In the penultimate non-conference matchup of the season for the Texas Longhorns defeated the Le Moyne Dolphins on Tuesday at the Moody Center, 95-53, as head coach Sean Miller’s team limited the Dolphins to
28.3-percent shooting overall and 11.1 percent from beyond the arc.
“Regardless of our opponent, our three-point defense is something that that we’ve struggled with early this season. We’re getting better in that area, and I thought today was a good test — they were 2-for-18. I didn’t think they had a cold shooting night or they had a bunch of open shots. I thought we affected their ability to make them, which is a good thing,” Miller said.
Le Moyne entered the game shooting almost 40 percent from three, making the Dolphins a top-50 team nationally in long-distance marksmanship, and rank in the 82nd percentile in assist rate, an area where the Longhorns were able to limit the visitors to five assists on 17 made baskets, roughly half of their typical assist rate.
“Our guys, especially our perimeter players, I thought did an excellent job. Played with great energy and togetherness, in particular in the second half, but just the game in general, we played with effort and consistency and togetherness,” Miller said.
In adjusted defense, it was the best performance for Texas this season by a wide margin, building on the team’s strong three-point defense in the second half of Friday’s loss to No. 5 UConn.
Is the effort against the nation’s No. 307 team in adjusted efficiency transferrable?
Miller believes that it is because the Horns recorded 34 deflections. For perspective, Texas has played games at the Moody Center this season with 20 fewer deflections, according to the head coach, evidence of the team’s improved effort level and mentality on defense.
“I think more pressure is a big part of our path to being a better team,” Miller said.
With the team’s NCAA Tournament odds sitting at 36.9 percent, according to BartTorvik.com, Miller’s hope is that the team continues to make incremental improvements through the 18-game SEC schedule, fueled by his own improvements as a coach.
“I’m just telling you, in my best attempt, there’s no way I could be the best coach for Tramon Mark until I’m around him longer. He didn’t participate this summer. He didn’t participate in September,” Miller said.
“Tramon, it wouldn’t surprise me if he really hits his stride in the next couple of months — if you notice, he’s starting to play better right now. Part of it isn’t him, it’s me. We’re putting him in a better position on offense. We understand his strengths and weaknesses better, and I think that he’s more comfortable.”
The graduate guard scored a game-high 18 points against Le Moyne, converting 6-of-10 shots from the floor and 4-of-5 free-throw attempts while adding three assists, one block, and one steal.
Texas also received efficient performances from junior wing Dailyn Swain, who scored 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and recorded two steals, and sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis, who scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting while notching his second double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.
Three other players reached double-digit scoring for the Longhorns as Texas scored 1.319 points per possession, recorded 48 points in the paint, and got out in transition for 21 fast-break points.
Texas closes the non-conference schedule on Monday against Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. Central on SEC Network+.
