by Dan McCarney, STAFF , San Antonio Express-News

It's a detail of which Omar Johnson, UTSA senior and proud native of the City of Brotherly Love, rarely misses a chance to remind his backcourt mate, Houstonian Devin Gibson.

"Omar's always talking about, 'What have the Texas guys ever done in the NBA?'" he said. "We've got Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge ..."

Shaquille O'Neal and Chris Bosh, too. Not that Johnson is giving an inch in the ongoing debate.

"In Philadelphia," he said, "I played with all the best players. That's good company."

Whatever their differences might be regarding pedigree, the two have none on the court, where they form a unique double-point guard tandem with which UTSA's hopes of an NCAA tournament berth rest.

The Roadrunners came torturously close last year, losing 68-57 to Stephen F. Austin in the championship game of the Southland Conference tournament. With seven of their top nine scorers back, hopes are high this will be the most successful season in coach Brooks Thompson's four-year tenure.

"That left a bitter taste in my mouth," Johnson said. "We want to get back there and we want to follow through, win it all."

Even though they played the same position, Thompson recruited the two point guards with the intention of starting both. Labels didn't interest him, he said. Leadership and skills did.

"We were fortunate to get both of them," he said. "You know when guys are winners or not. I knew they were darn good players, too. Having two guys who can handle the ball like they do, it gives you so many options as a coach."

Johnson arrived on campus via Barton County Community College in Kansas. Gibson, a junior, was a product of Cy-Falls High near Houston.

Despite having been told of Thompson's plans during their recruitment before the 2007-08 season, both players were skeptical they could coexist.

"At first it was real shaky," Gibson said. "I didn't think it was going to work."

During one game, forward Josh Bonney pulled down a rebound and hesitated as both Gibson and Johnson tore out on opposite wings, pleading for an outlet pass.

The two gradually meshed, however, with Johnson averaging 12.6 points, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game compared with 12.3 points, 3.3 assists and 3.0 steals for Gibson. They also learned their respective games, that Johnson loves to spot-up for threes, and how Gibson thrives in transition.

Agreeing on basketball history might never happen. But as far as sharing responsibilities for the betterment of the team - that couldn't be easier.

"We help each other in so many ways," Johnson said. "It makes it hard for the other team to key on one guy because we're not one-dimensional. Whatever Coach needs us to do, we can do."

FROM GRAPHIC:

2009-10 Southland Preview

Area teams

UTSA

Coach: Brooks Thompson (fourth season at school, 39-52, sixth overall, 94-66)

Last year: 19-13, reached SLC tournament title game

Starters back; top players: Four; G Devin Gibson (12.3 ppg), G Omar Johnson (12.6 ppg), G Morris Smith IV

Season opener: Sunday, UTSA at Iowa, 5:05 p.m.

Texas State

Coach: Doug Davalos (fourth season at school, 36-52, eighth overall, 108-87)

Last year: 14-16, reached first round of SLC tournament

Starters back; top players: Two; F John Rybak (10 ppg), F Cameron Johnson (9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), G Ryan White

Season opener: Today, Howard Payne at Texas State, 7 p.m.

--Staff reports

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