Central Michigan @ Texas preview

"Havoc" may not have traveled from VCU with coach Shaka Smart when he took the job at Texas in 2015, but his defense finally appears to have found a new recipe for defensive success. The Big 12's premier scoring defense will be put to the test Saturday when the Longhorns host the nation's highest-scoring team in Central Michigan.

Smart's relentless full-court pressure flustered many opponents over six seasons with the Rams, but he hasn't quite been able to recruit the quality and quantity of players he needs to execute it through his first four-plus seasons at Texas. Even though this edition of the Longhorns ranks 93rd in the country forcing 15.7 turnovers, they are only allowing 58.4 points and have held six of their nine opponents below 60 points. Texas turned in another defensive gem in Sunday's 60-50 victory over Texas A&M, tying a season high by forcing 21 turnovers en route to its fourth straight victory. The Chippewas, who are averaging a Division I-best 90 points per game, have topped the 100-point mark four times but have twice failed to reach 60 while losing all three of their road games, including a 77-55 decision at Valparaiso on Sunday.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, Longhorn Network

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN (7-3): Kevin McKay (team-high marks of 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds), who ranks 21st in Division I in field-goal percentage (Mid-American conference-best 63.1), tallied 16 points and 10 boards against Valparaiso for his second double-double of the season. Fellow senior guard Dallas Morgan (14.1 points) finished 0-for-12 from the floor against the Crusaders - including 0-for-6 beyond the arc - and has converted only six of his 32 field-goal attempts over the last three contests. Junior guard Devontae Lane (9.4 points, 4.1 assists) was the only other player besides McKay to reach double figures Sunday with 11 points, while senior forward David DiLeo (13.0) was responsible for the Chippewas' only made 3-pointer in 17 attempts.

ABOUT TEXAS (8-1): The Longhorns have managed to win recently in spite of the struggles of junior guard Matt Coleman (team-high marks of 13.1 points and 4.8 assists), who has failed to reach double figures in three straight games and tied a career high with six turnovers against Texas A&M. Sophomore Andrew Jones (12.3) has given Texas a much-needed spark off the bench and picked up the offensive slack for Coleman during his scoring slump, averaging 15.3 points over the last three games. Junior guard Jase Febres (9.6 points), who poured in a season-high 17 points and tied another season high with four triples Sunday, leads the Big 12 with 68 3-point attempts and ranks second in the conference with 23 makes.

TIP-INS

1. Texas ranks 319th in Division I in total rebounds per game (31.9) and 196th in offensive rebounds per game (10.1).

2. Central Michigan is shooting 38.9 percent from long-range in its seven victories and 20.6 percent in its three losses.

3. Febres has attempted 50 more 3-pointers (68) than 2-pointers (18).

PREDICTION: Texas 70, Central Michigan 58