Basketball Articles
Who dat, imo?
Posted by Nickel Rover on February 8th, 2010 under Basketball, Football
Basketball
This may sound stupid for any number of reasons but I think this Texas squad will be better next year. One round of objections might go, “well duh Nick, Hamilton and all the young guys will be better.” To this I would agree and add that not only will the younger players be better, but they will own the identity of the team.The other type of objection I would expect, “you think Texas will be better without POY-considered Damion James and Dexter Pittman?”
Well yes that’s obviously what I’m saying. It felt against OU like 3 different guys were trying to be the man (while Dexter was oddly content to grab loads of boards and be dominant in his rare post opportunities). Damion James is probably the real leader of the team but he can’t create shots for himself unless he is isolated on slow power forwards. He can finish and score from all over the court but he is only getting the looks on catch-and-shoots off screens, ball-movement, or penetration by another player.
Bradley and Hamilton can create shots for themselves and took more field goal attempts than James (aside from the FTs). Trips Right already dragged Hamilton out from under the bus for taking all the shots while Peter Bean at Burntorangenation did the same for Rick Barnes but I’ll chime in a little as well.
Now, if the Longhorns are in the final seconds of a game trying to take the last shot I want it taken by Avery Bradley. His midrange pull-up is like a sky hook for shooting guards. It’s an almost certainty that he can get it and make it on any given possession. His willingness to shoot it we saw as a part of his transformation on saturday is tantalizing.
For the rest of the game I don’t mind if Hamilton shoots more shots than anyone else. I haven’t seen any post-entry consistently as effective this season as Hamilton simply driving in and pulling something out of his bag of tricks within 5 feet of the rim.
I hate Cade Davis.
One final note from that awful game, Gary Johnson is a consistent warrior on this team that we should all make a point to appreciate while we have him. In case anyone forgot, he was diagnosed with a heart condition that almost ended his career and 3 years later he’s grabbing 10 boards in consecutive road games across the Red River, dominating Big 12 interiors and generally providing the kind of play that helps build championships. He’s the real glue guy of this team now, not Mason (as if there was much doubt of that here).
The Super Bowl:
I think Dwight Freeney’s ankle was bothering him more than the announcers would have led us to believe early in the game. After his initial pressure and several ankle tape adjustments, Freeney and the Colts’ pass-rush died and Drew Brees began to receive Manning-type protection.
People always argue that when you give a quarterback enough time he’ll pick apart a cover-2 zone. Well, you could give Greg McElroy that kind of time and he would have still been destroyed or failed on several of those drives as would other quarterbacks who actually play in the NFL. In addition to counting on an honest pass-rush the Cover-2 is betting that you won’t complete the hitch or shallow cross enough times to actually score. Of course, Drew Brees was 32-39 for 288 yards (as you can notice in the box score) and absolutely can complete short-passes into tight windows consistently enough to finish multiple scoring drives.
Those were Colt McCoy numbers a la 2008-09.
Manning hit some deep shots and was generally excellent though he’ll inevitably be labeled as the loser in the QB showdown. The Colts pass protection was arguably better than the Saints (though not their defensive coverage) and Manning had several occasions where he took at least 5 seconds before finding a target.
I’ve noticed more and more how similar the Colts’ and Texas’ offenses are and in this game the similarities were particularly stark. The Colts were running the ball very effectively but Sean Payton’s onside kick call and the slow drives against the Indy zone pushed Manning to throw the ball more and push the game towards a “who has the ball last” contest that could go either way.
The interception gave me immediate flashbacks to the Colt McCoy tackle in Dallas. Same play, double slants by the wide receivers. Manning looked off the coverage briefly and came back to Wayne but Porter jumped the route like a Sooner/Cornhusker and Reggie Wayne allowed him to get between him and the quarterback. No tackle by Manning, touchdown Saints. It’s the same mistake Goodwin made, you can’t lose track of the defender and allow him to cross in front as a receiver on a slant.
Of course, much like Texas, the Colts were dipping into the well a little frequently and the Saints recognized it. However, as Greg Davis would frustratingly insist, you can still execute these plays when the defense knows they’re coming. At any rate, both defenses played spectacularly in making the offenses grind down the field and earn all the points and Brees and Co. handled that better.
Congratulations New Orleans.
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Just a phenomenal game.
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Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Madness Magic: Northern Iowa Upsets Kansas 2 hours, 7 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.
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Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout 2 hours, 11 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 2 hours, 11 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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Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Barnes worst team 2 hours, 28 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? 2 hours, 34 minutes 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? 2 hours, 37 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 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
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J commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three 4 hours, 26 minutes ago
Thanks for the kind words, Trips.
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J commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three 4 hours, 27 minutes ago
You know who’s bitter and angry as fuck? This guy —> ME.
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Raoul Duke commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three 5 hours, 5 minutes ago
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GoHornsGo90 commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton? 5 hours, 49 minutes ago
To leave or stay?
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 5 hours, 50 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 6 hours, 8 minutes ago
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ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 6 hours, 18 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 6 hours, 23 minutes ago
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ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 6 hours, 45 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 6 hours, 53 minutes ago
Everytime I see a Gumbel brother I think of “Gumbel to Gumbel”
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 7 hours, 6 minutes ago
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 7 hours, 33 minutes ago
10 point lead for the Mormons again…
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ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 7 hours, 48 minutes ago
This is the first-time Frank Martin has ever met a Mormon who wasn’t on a bicycle.
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition 7 hours, 52 minutes ago
Does that mean he gets to pick his wives first???
Sailor Ripley said:
February 8th, 2010 at 12:58 am
OU was better without Willie Warren.
CurrentLonghornStudent said:
February 8th, 2010 at 1:11 am
Freeney was probably receiving injections of nerve-blocking agents before and during halftime of the game. No way he gets a sack if he’s playing the game au naturale. Still, pretty impressive for someone playing with a numb foot.
Speaking of numb feet, was that Pierre Thomas or Reggie Bush slipping on his inside foot on third down at the goal line?
BOC said:
February 8th, 2010 at 1:19 am
It was Mike Bell.
Speed Kills said:
February 8th, 2010 at 3:58 am
That’s a real interesting point about Gary Johnson, and I agree. he doesn’t complain, just lets his play do his talking. And he usually delivers. He’s one guy Barnes haters can say has improved. Not that Barnes necessarily had anything to do with it. Just the normal process of maturing.
HenryJames said:
February 8th, 2010 at 6:47 am
Reggie Wayne allowed the corner to jump the route on the interception, and then he gator-armed Manning’s fourth down pass that would have been a touchdown.
Hiphopotamus said:
February 8th, 2010 at 7:29 am
Hj – Thought the same thing. I’ve always loved watching Wayne play and as Indy lined up for the 4th & 2, I immediately noticed single coverage on him and bet the room they’d go to him for the conversion – which is my way of proving how much I’d trust that guy. But he failed miserably in the last 4 minutes of that game. Almost looked hurt to me.
Patrick Bateman said:
February 8th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Porter did an excellent job of sitting on the route and the Colts and Manning called their favorite play. The play to call was a sluggo route or double move and that’s a TD. The Colts may have called that earlier in the game if in the same situation, but Peyton didn’t want to score too soon and give the ball back to Brees and company with 3+ minutes and needing only a FG to win. He wanted to milk more clock before scoring and therefore only wanted to convert 3rd down on that play. Porter may have known that. Interesting chess match….
Nickel Rover said:
February 8th, 2010 at 8:51 am
The first thing I though there was, “oh, the sluggo could have really punished them for that” but it’s hard to go for a deep throw on 4rth down in that situation even if it can actually means a safer throw.
Patrick Bateman said:
February 8th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Correct me if I’m mistaken, but I believe the INT was on 3rd down. They could have come back on 4th and gone for it. Manning wasn’t looking for the home run, he wanted a safe 5 yard gain to keep the clock running, IMO. Here’s a good article on the play. Porter knew what they were going to run….
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AsEOkJVQLrGnYkeWYWJZJF05nYcB?slug=cr-porterinterception020710&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
UTHornFan014 said:
February 8th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I have a question – Has anyone ever seen Gary Johnson pass the ball after he receives it in the post?
I am having trouble thinking of even one time. I’m not really complaining because I actually feel like GJ is one of the more consistent players on the Texas team this year and he usually is able to get of decent shots.
Craig in Maryland said:
February 8th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Very boring game. Here you have two really good guys playing to win. Nothing can ever compare to SuperBowl 42. The year 2008 was just a wierd year altogether. Happy mardis gras, everyone.
Swaner said:
February 9th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Don’t tell me we’re starting the ‘next year’ talk already. This year was suppost to be ‘the year’…
Fountain of youth said:
February 9th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Everyone from New Orleans is a winner-including Peyton.The “real “losers are the ones looking down at the city from the comforts of Airforce One as the city and its inhabitants begs for help.. Peyton was on the front line.