big day for Dwight Thorne II, who led the team in three-pointers last year and also was tops in accuracy from behind the arc. At the beginning of this season, he was the team’s starting point guard, but recently sophomore Nate Tomlinson has reclaimed those duties. As the sixth man, Thorne could be a key to this game with his long-range marksmanship.

The big man opening up Thorne on the perimeter is Austin Dufault, the lone forward in the starting lineup. Although he’s the team’s tallest starter at 6’9″, his biggest role in the offense is setting screens outside. Dufault was named Mr. Basketball in the state of North Dakota as a high school senior, and it’s his outside shot that sets him apart from other big men. That long-range threat is huge in the Colorado offense, as teams who choose to double the ballhandler after a screen will often pay when Dufault knocks down a triple. The big man is also second in rebounding on a team that will have issues with that this afternoon, so he’ll have to come up huge on the glass against the Texas frontcourt.

Sophomore point guard Tomlinson has made huge strides after a rookie year where he often struggled with the new offense he was asked to run. In addition to being a solid floor general, he’s also a solid shooter. Tomlinson takes less than five shots a game, though, so his scoring impact is usually negligible. If Texas leaves him open, you can probably bank on the Aussie sophomore tickling the twine.

Also coming off the bench for Coach Bzdelik are Keegan Hornbuckle and Casey Crawford. Hornbuckle is the fifth member of the recruiting class, and is a quality-shooting small forward. He has fairly limited minutes, though, so he will likely have a small impact on today’s game. Crawford is in his second year at CU after transferring from Wake Forest. He’s used mostly to spell Dufault, and is another big man who can knock down the three when he’s out there setting screens.

Keys to the game

The biggest advantage Texas has in this game — besides the talent differential — is a much bigger lineup. The Longhorns must dominate the rebounding battle, especially on the defensive end. Colorado is a very well-coached team that is loaded with good shooters, so limiting the Buffaloes to one-and-done possessions should squash any thoughts of an upset.

Beyond crashing the glass, the other main focus for Texas will be shutting down Higgins. In Boulder last February, the guard went off for 34 points as the Buffs pushed the Longhorns to overtime. This Texas team is much more sound on defense, but they had a lot of problems with another quick guard on Tuesday night, Arkansas’ Courtney Fortson. The Longhorns found themselves behind the play quite often, and their frustration fouls piled up. Texas will need to communicate on defense and help each other out if they hope to limit Higgins’ effectiveness.

While it’s been an issue all season long, Texas has certainly improved their free throw shooting in the last few games. As often as Colorado fouls opponents, though, tonight knocking down the freebies will be even more key than usual. The Buffaloes can level the talent disparity by making Texas earn their points, so we’ll likely see a ton of free throw attempts for the Horns this afternoon. Make them, and Texas should cruise to victory. Miss too many, and the final score will be a lot closer than it should be.

Home and in one piece. After sleeping approximately 731.9 hours, though, it’s time to rush out the door. We’ll be back with some post-game thoughts in the last few hours before the BCS National Championship Game.

After a disappointing performance against an average Southland Conference team, the Longhorns look to bounce back quickly in a road test against Arkansas tonight. Last year, the Longhorns fell victim to an upset at this same arena, losing to a young Razorback team, 67-61. While this season’s Arkansas team isn’t as young, it’s possibly just as inexperienced, thanks to a handful of suspensions and dismissals.

Five different Razorbacks were suspended by Coach John Pelphrey at the start of the season, and while a few have rejoined the team, starting point guard Courtney Fortson is still missing in action. The coach is still tight-lipped about the suspension, refusing to say when — if ever — the sophomore will reclaim his duties as the team’s floor leader. Without Fortson in the mix, freshman point guard Julysses Nobles has been thrust into the role, where he has had his share of growing pains.

By the numbers

The Razorbacks are sitting at a perfect .500 record, having knocked off a handful of small schools like Delaware State and Alcorn State, while losing to a diverse group of teams including Louisville, Baylor, and Morgan State.

For Arkansas, the biggest problem is their lack of size, and it manifests itself in the rebounding battle. The Razorbacks grab just 30% of their offensive rebounding opportunities, placing the team firmly in the bottom third of the nation. On defense, they allow their opponents to snag 33% of their offensive board chances, which is a respectable number on the surface. But when you look closer at the stats, it’s clear that the numbers are skewed by the cupcakes on Arkansas’ schedule.

In the seven losses that the Razorbacks have suffered, they have not held an opponent to less than a 47.2% offensive rebounding mark. In six of those losses, Arkansas gave up more than 51% of the opportunities, with East Tennessee State recovering a ridiculous 69.4% of their chances. Against a much bigger and deeper Texas team, the Razorbacks are going to have their hands full keeping the Longhorns from cleaning up the offensive glass.

For the second-straight game, Texas will also be facing an opponent who mirrors their struggles from the line. While the Longhorns are hitting just 62.8% of their free throws, the Razorbacks are making 65% of their attempts. If tonight’s game turns into a physical foul-fest, both teams could leave a ton of points on the stripe.

Meet the Razorbacks

The key player for Arkansas is sophomore sharpshooter Rotnei Clarke. In his season debut, Clarke set a school record by scoring 51, knocking down 13 three-pointers on the night. He has a quick release and elevates well to get shots over taller defenders despite his 6-foot frame. Clarke is deceptively quick off the dribble, and worked hard on his runners in the off-season to make his game even more dangerous.

The Razorbacks spend a lot of their time setting screens off the ball for Clarke, and as a result, their offense can often bog down if the defense is successfully shutting down the long-range gunner. But when Clarke’s shot is falling, it opens things up inside for a pair of big men who can score in bunches.

Michael Washington is the center who benefits the most from the outside-in attack of the Razorbacks. But the 6’9” senior isn’t just a lump in the paint — he actually has three-point range, and will often try one or two trifectas per game. He’s very active on the glass and has a fairly consistent midrange jumper. This year, he’s third on the team in scoring and second in rebounding, providing 13.2 points and 5.6 boards per game.

The other man reaping the benefits when defenses key on Clarke is freshman forward Marshawn Powell. Like Washington, he has a nice midrange jumper and hustles for the rebounds against bigger, stronger opponents. Powell still needs to add some muscle to his 6’7” frame, but he’s playing very well for a freshman and is actually tops on the team with 6.6 boards per game. His 14.9 points are second on the team behind only Clarke.

Jermal Farmer is the other main scorer for Arkansas, making a quick impact after transferring from Cloud County College in Kansas. In his Razorback debut, Farmer scored 28 points, but was overshadowed by Clarke’s 51-point outburst. A 6’5” swingman, the Juco transfer is an incredibly athletic player, and one of the few on the Arkansas roster who can create his own shot.

As mentioned earlier, Nobles is a freshman guard who has been thrust into the starting role at the point thanks to Fortson’s suspension. He’s logged 60 dimes in his first fourteen games, but has posted an assist-to-TO ratio of just 1.54-to-1. Nobles hasn’t yet shown consistency from the floor this season, but his three-point percentage (36.8%) is actually second on the team behind Clarke’s astronomically-high 51% mark.

Marcus Britt and Stef Welsh are the only men off the bench who play more than 20 minutes a game, and they combine for 12.5 points per contest. Britt is a junior guard who has a steady hand with the ball and helps Nobles with distribution duties. Welsh is a senior who has locked down the sixth-man role and is best known for his stifling defense. Last year, he was the main man responsible for holding A.J. Abrams to just seven points.

Keys to the game

Based simply on the size mismatch and the trouble that Arkansas has on the glass, the rebounding battle will be key to the outcome tonight. If the Razorbacks want to have any chance at the home upset, they will have to keep Texas from piling up second-chance points, and they will have to earn their own extra possessions by beating the Longhorns on the offensive glass.

The other huge factor in tonight’s game will be the play of Clarke, the three-point specialist. If the suffocating Texas defense can limit his scoring, it will not only scuttle the Arkansas offense, but also exhaust the Razorbacks as they work even harder to free Clarke up for open looks. If Arkansas hopes to pull off a huge upset tonight, there is no doubt that the dead-eye sophomore must have a huge game.

Those two keys are essentially all that matters tonight. But for Texas fans, it will worth keeping an eye on what the Longhorns do against the zone looks that Arkansas will mix in. Texas seemed completely unwilling to attack the soft middle of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi zone on Saturday, settling just for ball reversal on the perimeter and an excessive number of threes. The Longhorns simply must attempt to run some passes through the high post or attack the defense with some solid dribble penetration. If they can’t do it against the likes of Arkansas, they will have a really hard time getting any offense against many of their Big 12 foes.

The big finish

It’s interesting to note that both the Longhorn basketball and football teams are 13-0 as of this morning. If both can win their weekday games over the next three days, the the basketball team will match the best start in school history and the football team will win some sort of trophy. I hear it’s a shiny crystal thing that looks like a football…

This game preview is coming to you from the passenger seat of a car on northbound I-35, so further website updates will be at least a day away. We’ve got a nine-hour drive in store right after the game tonight, meaning that post-game thoughts — and a few thoughts about the A&M-CC disappointment — won’t be available until Wednesday night.

In the meantime, you can get quick updates from the road and Bud Walton Arena by following our Twitter @LonghornRdTrip. Don’t say it — we know. The whole idea of the Twitter thing seems a bit ridiculous, and we were more than resistant to the idea. But after much convincing, we finally realized that it does provide an incredibly easy way to update from inside the games, and even allowed us to break the diagnosis of Varez Ward’s injury a full twelve hours before the mainstream media. If you don’t feel like following our updates on another whole website, don’t fret — in theory, we’ll even have the Twitter updates lodged into this website’s sidebar in the near future.

For those of you fortunate enough to not be living in the state of Arkansas — or crazy enough to make the drive — you’ll have to catch tonight’s action on ESPN2. Enjoy the game, and we’ll see you folks here again tomorrow night.