Texas beats Chaminade, 119-78, in turnover-plagued win

It could have been worse.

The Chaminade Silverswords have played spoiler as hosts of the Maui Invitational before, including a win over the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in 1982 and an 86-73 victory over the Texas Longhorns behind 32 points from De’Andre Haskins in 2012 that in some ways augured the end of the Rick Barnes era in Austin.

On Tuesday, first-year head coach Sean Miller’s team avoided that fate in a 119-78 win, although it didn’t always feel especially victorious as the Longhorns turned the ball over 25 times against the fullcourt pressure defense from the Silverswords, committed 21 fouls that led to 30 free-throw attempts for Chaminade, and allowed 30 points to a Biola University transfer.

The ball security for Texas was ugly early and late and often in between, with a spate of turnovers in the final minutes prompting Miller to remark in his post-game press conference that he thought his team might reach 30 turnovers, sparking a profanity-laced tirade on the sideline from which he narrowly escaped a turnover-induced aneurysm.

“We have a turnover plague going on in our locker room,” Miller told Andy Katz.

The infection became apparent in Maui when the Horns lost to the Sun Devils by one point on Monday after turning the ball over 19 times. On Tuesday, Texas didn’t pay a price for it beyond angering their head coach, but as the competition level increases on Wednesday in the consolation game against No. 23 NC State, it will almost certainly be a recipe for defeat.

In almost 700 games as a head coach, Miller said the 28 fouls called against the Horns were perhaps the most ever called against his team. On Tuesday, the whistle parade continued despite the significant disparity in size and athleticism between the two teams.

“We have to get better at defending without fouling. That was a key. I thought we did a little bit better tonight, in this different type of setup, but tomorrow we will be tested there,” Miller said.

The Wolfpack rank No. 82 nationally in free-throw rate, led by 6’6, 220-pound guard Quadir Copeland, who is averaging 6.4 free-throw attempts per game.

Miller also took a sideways swipe at the officiating in Maui.

“I think we all hope when you come to a tournament like this, that it’s reffed no different than when you’re in that Sweet 16 game in March. If you’re gonna call fouls in November, just call them in March, and vice versa. We all want that, every coach,” Miller said.

The recognition and execution from perimeter defenders continued to be an issue for Texas after allowing 36 points to Arizona State point guard Moe Odum as guard Nick Medina scored 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including an 8-of-13 effort from three. The Longhorns allowed Medina to get too comfortable in the game and then struggled to get him out of rhythm.

As one might expect from a 41-point win over an overmatched DII opponent, there were also some positives for Texas, including a career-high eight assists from senior guard Jordan Pope, who added 15 points, and graduate guard Tramon Mark, who entered the game 5-of-23 shooting from three (21.7 percent), but hit 4-of-7 attempts from distance (57.1 percent) in scoring a team-high 19 points with six assists.

“It’s great to see him shoot the ball like he’s capable,” Miller said of Mark. “He knows this — we really believe in him as a three-point shooter, and a guy that’s a playmaker, can do a lot of things.”

Junior wing Dailyn Swain was also efficient once again, scoring 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting with nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. But Swain also turned the ball over three times, sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis had four giveaways, and junior guard Simeon Wilcher had a team-high five turnovers, blunting otherwise positive efforts offensively as Vokietaitis scored 16 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the floor and Wilcher added 12 points.

Offensively, the win represented a tale of two halves for Texas. When the Horns were able to break the fullcourt press by the Silverswords without turning the ball over in the first half, they were able to get to the rim, scoring 38 points of their 52 points in the paint, but only hitting 1-of-9 threes. In the second half, as Chaminade tried to limit Texas scoring around the basket, the Longhorns went 10-of-15 shooting from three (66.7 percent), including Mark going 4-of-6 from distance and Pope hitting all three triples he attempted.

Under first-year head coach Will Wade, NC State is off to a 5-1 start, dropping the opening game in Maui to Seton Hall, 85-74, as the Pirates took control early and led by as many as 18 points. Seton Hall was more disruptive on defense, forcing 11 steals and blocking nine shots, allowing a 22-7 advantage in fast-break points and a 40-26 edge in points in the paint.

If Texas is going to pull off the upset, Miller’s team will need to replicate Seton Hall’s success in those two areas.

The Wolfpack boast one of the nation’s most efficient offenses at No. 17 in adjusted efficiency, aided by 41.7-percent three-point shooting (No. 11), but NC State also shoots 59.9 percent from two and 77.1 percent from the three-throw line.

The defense is merely average except for one glaring weakness — an inability to defend without fouling, as the Wolfpack rank No. 311 nationally in opposing free-throw rate.

So circle the free-throw rate for Texas on Wednesday evening as another key area to monitor.

A familiar face leads NC State in scoring — Texas Tech transfer forward Darrion Williams, who is averaging 20.2 points per game on 58.7-percent shooting, including a scorching 56.7 percent from three. Inside, the Horns will have to deal with 6’9, 250-pound forward Ven-Allen Lubin, who is averaging 10.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Tip at Lahaina Civic Center is set for 8:30 p.m. Central on ESPN2.