Texas Longhorns Lose Another Point Guard, Balbay Tears ACL

Sports News - February 22nd, 2010 - Written By John Ritter

Who wants to step up next in the deathtrap that is point guard for the Texas Longhorns?

For the second time this season, the Longhorns lost a player at that position for the remainder of the year with junior Dogus Balbay tearing his ACL.

Balbay is the team-leader in assists, but had to be carried off the court last Saturday against Texas Tech scrambling for a loose ball. MRI results confirmed the worst scenario.

Balbay was actually filling in for Varez, who ruptured his quadriceps during the fourth game of the season against Pittsburgh. Balbay has started 22 of 27 games this year, and averaged 3.9 assissts over 21 1/2 minutes. He is third on the team in steals and adds 3.2 rebounds.

Now, it's freshman J'Covan Brown's turn to fill the void Wednesday night when Texas hosts a hungry Oklahoma State team looking for a resume win for the NCAA Tournament. Texas will likely be the favorites according to College Basketball Betting Lines, but a shift in the roster certainly won't help. Brown started last week in a blowout win against Nebraska and scored 12 points and a season-high six assists. But he has consistently been inconstent, and after the Nebraska game, only played five minutes against the Red Raiders.

Brown's best offensive night came against North Carolina on Dec. 19, when he scored 21 points on three 3-pointers.

Brown is averaging just 10 points and 2.3 assists a game.