Last Updated on March 13, 2010 12:28 pm by drew
Texas Tourny Odds
At one point Texas looked to be a frontrunner to win the 2010 NCAA Championship, but a rough second half of the season have left many questions for the Longhorns.
After starting 17-0 to begin the season, the Longhorns are now 24-9. Head coach Rick Barnes has led Texas to a NCAA Tournament appearance in each year of his 11 previous seasons as coach and Texas has one at least one tournament game in each of the past four years.
Oddsmakers from online sports book BroburySports.com have given Texas 20/1 odds to win the NCAA Tournament while Damion James has been given 15/1 odds to win the 2010 John Wooden Award.
Currently unranked, the Longhorns had 13/2 odds to win the Big 12 Tournament, but Texas lost its quarterfinal matchup with Baylor, 86-67. It was the third time Texas lost to the Bears this season. Texas has lost its last five games against ranked opponents.
Texas is averaging 81.2 points per-game, which ranks second in the Big 12 behind Kansas. Texas leads the conference in rebounding at 42.2 per-game while also ranking second in defensive 3-point percentage at .321. The Longhorns rank last in the conference in free throw percentage at .634 and are 11th in 3-point percentage at .345.
James has earned Wooden Award nomination status by averaging a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds per-game. The guard-forward shoots 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arc, but struggles at the free throw line, shooting just 66.7 percent. Assisting James this season for Texas has been Avery Bradley, who averages 11.7 points and 2.1 assists per-game. Dexter Pittman, the center, is averaging 10.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per-game. Pittman shoots a team-high, 66.2 percent from the field.
2010 March Madness Odds
Texas 20/1
2010 John Wooden Award Odds
Damion James (Texas) 15/1
Posted: 3/13/10 12:28PM ET