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Notebook: Three defenders emerge as go-to guys for Texas men

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — There have been seasons when Longhorns basketball coach Rick Barnes hoped one player would emerge as a lock-down defender on the perimeter.

This season he might have three.

Justin Mason was the guy as a sophomore last season, earning a spot on the Big 12 basketball coaches' all-defensive team. Now Barnes also cites newcomers Dogus Balbay and Varez Ward as willing, and able, defenders.

Balbay, a sophomore, missed his freshman season with a knee injury. Ward is a freshman who arrived with a reputation for his defense.

"He might be the most impressive player as a freshman, physically, that we've had in a long time," Barnes said on Thursday during the annual gathering of Big 12 coaches, players and media. "You wouldn't know that he's a freshman with the way he's able to fight through the fatigue of practice and the physicality of it."

Senior guard A.J. Abrams already has identified Ward as the fastest Longhorn running without the ball. Balbay is said to be the fastest with the ball.

"Dogus is as fast as any player we've had at Texas since T.J. Ford" in 2001-2003, Barnes said.

Johnson hurts ankle

Sophomore forward Gary Johnson, who was playing exceptionally well in practice, injured his right ankle in practice on Wednesday. There is no timetable for his return, but Johnson is not expected to miss the start of the season on Nov. 14.

Barnes plans to use the 6-foot-6-inch Johnson inside and on the perimeter, a role Damion James took the past two seasons.

The biggest issue for the 233-pound Johnson is whether he can guard quick players on the perimeter. James had to make the same adjustment, and he has gradually improved.

Returning players

Barnes expects another sophomore forward, Alexis Wangmene, to rejoin the team late this week. Wangmene left for his native Cameroon after his mother died on Oct. 12.

The coach also believes that J'Covan Brown, the freshmen guard who did not qualify academically, has a chance to join the Longhorns for the spring semester. Barnes was not sure whether Brown would play this season or next.

No three-point worries

Barnes had anticipated that the increased distance on three-point attempts, from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20-9, would make the shot more difficult. So far, that has not been the case in practice.

"I'm not sure it will be that big a difference," Barnes said.

Texas has the even longer NBA line on its practice court, an inducement for players to work on their range as they angle for a future in that league.

"I guess it's the overload theory to get them to use their legs more," Barnes said.

Abrams assisting

Abrams, who has plenty of shooting range, has been making an effort to create shots for his teammates in practice. He's using that approach regardless of whether he is at point guard or shooting guard, his position the past two seasons. Barnes cites Abrams for his intelligence and vision.

"I know I can create shots for my teammates," Abrams said. "I've done it before, but my role has been to shoot the ball."

Mark Rosner writes for the Austin American-Statesman.