The first SEC game of the Sean Miller era tips off at the top of the hour. Texas (9-4, 0-0 SEC) hosts Mississippi State (8-5, 0-0) at Moody Center in the first conference game for both clubs this season.

A couple of notes:

— There were no injuries reported on either side to the conference. The availability reports for the Longhorns and Bulldogs are clean.

— I'm told the football transfer portal prospects who are visiting Texas this weekend are expected to be here at some point.

— Texas is honoring the 2005-06 team that won a share of the Big 12 title and advanced to the Elite Eight. I'm told the only players on the team who aren't here are Kenton Paulino (he's an assistant coach at Wichita State), Daniel Gibson (travel issues) and Mike Williams (whereabouts unknown).

 

Have to start of SEC play strong with road trips to Tennessee and Bama coming up. Let’s go boys!

Cowbells have been disappointing vs where they trended last year, hopefully we put on a show

Mississippi State PG Josh Hubbard is who Texas will have to control tonight. A true bulldog player at the point. 

21+ ppg this season ... three level scoring ability

CG Jayden Epps is also a tough guard at times. 16 ppg this season

 

If Texas is going to make a run at getting into the field of 68, these are the kinds of games it must win. Can't afford to squander winnable games at home.

Just now, Jeff Howe said:

If Texas is going to make a run at getting into the field of 68, these are the kinds of games it must win. Can't afford to squander winnable games at home.

Absolutely. 

Texas has to find a way to scratch and claw to get to 9-9 in SEC play. 

 

Trying to see if there are an recruits here 

FWIW, Bart Torvik likes the local cagers by 9.9 points today (projected 84-74 final favoring Texas).

Yep more people watching, or are at the game to see potential football players. 

The 2005-06 Elite Eight team being recognized today is, I still believe, the most talented team Rick Barnes coached at Texas. With LaMarcus Aldridge, Brad Buckman, P.J. Tucker and Daniel Gibson, those Longhorns were elite on defense.

That team broke my heart, however. They went 30-7 and I felt like they had a great shot to win it all when the LSU team, led by Garrett Temple, Big Baby Davis and Tyrus Thomas, beat Duke in the Sweet 16. It didn't work out and that's a shame. It was the last time Barnes got that close to a Final Four (he got Texas to the Elite in 2007-08, but the Longhorns weren't going to get by Derrick Rose and Memphis).

Decent turnout so far.  Hopefully it fills out more

Crowd is still filing into Moody Center.

We'll see how much juice is in the building with the Christmas break putting a huge dent into the numbers in the Corral.

Mark contorts his body in the air from the elbow. His jumper falls for the first Texas bucket.

No surprise that Hubbard has State's first four points.

Just now, Jeff Howe said:

No surprise that Hubbard has State's first four points.

Make it seven as he comes off a high ball screen and nails a three.

Mississippi State 11, Texas 9

15:17 to go, 1H

6 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

Crowd is still filing into Moody Center.

We'll see how much juice is in the building with the Christmas break putting a huge dent into the numbers in the Corral.

I think yhis is about the level of attendance we are going to see.  Dont see a lot of people trying to get to seats

A missed three by Hubbard turns into a push and nice feed from Wilcher to Matas for a bucket.

Great hustle by Daylin Swain on the offensive glass so far today.

On the floor (12:11): Pope, Weaver, Wilcher, Swain and Traore

Texas 18, Mississippi State 18

11:53 to go, 1H

21 minutes ago, Rocky P said:

Decent turnout so far.  Hopefully it fills out more

I saw that tickets are sold out for remaining home games. 

Consecutive possessions for State end with their guards getting to the bucket, scoring and getting fouled.