Around Campus

Texas Basketball Gears Up for Big 12 Conference Play

The new year of 2008 also brings about the start of the Big 12 Conference basketball season, and many key matchups will take place at the Frank Erwin Center over the next two-plus months. The Longhorns women’s basketball team, under the direction of new head coach Gail Goestenkors, got off to a fast start. Texas stood 8-2 and was ranked No. 20 nationally as of mid-December (when this article went to press), gaining early success by playing a fast-paced, up-tempo, full-court defensive style of basketball.

Now, the team turns its attention to Big 12 action after opening up January play with a non-league game against UT-Pan American on January 4. After facing UTPA, all remaining regular season games will be against Big 12 opponents.

The Longhorns were picked to finish fourth in the 12-team league, which is considered to be the most competitive, top to bottom, in the nation.

In addition to providing top-notch play each game, the Big 12 is the most-watched conference in the nation. The Big 12 has a remarkable streak of leading the nation in  home attendance for the LAST EIGHT YEARS, dating back to 1999. The Big 12 is the only league to hit the one million fan mark, doing that twice, including last year when the league drew 1,023,576 spectators.

With that in mind, the Texas Basketball team needs your support as they enter another year of Big 12 competition.

Fans can go to the UT Athletics website, www.TexasSports.com, for information on special game promotions throughout the remainder of the season. On the website, click on the “Bevo’s Bargains” link for major savings, promotions and giveaways at Longhorn sporting events.

Listed below are the nine remaining games on the UT Basketball home schedule and special promotions, including the “Think Pink/Pack the House” promotion for the Baylor game on Wednesday, February 13. The “Think Pink” promotion is a national women’s basketball initiative, coordinated by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), to help stamp out breast cancer and raise awareness for the disease. The WBCA’s “Think Pink” Week will take place February 8 – 17 this year, with over 350 colleges and universities supporting the endeavor.

For the UT-Baylor game, tickets will be offered at $5 each by calling in advance to 512-232-3865 and mentioning the phrase “Think Pink.”  All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game as well in support of the fight against breast cancer.

The team needs YOUR support to “Pack the House” for this rivalry game with an important cause to raise awareness as well.

In 2007, it was estimated that there would be 178,480 new cases of breast cancer in women and 2,030 new cases of breast cancer in men. Of these, an estimated 40,460 women and 450 men will die from the disease. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for all women and the leading overall cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 20 and 59.