Michigan State 63, Texas 61: Quick Game Thoughts

by awiggo on Nov 16, 2006 11:03 PM CST in Basketball Comment 20 comments

A few quick thoughts on a disappointing 63-61 loss to Michigan State at Madison Square Garden. This was obviously one that we should have won.

*It doesn't matter how talented we are if we don't rebound the basketball better. Michigan State got shot after shot. Too many times Texas turned around to see the missed shot instead of putting a body on a Spartan. We looked especially inept at securing long rebounds.

*The Horns shot the ball atrociously to start both halves. In the first half they were 4/14 before really settling down, attacking the basket, and playing solid team basketball. But then they came out in the second half with the same youthful jitters. We were only 2/7 before I lost count. We stopped getting dribble penetration, stopped forcing turnovers and got almost no fast break points in the second half.

*We are much better suited to play an up tempo style that we saw for most of the first half than the slower half court game we played for most of the second. The Horns were consistently converting steals into fast break opportunities. With athletes like Kevin Durant and Damion James running the wings for DJ Augustin, we should really try to run more.

*Kevin Durant played an outstanding first half but got lost in the second. He settled too quickly for long jumpers instead of driving to the basket and pressuring the defense. Unfortunately, the few times he did get to the rim he missed easy ones.

*DJ Augustin and AJ Abrams were both very good on the offensive end. After starting a little fast, AJ settled down and hit huge three pointers. DJ is quicker than he looks and really uses angles well to beat his man off the dribble. I can't wait to see him develop even more.

*Matt Hill played well in relief of Connor Atchley. Connor picked up three quick fouls and sat for most of the first half. Hill was active on the glass, especially on the offensive end. He converted two of his five offensive boards into easy points. Hill also started the second half. The clock is running on Atchley's starting position. He is too slow on defense and not physical enough on either end to be a consistent rebounding presence. He will be helpful in spots but is a liability as a starter.

*This is a very young team. For the first time all season, Barnes had five freshmen on the floor together for a few minutes when AJ took a breather. They simply haven't played a lot of basketball together. Tonight was a real learning experience against a physical and well coached ball club. Basically, Michigan State attacked the offensive glass and made one more shot down the stretch than we did. In our first two games, Texas shot close to 50% from the floor. Tonight we shot only 35%. Unlike in football, an early season loss to an unranked opponent is not devastating. In fact, this type of game will hopefully yield huge dividends down the road. Texas came close by forcing countless Spartan turnovers and by riding the hot hands of Durant (first half only) and Abrams but couldn't close it out. Too many second chance opportunities for Michigan State and too many missed easy ones for the Horns. I repeat, this is a game that we should have won. With continued improvement on the glass, this is a game that we will win in the future.

Next Game (Consolation): Friday vs. St. John's 6 PM CST (ESPN2)

--AW--

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This is a really fun team to watch.

I can't wait until I get a chance to come up to Austin and see these guys at the drum, and I encourage all other BONers to do the same.

by hornbone on Nov 16, 2006 11:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

One thing you forgot to mention

Not that I want to single out one player (because this was definitely a team loss)but Damian James had a woeful performance tonight.
This is the first time I have seen him play but with all I have read in your previous assessments, I was greatly disappointed.

I assume this was an aberration?

by Top Jimmy on Nov 16, 2006 11:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

James

An aberration. James was not as active on either end last night. He finished with just 2 points on 1/8 shooting. He was giving up height and weight to some Spartans and it showed. On offense, it was mostly AJ, DJ, and KD. James didn't get a rhythm on offense except in transition during the first half.

He is athletic, can run the floor, and can score in a variety of ways. I expect a much better performance tonight.

--AW--

by awiggo on Nov 17, 2006 6:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly

James is a diamond in the rough. The rough last night, as I noted in the previous thread, were the atrocious outside shots he was taking in the second half. In my limited notion of basketball, if you have a "F" after your name, you shouldn't be looking to hoist up shots every time you get a pass on the perimeter, you should be looking to take the ball inside and jam it down someone's throat.

Smart shot selection will come in time to complement his physical talents, I have no doubt. I think he and Durant have the talent to be as dominating in the paint as anyone who's ever played for Texas...

by Kahuna on Nov 17, 2006 9:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Watching the game...

... Texas A&M now scares the sh*t out of me. We'll get a good preview of those two conference games when we take on LSU, but based on last night it ain't gonna be pretty.

by patienthornsfan on Nov 17, 2006 9:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Homer Alert

I know that this isn't going to mean much coming from me. But I think A&M is overrated. They peaked at the right time of the year last year, March. But weren't exactly world beaters at any point last season.

They started the year 10-0 by playing ten straight home games then went on the road for the first time and lost to Pacific.

In conference the beat the bad teams and lost to the good ones. The only ranked team they beat all year was us on a banked three at the buzzer.

They also got a favorable draw in the tourney matching up with a Syracuse team that couldn't score.

The Aggies will be good but Joseph Jones is overrated and Acie Law still has the ugliest and mostly ineffecive jump shot you've ever seen. They win by playing what looks like football on hardwood. Beat up your opponent, tackle them if you have to, and slow the game down to an almost unwatchable speed.

Their non conference schedule is a joke again until they get to LSU and UCLA. Win one of those and then I'll take another look. Until then, I'm sold on Oklahoma State and A&M competing for third in the conference.

--AW--

by awiggo on Nov 17, 2006 10:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Beat me to it

Totally agree with Wiggo. They don't have any pure shooters, and though they'll win their share of games on brute defense and some good old fashioned Big 12 banging, there's not a true Scorer in the group. Plus, Reed Arena is the most depressing looking basketball gym I have ever seen.

by Peter Bean on Nov 17, 2006 10:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

From your Burnt Orange mouth

... to god's ears.

The style of play of teams like aTm and LSU makes basketball almost unwatchable. I'm still waiting for the Phoenix Suns Lite style that Barnes was predicting to emerge with this young team. Now THAT's basketball.

by patienthornsfan on Nov 17, 2006 10:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

in person

augustin looked amazing. there were a few moves he made in the first half when he was constantly driving to the basket that drew oohs and ahs from even the MSU folks. and he really played aggressive perimeter defense in the second half. but that may have tired him out because he stopped driving in the second half.

abrams looks like he likes playing the JJ Reddick "run around picks and take shots as soon as you get the ball" role. but a few times he took shots that just weren't there.

Durant in the first half was great when he was driving, bad when he settled for outside shots. Durant in the second half only settled for outside shots. but jesus christ, he has the longest arms i've ever seen. he needs to bulk up a bit though.

connor atchley has no business starting for any big xii team. i watched him off the ball a lot and he didn't do a whole lot and was never in position for the rebound. matt hill might not be ready offensively, but just for rebounding he should be in there.

both texas and msu has high school bands and no cheerleaders. is it too much to ask to get a pep band and a few cheerleaders for an ESPN game at the Garden?

by billyzane on Nov 16, 2006 11:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

potential

I agree completely with the comments about Augustin (except for the whole "in person" thing - I watched from my couch). He's not going to get talked about as much as Durant and Abrams, but he definitely seemed like the clutch player on the team last night: getting boards, chasing loose balls, and most importantly (PLEASE pay attention, everyone else on the team) actually taking the time to get his shot set before taking it.

It just seemed like a lot of our guys were getting too excited when they had the ball on our own side of the court, chucking it up when they had time to pause for accuracy. Never more apparent than when James had that almost game-ruining inbounds pass to no-one with 2.4 seconds on the clock.

I'm pretty disappointed with Matt Hill so far. He needs to get fired up and hustle. He didn't jump for rebounds and would swat lazily when he needed to be a lot more aggressive. I think he's capable of stepping up, though, and he needs to do it sooner rather than later.

I think the trio of "Babyface" Durant, Abrams, and Augustin, once they pick up a little more experience, can pose a serious threat to any opponent. I have a feeling that I'll be watching the LSU game from the gaps between my fingers, though. C'est la vie.

by bev0wned on Nov 17, 2006 11:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oh

and unless maryland is the greatest team ever assembled, st. johns is flat out terrible. in the second half, it was 60-something to 20-something. should be a good bounceback win tomorrow.

by billyzane on Nov 16, 2006 11:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's a long season

A loss to a Michigan State at a neutral site still isn't as bad as losing to Oral Roberts at home.

by mldatx on Nov 17, 2006 7:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think there's a TON of potential

Our half court offense was very well organized it seemed. The shot selection at times was pretty frustrating (of course so was the FG%). I know Durant can hit from anywhere and can pull up on anybody, but he seemed to settle for outside shots with nobody under the rim more often than he should have. Michigan State played to our weaknesses well, didn't let us run much at all (at least in the second half, I missed a lot of the first half), and KILLED us on the offensive glass down the stretch (looking at the box score, I'm surprised the final tallies were so close). We also missed the front end of two one and ones in the last couple minutes that really hurt.

My concerns are rebounding and interior defense, which unless Hill steps up huge will probably haunt us all year. We'll need to live off of turnovers and transition points and somebody other than Abrams is going to have to emerge as a 3-point threat. Durant is a freak, though, and will likely carry us on his back in more than one big game this year.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 17, 2006 8:22 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Also

I'm not too concerned about this loss. This should be a HUGE learning experience for this young team, and I have no doubt that Barnes will be able correct most of the problems that we saw. I'm figuring on a much better team coming to Houston December 10th. That's going to be a tough one.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 17, 2006 8:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good game, but still...

This losing sh*t is killing me.

by steezy on Nov 17, 2006 9:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Worst thing about this game

I work in greenbelt, MD with a bunch of Maryland grads and all they keep on telling me is that Texas lost because they were too scared to face the Terps.

by Wells on Nov 17, 2006 11:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I used to work in Greenbelt

I co-op'd with Greenhorne and O'Mara, which used to own a building on Greenbelt Road, just off 295.

I actually lived in College Park for part of the time, with a few students. Pretty lame college town. Bar scene sucked. Wanted to make it to a Terps game, but never did. It was Steve Francis's last year there. Tickets were impossible to come by. The students all seemed to hate the town and could give a shit about their school, but they sure did love their basketball. Or at least that was my impression.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 17, 2006 11:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That is pretty much it.

I work at Goddard, but I have taken one graduate class at Maryland.
The town sucks and the students know it. Basketball is about the only thing students at Maryland care about.
At least the students can take the metro into DC.

by Wells on Nov 17, 2006 11:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Even when I lived in College Park, I went to more happy hours in the District than at either of the two excuses for a college bar they had in town. I LOVED DC, though. I'd move back there in a heartbeat. I've lived in Houston for four years now, though, and I don't see any reason to leave.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 17, 2006 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Because it is Houston

I guess Houston and DC are about toss ups in places to live, although if I wanted to move to the Houston area it would have to be in the Clear Lake area, not exactly able to live downtown and comute to work in 15 minutes, like I do now.

Telecomuting from Austin, that is the way to go.

by Wells on Nov 17, 2006 2:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs