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17

We’ll Take Manhattan

Posted by Scipio Tex on February 25th, 2008 under Basketball

That was as satisfying a win as any we’ve had this year.

If you’re not fully and totally in love with this basketball team, you possess the soul of a cane toad. You should be captured, drowned in formaldehyde, and dissected by blunt scalpel.

Speaking of scalpels and dissection, this one is razor sharp: Conner Atchley is my MVP. He was dominant. In 14 minutes, he scored 14 points on 6 of 6 shooting, including two daggers from three, an athletic putback over two Wildcats, and a Connie Hawkins running hook that made George Gervin scream out,”My man!” He also grabbed 7 boards, played amazing defense and was largely responsible for Bill “Needs A” Walker walking around in tears like he was Calista Flockhart after a trip to a churrascaria. Conner Atchley is immensely rewarding to pull for. I just don’t know any other way to express it.

Speaking of – Gary Johnson. He definitely has something wrong with his heart.

It’s too damn big.

GJ was hit directly on his broken nose at least three times, and, in obvious agony, continued to go back into the game to give as good as he got. Breaking your nose is not fun. I’ve been there. Getting hit on that nose afterwards is not fun. I’ve been there. It’s the anticipation of the next blow after that is the true motherfucker; a test of will that separates the wheat from the chaff. Gary Johnson is a man. He’s 19. He was probably a man when he was 11. His dendrites are coated in titanium. Know this.

DJ Augustin missed some free throws late when his legs went just like in Waco and he got careless with the rock early. He also put up 24 points and the contrast in quality he offered next to the steaming sack of shit that is KSU guard play was a living rebuke to their mediocrity. He also had five assists and 4 steals. DJ has until Saturday to get those legs right again.

AJ Abrams is my #2 pick for MVP. His presence in the 2nd half, along with Atchley, turned the game from trailing by 6 to winning going away. 4 of 7 from three and – I love this – four assists. AJ’s shot selection over the last ten games has been, on balance, outstanding. We’re a tough team to beat when he’s taking 10-12 good shots a game and defending with vigor. God tested Abraham and he passed; so too Abrams.

Alexis Wangmene had his second straight game offering solid contribution when early fouls put Atchley on the pine. Look at his body. Look at his athleticism. The light is turning on. Now imagine the kind of individual improvement he is capable of under Barnes.

Justin Mason is a piece of indestructible putty malleable to any crack in the Longhorn wall.

KSU shot 32.8% as a team. Mason takes 5% off of any opponent’s shooting percentage when he walks on a basketball court. Atchley knocks off another nickel.

I could go on.

I hope you’re enjoying this as much as I am.

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17 Responses

  1. Trips Right said:

    February 25th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

    You called it on the box and 1, bro. F’ Doc Saddler.

    Great write up.

  2. CrazyJoeDavola said:

    February 25th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    Double bonus for doing what we did in front of some of the whiniest hoops fans I’ve seen on TV.

    The Little Apple lives down to its rep.

    We were exactly the same from 3-point land as we were from the free-throw line (10-22). Looked like Memphis at the charity stripe.

    God help the opponent if we ever manage to do well from both in the same game.

  3. bighornfan32 said:

    February 25th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    I am definitely enjoying this. After the Missouri-aggy debacle, I was worried we had completely lost what we had at the beginning of the season. But Rick has really righted the ship. Kudos to the team and the coaching staff.

  4. beowulf said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 4:42 am

    Another indicator of where the Texas program is these days nationally. Which one of you smart guys would have ever foreseen the day that Texas would be ranked above both Duke and Kansas while also sporting one more loss than either of them?

    Are we an elite program yet? In today’s world of college basketball all over the tube on ESPN, CBS, ABS and Fox Sports and the reality that the creme de la creme of the high schoolers drink a cup of coffee at a school prior to becoming teenage millionaires, does Texas rank just below North Carolina and Duke? Are we in the same conversation these days as UCLA, Kentucky, and any of the elite of the Big 10, Big East and SEC teams? Seems that way.

  5. farklehorn1 said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 6:02 am

    “Justin Mason is a piece of indestructible putty malleable to any crack in the Longhorn wall.”

    Love it! Scipio, you do turn a phrase.

    Hook’em!!

  6. kuelguapo said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 6:08 am

    beowulf – i’m guessing the same smart guy that would have foreseen ku being ranked ahead of UT in the final football poll… :)

    however, saying that UT ranks just below duke and unc is probably a bit of a stretch… i would definitely say that the horns are consistently at the top of the big 12 and are never regarded lightly by anyone they play, but there is a way to go before you’re in the same category as duke, unc, uk, ku and ucla (not necessarily that order)…

    my 2 pesos

  7. Bartoncreek said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 6:18 am

    Well said, Scip.

    I thought AJ and Connor were the MVPs as well. DJ kept us in it in the first half when they were in foul trouble, but AJ and Connor won it when we needed it. When we fell behind 5 it was AJ and Conor who scored the next 11 points to put us back in front for good.

    Love the Mason quote. He is tough to describe. When people say that we need more scoring out of Mason, I just say that we need Mason. That’s it. We need him. He is my kind of unselfish, defensive minded, protect the ball athlete that is hard to find in today’s game. The Elmer’s reference is decent. “Indestructable putty” is brilliant.

    I am not ashamed to admit it either, I love this team.

  8. hiphopopotamus said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 6:23 am

    Couldn’t agree more. I’m physically unable to root for any team other than Kansas and I love watching Texas play.

    In the past, even when they’ve had good defensive teams, they’ve always lacked a defensive toughness so I always wrote them off as “dangerous, but not serious.” All of a sudden, that is simply not true.

    Really hope to see a KU/UT final in the Sprint Center.

  9. Tanner Roberts said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 6:56 am

    Yo i tink yous all retarts. Yous thinks yous so smart butt yous dont evin have a deesent education. Dum bitches.

  10. crash_davis said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 8:41 am

    mason reminds me of royale with cheese ivey. he’s not quite the ball handler, he’s not quite clutch, he’s not quite the scorer, but he’s got the defensive moxie. ok maybe he’s not royale with cheese, but you get my point.

  11. Facebook User said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 9:01 am


    he’s not quite the ball handler, he’s not quite clutch, he’s not quite the scorer,

    I don’t think Royale was either as a Soph.

  12. Nordberg said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 9:34 am

    “ok maybe he’s not royale with cheese”

    Das Whopper?
    El #2 from Whataburger with Bacon, Jalapenos, and Grilled Onions?

  13. Nordberg said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 9:36 am

    Excuse me, “El numero dos…”

  14. Royal Ivey said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 11:06 am

    Actually, Mason is me with a lot more athletic ability.

    Enjoy and be thankful!

  15. Wildcat Tommygun said:

    February 26th, 2008 at 6:30 pm

    I am obviously one of those inbred mullet wearing Ron Prince Snowglobe folks but you guys have a scary good team. I just love the way they moved the ball in key situations and hated it. You put Augustin in any conference without Beasley and he is the POY, unfortunate for him. And I like the African guy, sorry cant remember his name, but if he develops even the slightest post moves he will be a force. I look forward to going back to the norm of being less talented and beating you in football and basketball. This is what we get for thinking we can get talent in Manhattan.

    Cheers

  16. jimmyjazz said:

    February 27th, 2008 at 11:20 am

    No way you can call AJ Abrams an MVP for that game (or any other). He’s too selfish. I read it on hornfans.

  17. Major Cult said:

    February 27th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    The Horns are 11-1 since The Major came back Home. Coincidence? We think not.

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