The Best Ever

by Peter Bean on Jan 9, 2007 1:35 PM CST in Texas Longhorns Basketball

Already the best...

Kevin Durant is a mere fourteen games into his Texas Longhorn career. Already, he has proven himself the greatest basketball player to ever don the burnt orange and white basketball jerseys at Texas. From the moment he committed to Texas, the speculation that he would achieve this distinction was widespread, but there was still some chance that his hype could exceed his performance.

Further, it's not as though the competition for this honor is easily surpassed. TJ Ford gave Texas two elite seasons and propelled the team to the Final Four. Ford, for his part, was the national player of the year at the end of his sophomore season. I've no doubt that had he returned for his junior campaign, the Horns would have won the national championship.

But here we are - again, only fourteen games in - and Durant is already the best. Whether he leads Texas deep into the tournament or not, it's becoming increasingly apparent that this is the best basketball player Texas has ever had, and may ever have. Durant, already, as a freshman, is seventh in the nation in scoring (22.6 points per game) and fifth in rebounding (10.6). He's so well-rounded that he defies classification. He's neither a forward nor a guard, though he excels both around the rim and on the perimeter. His defense, a liability when he arrived on the Forty Acres, has improved dramatically.

His performance has been so good, so quickly, the only remaining questions about Kevin Durant are whether he'll be drafted #1 or #2 overall and how far he can lead Texas in the NCAA tournament. KD has been so good that the relatively undersized Longhorns rank 18th nationally in rebound margin. That's directly because of what Durant brings to each and every game - both as a scoring threat and as an inside presence. Doubts about his strength and interior presence are ridiculous - there's just nothing he can't do, and do well.

After last season's Rose Bowl, I admitted that I was astounded to say that Vince Young had surpassed TJ Ford on my list as all-time favorite Texas Longhorn. Well, Kevin Durant's not in that conversation yet, but I'm equally astounded to say that Kevin Durant has surpassed TJ Ford as the best Texas Longhorn to ever play hoops at the school.

I don't think there's any way around it: he's the best Texas Longhorn basketball player ever.

In all likelihood, it's one and done at Texas for Kevin. Heaps of money await him whenever he declares for the professional ranks. Take this time, then, to enjoy his time here. Appreciate each game, each thunderous dunk, each eye-popping three pointer from twenty-five feet. We're witnessing something incredibly special. Something - like Vince Young - we may never see again.

--PB--

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Comments

How deep can this team go?

It may sound crazy, but the Tenn game gave me alot of confidence in this Horn team come tourny time. They are really coming together, despite the common inconsistent games you from fresh/soph.

Predictions:
Horns take down A&M and Kansas, but not Okie State.
They finish 2nd in the conference.
I think this team goes to the Sweet 16.
They bump off someone big along the way(Duke, Wisc, NC, etc).

Cats and dogs sleeping together.

by EYESofBEVO on Jan 9, 2007 1:54 PM CST reply actions

Scary

We don't know yet. That's what's scary.

I mean, this team is better by leaps and bounds than the team we saw in December. With the progress we're seeing week to week, there's no telling how good these guys will be by March.

I do think - with the youth - we'll drop some head-shaking games we shouldn't, but that's part of the learning process.

But once this team gets it figured out, which it's doing more and more as Augustin asserts control of running the offense, the sky's the limit.

by Peter Bean on Jan 9, 2007 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

6'9"/wingspan 7'4"/evolution disproved

I heard that KD's mom's maiden name is Johnson and she is from the Lansing, Michigan area, growing up with a cousin named Earvin. She moved to Maryland and later showed signs of being an entrepreneur of ghetto businesses, she also contracted HIV, but that went away without any later mention of it.

While working at the library in College Park, she met a quiet young man, who was visiting on a recruiting trip and wanted to read some books about gambling. That would be the only night spent together and 9 months later, lil' Kevin was born; that same young man would later play for the Tarheels and do alright for himself as a professional in Chicago.

KD is 25% man, 25% God, 25% disease and 25% liquid fire.

by Tbone Stallone on Jan 9, 2007 2:00 PM CST reply actions

I think that

KD is not the greatest UT player ever. Have we already forgotten about the dominant and transendit basketball god that was Chris Ogden?

Street level

by UT2001 on Jan 9, 2007 2:11 PM CST reply actions

Banner

Hell, I'm ready to raise a banner with #35 on it right now. Today. Just based on his first fourteen games. I think even TJ would agree. I just hope he wins the National POY award, so that we CAN raise his banner.

Starting in January 2007, just another Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Jan 9, 2007 2:13 PM CST reply actions

I do not possess the imagination

to guess at how good someone would have to be to surpass Vince Young as my all-time favorite Longhorn.

I do know that no matter how good KD is (and can be), it would require more than one year at Texas for him to achieve that status. I have no patience for "brazos" and his "school, unit, Corps, God, country, and then self" hierarchy of student-athlete values, I also have a hard time feeling a strong Longhorn bond to one-and-done'rs. I just had to google LaMarcus Aldridge's name as an example of my point. I had to google his name because I couldn't remember it! I will never have to google P.J. Tucker or T.J. Ford because they were Longhorns for long enough for me to get to know them and really enjoy their careers.

Maybe I'm off-base. Do Syracuse fans think of Carmelo Anthony as their all-time favorite?

Anyway, here's to Kevin Durant and a superb career in the burnt orange and white.

So take that.

by Kahuna on Jan 9, 2007 2:49 PM CST reply actions

LaMarcus Aldridge and TJ Ford

Didn't they both leave Texas after their sophmore seasons? I don't get your point.

by joshrid @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 9, 2007 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

but

LaMarcus spent his freshman year hurt.

by jimmer on Jan 9, 2007 3:19 PM CST up reply actions

Fair Enough

I just think that if a player accomplishes enough he will be remembered by the fans, even if his stay was short.

by joshrid @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 9, 2007 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

TJ played two full years

And I believe he started both of those years. Further, I think TJ would have stayed on had he not had the issue with his spine.

I barely knew what LaMarcus looked like until his sophomore year. Consequently, as far as I'm concerned, he was a one-and-done player as well. (And he would have been had he not hurt himself his freshman year.) Then again, maybe I'm just biased because the whole concept of playing one year of college ball irks me to no end.

So take that.

by Kahuna on Jan 9, 2007 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

Would have been better

without the extra explanation in the (), just ruined the timing of the whole thing.

by Wells on Jan 9, 2007 7:03 PM CST up reply actions

well...

When those ones-and-done help out the team (even though they are helping themselves greatly, too) significantly, I'm not going to blame them for leaving early for the NBA, where a boatload of money awaits.

There is a reason why they come to Texas and not A&M, OU, or Tech: they know that Rick Barnes prepares them for future success better than any other coach in this area of the country. These recruits have their futures set for them. They will go on to the professional ranks and make a comfortable living. With the new rules, they need to make one stop along the way, and many of them are choosing UT because they know it will help them more than most other schools.

And if you're calling KD's season thus far "a single decent season," you've got some pretty high standards. Ones that not even Aggies can achieve.

As has been said here before, once the Ags have players like Vince and KD, and a program like UT does, you will understand what we're talking about.

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on Jan 9, 2007 7:58 PM CST up reply actions

Yea

it is tough being UT and having to be good every year instead of just once every 5 or so.

by Wells on Jan 9, 2007 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

Oh sorry

Now I understand why you use the (), because you have no concept of context.

by Wells on Jan 9, 2007 10:33 PM CST up reply actions

Aha

I knew if I set out some rotten meat, the maggots would come crawling...

So take that.

by Kahuna on Jan 9, 2007 10:22 PM CST up reply actions

time loves a hero,

only time will tell.

by rom on Jan 9, 2007 2:50 PM CST reply actions

Too early

TJ Ford is still by far the great UT basketball player. Yes, KD has had played AMAZING, but have already forgot how TJ led up from 15 or so down at OU, his tournament game, and amazing passes. KD still has a ways to go against great competition to earn this distinction.

Hook 'em

by TarHorn on Jan 9, 2007 3:08 PM CST reply actions

Distinction

TJ Ford's totality of work at Texas has certainly MEANT more to the program, but I'm saying Kevin's BETTER than TJ. I just don't see any way around it. He's soooo good. And TJ was phenomenal.

by Peter Bean on Jan 9, 2007 3:13 PM CST up reply actions

On the quickness of TJ Ford:

A guy that use to work up here with me and still vists on occassion was the starting center on a team that played against TJ. He told me of two times during the game that his speed just made him stand in awe for a moment before he could move again.

On one, he caught a rebound, passed it to the point, and sprinted up the court. He was at the top of the key, and TJ was at the base. By the time he got to the other side, TJ was already there waiting for him.

On another, (the guy is 6'11") he tried to pass it to a guy about 8 ft from him (over the head soccer inbound style) as TJ was passing in between them. TJ was already past the pair by the time he was about to release the ball, but before he could release, TJ had stopped from a sprint, reversed field, lept in the air, and stole the ball mid flight.

He said it was like TJ was playing on Heisman level while everyone else playing on All American...at best. He just saw and reacted that much quicker than anyone else on the court.

Anyway, carry on, just thought I'd share.

by Hornbud on Jan 9, 2007 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

put

the annointing oil away

JP in San An Tone

by thejahpaul on Jan 9, 2007 3:13 PM CST reply actions

WOW

I realize that Texas is a football school, but you guys had a basketball team before 2002......right??? Why is it the TJ Ford and Kevin Durant are the only two choices for "best player ever"?

by HAWK21 on Jan 9, 2007 3:57 PM CST reply actions

New here?

TJ put Texas basketball on the map. W/o TJ, KD and the all stars that preceded him go elsewhere.

by Hornbud on Jan 9, 2007 4:04 PM CST up reply actions

Hehe

Pretty funny isn't it? Hell, before Barnes, our best coach ever was Tom Penders. It's taken Texas basketball a while to catch on...

So take that.

by Kahuna on Jan 9, 2007 4:07 PM CST up reply actions

It's not that we didnt have good players

before 02. We did, just not great players.

If you had asked me who our greatest player was in 01, I mightve shrugged and said LaSalle Thompson or Travis Mays.

by the other Andrew on Jan 9, 2007 4:12 PM CST up reply actions

Or Chris Mihm

Starting in January 2007, just another Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Jan 9, 2007 4:14 PM CST up reply actions

slater martin

he is in the HOF I think.

by billb on Jan 9, 2007 4:18 PM CST up reply actions

I did not know that. Wikipedia says:

"He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on May 3, 1982 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is the only Longhorn to accomplish the feat."

by jimmer on Jan 9, 2007 7:09 PM CST up reply actions

Reggie Freeman

by jimmer on Jan 9, 2007 6:55 PM CST up reply actions

Chris Clack

by aorist9 on Jan 10, 2007 1:13 AM CST up reply actions

hardly

let's see...who's in the conversation that was here before TJ....Chris Mihm....no. LaSalle Thompson....uh, i have no idea, but my guess is no. Anyone else even close?

we basically started the program in 2001 with TJ.

by billyzane on Jan 9, 2007 4:13 PM CST up reply actions

We'd be remiss if we left...

Tommy Penders Jr and Luke Axetell out of this conversation.

by 54b on Jan 9, 2007 5:13 PM CST up reply actions

Did you say Terrence Rencher?

by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 9, 2007 5:22 PM CST up reply actions

Axtell...

For a while I had a standing promise to myself that if I ever met Luke Axtell, I'd punch him in the face for being a "traitor". Then I grew up and realized that there was plenty of blame to go around in that situation... and that thinking like that made me a virtual Aggie.

So take that.

by Kahuna on Jan 9, 2007 5:23 PM CST up reply actions

Can't let you dis LaSalle like that...

I know you really weren't dissing him, but Texas had some great teams in late 70's/early 80's. At one point in '82, Texas was 5-0 and the fifth ranked team in the Country when Mike Wacker blew out his knee. The program never seemed to fully recover from that until the Barnes era.

by LeftHandedTexan on Jan 10, 2007 2:14 AM CST up reply actions

My outlook for

The Horns future come tourney time is great.

But, to steal a quote from the prophetic Bill Parcells, "Lets put the anointing oil away."

I think something we can say, undisputedly, is that through 14 games, KD is the best. Period.

At the same time, I can't help but think about where this team would be right now had PJ and D-Gib come back. Scary.

by orangeblood1 on Jan 9, 2007 4:15 PM CST reply actions

I wonder

How College Basketball (and the pros for that matter) if the NBA would inact a 3 year out of HS rule?

by Hornbud on Jan 9, 2007 4:17 PM CST up reply actions

or

I think they should adopt the basebal rule of either going striaght fom high school or if you do go to college you have to stay 3 years.

by R00T4UT on Jan 9, 2007 5:47 PM CST up reply actions

This post is crazy.

Brandy Perryman was the greatest Texas Basketball player of all time.

by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 9, 2007 4:28 PM CST reply actions

Ah yes, the Diminutive Zone Buster

What was the story they always told about him...something about him making like 93 out of 100 3-pointers in practice.

by 54b on Jan 9, 2007 5:08 PM CST up reply actions

He once won a staring contest

with a painting.

by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 9, 2007 5:09 PM CST up reply actions

Dickie V Loves Him Too

That has to be some kinda curse, like being on the SI cover. Vitale has KD on his mid-season super six list, along with Tyler Hansbrough, Nick Fazekas, Taurean Green, Glen Davis, and Alando Tucker, who he picks as his mid-season Most Outstanding Player. Pretty impressive company.

Vitale also picks Durant as his mid-season Diaper Dandy.

http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/070109midseasonAll-RollsRoyce.html

Starting in January 2007, just another Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Jan 9, 2007 6:07 PM CST reply actions

Curse? yes

Nick Fazekas just got injured

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on Jan 9, 2007 8:00 PM CST up reply actions

Greatest Player Ever

Talent wise Kevin is the greatest Longhorn player ever (talent wise) and no doubt. But unless he leads them to the Final Four this year or comes back next year then no way will he be the most famous player like TJ. TJ revolutionized Texas basketball he made it cool to go to Texas. Who can remember when he willed them to the sweet sixteen his freshman year or to the Final Four his sophmore year. TJ was great because of what he did in the tournament annd the only way KD is remembered forever without coming back next year is if leads them to the Final Four and more.

by txlonghorn on Jan 9, 2007 9:07 PM CST reply actions

Question

I have a question, but don't want to start a new diary.

I'm going to be in Austin this weekend, and I want to go to the Oklahoma game. I know there are tickets available, but I want to know if I can do that thing where you can go down to better seats if the season ticket holder doesn't show up. Can someone let me know if it's possible for me to do that for this game and, if so, how I go about it?

Thanks!

by hornbone on Jan 9, 2007 10:46 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, it's fine

I think the rule of thumb is after the first TV timeout you can move down. I suppose it might be crowded.

by jimmer on Jan 10, 2007 8:07 AM CST up reply actions

I've had no problem moving down...

... at any game this season. In years past, the OU game has been a sellout, but given OU's woes so far this year it's not surprising there are tickets available.

Keep in mind, however, Wells' experience at a game earlier this season (Arkansas?). Some season ticket holders do show up late in the game - god knows why - and will eject you from your seat. Be prepared to move, and have a back-up seat picked out just in case.

Starting in January 2007, just another Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Jan 10, 2007 8:29 AM CST up reply actions

That was me.

First someone thinks I wrote something intelligent about women's basketball confusing me with you and know you are confusing me with Wells. Come on, PHF. I expect more from you. Reminder, you are the ultimate Horns fan.

While I don't expect a hostile environment for the Missouri game tonight, there should be a good crowd for the OU game on Saturday. It is a weekend game which makes it much easier for people to attend. OU is a rival. Even though their program has slipped this year, the casual UT bball fan probably doesn't know that and will just show up to root against the Sooners. Last, football season is now officially over. Fans can now transition both in their minds and with their attendance.

I'll say about 9,000 for Missouri but 12,000 for OU. Sitting in someone's seat on Saturday, while not impossible, will be more difficult than it has been all year.

--AW--

by awiggo on Jan 10, 2007 9:24 AM CST up reply actions