As you might expect from someone majoring in accounting, Texas center Imani Boyette is a numbers person. To the degree that she can put the game of basketball on a spreadsheet and analyze it, she does.

So when she talks about statistical goals, it's because precise measurements are how she makes evaluations, including about her own performance. Boyette, a 6-foot-7 senior, is averaging 12.4 points and 8.8 rebounds, which she bluntly says is not enough. She wants to average a double-double and shoot at least 60 percent from the field; she's currently at 55.1.

"She's in the business school; everything is about statistics for her," said Texas coach Karen Aston, chuckling. "So I can see that would motivate her."

Here are some numbers that look pretty good right now: Texas is 10-0 and ranked fifth in the country. The Longhorns beat Arkansas 61-50 on Sunday at the Big 12/SEC Challenge in Oklahoma City, the site of the Big 12 tournament in March.

"Even if we don't win a championship this year, we want to be a team that sets up next year's team to be a contender. And build that legacy and brand back up to where it used to be." Texas senior Imani Boyette

Now Texas has some time off for the holiday break before returning to action Dec. 27 against Sam Houston State. Then on Dec. 30, Big 12 play begins for Texas at West Virginia.

"They're one of the hardest teams to play: They really get after you, and they make you think," Boyette said. "We've never won at West Virginia. So we'll know more what we have then as a team, after playing them. That will be a really strong test to show us where we need to get better."

Boyette is that kind of player: Someone who always knows what's happened against previous opponents and what went right and wrong. A lot is going well for the Longhorns, but it's team that now has a greater recognition of how much improvement still needs to be made.

"There's a couple of things that look a little bit different about our team this year on a daily basis," Aston said. "One of them is our chemistry. They got a taste of some things last year, and now they have an understanding of how to monitor each other and stay goal-driven.

"And I think the other piece is the confidence level. It's not overconfident at all -- they understand the grind that the season is -- but it's a different level than in the past."

Texas post players Jordan Hosey, left, and Sara Hattis, rear, also work with Longhorns assistant coach Tina Thompson. Patrick Meredith/Texas Athletics

Longhorn legacy

Aston means, of course, the more recent past. If we're talking about long-ago past, there was a time when no program in the country was more confident than Texas. And while no one is attempting to hop into a time machine and go back to the perfect season of 1986, there is -- in a good way -- a little "remember when?" going on with Texas women's basketball.

There is a push to increase attendance, to remind fans of the history of this program. Texas is an elite athletic department. And while that, in and of itself, doesn't guarantee championships, it means the resources are there. Along with a tradition of support for and interest in women's athletics.

The Longhorn volleyball team just played in the NCAA championship match Saturday, and Texas has advanced to the final four in that sport seven of the last eight years. While that's an absurdly lofty standard of measurement, the feeling around Texas women's basketball has been, "Hey, let's aim high -- and do the work needed to get there."

"Our spacing was never very good the last year or two. We weren't able to hit shots to open up the floor for our inside players. The improvement in our skill set of each player has allowed them to make better decisions." Texas coach Karen Aston

"We haven't been able to get our play to the level of our legacy," Boyette said, frankly. "We want to do that. Even if we don't win a championship this year, we want to be a team that sets up next year's team to be a contender. And build that legacy and brand back up to where it used to be."

Aston knows that requires the Longhorns to get better offensively. With an eye to that in both recruiting and by hiring former WNBA star Tina Thompson as an assistant coach, Aston has targeted individual offensive improvement as paramount in making the collective effort better.

Aston is in her fourth season as the Longhorns' head coach; she was an assistant at Texas from 1998-2006, which included the Longhorns' last trip to the Final Four (2003). Texas finished eighth in the Big 12 her first year, and has been third the past two seasons.

Last year, Texas made it to the Big 12 tournament title game, falling to Baylor, and then the NCAA Sweet 16, losing to UConn. In the latter game, the Longhorns were clobbered 105-54. It's the kind of thing the Huskies do to a lot of teams, but Texas doesn't want to experience something like that again.

"From a recruiting perspective, we knew we needed to get some balance," Aston said. "There were things we had to add to improve; in particular, shooting, decision- making, and depth.

"Spacing is so important offensively. Our spacing was never very good the last year or two. We weren't able to hit shots to open up the floor for our inside players. The improvement in our skill set of each player has allowed them to make better decisions. It all goes back to fundamentals."

Tina Thompson won four titles with the Houston Comets (1997-2000) and two gold medals (2004, '08) with Team USA in the Olympics. David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images

A new voice

Thompson excelled at all the "little things" that contribute to big success during her college, WNBA and international playing days. Now she's trying to pass on a lot of those lessons in her first coaching position.

"I have an unbelievable respect for coaches," Thompson said. "As a player, you show up and practice, but all the preparation that goes into it is not something that players always think through.

"I'm glad I'm here. I love these kids, and we have a great staff. We're growing together, so it's a great feeling when everyone is all in and the expectations and goals are the same."

Aston also has former Longhorns men's player Travis Mays as an assistant, and said that the experience both Thompson and Mays had as professional basketball players is helpful.

"I knew Tina's knowledge of the game -- footwork, how to pin, timing -- all of those things were what she would bring to the table," Aston said. "But what's been a huge plus is just her feel for the game. For when to say something, and when not to. To have another voice, on the floor and off the floor, who will mentor them."

"I'm glad I'm here. I love these kids, and we have a great staff. We're growing together, so it's a great feeling when everyone is all in and the expectations and goals are the same." Tina Thompson

One of Thompson's key messages to Boyette is to understand just how much she is capable of doing.

"Part of it is she doesn't know how good she is," Thompson said. "She doesn't know how imposing she is, and the presence that she has. It's not so much building her confidence as a person, because I think she is a confident kid and extremely intelligent. But just supporting the things she does well, and continuing to remind her that is who she is."

Aston said Boyette -- who previously went by the surname McGee-Stafford before marrying Texas football player Paul Boyette in July -- has been hindered by injuries keeping her from full offseason workouts.

"That's always been an unfortunate thing for her, that she's had to rest her body in the offseason just to be able to play," Aston said. "It's helped her this year that she was healthy enough at least to go through preseason."

Boyette continues to work on establishing herself as a stronger presence offensively, which includes her development of a mid-range jump shot.

"She shoots the ball extremely well, and she has a great shooting form," Thompson said. "Versatility is something in her future, but I want her to be great at something right now. And her having a presence inside is something she can master."

Boyette already knew Thompson, with both being from the Los Angeles area. And because of the connections with her mother, Pam McGee, who like Thompson played collegiately for Southern California, although many years apart.

"Getting one-on-one time with her in practice has been great," Boyette said of Thompson. "It's a confidence-booster when a WNBA All-Star, a Hall of Famer, tells you what you're doing is the right move or the right read."

Thompson is optimistic that Boyette, 6-foot-5 junior Kelsey Lang, and the rest of Texas' post players can improve at working together as the season progresses. Part of that will come with the success of the Longhorns' perimeter depth, which can create the spacing that Aston has been looking for.

Sophomore Brooke McCarty is leading Texas in scoring at 12.6 PPG, and fellow guards Empress Davenport, Brianna Taylor, Celina Rodrigo and Lashann Higgs all have been contributors.

Baylor was the Big 12 preseason favorite; the Lady Bears are also undefeated and ranked just ahead of Texas at No. 4. The Texas-Baylor matchups -- Jan. 17 in Austin and Feb. 29 at Waco -- will be much anticipated.

This is where the Longhorns want to be: in the mix with the country's best teams and with hopes of contending for a league title. They've made the right steps so far getting themselves ready for Big 12 season, but know very well it has to be proven out on court.

"I think our kids recognized last year that we had some weaknesses, especially in the shooting area," Aston said. "And once they experienced some success, it motivated them to get in the gym and get better."