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Posted by Trips Right on November 23rd, 2009 under Basketball
We’ll be playing Big 10 lesser-light Iowa tonight at 9:00 central in a game that should be a cakewalk, therefore I’m not going to preview it on a micro-level. My apologies for not caring too much about an opponent who gets rolled by Duquesne and UTSA. Iowa sucks. Flat out. You know, from an athletic and basketball skills standpoint. I’m more interested in some of the things the Horns will be doing tonight to get ready for the quality on the schedule and the Hawkeyes style offers an interesting canvas for that.
The Hawkeyes are going to surround 6-7 250 pound junior Jaryd Cole with four perimeter players. They’re going to slow tempo, run a patient motion offense, probably zone on defense for much of the game, and then pray. They offer nothing in the way of a matchup problems for this Texas squad at any spot on the floor at any given time, but their scheme and style make this thing interesting because it’s precisely the scheme and style that rate to give the Longhorns fits if the opponent has any kind of talent.
So what I’m looking for tonight out of our young juggernaut is the following.
Look, we can sleepwalk to 70 with our edge in athleticism by turning over the Hawkeyes on D and playing volleyball on the offensive glass, and these components will come into play a bunch in this game. And while steals and offensive rebounds for dunks are nice, while you’re watching the game keep in mind they’re fools gold because Iowa sucks out loud. Instead, on the patience front, I want to see multiple passes in halfcourt possessions that lead to easy looks. I want to see Pittman pass out of double teams for open 3’s. I’d like to see Jordan Hamilton move without the ball, J’Covan Brown not dominate the dribble when he doesn’t need to, and Avery Bradley create offense for other players. In other words, I want to see more ball movement that leads to offense. I’ll view other forms of offense as an impostor until we’re playing more athletic squads.
Zone Offense
First off, Iowa wants to play slow, and a zone will certainly help with that. Also, with the depth and athletic deficits Iowa suffers in this matchup, I’d be shocked if Texas wasn’t zoned for large portions of the game and I’m interested in seeing how the Horns respond. Syracuse absolutely confused and confounded a good shooting, athletic North Carolina squad with their zone, so it’s prudent to think a young, athletic team like Texas is likely going to see some zone this year.
I’ll be looking for several things out of our zone offense. I’d like to see Balbay penetrate perimeter gaps and kick without getting too deep. I’m hoping Brown takes necessary dribbles, when, well, necessary. I want Brown to move the ball or catch and shoot for the most part. If J’Covan sits there and pounds the floor against the zone, he’s playing right into the opponent’s hands. I want to see patience out of Hamilton, letting the game come to him. I’d like to see more assertiveness and creativity out of Bradley. Damion should own the short corner, playing two man games with Dexter Pittman for point blank offense. Overall, how much success we have vs. zone in the early part of the season will dictate how much zone we see the rest of the way.
Damion James. Keep doing what you’re doing. Rebound, dunk, and hit spot up 3’s. This’ll be an easy game for Damion. He’ll be the biggest, most athletic player on the floor at all times. Don’t complicate things and fall down rabbit holes like leading the break and shooting midrange jumpers.
Dexter Pittman. I expect continued domination whether it’s zone or man. The next step is passing out of double teams and dropping interior dimes to cutting players. That’s Big Man Zen.
J’Covan Brown. Continue trending up as a lead guard. Which means knowing when to shelve the dribble and get the team into an offense and knowing when to create with it. An Iowa zone will be interesting as it relates to Brown’s maturation as a point guard because it really forces the young guard to grasp the nuances of the position. Shot selection, passing, tempo, decision making are all heightened against the zone. Other than that, the magic word for J’Covan is Poise. Continue to show it, and opponents are less likely to poke the bear.
Avery Bradley. Take over the game for 3 or 4 possessions. You have built up that credibility. The last thing you have to worry about is being seen as selfish. A deep 3 or two would be a nice arrow to add to your quiver.
Jordan Hamilton. Let the game come to you. Patience shows maturity and earns you more minutes. Show more energy and effort on defense.
Varez Ward. Continue to guard like a beast. Offensively, find that happy medium between good shot selection and staying aggressive. You have skins on the wall.
Alexis Wangmane. Butter your bread as a weakside defending fly swatter and glasseater on both ends.
Shawn Williams. Continue to guard, but look to knock down a deep J or two. You can be THE pick and pop frontcourt guy if you can do both.
Justin Mason. Take care of the basketball and show your worth as a steady ballhandler. On defense, do what you do.
Coach Barnes. I’d love to see some continuity created with the youngsters by having them out there together for more than a handful of possessions. Brown, Bradley, Hamilton, with James and Pittman is our most talented lineup and we need to build some chemistry with this group. It’s counter productive to have the big 3 looking over their shoulder for a sub at every dead ball. It invites impatience, poor shot selection, and forced play.
So these are the things I’ll be looking for. How about you?
Love to read your thoughts.
College Football, Iowa Hawkeyes, Rick Barnes, Texas Longhorns
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Round 2 Saturday Recaps 7 minutes ago
What kind of NBA player does Samhan end up as?
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dick commented on the blog post Second Round Bets 19 minutes ago
I really like Cal today.
ATM and Cornell look too good to be true and the public is all over both of them.
I gotta believe that Izzo beats Maryland today, I haven’t been impressed with the Terps this year. I am surprised that they are favored.
ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 41 minutes ago
Gonzaga is getting plowed like a future Zeta during her Provisional Summer session.
Alex wrote a new blog post: The Top 10 Reasons our Cal Bears will beat the Duke Blue Devils 46 minutes ago
Kevin Berger from March To March lays it out for us here.
1) Interior Worries. As in the Bears shouldn’t have any defensively even if Cal is an undersized group. Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas aren’t going to drop step and dunk you to death on the low block so Mike Montgomery can
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 52 minutes ago
Jordan Hamilton + 2 years ~ Wesley Johnson. Discuss.
James commented on the blog post Best Opening Round I Can Remember 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
” a heavily tattooed lycanthrope Irish wookie named Lucas O’Rear”
That is just strong command of the English language.
This piece was a nice balm on the hangover.
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
gotta,
I think your overall point is a good one. Barnes is a “system” guy especially defensively, which plays into how he overall plays the game. He wants to play a high pressure, overplay man2man scheme predicated on effort, good technique and overall quickness. Similar to Duke, but even Coach K (in fairness
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
Would have never guessed that UNI had an Ali shooting threes for them….
ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
Anyone else as confused as I am by this “Ivan Brothers” ad campaign? WTF?
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
Cuse looking strong. Another week of R&R for the big man….
Luke wrote a new blog post: BYU postgame 2 hours, 11 minutes ago
http://nbcsportsmedia1.msnbc.com/j/apmegasports/201003202121769017659-pf.widec.jpg
What a glorious, glorious day of basketball at the Ford Center Saturday.
First, Ali Ali Farokhmanesh and all the other Panthers with cool names took down Kansas as Sherron Collins made his best effort to shed that “clutch” label on the last game of his collegiate career. Then of course, Kansas State waved goodbye to Jimmer
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Art Vandelay commented on the blog post Best Opening Round I Can Remember 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
Ali Farokhmanesh hitting the biggest shot of the season is the definition of March Madness.
Ali Boma Ye!!!
skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest: Post Mortem 4 hours, 8 minutes ago
It is just amazing to me that most posters think that Jordan has improved so much in the last half of the season.
The one thing I will say is that Jordan has just started to show his ability with a basketball. The reason that he did not show his talents is up to all the
Ag_in_TX wrote a new blog post: Purdue Pre-game 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
Offense
Both teams are unselfish and preach sharing the ball. A&M is a balanced scoring team. Sloan showed in the first round against Utah State, for example, that he can defer when his teammates have things going. Purdue once again will have to rely on JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore to produce, and hope
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Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post We Have Our Answer 4 hours, 31 minutes ago
And yes, it appears JoPo wrote pretty much the same thing. It’s hard to believe with all the national talking heads, fans, and everyone in between saying otherwise, but I think it’s the only conclusion to draw for anyone that really watched this team.
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Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post We Have Our Answer 4 hours, 31 minutes ago
And yes, it appears JoPo wrote pretty much the same thing. It’s hard to believe with all the national talking heads, fans, and everyone in between saying otherwise, but I think it’s the only conclusion to draw for anyone that really watched this team.
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Hiphopopotamus wrote a new blog post: We Have Our Answer 4 hours, 33 minutes ago
Normally, after a big win or a crushing defeat, I don’t know what to think, say, or feel, because I can’t. And that what makes this one different; it’s just as painful, but I saw it coming. Instead of getting blindsided by the oncoming traffic, I was able to brace myself for the
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whiskey commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour 4 hours, 52 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 4 hours, 57 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 5 hours, 39 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 8 hours, 34 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.
Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Top Ten Reasons Why Cal Can Beat Duke 10 hours, 34 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 11 hours, 31 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.
For me, the theme of the day was well-played basketball. I’m not only talking about what Northern Iowa did, I’m talking about the other seven games being really well
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Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Madness Magic: Northern Iowa Upsets Kansas 11 hours, 44 minutes ago
Just a phenomenal game.
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Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Recapping The South 11 hours, 55 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 12 hours, 19 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 12 hours, 23 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 12 hours, 27 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 12 hours, 27 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! 12 hours, 40 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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© 2009 Fantake. All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
OPS said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
Yeah, bet your kidneys on Texas.
uthookem said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
My thoughts? Deciding to watch Texas demolish Iowa or Vince demolish the Texans will be the toughest decision of the night.
sizzlechest said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 am
We will dooky stomp them.
Bob Loblaw said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:26 am
Black Heart Gold Pants has their preview up. A good read as always by those guys.
raoulduke said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
Vasherized said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 am
0-2 is the most dangerous record in college basketball. Or maybe it’s 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in soccer. Never mind.
The Iowa boatrace commences shortly.
Here is a fitting excerpt from Dexter Pittman’s postcard from the road:
HenryJames just booked a flight.
The guys got to meet Larry Bird and Magic Johnson before their induction to the College Hall of Fame. J’Covan Brown probably cracked a joke about saving a spot for him.
I also like our matchup against Pitt tomorrow assuming they take care of business against Wichita State. Ashton Gibbs has dropped 20 points two games in a row but they only squeaked by Wofford 63-60. And Tinkles wept …
Trips Right said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
I think Dinesh Patel owns Strouds, but I’m not sure.
scagnetti said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
that’s incorrect, re Stroud’s. KCMO staple. and Dex is damned right, best goddamned pan fried chicken there is, served family style with the green beans and mashtaters ala carte.
my dad’s favorite place to eat in KC, and was his every year birthday dinner destination. guh, fantastic.
so frackin good, now the only one left is north of the river, and is kinda hard to get to off 35. but if ever in KCMO, do it!
The General said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
The guys got to meet Larry Bird and Magic Johnson before their induction to the College Hall of Fame.
Did Magic outgrow his AIDS? Why is there not more talk about Magic being the heathiest HIV positive person ever?
Trips Right said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Clearly, Iowa has Texas Hoops fandom’s undivided attention.
bentwookie said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Iowa is 1-2 after beating Boweling Green.
Trips Right said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I don’t count schools that bowl in green.
Shea Morenz said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I drank 3 Massacres at Hyde’s one night in college. I was boweling green for a week.
EggNog said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
We have much better shooters than in years past, which is the easiest way to beat a zone. Many of our turnovers in the first couple games came when our players were making one too many extra passes, so I don’t think we will have a problem with rotating the ball around. If we push the ball into the paint, will the guys without the ball move into help positions? That remains to be seen.
Personally, I’d like to see us attack the zone by pushing the tempo after rebounds and turnovers. I want to blow this game open early and take away any hope they have of keeping possessions down to whittle away at our talent advantage. I’d love to see our guard penetrating into the zone and looking for the open guys as the defense starts to collapse.
Iowa has been absolutely terrible shooting the ball so far, and Barnes has always had us holding teams to a low shooting percentage. Maybe Iowa has an overdue “hot” shooting night and keeps the game interesting for a while.
General, Magic no longer has any trace of HIV or AIDS in his body. The millions of dollars he has spent on any imaginable cocktail of drugs seems to have wiped his body clean.
TEXBB said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:18 pm
The Iowa View.
The General said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Wow. Iowa fans are not enthused.
java said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I love our team, but who is the trim, muscular big man under our basket? I don’t see how very many teams can deal with this team. We are amazingly smooth. This may be the first year that Barnes could sit back and have a Pina Colada during practice if he wanted. What a luxury to have this kind of talent!
They have even improved their acting this year. :-)
Texoz said:
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I think the posting was kept to a minimum here because some people may have been switching back & forth between the UT game and the Texans vs Titans game.
Regarding the Iowa game, too many cute moves on offense lead to too many turnovers. Once we tried to work the ball inside more in the 2nd half, we began to pull away. Seemed like we were not dominating inside in the 1st half and it showed.
J’Covan definitely seems to have some foot issues. Hope that’s temporary or can be fixed. When he smooths out his game, he’s going to be a great PG. Too much chili on the hot dog right now.
Bob in Houston said:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:25 am
I’m almost tempted to rewatch the second half to see if this is right. But I think it is.
1 of 10 threes made in the second half.
18 of 27 FGs made.
Do the math….
17 of 17 inside the arc in the second half. Do ya hear me in the back?
texasengr said:
November 24th, 2009 at 9:05 am
The free throw shooting of our guards has been frustrating to me, with Brown being the bright spot.
Varez Ward 7/14
Avery Bradley 4/10
J’Covan Brown is 8/8
Iowa made it an interesting game when they went on that tear to end the first half where they seemingly couldn’t miss a 3. The 3/4 court shot was kinda neat.
Barking Carnival — Blog — Texas vs. Iowa Hoops Post Mortem said:
November 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am
[...] Iowa preview I posted that one of the keys to the game for the Horns, or at least something I’d like to see [...]