Basketball Articles
Thoughts on Texas Basketball Playing Time Distribution
Posted by Trips Right on July 10th, 2009 under Basketball
So, by popular demand I’m here to distribute minutes hopefully with a bit more rhyme and reason than Congress distributes TARP dollars. Instead of using closed bid formulas, political glad-handing, and Ponzi-like fraud, I’ll go with some common sense projection, self-importance, and whimsy to be my guide. Allow me to be Czar of Texas basketball for a season, and this is how my squad’s minutes shake out.
First, some assumptions. Dexter Pittman is better conditioned than he was last year, which seems to be the consensus going around the interwebs. J’Covan won’t J’make it. Jordan Hamilton does. Shawn Williams redshirts after serving the president of his fanclub with a restraining order. And there aren’t any significant injuries. I’ll separate out the fall and spring semester to acknowledge Jai Lucas’ arrival.
So here’s my breakdown for the fall semester. My starting five is pretty predictable. I’ve got Balbay at the point, Bradley is my shooting guard, Hamilton is my 3, James is my 4 when he’s really a 3 and a 1/2, Pittman is my 5. We’re going to set the tone with this group and find out exactly how the opposition is going defend Pittman in our 4 out.
I also want to press and run a little bit, so I don’t project many 40 minute nights by players. Damion James is the most likely candidate for 40 because he’s experienced, the best conditioned, and poses the biggest mismatch on the floor when surrounded by the right personnel. I don’t want Hamilton and Bradley to hit that freshman wall. And if so, I don’t want the wall to last a month because they were playing 35 minutes per in December.
Here’s the distribution.
Point
Balbay…..20 Ward….10 Mason/Bradley…10
Balbay is going to run the show and get up in the opposing team’s lead guard on defense. If the opposition zones or junks up their defense with some one man zone or a box and 1 on Hamilton, it’ll force Balbay, Bradley, and James to hit from deep while minimizing Dexter. In that case I bring in Ward a bit earlier as the lead guard. A PG by a committee of Bradley, Ward, and Hamilton as a point forward should be sufficient to defeat pressure, and it will get teams out of their zone or junk real fucking quick.
Shooting guard
Bradley….25 Ward….10 Mason…5
If Mason continues to be a non-factor from deep, cut these minutes in half. The junior year version of Mason can’t be on the floor with Balbay because it gives teams so many more options defending Dex and the freshmen. We saw that movie last year. Bradley should get the bulk of the minutes here with Balbay on the floor, but Balbay’s skillset doesn’t mesh well with Avery’s. One of the problems is Avery will be getting the other team’s best on ball defender, but more on that in a minute. Out of this group, who will put the “shooting” in shooting guard on this club? Let’s call them scoring guards for the time being.
Small Forward
Hamilton……30 James…10
I wanted to find a spot for Gary Johnson here, but until he can guard a perimeter player, I’ll leave him at 4. Hamilton is going to be the workhorse at the position. He’ll need to be the designated deep shooter, run some point forward, and guard opposing team’s big skilled athletes. That’s a lot to place on a freshman’s plate. And for that reason, Hamilton is your beta on this team. Everyone else is pretty much a known quantity. James slides down to 3 when we need to go big or just get Jordan a blow. My 30 minute number for Jordan may be a bit ambitious, but Sailor Ripley put me in charge.
Hybrid Forward/Power Forward/Role Player
Damion James…20 Wangmene…10 Gary Johnson…10
Damion James obviously gets most of the minutes. Gary Johnson comes in to rest James. I’d give GJ more minutes alongside Dex at the 4 if Johnson ever becomes a competent post entry passer from the high post. GJ can shoot it from 15 and is too quick for most power forwards, but until he can enter the basketball, he’s coming in to provide energy and rest for James.
Wangmene plays a role here alongside Pittman especially if the opponent runs a lot of double post and I need a pure post defender. Alexis will also be needed for his length for weakside help to elite fives that Dexter is working against.
Center
Pittman…25 Wangmene…5 Chapman…10
It’ll be Pittman’s responsibility to stay away from silly fouls, but if his conditioning has indeed improved 25+ minutes a ballgame is a certainty. All-American honors and Lottery to follow. Wangmene and Chapman come in to rest the big fella. These two are ideal at the 5 if Texas wants to ratchet up the pressure and run.
Spring Semester
Point Guard
Lucas…20 Balbay…15 Bradley/Ward…5
Balbay better be ready because Lucas is the perfect compliment to Bradley’s skillset. Bradley wants to use his quickness and athleticism to get to the rack or punish teams with his elite midrange game. A non-shooter at the point guard spot stifles Avery’s abilities to penetrate somewhat. Jai Lucas and his threat from beyond the arc will open up the floor for Bradley and that’s why I think Jai gets the bulk of the minutes at the1. If Texas needs Balbay’s on ball defense against elite point guards you adjust accordingly.
But back to the Bradley Lucas combo, think Mark Price and Bruce Dalrymple at Georgia Tech. An athletic shooting guard coupled with a superior shooting point guard. Just swap the talent base of each position. Avery’s the NBA pro and Lucas is the good college player. They’re peanut butter and jelly. Nice as rice and mello as jello.
Ward can sneak in at the 1 and steal minutes from Balbay if Dogus doesn’t become a credible threat from 15′ or out. Ward’s a good on ball defender, and a very capable offensive player at the 1. Doge better be shooting a thousand jumpers a day and hit more than just a couple hundred.
Thoughts?
Most all thoughts are welcome. Coherency is a requisite.
_____________________
Also, here’s my earlier look into the Crystal Ball (two parts).
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dick commented on the blog post Early NCAA Tournament Bets 3 minutes ago
Travis,
63-58 on KenPom for 121. That’s still a really low scoring game
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Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 43 minutes ago
Thanks, dick. Interesting perspective.
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dick commented on the blog post The Definitive Bracket: 63 Guaranteed Winners! 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
KB,
You are going to be too smart for your own good. A common fault amongst Bracket makers. There’s a reason why the 55 year old admins win 80% of these things every year.
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dick commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
“which impresses me since I know he didn’t hear the podcast.”
You shouldn’t be, after reading both guys over the past year, KB knows more about basketball and gambling than Millman does and it’s not even close.
A little warning about Chad Millman. I was pretty excited when I heard that ESPN hired a
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Luke wrote a new blog post: Some perspective for a generation of Wildcats 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
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I’m going to need a moment to admire that sentence…….
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dick commented on the blog post Early NCAA Tournament Bets 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
I’ll post all of my first day games tonight.
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Aggie Corp with “Squeeze Army?”
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Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 5 hours, 55 minutes ago
Louisville has a great chance if Jerry Smith is healthy.
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Good team that took number 1 seeded Louisville to the wire in last year’s tournament. Start 3 seniors and two juniors, very athletic. Solid pass first point guard. Their leading scorer was player of the year in the conference.
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ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 6 hours, 21 minutes ago
I just took Baylor going to the Elite 8. It’s a crazy mixed up world we live in.
Is it just me, or does it pain anyone else to not be able to determine who is going to beat Duke early? It’s bound to happen, but who will it be?
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Art Vandelay commented on the blog post Final Four Prediction 6 hours, 24 minutes ago
By “we” I meant the Horns. Kevin, why should I take Siena over A&M?
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Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 6 hours, 38 minutes ago
colorado ag, Utah State is as athletic as Nebraska. You’ll be fine as long as they don’t go 16 for 31 from three.
Siena, on the other hand, is going to beat you like you stole something. Maybe not, but the Saints should win.
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Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 6 hours, 42 minutes ago
Great article Scipio. Also, thanks for the dime.
Looking at the Tournament futures market, Vegas is telling us what they think about Onuaku’s health. The Orangemen have the easiest region and road to the fianl four, yet they’re +700 to win it all, while UK and Kansas, teams with much tougher roads, are +250
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Art Vandelay commented on the blog post Final Four Prediction 6 hours, 47 minutes ago
My brackets are pretty much locked down except the South. Can’t get myself to take Baylor, and Duke doesn’t feel right. Nobody seems to be high on Nova. It’s all about the Big East and Big 12 this year.
It’s a crying shame we suck so bad. We are in a good
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James commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 6 hours, 57 minutes ago
Scip, like a peaceful Indian in the 1800’s, I never trust a Mormon that can shoot. Utah State has me worried.
If we escape the first weekend, things get very interesting with a potential Sweet 16 match-up with Duke. Ugly up the game and guard like hell on the perimeter in front of a
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Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 7 hours, 27 minutes ago
CJD -
Possibly. However, I’m telling you – the beauty of these intergame lines is that when you see that all-too-familiar big early game lead that you know will evaporate down the stretch as soon as the team starts regressing to their 3 point shooting mean, there’s some money to be made.
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Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 7 hours, 29 minutes ago
uthookem-
I’d say you have your priorities straight.
colorado -
Anytime. How far do you think the Aggies go? A lot of people think Utah State is the most dangerous pure shooting team in the tournament.
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uthookem commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 7 hours, 40 minutes ago
Last year in Vegas, Friday morning, stumble to the line at 8:30 to make my bets, put $20 on a four-team parlay on the four 9:00 am games, nailed it! Three of the four games’ spread was determined in the final 0:30. Walked away with $220.
Yeah, so what if that is the only
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James commented on the blog post Sending Aggies to the NFL 7 hours, 41 minutes ago
Jordan, all just wild, premature conjecture. I’d hedge that only a third of that 2013 list ever makes an NFL roster. It is picking which third that is the tough part.
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James commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 7 hours, 43 minutes ago
Very interesting piece. These games can’t start soon enough. Thanks, Scip.
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Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Final Four Prediction 7 hours, 53 minutes ago
I have:
Syracuse
Kansas
West Virginia
BaylorThese will all likely change 3-4 times before tomorrow morning.
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Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Final Four Prediction 7 hours, 57 minutes ago
Arinze Onuaku’s injury has forced me to turn this year’s bracket prediction into a “Multiple Endings” story. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not hyper-geeks playing Dungeons and Dragons here. We may be wasting billions of dollars in worker productivity, but we’re not killing Orcs with plus 10 vorpal swords of magic.
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Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Making it Official: Tighter Officiating’s Effect on the Tournament 8 hours, 3 minutes ago
Awesome write up.
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Scipio Tex wrote a new blog post: Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 8 hours, 10 minutes ago
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By the end of the year, markets are fairly efficient as
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As a Baylor fan I loathe math: it’s either inexorably against us or when favorable, completely inapplicable.
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Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Making it Official: Tighter Officiating’s Effect on the Tournament 9 hours, 43 minutes ago
Should have that up soon, ts.
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While Ketchum’s rankings seemed to be
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J Rog commented on the blog post March Mad(nba)ess! 9 hours, 50 minutes ago
EVERYTHING would be different. Great post!
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Eskimohorn said:
July 10th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Looking forward to seeing all of us. Few years back (Gibson, Tucker, Aldridge), we had a team this deep with seemingly no minutes for Dion Dowell. He transferred, then we were struck by injuries/grades. We’ll see how it plays out.
Regarding Dogus, all he has to do is hit free throws and finish. The last thing I want is him shooting 15-footers. If he’s on the court with 4 scorers, the junk defenses won’t work. But, I agree – he can’t be on the court too long w/ Mason/Ward.
I can see an uptempo line-up when Dex is out of James, Johnson, Hamilton, Bradley & Dogus that would be killer. I’m not sure what anyone could do against that.
maninblack said:
July 10th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Are your minutes for Bradley cumlative between point and SG? If so you think he’s going to get 30 minutes a game in the fall semester?
exuLt said:
July 10th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
So you’re saying Fab Mello is in our future? Great; I was worried.
MidTexHorn said:
July 10th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I’m not Trips, but I certainly see Bradley getting 30 minutes a game in the fall. He’s that good. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say he’s our best and most important player from the opening tip of the first game (big Dex possibly excluded). Can you tell I like Bradley?
bighornfan32 said:
July 10th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I can’t wait to watch a team that can punish any defense thrown at them. Last year, it was like watching a middle school team, especially when teams figured out all they had to do was box and one us.
scagnetti said:
July 10th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
that all seems right Trips…
i wonder tho, Gary not at the 3 for Hamilton more often in the fall?
seems he’ll get more minutes there against teams with less superior perimeter personnel, give rest to JH, AND perhaps find his defense in the process?
this seems right, because Mason and Gary find the pine more than last year, and certainly in March…
‘Right’ notes, sir.
CrazyJoeDavola said:
July 11th, 2009 at 12:12 am
“think Mark Price and Bruce Dalrymple at Georgia Tech”
Nice. But who is our Yvon Joseph?
RansomStoddard said:
July 11th, 2009 at 5:50 am
By the time Lucas starts playing, the Whirling Dervish will be playing one minute per game and handing out Gatorade.
Another dipshit poster said:
July 11th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Look for news regarding our potential Golden Triangle addition sometime next week.
Facebook User said:
July 11th, 2009 at 8:06 am
ADP – Any feel for the outcome?
Another dipshit poster said:
July 11th, 2009 at 9:59 am
At this point, it seems that only a couple of clearinghouse pinheads have any idea. A lot of optimism in Austin, however. It would certainly change the complexion of Trips’ fine analysis above if it goes as anticipated.
LeverUp said:
July 11th, 2009 at 11:42 am
2nd summer session starts monday. last i heard, we expected to hear by then.
Texoz said:
July 11th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
This clearinghouse issue with J’Covan is counterproductive to the goal of getting kids into college. Yes, their purpose to make sure kids qualify, but dragging it out hurts the kids’ ambitions. Either give the kids a green light or let them know that they need to pursue other options/schools. It shouldn’t take months to figure this out. Another lame production by the NCAA.
caradoc said:
July 11th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Need a plan B for when Dex is in foul trouble.
Facebook User said:
July 11th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
This clearinghouse issue with J’Covan is counterproductive to the goal of getting kids into college. Yes, their purpose to make sure kids qualify, but dragging it out hurts the kids’ ambitions. Either give the kids a green light or let them know that they need to pursue other options/schools. It shouldn’t take months to figure this out. Another lame production by the NCAA.
THIS!
Texoz said:
July 11th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
“Need a plan B for when Dex is in foul trouble.”
That would be a more uptempo game with players like Wangmene, Johnson, Chapman or Hill.
Teams will have a difficult defensive choice. Face a slower team with a dominating center, or face a more uptempo team that loses very little rebounding ability.
GoHornsGo90 said:
July 11th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
“So you’re saying Fab Melo (FYP) is in our future? Great; I was worried.”
This. Watched a basic tape of the guy working out on YouTube. Looks absolutely LIMITLESS talent-wise. Monster body with a skillset you wouldn’t imagine unless you actually saw the guy. Plus…we need a big man :D
ipowers said:
July 12th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Fab Melo is not coming to Texas. Damion James and Gary Johnson playing some 3. Interesting, since neither one of them resemble any close to 3’s in any area other than size. If James was a 3 he would be in the league. They’re only two real 3’s on the floor and Jordan Hamilton will not be playing 40 minutes a night, nor will he be guarding anybody’s best scorer or whatever the fuck u said because he doesn’t have the lateral quickness for that shit. As well as it being too much responsibility for a freshman who hasn’t played a competitive game in over a year. Trips I’m starting to think that u would suck Hamilton’s dick if he came at u right. If that’s the case then I feel bad for Hamilton. As a matter of fact I’ll hook u up with him when the season starts if Shawn redshirts.
Jock Sniffer said:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I like where this ipowers dude’s head’s at.
Gratuitous Name Dropper said:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Anyone know the web address for ipowers’ blog?
BatesHorn said:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
It keeps gettting better.
You can’t buy stuff like this.
Cock flavored popsicle said:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
You rang?
Reading is FUNdamental said:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I’m trying to figure out where it says Gary Johnson would play some 3. Context clues and fucking math tell me the writer thinks just the opposite.
Just Your Average Douchebag said:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
ipowers, you do realize James played a hell of a lot of 3 last year, right? Or does your big brother not let you out of the basement when Texas games are on?
ipowers said:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I am very aware that Damion James played some 3 last year which is one of the reasons why they had the season they had. My comment about Johnson playing some 3 was based on a comment that one of the idiots left. It just amazes me how u listen to Trips and actually give his bullshit credibility. U sound like a bunch of brainwashed internet junkies. I think you’re absolutely right Trips. That shit is repeated way too much on this site. Try reading a site where the writer actually has a pulse on what’s going on with the program, instead of some motherfucker with a crush on an overrated player from Compton. By the way I’ll be back in Austin in September Trips and I’ll be sure to get Hamilton’s number for u. It’s a match made in heaven.
HenryJames said:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
September? The Texas Relays aren’t until April.
straight out of brenham said:
July 12th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
powers…Why all the hate towards trips? Dude is giving us some bb talk, when hardly nobody else is.
I like a lot of Trips’ takes.You guys got some kinda personal beef going on?
ipowers said:
July 12th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
If he knew what he was talking about I wouldn’t fuck with him like I do. I don’t believe in writing shit for people to read without a fact to back it up. The players that he writes about Texas recruiting is not first hand knowledge, it’s based on what other people tell him and that’s beyond ignorant. From all of the so called scouting reports he has written he has never once told us where he saw the kid, instead he calls some supposed God of AAU coaching and repeats the shit like it’s the gospel. He’s also arrogant in his opinions as if he can’t be wrong, when he’s wrong most of the time. What do u need him for when u can cut out the middle man and get it straight from the source.
Facebook User said:
July 12th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
ipowers – You have ceased to amuse me.
What you can do, is start your own blog, which I’ll actually set up for you.
What you can’t do, is keep posting your shit here. So let me know if you are interested in becoming a blogger.
# 1 one is optional. # 2 is not.
Vasherized said:
July 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
The players that he writes about Texas recruiting is not first hand knowledge, it’s based on what other people tell him and that’s beyond ignorant. From all of the so called scouting reports he has written he has never once told us where he saw the kid, instead he calls some supposed God of AAU coaching and repeats the shit like it’s the gospel.
he = ipowers. Referencing oneself in the third person is a common trait for deuchebags.
Vasherized said:
July 12th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
What you can do, is start your own blog, which I’ll actually set up for you.
Keep your friends close and your enemies…blogging.
ipowers' unbridled ego said:
July 12th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I’d start a blog called “Things I Don’t Know About Basketball,” but then I would just be lying.
steven said:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I would read ipowers’ blog.
sa said:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
hate to go against the grain here…but I’d also hypothesize that Williams will not RS.
furthermore, I think it’s conceivable that James could end up at the three with GJ at PF and Dex in the middle. I’ve heard that some zone might be the order of the day.
it’s tough for me to imagine GJ not getting more minutes than suggested above. I’m not sure where they come from, but I would tend to think that they will come.
do agree that DJ should lead us in minutes. I think Dex will get as many as he can play (hopefully the refs give him a break this year). additionally, I just get the impression that Bradley will be on the floor a whole bunch…like Augustin soph year kind of thing. well, maybe not that much…but anyways, with his ability to defend and versatile offensive game, I think it will be tough for RB to take him off the court.
I power the man said:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
i agree
dick said:
July 12th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I see GJ playing a lot more too. This is assuming he is working hard and improving this summer bc barnes won’t just hand him pt. He should play the 15 minutes that dex is off the court and probably about 5 minutes with dex, so 20+ mpg is about right for him.
Facebook User said:
July 12th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
sa – PLEASE go against the grain. The whole point is civil discussion. Thanks for the take.
hiphopopotamus said:
July 13th, 2009 at 6:57 am
Trips, please quit voluntarily giving us your opinion, for free.
dogbreath said:
July 13th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I think Mason and Johnson will play at least 15 minutes each. Mason is a better player as a third guard than as a lead guard. I envision when Hamilton takes a breather, Barnes will use some three guard lineups. The right three will be tricky, but I think Lucas, Bradley and Mason would be effective.
Also not convinced that Williams will redshirt, either. Although I do hope a couple do redshirt (Williams, Chapman or Brown)
James will play some three, but I think those minutes will be limited. If Johnson rebounds like James, then his minutes will go up, if not then James will play a lot at the 4. I see Wangmene and Chapman as backups at mostly the 5.
Last year’s team played okay and were in almost every game, just like the previous year. The difference between the two seasons was that Abrams was isolated with the ball in the last two minutes rather than Augustine.
When it comes to crunch time, I hope we can dump it into Pittman or have Bradley make a drive. Personally I would like to see team offense than any isolation from seasons past.
The General said:
July 13th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I think GJ is the first guy off the bench to spell Dexter and gets 25 minutes a game somehow. I think we will see one of the guards (Mason or Ward) slide over to the 3 more than we see GJ or DJ. Our offense tends to run smoother with 3 guards and Barnes has trended that way in the past.
If Shawn Williams can play, then he takes the guard minutes at the 3 spot.
SL Xpress said:
July 13th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I think Brown is going to make it in. It’s still uncertain, but the clearinghouse has allowed players in worse academic situations than his through. They just wait until the last possible second before doing so.
That doesn’t mean he sticks around, but that’s another story.
I salivate at a potential Brown/Bradley/Hamilton/James/Pittman lineup.
There’s too many guards for too few minutes. Jai Lucas and Balbay will be the main competitors at PG, then Ward, Mason, Bradley, and possibly Brown will get their shots.
Hamilton is versatile enough to play the 2 in a BIG lineup. Not much reason with this many high caliber guards, but it’s an option. I assume there will be plenty of 3 guard lineups when Hamilton is not on the floor, if nothing else for matchup purposes, since so few programs can field a true college level wing player.
Hamilton, Johnson, and James can all play some facsimile of a wing, but only Hamilton is truly a fit there, as James showed last season. I know that Johnson is working hard, but he’s a power dribble guy, not someone who should be taking another team’s guard off the dribble, and I’m not convinced he can defend a third guard. Except for situations where Barnes wants to experiment with his lineup, I just don’t see Johnson or James to get time here.
Oh, and Shawn Williams will be competing to fit into the picture as an outside gunner from the wing.
While not as stacked as the guard position, the front court still has plenty of bodies. I think Pittman is vastly underrated regarding what he’s going to be bringing this upcoming season by people across the country. They only follow Texas casually. They haven’t seen what we’ve seen, which is after 3 years of a ridiculous amount of hard work,
Pittman is starting to show his potential. He was absolutely dominating teams on that stretch run. It’s too bad more teams don’t play with a true post, because he’s routinely shut down the opposition’s big men. They’re just not used to someone that tall, that big, that strong, who can also move his feet that quickly. He’s still a horrible defender — one of the very worst I’ve ever seen — when pulled away from the post. He loses his man, he’s crappy at hedging. In man against teams that use their big man for screening action, he gives up about as many points as he’s worth.
However, they’ll play more zone to cover up for that, and I think he’s going to be so dominating on the offensive end it won’t matter.
James returning immediately transforms UT’s rebounding from something I was concerned about to a category of domination. Gary Johnson has proven he’s a very capable bench player. I’d like to see if he can quit channelling AJ Abrams now that Abrams is gone, but I do like what he’s done at times with that shot of his from the elbow.
Chapman, Wangmene, and Hill haven’t proven anything yet. Chapman and Wangmene have shown glimpses, but Chapman needs to finish, and Wangmene’s basketball IQ comes under question. Hill gets raves from the coaching staff, and has since he arrived on campus. The injury was unfortunate in one respect in that he lost all that time, but it was nice in another in that it allowed him to work on his physical development and various aspects of his game under a pressure free environment.
If one guy comes through from the trio, Texas is set. If more than one show more than promise, the Longhorns will have an unbelievable pile of riches at every position on the floor. If Brown makes it in, they could field 5 future NBA first round picks on the court at the same time, and then back it up with future pros all along the roster.
This will be the most talented team Texas has ever fielded. By far. I’ll say it’s going to be the most talented team Texas fields in my lifetime, too. Sure, recruiting is going great, but this team is composed of a remarkable confluence of circumstances.
Pittman’s development into a 4th year aircraft carrier who I think, along with Trips, could be a lottery pick in next year’s draft if this season goes the way I think it will.
James passing up entering one of the weaker drafts of all time.
Two future lottery picks in Hamilton and Bradley coming on board for their one year in school, plus a deadly 6′7 type in Shawn Williams.
Jai Lucas transferring in.
J’Covan Brown potentially becoming a member of the team after a Kafkaesque recruitment.
3 year starting experience in Justin Mason. 4 years in the program for Matt Hill. 3 years in the program for Gary Johnson, Clint Chapman, and Alexis Wangmene.
Quality game experience with Varez Ward and Dogus Balbay, either of whom in another year would have gone on to other opportunities.
After this season, I think the program is going to get gutted, so these guys need to take their best shot at the whole thing. I don’t think Barnes will get a better opportunity than this one.
Trips Right said:
July 13th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Fucking awesome. Wish you’d post more often.
Texoz said:
July 13th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Great stuff, SL Xpress. I’m having flashbacks to my youth when I lived in Houston and followed Phi Slamma Jamma closely.
This team truly is the perfect storm of new talent with experienced players on campus. Four or five years from now, we’ll marvel at how many of the next year’s players are playing in the NBA.
As you mentioned, the nation is going to act surprised at the offensive juggernaut that is Dexter Pittman. UT fans will nod and say, “Yes, we’ve seen this coming. We’ve watched this young man lose 90 pounds, but find a fierce competitive beast within.”
I hope the Longhorn nation is starting to feel it. I know football gets going first, and they’re looking pretty damn salty as well. However, this basketball season is shaping up to be something special.
Facebook User said:
July 13th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Straight Outta Compton and at the UGL.
Jimmer said:
July 14th, 2009 at 10:26 am
“I don’t think Barnes will get a better opportunity than this one.”
Yep, and he needs to take advantage of it.
SL Xpress said:
July 14th, 2009 at 10:29 am
What’s taking advantage of it to you? At least as far as preseason expectations go?
srr50 said:
July 14th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Final Four
SL Xpress said:
July 14th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
srr50, I’m with you to a certain degree. An Elite Eight will be an absolute disappointment — as will a #2 seed — in ways that would have been unfair to any other Texas team.
But as the season approaches, I’m getting to the point where even the Final Four may not be enough.
Ricky said:
July 14th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Preseason, I am saying winning it all would be truly taking advantage of the talent. On paper this team is a lock for the Elite 8 which is my bottom line preseason expectation and they should be a Final Four team. That said, I don’t even think they are even favorites to win the conference considering how sick Kansas looks, though the North might not be as weak as it has been in years past.
SL Xpress said:
July 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I think Texas has a better team than Kansas. I think the Longhorns are going to be a juggernaut. And they get the Jayhawks in Austin.
The Big 12 north doesn’t look as good as it ended up being last year. Missouri was a 30 win team. I don’t see that happening. Kansas State was the #4 seed in the Big 12 tournament. I could see the Wildcats being improved. I think Iowa State has the makings of their most competitive team in quite a while. Sadler has been quietly performing miracles at Nebraska. I don’t know when Bzdelik’s Air Force wizardry translates to Colorado. Maybe never.
I don’t know if that adds up to a better Big 12 north than last year or not, but I’m leaning towards “no.”
Of course, my predictions last year were so far off I’m not sure how much heed I’m even paying to my own thoughts on the upcoming Big 12 basketball season.
Vasherized said:
July 14th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I just want one shining moment. Just one.
dogbreath said:
July 14th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
before I die.
Jimmer said:
July 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
By advantage, I mean National Championship. I would be satisfied with making the championship game, but that’s it. Barnes has had some bad breaks with losing talent to the NBA, but this year all the pieces are in place for an actual chance at a title. TJ’s Final Four was awesome, but we had him and a bunch of role player’s. This year we will have three superstars in Bradley, Hamilton and Pittman. We have above average ball handling and plenty of depth. I am not to up to speed on the rest of the country, but I don’t see how more than one or two teams have the talent to match up with Texas.
Plus, Rick gets some shit for his coaching and winning it all will put that behind him. Like you said SL, we are gonna get cleaned out after this year.
Ricky said:
July 16th, 2009 at 5:46 am
The weak North has played to Kansas’s advantage almost since the beginning of the Big 12. I think last year may have been only the second or third year that the North had more teams in the top half of the conference than the South. Kansas doesn’t have to be more talented, they have more ‘gimme’ games than we do.
I think talent-wise we are pretty close, but if the rest of the North returns to form we will have a tougher road to winning the conference than Kansas even with our match-up being in Austin.
Work said:
July 16th, 2009 at 7:37 am
The excitement surrounding this team almost makes me want to skip fball season and start bball immediately. Almost.