Basketball Articles
Texas Basketball vs. Duke Post Mortem
Posted by Trips Right on March 22nd, 2009 under Basketball
Wow. What can I say? This one hurts. I woke up this morning feeling like Aminu Timberlake’s sternum or Tyler Hansbrough’s shattered zygomatic arch. I woke up feeling cheap shotted as I’m sure a lot of folks did including the Texas coaches and players. So, the masochist that I am, I rewind the tape this morning and rewatch the traveshmockery that’s sure to follow. This is what happened, Larry…
Dexter Pittman starts off the game dominating inside. Why? Because Duke started the ball game as we posited, spreading the floor with their pressure and leaving gaping entry windows and rebounding angles for the USS Pittman. And, after Pittman’s dominance becomes apparent, Coach K makes the adjustment to play soft on the perimeter and force the Longhorns, other than AJ Abrams, to be a jump shooting team. Coach K decides to junk up his man principles even further by switching all perimeter screens and exchanges. Afterall, what’s the difference between Henderson guarding Mason, Abrams, Balbay, and Scheyer or Smith guarding Mason, Abrams, Balbay? Exactly.
So, boom. Game over. We’re going to be held to 60 points, right? Wrong. Enter Varez Ward, a plus athlete with size, a handle, and a credible jumpshooting game. Ward has the kind of skillset that makes you specialize your personnel on defense. If Ward catches Scheyer in a switch he can punish the slower defender who has to respect Varez’s ability to shoot, and then we’re off to the bucket for a layup, dime, or drawn foul. So Ward, along with Texas’ stifling defense allows the Horns to maintain contact with Duke. A minute left in the half and Texas is threatening to cut the ball game to a single possession, post up foul called on Atchley. Huh? Connor Atchley, a kid who hasn’t posted up in 4 years, really? This a sign of things to come. Like the shower seen in Psycho, an away from the ball post up foul on Atchley is bad juju. Texas down 7. Halftime.
The second half is more of the same with Texas fighting itself to get clean looks every possession. Outside of Ward and the occasional Abrams tough look, it takes a random cascade of successful albeit minute outcomes in order for Texas to work the ball to a favorable scoring position. Black swan events like a bouncing leather ball properly returning to the pad of Damion James’ hand, followed by a chest pass to the wing that avoids hitting Gerald Henderson in the beak, to the rarest of birds the entry pass, culminating in the successful conversion of a two foot layup that has confounded this ballclub for the better part of the season. We get a couple of those, some trash buckets from James and Johnson, and real basketball plays from Ward and Abrams and Texas battles back to tie the ball game with about a minute to go after being down double digits.
Then, metaphorically speaking, Christian Laetner’s foot shatters the sternum…no ejection. Gerald Henderson’s flying elbow lays open Hansbrough’s brow…oops, sorry about that.
With 50 seconds to go in a tie ball game, Texas forces Duke into a tough look and subsequent miss. As the ball is bouncing around on the rim, the whole of Texas’ frontcourt is shoved a full two feet by what could only be described as warm pockets of Greensboro air since no whistle was blown and no foul was called. A tip and a miss by Duke and Texas finally pulls the board to close out the possession and play for what very well could be a game winning score with under 20 seconds to go.
Then, like the realization you have suddenly run out of Dos Equis, a foul is called. It’s gotta be Duke on the back. Please lord let us hit our free throws. Even if we get one it’ll be a crap ton of pressure on Duke. Who’s going to the line? Balbay? Please be James. Maybe Johnson, he’s knocked a couple down. WWWhhaaaattttt? It’s on us. Huh? WTF?
Rabid blue streak of cuss words. Was that the baseline official with a horrible call? Nope. Sideline official with a horrible call? Nine. It’s the backcourt official with the worst angle on the play out of the three. Highway f’n robbery. Will my remote control work with a bunch of wires exposed? Is Directv open on Sundays? F’ me. They called a foul on us there. Where are the batteries? Under the couch.
Two free throws by Duke.
Texas’ next possession is an in and out 3 pointer by James followed by a scramble that leads to a save by Scheyer on a heave down court to no one in particular. Another curious whistle at a critical point in the game. A call you flat out can’t make in a big game. A loose ball foul. Horrendous. Texas can’t pull a rebound off two missed free throws, Henderson hits his foul shots. Game over.
It hurt as much this morning as it did last night. I feel sick for our players and our staff, but you can’t place the blame on the officials. In the context of how the game was being played and called, you have to swallow your whistle on those plays, but by the same token Texas has to hit foul shots. Our point guard can’t play scared and turn the ball over 4 times and miss easy layups. And our superstar forward who’s ostensibly an NBA player can’t have as many turnovers as field goals. Varez Ward and Texas’ defense is the only thing that kept this from becoming a double digit blow out. Officiating be damned.
Let’s talk players.
AJ Abrams
AJ really went out with what was a mature performance for a kid that’s been criticized for selfish play over his career. He forced some shots, but with the way Duke was smothering our bigs and funneling the basketball to our wings, you couldn’t have blamed AJ had he shot the ball 20 times this game. The kid played with extra large juevos pulling 5 boards, playing all 40 minutes, and hitting all of his FT’s. The fact that he had zero turnovers and had a team high two assists proves that he wasn’t phased by the big stage one iota. A tip of the cap to AJ for a courageous game and a great career.
Damion James
If this was indeed Damion’s last game as a Longhorn, I’d say he’d have to be pretty disappointed. Other than rebounding, it was a sub-standard performance for DJ. He had six horrible turnovers, most of which were unforced, and played unsound defense allowing Singler to get several clean looks. Damion’s basketball IQ leaves a lot to be desired and that’s something he needs to work on. For a player his size, he’s going to have a hard time rebounding his way into the League. He needs to take better care of the basketball and play better defense if he’s not going to be a ballhandling 3 in the NBA.
Connor Atchley
Connor’s regression has been the mystery of mysteries. He gave the club nothing down the stretch and it was all capped off by his failure to pull a rebound on a free throw that would have given the Horns one last possession to tie the game. His lack of productivity was a big reason this team didn’t meet its own expectations this year.
Justin Mason
Again, his fall-off in production has been dramatic and it has spilled over into his defensive play. Once JM was thought of as a fierce lock down defender, and now I’d consider him slightly above average in this respect. He had a tough matchup with Henderson, but he left a lot to be desired on both ends of the floor last night.
Gary Johnson
Gary is not a player that’s going to thrive hunting his own offense as he’s currently being asked to do. Johnson is a high energy guy that needs playmakers that can deliver the basketball to him in finishing position. One thing you can’t do is question Gary’s desire. He leaves it all on the floor if it’s Duke or Colorado. Help is on the way for GJ.
Dogus Balbay
Dogus being on the floor, playing from the wing is more indicative of how far Mason has fallen than anything Balbay brings to the table. Offensively, I thought Balbay played scared, lacked poise, and was one of the major reasons Duke was able to take Pittman out of the game. Zoubek can’t handle Dex one on one, but give the Duke post help dissuading entry passes with soft wings or one man zones, and Dex can be stopped. It ain’t complicated. Doge either needs to be a credible jumpshooting threat or he needs to be surrounded by two or three other credible jumpshooters to be effective. Or he doesn’t need to be on the floor. I would have liked for Smith to have gotten a shot at wing when Varez was on the ball down the stretch. But watching Harrison play defense is tantamount to burning my retinas with liquid plumber.
Varez Ward
He’s the sole reason Texas maintained contact and didn’t get run out of the gym. He played confident, fearless offensive basketball and has the skill set to match. Performances like last night are the reason you have to criticize Barnes for ripping kids when they take wide open jumpers in the confines of the offense as was the case when Ward was benched for missing an open 3 vs. OSU. Kudos to Ward for shaking that off and showing up down the stretch and in this tournament. He also provides a glimpse of the future for this program. Jordan Hamilton, Avery Bradley, and to an extent Jai Lucas will bring similar skill sets, and more importantly similar mental makeup. You have to extend your defense against these four players and that will be a boon for Pittman, Chap, and Wangmene. Plus these 4 kids are tough SOB’s that won’t shrink from pressure situations like the game last night. With Ward in that mix and you have the makings of a tough ass team. Think Michigan State or Bobby Huggins Cincinnati squads with more basketball skill.
Clint Chapman
The kid has really played well down the stretch this season in limited minutes. If he can emerge from his early season woes to continuing to play well, he’ll be a factor as an athletic post on this club. He needs to get stronger and when he does, look out.
Dexter Pittman
Dex being neutralized was bound to happen. He’s surrounded by a team of below average shooters, ball handlers, and playmakers. Our perimeter players might be the easiest to guard of the remaining backcourts in the tournament. At times last night, Dex’s play reminded me of watching David Robinson when he played at Navy, with 4 defenders no more than 15 ft from the bucket at any given time. We’re so frustratingly bad on the perimeter that using this year as a gage for how good Dexter can be probably isn’t fair. I can’t stress this enough, but Dexter is going to absolutely dominate next year if he doesn’t improve one bit from this point forward. If he gets in a little better shape, and adds some polished post moves to his game in the offseason, he’s an all-American and a lottery pick. Period.
Coaching
I’ve got to give it up for Barnes in the last two ballgames. Inserting Varez and putting him on the basketball to open up the floor really made a difference. I called for it earlier in the year, but my reasoning was more to get Balbay on the wing to mitigate one man zones and force teams to guard the basketball. With Balbay on the wing, we can dictate where on the floor defenses can help from. Plus, if Balbay’s setting screens, we can dictate which player Balbay’s defender helps to. It’s the reason Ward was able to get so many driving lanes to the bucket.
Another reason I’m impressed with Barnes is that I know he was livid. I don’t normally complain about officiating, but I think I would have been run had this happened in my kid’s YMCA game. With so much on the line, to have those calls go against you has to be tough. Hell, Turgeon got teed up down 20 to UCONN.
Long story long, it was a good year in the context of how badly this team played in stretches during conference play. The good news is the program has some seriously talented answers coming into the fold next season. The team will have well rounded players at virtually all 5 positions and depth to boot. Plus, this will be one of Barnes’ tougher teams mentally and physically. It’ll be a fun ride, and I’ll have my crystal ball preview up in the next day or so. But right now, I’ve got to get stitches on my Hansbrough eye and air back in my Timberlake lungs.
Hook ‘Em
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whiskey commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour 2 minutes ago
I’m with you the off season is already old. I’m ready for the season to start. NDS I am completely fascinated by the Tech vs. Lech business. I can’t believe they ran off the guy that put them on the map and subsequently ended up with an arguable upgrade in Tubs.
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whiskey commented on the blog post Spring Preview: Tech Offense 7 minutes ago
Ded 9-12 wins is pretty optomistic. I like it. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Tubs can do with them this year especially on D. I’m surprised you think the QB battle between Sticks and Nick will be close. Interesting, I figured Sticks was a runaway. I hope Corndog
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dedfischer wrote a new blog post: Spring Preview: Tech Offense 50 minutes ago
Got a little time this morning and I’m rearing to talk some football. Here’s what the depth chart looks like headed into spring and a few thoughts:
Offense
QB Sr. Taylor Potts/Sr. Steven Sheffield – We’ve all annointed Sheffield as the starter, and I think that’s the case if we continue to run 99% of our snaps
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Black Scholes commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest: Post Mortem 3 hours, 45 minutes ago
lawdog – on the topic of regression, this crew can’t compare with the senior seasons Thomas and Atchley put up. Something ain’t right in this scenario. Mason topped out his sophomore year and Pittman last year.
Wangmene is ‘Manos de Piedra’ redux, so that was really never going to work out.
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Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Top Ten Reasons Why Cal Can Beat Duke 5 hours, 44 minutes ago
This would probably go a bit better if you read it in your Bobby Knight voice and it had two decades worth of goodwill built up from its gratuitous appearance on a popular late night television show. But oh well.
1) Interior Worries. As in the Bears shouldn’t have any defensively
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Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Round 2 Saturday Recaps 6 hours, 41 minutes ago
We talked about the upset of the decade in this post, but I watched some other great basketball today I’d like to comment on.
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Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Madness Magic: Northern Iowa Upsets Kansas 6 hours, 55 minutes ago
Just a phenomenal game.
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Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Recapping The South 7 hours, 6 minutes ago
Udoh was a fargging beast in that game. Very athletic player.
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Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout 7 hours, 30 minutes ago
Jesus. I think I see four horseman on the horizon.
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Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Madness Magic: Northern Iowa Upsets Kansas 7 hours, 33 minutes ago
Today reminded me why I love this tournament so much. A good friend of mine mentioned to me that college basketball is the great equalizer of all athletic endeavors. At least of the sports we care about. He’s right.
For instance, you can have a 40 inch vertical, be Iverson quick,
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Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout 7 hours, 37 minutes ago
Patrick,
Unless you’re completely retarded, you know precisely what I meant. The closest any Big 12 team has gotten to winning the infamous Fuller Cup is the 2007 Texas squad. I can’t remember a team being that horribly undisciplined as a whole aside from the insane OU teams of the 80’s. That’s not
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Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout 7 hours, 37 minutes ago
Patrick,
Unless you’re completely retarded, you know precisely what I meant. The closest any Big 12 team has gotten to winning the infamous Fulmer Cup is the 2007 Texas squad. I can’t remember a team being that horribly undisciplined as a whole aside from the insane OU teams of the 80’s. That’s not
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Sailor Ripley wrote a new blog post: This Is Sparta! 7 hours, 50 minutes ago
Please make yourself welcome and Adam will be by shortly to keep you up to date on all Michigan State Spartan happenings.
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Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Barnes worst team 7 hours, 54 minutes ago
I suppose anyone could be your “favorite Longhorn basketball player” but Ford did more than just about anyone…although Durant is clearly better. Ford’s supporting cast was better than Durant’s in his sophomore year. Durant’s had more talent (Augustin, James, Abrams) but Ford’s was more developed (Boddicker, Ivey, Mouton, Thomas) and had worked with him for
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Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton? 8 hours, 1 minute ago
Crazy Joe, your thoughts intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
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Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton? 8 hours, 4 minutes ago
This notion of Hamilton as being a disaster area on defense is all a bit much. He rebounds extremely well which, if it wasn’t obvious, is extremely important in this game since it secures possession of the basketball. Winning in basketball is achieved through the scoring of baskets and it’s necessary to possess the basketball
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Ojnab Bob commented on the blog post Best Opening Round I Can Remember 8 hours, 14 minutes ago
I posted earlier about how Collins’ effort just crippled Kansas today, but what amazed me the most was his complete inability to stay in front of his man on defense. UNI got a LOT of good looks out of penetration/pass after one of UNI’s modestly gifted athletes blew right by Sherron. The best
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Scipio Tex wrote a new blog post: Best Opening Round I Can Remember 9 hours, 26 minutes ago
At least it’s shaping up that way if Sunday delivers.
As disappointed as I was in last year’s opening weekend of March Madness, this one is exceeding all expectations. Putting aside the fact that my bracket now resembles Kabul after the Taliban rolled through in ‘96 – a map of ordered failure –
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J commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three 9 hours, 53 minutes ago
Thanks for the kind words, Trips.
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J commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three 9 hours, 53 minutes ago
You know who’s bitter and angry as fuck? This guy —> ME.
I can only hope our returning players (whoever that may be) remember this and realize they need to play motivated EVERY FUCKING GAME and put forward 40 MINUTES of effort each game.
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Raoul Duke commented on the blog post Rumor Alert–TMG 10 hours, 25 minutes ago
Kid seems like a fantastic collegiate player. I haven’t seen any NBA info. Is he a legit prospect?
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Raoul Duke commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three 10 hours, 31 minutes ago
Tough day for Sherron on O and D.
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GoHornsGo90 commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton? 11 hours, 16 minutes ago
To leave or stay?
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 11 hours, 17 minutes ago
KSU moving on led by a hot shooting Pullen. BTW, White Mormons can shoot FTs. 22 for 25, I think. Imagine if we could shoot like that.
Wake’s coming back on Kentucky. They’re within 25 right now…..
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Trips Right commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three 11 hours, 35 minutes ago
Just wanted to say I feel for you guys. As a Texas fan I know how this feels even if it’s from a football perspective.
I still think you’re the best basketball team in the country, and unfortunately you ran into a team that packed a Villanova circa 1985 type game today. Meaning they
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ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 11 hours, 44 minutes ago
Wow. Wake won’t break 50. Not surprising really — we should have beaten Wake and they are not a very good team.
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 11 hours, 50 minutes ago
Kentucky doing their best to beat Wake by half hundred. Close call….
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RRR wrote a new blog post: Survive and Advance 11 hours, 54 minutes ago
We really struggled in the first half, but battled through it to get a tough win against Jacksonville. On to Oxford!
Forget what conference they play in, Jacksonville is a very good basketball team, and they got to Lubbock not because of a crazy bank shot at the buzzer in Phoenix, but by playing aggressive, intense defense for
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ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 12 hours, 11 minutes ago
The shamrock is on his left shoulder. The Griffin looking thing is on his right.
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ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 12 hours, 20 minutes ago
Everytime I see a Gumbel brother I think of “Gumbel to Gumbel”
hiphopopotamus said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:40 am
As always, good stuff.
That had to be a tough one to watch, what with the aforementioned wasted chances at the line and horrendous whistles that didn’t need to be blown.
I have to ask though, do you have any thoughts behind the logic of not laying Pittman late in the game? He was being neutralized in the scope of the offense, sure, but he wouldn’t have missed that board that Atchley did and it’s not like Atchley was giving the team anything Dexter could not.
Bill Bowden said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 am
I couldnt believe Barnes kept his cool and didnt get a technical at the end of the game. Dont know that I can watch another bball game today, thinking about what might have been.
Trips Right said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:53 am
It’s classic coaching dogma to not play players with 4 fouls. I think Barnes made a mistake by not getting Dex back into the game earlier.
As for the foul shot, I’m guessing he figured he needed another shooter on the floor and Dex doesn’t give them the quick offense they need to attack with less than 20 secs. Personally, I would have had him in for the exact reasons you cite.
ballrific said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 am
I too lost the batteries and woke the baby up. It was probably a good idea the wife didn’t tell me to shut the hell up at that time.
1) too many fucking turnovers by james. yeah, he filled up the stat sheet again, but quit trying to dribble and drive. Didn’t really like that shot from the corner but you knew he still had one last jack in him.
2) connor has regressed so much, I didn’t think it was all DJ last year but I guess so. Does he know the term “switch”? Too many times he was to switch to his guys man and he would just give the guy a 5 ft cushion and already be running to the basket before he shot it.
hiphop, I think they had connor in there to have another 3 pt shooter in the game since they didn’t have time to go inside to dex. Then again, you’re correct, atchley wasn’t giving us anything that dex couldn’t.
The only thing I can think of on that james foul was that he pushed off with his right arm which you can’t see and the back official could of b/c you see the dookie throw his arms up crying.
Scipio Tex said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:14 am
The perfect summary, IMO. I woke up this morning feeling I’d been gut shot. It’s hard to strike the appropriate balance in a post-mortem between the officials hosing us and our slitting our own throats at the free throw line, but you did it.
I don’t think Villanova can defend the way we do, but if Scottie Reynolds doesn’t score 20 off of the drive I’ll be shocked.
Nice job, Trips.
hopefulhorn said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:26 am
Well done, Trips.
Agree on the awful calls in the last minute–”reputation” calls that a big-name school tends to get. The first was particularly egregious.
Also agree that we put ourselves in a bad spot with turnovers and missed free throws.
uthookem said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:42 am
Well, we got back from Vegas late last night, and started watching the DVR. I told my wife that if I had known we’d only be down 1 with a minute to go, I’d have been ecstatic. Then the refs calls (coupled with our poor FT shooting) sent me into full-on-break-shit-mode. I threw my shoe against the wall, and when there was no noticeable damage, I was forced to throw another shoe. After it left a nice mark on the wall, I got to clean it off and felt so much better.
Alright, fuck. Let’s go baseball, spring football, the draft, and Lance Berkman hitting the most homers in baseball (would win me $800)!
Hook ‘em!
anonymous said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:54 am
Good write up. I think Texas had a time out left when Pittman was kept on the bench on that last Duke free throw, so it seems a little bit like a mistake. But not a huge one.
Free throws were killer. I can’t believe how much Atchley and Mason regressed this year. Ward seems to be in the mix for next year big time.
SkymonkeyHorn said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 am
It’s classic coaching dogma to not play players with 4 fouls. I think Barnes made a mistake by not getting Dex back into the game earlier.
Great write up Trips. I agree, MM and RB keeps him on the bench until under 5 minutes? Not a good choice.
I’ve got to give it up for Barnes in the last two ballgames.
But Trips, What was he doing for the other 30 or so games? One of the worst coaching seasons for Master Blaster. Does he every listens to his other Coaches like Springman and the Asst.Coach I forget his name right know ,Terry.
How many T’s did MB have this season??? I do not recall one, some place,some time MB should have gotten a T just to see how the team would react to it, during the season/conference.
Get the refs instead of the players.
Should have used H.Smith more the second half. Load up the sideline that Ward dribble drives and have James/Smith sideline and AJ going to the top of the ARC and there you have 3 shooters ready for the shot. Conner never should have seen the court the last 5-10 minutes of the second half. Bad coaching rates it a C- at best for the season.
Ward should have been getting Mason minutes for the last 15 games and we would have seen another team playing like a team not as individuals. The guard were afraid to make a mistake, have a TO, or just fart on the court let alone take a shot, that lays in MB lap just like a lap dance in a cheap bar.
Believe it or not but I think RB was a great coach until the last couple of years, the last 2 he has been just above average coach but what do I know.
Coach Patron says to add ice and limesalt to his beverage and Rick would be a great coach.
Next year the challenge will be if RB stays calm and lets his players play BB. How many players do we lose this summer, Ward,Chapman?? I for one hope they all stay and RB just chills for a couple of months before handling another BB team that have a lot of talent even when it does not show. We will have a lot more talent next year and be a bad ass team if we keep everyone.
See you next Sept.
Kafka said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Great writeup!
EggNog said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 am
Some interesting comment with respect to Barnes. I thought this game was more of a vindication of what he has been doing this season as opposed to the finale of a bad season of coaching. The guys played aggressive but stayed under control. Too often the players would just run through the motions or completely out of control. There was no happy middle ground.
This was a pretty good Duke team we played against, and I felt the floor spacing on offense and matchup recognition was the best we had all year long. Honestly, most of the season the players seemed to have no clue as to some of the basics of running an offense. The growth and development of Pittman and Ward has alot to do with our improvement towards the end, which offset the regression we had with a few players that we were depending on at the start of the season.
bgood2texas said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
F Duke
justaguy said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:36 am
James is not a three, not then, not now, not in the future. He can shoot a bit from the outside, is athletic, and has a strong body at 6′7″. That in no way however means that he belongs 20 feet from the basket trying to break a defender down with his brutal attempts to dribble.
You are what you are and he belongs near the basket and every now and then popping out to the wing. He should be the Horns version of Carl Landry. A high energy guy who gives bigger, slower guys fits underneath.
Additionally, you don’t improve your basketball IQ. Court sense is something you and it isn’t taught. If he doesn’t know he shouldn’t be hoisting 3’s by now he isn’t going to learn it.
I have read on this and other boards how some feel this team underachieved and I scratched my head. This was team to me that never fit together. Too many undersized 4’s, too many post players dependent on being fed the ball, too many undersized guards with no perimeter game (aside from AJ) and no clue how to feed the post. If this had been the NBA this is a team that desperately needed a mid-year trade to get rid of some of the redundant players.
My only concern here is that these guys aren’t walk-ons. They were recruited by Barnes and his staff and I am just curious what blueprint brought this collection of players together.
Petey said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:40 am
“Performances like last night are the reason you have to criticize Barnes for ripping kids when they take wide open jumpers”
I agree.
I want to see Ward given the green light to shoot and create next season. He is a really good player when he is loose and just playing out there.
Players might get timid to shoot if they think they might get ripped out of the game for popping a 3 attempt.
Mason needs to work on his shot as well.
Scipio Tex said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
Some good comments by all.
justaguy:
I think you’re on track.
Though DJ Augustin going pro was not part of this blueprint. By all standards,you project an average athlete 5-10 point guard as a four year player. Bring him back and now you’ve got another shooter, a great ballhandler, a court IQ, and a creator all in one. You also have a team leader who can act as a foil to Barnes. Everything we need. Big athetic backcourts would still be our downfall, but we wouldn’t see that until deep in the tourney.
Put Augustin on this team and we’re Elite 8, miniumum.
RansomStoddard said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:46 am
Two things I thought were turning points. 1. At about the 3 minute left mark, there is a series under the basket where Thomas shoves James, we get the ball for another shot, miss, Thomas shoves Johnson, no call. Two blatent fouls that were completely missed. No explanation. 2. Atchley AGAIN failing to block out on a key free throw miss. Just, wow.
justaguy said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Scipio, True on Augustine. He came in with some high expectations, but I am not sure he was thought to be on the level with TJ and the kid just exploded in Austin.
With that the case and high school basketball recruiting really having a year lag before a team can address its needs I do wonder why Texas never went after a juco point guard as mentioned above?
Mason’s success last year at the point came when he had AJ on one wing and DJ nearby on the other to relieve any defensive pressure.
justaguy said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
RS, Agreed on Connor. The lack of offensive is understandable this year and he is dependent on being fed the ball on the wing as Dex is in the post, but that doesn’t excuse the lack of execution on the block out versus Baylor late in that game or this game versus Duke.
srr50 said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Another reason why I like Barnes — he doesn’t bullshit in post-game comments.
The first question to him last night was from a North Carolina writer who went on for about 20 seconds essentially saying that Duke was so clutch during the last minute, and that the clutchiosity was so like Duke, would Coach Barnes like to comment on the clutchness that is Duke?
There was a long pause and the Barnes said, “What do you want me to say? Scheyer is going out of bounds and he throws the ball in, so?”
The guy tried again and this time Barnes just ignored him and said,
“I told the team at the 4-minute TV timeout we were right where we wanted to be, in the game and we just needed to execute.”
He was pissed, rightfully so, and not just about the officiating. He went on,
“We expected to win, and hopefully we will learn and build on this.”
Groundhog Day said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
The lack of special playmaker at the point has more to do with Connor’s dropoff than Connor himself and that goes for Mason as well and the lack of a lot of open looks for Abrams.
Dex made a lot of strides this year.
I thought Barnes made a crucial mistake not putting Pittman in the game with a 50% foul shooter on the line up by two at the end of the game. That’s a rebound you have to have and Dex virtually guarantees you one.
That was one horrendous call on Gerald Henderson’s miss.
DDA said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Once again Rick Barnes uncoached the Longhorns into a loss in a game that was ours for the taking. It kills me to watch year after year how he wastes the very talent he assembles.
Why wasn’t Dexter Pittman in the game to collect the most important rebound of the game?? TWICE??? It just doesn’t make sense and NOBODY every calls Barnes out because he brings in great recruits. However, nobody ever really develops under his coaching. I hope Avery, Bradley and Lucas come with pro-ready games next, otherwise Longhorn fans will have to suffer another disappointing year.
Scipio Tex said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
That’s a totally ignorant, reactionary take.
Texoz said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
During the game, I replayed the foul on Atchley and nearly punched my TV after viewing it.
CA goes for position in the middle of the paint and throws an eblow into the Duke player’s chest who then whiplashes backward like he was hit with a shotgun blast. Again, there were many factors in the UT loss, but there were some bad calls for UT in the last 4 minutes. As I mentioned in another thread, the Singlar tip-in over Ward should have been waved off as over the back.
Bottom line, either call it close or let them play. There was a lack of consistency in the last 4 minutes.
However, we make a few more FTs or a few less TOs and we win this game. The refs were just part of a check list of reasons for UT’s failure.
ballrific said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
zona to the sweet 16. wtf?
either way, in my crappy opinion, 2 less turnovers by james and a couple more made free throws, we probably take this, regardless of refs bitchin out
justaguy said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Reminds me of watching a Rockets game in Utah. The flopping, the little bull shit stuff they do, just the way they carry themselves on the floor pisses you off to no end, but after the game you think focus on the errors in the game that cost you much more than the officials.
SizzleChest said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Jeez, DDA, need some Lexapro? How ’bout some rope? Or a gun you can just stick in your mouth, because you appear to want to end it all. Good luck with that.
bigdukesix said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I hope Avery, Bradley and Lucas come with pro-ready games next, otherwise Longhorn fans will have to suffer another disappointing year.
Avery and Bradley are the same dude. It’s Avery Bradley.
The General said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Officiating in basketball at all levels is at an all time low.
If you allow a game to be decided by the officials in the last two minutes because you miss 9 of 25 free throws and you turn the ball over, then you deserve what you get.
RansomStoddard said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Agree General. Turnovers and free throws.
jinx said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I thought the officiating was typically Dook. It wasn’t atrocious, but you knew that a lot of calls would go their way and they did.
You guys calling out Barnes need to do another shot and get ready for baseball season. This team had exactly one player on the team that could reliably make a shot from the outside. He is 5-10 and easily covered when he is the only one to cover. Dex made great strides and will be a force next week.
Another thought for you Barnes bashers…I’d love to have Florida’s back to back titles, but they followed that up with back to back NITs. Does Donovan suck, or does he lack personnel?
We are close, and our time will come…hopefully soon.
Shaggy Aggie said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
“Another thought for you Barnes bashers”
I’m not expert on B-ball and all the strategic stuff, but, in my opinion, Barnes seems as if he is one of the best coaches around. He just had a talent deficit and miss match this season for whatever reasons. One thing his teams do, which anyone can see, is that they play the game hard and I mean really hard. If one wants to ride on a coach it ought to be Calhoun of UConn. His teams plays as if they have something better to do on their minds. They just seem to be going through the motions. I don’t know if Calhoun ever was a first rate coach, but, right now, in his senior years, he is obviously on cruise control and just riding high on his huge talent advantage. Give Barnes that sort of talent and he would almost be guaranteed to win the whole fucking thing.
SizzleChest said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
General:
Your argument of officials cannot or should not be held accountable (not sure which you were going for there), but players and coaches must or should always be is intellectually dishonest at best and totally fucking dense at worst.
We all knew Texas was a poor foul shooting team before this game, actually shooting at a slightly better percentage for the year than perhaps one could have expected, so for one game they shoot slightly less than that percentage and it all falls on them? Wrong.
The General said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I am not saying that the officials should not be held accountable.
I am saying that poor officiating (and this game wasn’t nearly as bad as some we saw in Big 12 play) is a plague on basketball right now. You know that going in.
If you turn to ball over too often, don’t hit your foul shots, and don’t take advantage of your strength inside to dominate the boards, then bitching about the officiating is mainly whining.
I think the call on Damian James was as bad a call as we could have go against us in that spot in a big game. It was a call they had not made all game. It was inexcusable and ended Texas best chance to win the game. But, the officiating was horrible for both teams. Texas surely benefited from some calls and some no calls.
To say that officiating was the reason we lost is to ignore the facts.
Mysterious Pakcage said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Im not one to blame it on officals. We had our chances and did not capitlize plain and simple. Thats all we could ask for.
On the other hand our baseball team just got sweept by Kansas. Augie has gotten complacent and we do not have the hitters this year. Thats a recruiting problem on it falls on him. We are 2-4 in conference play which is not a good start but I see nothing to make me optomistic about our chances in the long run as we have yet to face any team in the south. It might be another disapointing season and thats a shame. Augie ball is not working and as many have pointed out it is a flawed concept. Giving the other team outs does not seem like its working. And that also falls on the feet of Augie. I think he is coasting and our pitching coach needs to go. The Skip expiriment has failed and we need some one else to teach these guys as well as a kick in the ass to get the best talent. Saying the best players are getting drafted is another flawed concept because how are other teams able to beat us? They have the same excuse but get it done. That is what bothers me today and not the basketball team.
Mysterious Pakcage said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Lets not forget that one of Duke’s best players fouled out. we attempted 24 and they attempted 25(free throws).
scagnetti said:
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Restaurant quality again, Trips. I look forward to next year as much as yer next post. Not to wax yer car to shiny-like, but you and some of the peters on here, General, texoz, Scip and others, well, golly gee, I done learned me alotta hoops action this season on this here webloggin site here… So, thanky!
It’s been said earlier and elsewhere, but regardless of the officiating, we make FTs and take the ball outta DJs hands away from the basket, we make this game a W.
On with that there preview and some pigskin.
Art Vandelay said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 am
I agree with The General that officiating (especially in college) is at an all time low. The college game is now much more physical than the NBA. That’s a damn shame. It’s more WWF than basketball.
For a perfect example did you catch the Villanova vs. UCLA game? First minute of the game UCLA steals the ball and is streaking to the basket. Villanova player literally tackles the UCLA player. It is a textbook flagrant foul. Ref calls a regular foul. Game over. That is a flagrant/technical foul at any level. Villanova pushes, hacks, grabs, slams and mauls it’s way to a blowout. Of course you know coming in that it’s Big East (WWF) versus Pac-10, so nobody assumes the style of play will be similar….. But to allow that style of play makes Jeff Madden a basketball player.
Switch to Texas vs Duke and Henderson drives the baseline in the second half. Chapman has a chance to blast him into the third row (which is what every Final Four team this year would do) and instead he tries to block his shot and pats him on the head as Henderson dunks and converts a three point play. If the game is going to be decided by who is the most physical (that’s a shame IMO) then Henderson needed to be deposited into the band section.
The NBA has become somewhat less physical and changed the way the game is officiated, but the NCAA is asleep.
Trips – thanks to you and others for making the season more enjoyable.
PatronSaint said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:24 am
Restaurant quality again
Excellent
Scene Nein Fazed said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:39 am
Sincerely,
Irritating Spellcheck Guy
Only Slightly Angry said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
Yes the officiating was bad. But you’re playing Duke, a 2 seed, in North Carolina. So you live with that. But I really disagree with the Barnes’ analysis. 2 minutes in it was crystal clear that Balaby did not belong on the court. He brings absolutely nothing to the table. He can’t pass, is slow, can’t shoot, and turns the ball over. it is indefensible that he was on the floor at all. by the same token, pulling Dex after he hit is first couple of shots makes no sense. He wasn’t tired, hadn’t picked up any fouls, and Duke hadn’t started collapsing in on him yet. But he was getting hot and then Barnes yanked him. We lost this game because Balbay played too much, James played too sloppy, and no one other than AJ can knock down outside shots.
Scipio Tex said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Slightly Angry:
There are many descriptives for Dogus Balbay, but “slow” isn’t one of them.
Only Slightly Angry said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Well, he isn’t fast either. But mostly he’s a coward and shouldn’t ever play. He’s like Doug Gottlieb, but he can’t pass.
Scipio Tex said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
No, he’s fast. And he can pass.
He can’t shoot and definitely froze on the big stage though. At least one of those two things can change.
intellectual type said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Someone give slightly angry a hug. If he’s mad about Balbay’s speed and passing then I’d hate to see him really angry about something accurate.
Only Slightly Angry said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I don’t know IT. I’m not really mad, just thought he looked like a bench player starting for moast of the 2nd half of the season, particularly in “big” games. And I don’t think he can pass, at least not effectively — that’s not to say that he can’t accurately hit a target if he is stationary — but because he is scared to drive and scared to pull up and shoot it makes his literal ability to pass useless because he doesn’t draw a defender. I suppose you could make the same argument about his “speed.” It may be there, but its useless if nobody covers you.
Gottlieb couldn’t shoot but was a pretty good college point guard because he was an excellent passer. Balbay isn’t even a average point guard because he is not even close to an excellent passer. Not sure that’s even arguable. He has a pretty low ceiling too. Are you really going to tell me that you don’t believe that our point play was our most glaring liability?
Scipio Tex said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I think we’re trying to assess the liability correctly, not deny it.
Only Slightly Angry said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
And Scipio —
I pretty much agree with your take on Balbay from your article. Always enjoy your stuff and appreciate you doing it.
Scipio Tex said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Thanks. But the above is Trips’ excellent work.
Only Slightly Angry said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Then I enjoy both y’all’s work.
The General said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Gottlieb sucked when he was a sophomore too.
If someone can convince Balbay to shoot the ball when he is 12-15 feet from the basket and open no matter what horrific outcome (like cheerleader mangling) may ensue, he can be an effective college point guard.
Remember, Gottlieb was passing to shooters all of which stood taller than 5′10″.
Balbay has plus speed, plus passing ability, rebounds well for a guard, and is a harrassing defender.
Only Slightly Angry said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Gottlieb averaged 7 assists per game as a sophomore and shot 41% from the field, albeit only scoring 5 points per game. Gottlieb is Balbay’s ceiling.
Balbay averaged 3 assists per game this year, 3 points, and shot 45% from the field.
The General said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I hate when I am assaulted with facts.
Trips Right said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Let’s reserve judgement on Doge until he’s flanked by Bradley and Hamilton. If he can’t find his distribution niche with those two and Pittman, then I would agree that it’s time for plan B.
Nordberg said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Or plan J(ai).
Haha. Jai.
Art Vandelay said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Trips,
Don’t you think Barnes deserves some criticism for not getting more out Ward’s obvious ability to beat his man off the dribble and finish? The last 10 minutes of our final game is a fine time to unleash what should have been an important season long weapon.
ponderos said:
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Balbay at least puts his uniform on correctly.
Advantage, Turk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf1izKbjTZ0