Texas awaits return of Tre Johnson, readies for New Orleans

Texas likely won't have Tre Johnson available when the Longhorns host New Orleans on Thursday in Austin, Texas, but don't expect the absence of the star freshman star to make much of a difference.

Texas (9-2) is still in a honing mode heading into its next-to-last game before beginning its inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference. The Longhorns have feasted on their mid-major opponents, winning their seven contests against power-conference teams by an average of nearly 35 points.

That stretch includes a 121-57 home victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday in which eight Texas players scored in double figures and the team set season marks for points, field goals (44), field goals attempted (70), 3-point field goals (17), 3-point field goals attempted (30), 3-point field goal percentage (56.7), assists (28) and steals (14).

Reserve Nic Codie, who has played in just six games this season, led the Longhorns with a career-high 20 points in the win. Texas played without Johnson, who is dealing with a right hip injury.

Johnson's availability for Thursday's game is to be determined but Texas coach Rodney Terry said Johnson could have played Sunday if the Longhorns were battling a conference opponent.

"(Tre's) still a young player, understanding recovery and taking care of his body at this juncture of his career but he'll be fine," Terry said Tuesday. "We'll be able to continue to get him back in the lineup and get him going here when time permits."

Johnson leads the Longhorns and all SEC players in points per game (19.9) and is fifth in 3-pointers made per game (2.9) while shooting 43.3 percent from beyond the arc in a team-high 31.7 minutes per game.

The Privateers (2-7) head to Austin on the heels of a 104-57 loss at Iowa on Sunday. James White led New Orleans with 24 points while MJ Thomas added 14.

New Orleans has dropped three straight games. White leads the Privateers with a 19.1 points per game average as New Orleans has been outscored by an average of 16.1 points per contest while shooting 39.2 percent overall from the floor.

New Orleans owns a 2-1 edge over the Longhorns in the teams' all-time series that began in 1982, with Texas beating the Privateers in the most recent clash in 2003.

--Field Level Media