Improved Second Half Fuels #15 Longhorns

by awiggo on Nov 12, 2007 10:45 PM CST in Basketball Comment 21 comments

A quick start it was not, but in the end, it was a win. #15 Texas recovered from a very slow first half and pulled away from UT-San Antonio behind stronger defense and sharper shooting in the second half to win the season opener, 58-37.

For those of you outside the Texas area that missed the game live or on television, be thankful. The 5,713 of us who made it inside the Erwin Center had to endure one of slowest and most boring first halves possible. UT San Antonio tried to shorten the game by holding the ball to the end of the shot clock on every single offensive possession. And it wasn’t that they were running a crisp motion offense with lots of back cuts and screens that constantly put pressure on the Texas defense. UTSA was content to dribble around the perimeter and generally pass the ball between a couple of players who were at least thirty feet from the basket. Boring.

UTSA’s strategy did work, though, as the Longhorns led just 22-19 at half. Texas struggled in just about every facet of the game in the first half. They shot just 8-of-23 (35%), were outrebounded, and had trouble holding onto the basketball in the halfcourt. AJ Abrams was 0-for-5 in the first half and looked even more off than that. The halfcourt offense looked lost and relied totally on penetration from DJ Augustin. Thankfully Augustin was able to get to the rim a few times and knocked down two timely three-point shots. Without DJ, the Horns would have had trouble scoring even double digits in the first half.

However, the Horns looked much better in the second half on both ends of the floor. Texas held UTSA scoreless for about five minutes to extend a 28-25 lead to 41-25 with about nine minutes left in the game and never looked back. Texas really did a nice job pressuring the basketball in the halfcourt and, for at least most of the second half, did a better job on the glass. There was one painful series when UTSA gathered back to back to back offensive rebounds and held the ball for at least two minutes.

On offense, the Horns were led by Justin Mason’s aggressiveness and Abrams’ rediscovered shooting touch. Mason scored 10 points in the second period and 12 overall and provided the Horns with a much needed burst of offensive energy. I believe Abrams scored all 11 of his points in the second half on 3-of-5 shooting.

Other individual efforts. Damion James grabbed nine boards and scored six points on just 3-of-6 shooting. James was aggressive early but was largely overlooked in the second half as the three Texas guards took most of the shots. This team will be much more dangerous as James becomes more involved in the offense. Clint Chapman and Alexis Wangmene both contributed solid minutes off the bench. Chapman added four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action while Wangmeme was credited with three points and single rebound. Both freshmen looked comfortable in the game but must do a better job grabbing loose rebounds, especially on second and third jump opportunities.

Connor Atchley started and played 23 minutes. He had three points and four rebounds but was never really a factor in the guard driven game. JD Lewis, Dexter Pittman, and Ian Mooney also received a few minutes each with no mentionable moments. Matt Hill (foot) and Gary Johnson (heart) did not play.

Overall, it was exciting to see the Longhorns back in action and a win is a win. I was impressed with Abrams’ lightning quick release, Mason’s aggressiveness, and DJ’s headiness, but the Horns will have to do a better job on the glass and make more of an effort to get the forwards and centers involved in the offense to beat better teams. Gary Johnson would help a lot, too. For now, we’ll take it.

Box Score

Next Game: vs. UC-Davis 7 PM Friday Nov. 16 in the Legends Classic

--AW--

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A sad night for me

Listening to the game on internet radio, I missed Austin terribly. Would have loved to have been at the Drum tonight.

Thanks for the report, Wiggo.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Nov 12, 2007 10:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You hit most of the key points...

...but I'll add my thoughts.

The offense was a disaster in the first half. While DJ was able to blow by anyone trying to guard him, the rest of the team was just kinda standing around waiting for him to make something happen. Damion James wasn't involved in the offense tonight except for a dunk and knocking down two jumpers, and the lack of Gary Johnson was evident in the half-court set. Without any credible threat in the post, the ball just seemed to hopelessly rotate around the perimeter when DJ was forced to give up the ball. We also were unable to generate any transition offense in the first half, minus a dunk from James in the first few minutes.

Pittman/Chapman/Wangmene/Atchley weren't able to contribute any frontcourt scoring tonight, which, unless Damion develops a post game or Johnson returns, is a concern. Dexter looked rusty (he was fantastic in warm-ups, btw) and I think he'll be able to score, but without Gary Johnson, this team could be relying really, really heavily on the guards to carry the scoring load. That's not necessarily a surprise, but Mason isn't really a scorer and AJ is primarily an assassin from the outside. Johnson really seems to be the key piece to this offense, not in the sense of being a scoring machine, but in the sense of how he can open up the lane and provide an inside option for the ball. When the defense started collapsing on DJ, he was passing the ball back outside, instead of being able to find someone open in the lane or crashing towards the basket.

The difference in the second half was Mason, Abrams, and rebounding, like you said. Mason played excellent in the second half and took it upon himself to try to make something happen with the ball. AJ was a lot more active dribbling the basketball and actually knifed into the lane and hit one of the floaters. The offensive tempo also picked up in the second half, when Barnes went back to a smaller line-up, but there were definitely some interesting line-up combinations tonight.

Defensively, it was a pretty suffocating performance, and, with the exception of continually tipping rebounds and being unable to corral loose balls, there's a lot to be encouraged about. I thought Damion James was ferocious, Chapman was usually well-positioned, and Atchley seemed to play better defensively than the stats indicate. Both Connor's blocks were aggressive, and he also swatted away a couple of other balls after the whistle.

Bottom line, it was a pretty forgettable game, but our offense really needs Dexter or Damion James to be able to provide double digit scoring on a consistent basis...

by txtwstr7 on Nov 12, 2007 11:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Chapman

Chapman seems to have a lot more pep in his step than Atchley does. I kept thinking I was watching a quicker Atchley when in fact I was just watching Chapman.

But, as my friend told me:
"Doesn't everybody have more pep in their step than Atchley?"

Peter Ullman is my adopted Longhorn. He's a big guy.

by whoopspat on Nov 12, 2007 11:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

This is the time

to go ahead and start one of the three big guys in Chapman, Wangmene, and Pittman. Playing time and development is what they need, and you don't want them developing in the middle of a crucial game. This should be done now.

Besides, they are probably better than Atchley as it is.

by goingforthecorner on Nov 13, 2007 12:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

From the boxscore:

Playing time vs. UTSA and points scored:
C. Atchley 23 3
C. Chapman 17 4
A. Wangmene 12 3
D. Pittman 5 0

I didn't include Damion James because he played 36 minutes; he is the Horns stabilizer now - and I did like his new jump shot although he only produced six points.

With Pittman missing a lot of practice time with an injured foot, I wouldn't have expected to see him play very much. I'd suspect the minutes above are a pretty good indicator of standing for these guys tonight. This will change.

I liked both Wangmene and Chapman tonight. Hope these guys are fast developers.

The box score didn't have a post in the starting line-up: two forwards and three guards; shades of Runnin' Horns days. I don't expect them to use this line-up except for certain match-up situations. Then again, I remember that BMG machine that got this ><close to the final four.</p>

by whills on Nov 13, 2007 1:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i liked what i saw

from both Chapman and Wangmene. Wangmene's long and athletic, but looked a bit lost at times and maybe a bit frantic. Hopefully Rick can hone his talents and make a nice defensive/rebounding machine out of him. Chapman didn't play as much like a freshman and could be a solid contributor quickly. Most of my attention to this class has been on Johnson and Dogus, but these two could be quite nice additions.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 14, 2007 12:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

More future than present

Wangmene seems to be a force of nature but not well trained yet. On the other hand, Chapman came across like a student of the game with skills to play right now, very much the gym rat mentality. Without GJ, we need one of those. With GJ, Chapman's play could be very complementary.

We'll need Wangmene's strength deeper in the season but he seemed to me to have a lot of talent and developing that talent is one thing Barnes does do well.

If Dex can stay well enough to practice and get in floor shape, then the Horns will be strong underneath and allow these guys to flourish. Connor didn't show me much; I think it's the haircut. Someone needs to mess it up before the game starts; he looks too nice and clean cut to be the mean cutthroat we need under the basket.

Barnes has said he really wants to run this year, and Chapman is the kind of player to do that; he looks like he should be playing for Kansas. Glad he ain't.

by whills on Nov 14, 2007 5:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Inside game

To score inside, you have to get the ball inside and we seem unable to do that. When the opponents are playing four short guards, there just have to be mismatches. But no one is posting up. Let's not even talk about the two man game, the give and go, the pick and roll, and running the baseline. We just need something inside.

by Caradoc on Nov 12, 2007 11:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Being tall is not enough

Just because we might have taller players than them on the court like Connor, Wangmene, Pittman, or Chapman, your big guys still have to be good to actually expose some mismatches.

Once those guys get in shape and get used to being on the court, Barnes will start calling plays specifically designed for them to receive the ball in the post.

Can't wait to see Pittman bulldozing his way to dunks like he's freaking Shaq.

by goingforthecorner on Nov 13, 2007 12:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Being tall should qualify to get the ball

We have no idea if the tall players are good because none of them touched the ball on the low blocks.

We ran one play for Pittman and according to Barnes post-game he did not listen and was pulled from the game. Chapman and Wangmene could/should have gotten the ball down low at least once. You are right though it is early and they will get their chance.

I am really excited about what Chapman might be able to do, his footwork is excellent.

by jimmer on Nov 13, 2007 12:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Status of Gary Johnson

So he was cleared to play in an exhibition game but not a regular season game. What does this all mean?

Is there still a possibility that he will not play a single game all year (or ever :/ )?

by goingforthecorner on Nov 13, 2007 12:22 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I have the same question

The two rationales that I can come up with are:

Lawyers - Is there a legal reason that makes the regular season different than a exhibition game? Is there some kind of liability difference? Or does one real game mean that he could lose a chance of a redshirt?

Doctors - Is there something they saw in the game or recently that has them worried?

by Wells on Nov 13, 2007 1:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

they are trying to monitor him and get a baseline on his pacemaker for a few weeks.

There was an article somewhere (can't remember) about another team that had this same issue with a player. It indicated Barnes would take the same wait and see approach by slowly moving Johnson along.

Perfectly healthy marathon runners can drop dead without any warning signs, so maybe it isn't such a bad idea to allow Johnson baby steps.

I dunno..I'm just spinning theories....If any doctors read this feel free to chime in.

Cats and dogs sleeping together.

by EYESofBEVO on Nov 13, 2007 9:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Logical

I don't understand how he was cleared to play in the exhibition but hasn't yet been cleared for games but I am not a doctor and have no inside information.

I can only assume, as many of you have, that the University is just being very, very cautious.

The Horns weren't great last night and, in my opinion, will not be great this season without Gary. Obviously, his health is the paramount concern. So, whenever the docs give the go ahead, I'll be thrilled.

--AW--

by awiggo on Nov 13, 2007 9:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone know the specific heart problem?

If it is Hypertrophic myopathy, then that is incredible dangerous, for the heart is enlarged but not consistently. This is what many young players die from. Did a lot of publicity for the Austin Heart Hospital up here; they have a portable echocardiogram which can detect the condition. Usually, if you're diagnosed with it and the follow up is affirmative, that's the end of your athletic career.

However, IANAD, so this is info is not the last word by a long shot. I did have a friend I grew up with who was a stupendous athlete that dropped dead at 50 due to the condition. He was lucky to live so long but when he went, he was gone within a minute.

GJ could have an enlarged heart, common in some athletes of size and distance runners. No threat there, no killer vulnerable weakness per se but there can be some problems.

And then there are various arrhythmia's, many of which can be corrected with a pacemaker, so I understand.

At any rate, I'm hoping that the lessor of these is what may afflict GJ and that he can live a relatively normal life.

by whills on Nov 14, 2007 5:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

First game I have gotten to watch

and that was in an airport sports bar, but here are my thoughts:
Disappointed in:

The poor shooting

Dex not living up to my unrealistic expectations

Johnson not playing

Excited by:

DJ's play. If our guards were hitting the open threes that he was handing out, it would have been better. He needs someone he can dump to low when the D collapses in the lane.

Clint Chapman - He worked for the rebounds, had quick outlet passes, ran transition pretty well, and showed a lot of potential.

Annoyed by:

UTSA holding the ball at the half court for 15 seconds before starting their offense.

Our weird full court pressure. It seemed like we were trying to deny the PG the ball, then would just fall back and let him hold it at the half court line.

by Wells on Nov 13, 2007 1:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

No Worries

Relax. Everybody knows that Barnes doesn't start practicing offense until mid January.

I have a man-crush on Chapman. Just one game, and against an overmatched UTSA, but he hustles. He's a banger, always putting a body on somebody, on both ends, and has good hands. He strikes me as the type that Barnes will give a lot of minutes to (but I haven't even seen Johnson yet, so....)

Young, but stupid-ridiculous depth in the frontcourt. If the opponents' bigs can't make FTs Texas wins most league games 62-58, a Rick Barnes wet dream game plan. Should be interesting.

Lock down perimiter defender? check
PG who can score and dish? check
19 post players who will bang and crash? check
perimiter shooter for clutch shots? check, check
slick half-court sets and crisp passing? err, no.

4/5

by MBAHick on Nov 13, 2007 2:14 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

HUGE LOSS FOR KANSAS

Jayhawks' starting PG Sherron Collins will be about 6 weeks after having surgery on his left foot.

Tough break for KU. 6 weeks means he'll come back just in time for the last couple of non-conference games in late December, including Boston College.

by goingforthecorner on Nov 13, 2007 4:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good 2nd Half

The second half looked really good, and we played some lock down defense to take the lead for good.

UTSA was so annoying to watch, as even down 16, they held the ball at half court and showed no sense of urgency. As Lincoln notes, their fans were very into there chants. I was looking for a fight to break out in the O-zone as Roadrunners clearly had a case of penis envy.

AJ made the shots in the second that he missed in the first. DJ is a stud, and his decision making will only improve. Sexy Dexy got an earfull from Coach B after the game for sure.

And, Chapman will play. JD may never see the floor again.

Hopefully Gary will get to play soon. We need him peaking in February, not still feeling his way out.

by jimmer on Nov 13, 2007 12:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Where will our scoring come from?

Good recaps by AW and txtwstr7. It seems like everyone is (legitimately) concerned about low post scoring, but I am prematurely worried about our scoring in general.

AJ is a great spot up shooter, but struggles taking it to the hole. Mason had a good night, but he seemed inconsistent last year (though much of that could be attributed to an injury and that he was just a frosh). I love how tenacious James plays, but I'm not sure we can count on him to score.

Part of the concern could be attributed to the fact that last night was the first game almost all of our "veterans" have ever played without Kevin Durant, who did practically all of our scoring last year. It make take some time for our guys to adjust.

If DJ can keep becoming more of a scoring point guard, then things will be looking up, but I am hoping that some other guys can step it up so we can rely on more than just DJ and AJ to get our points. I just can't wait to see who that will be.

"This is the second most exciting indoor sport, and the other one shouldn't have spectators."

by hornshoops on Nov 14, 2007 12:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

SCoring

DJ's going to score 18-20 points per game, Abrams will jack his way to 16-18 points per game, Mason will score minimum 8-10, and James will score 8-10.

That gives us about 58 points per game we can count on over the course of the season. I havent seen the roster, but can we squeak out another 20 points per game from our other guys?

78 pts per game is plenty healthy in the college game.

by Blitzburgh on Nov 14, 2007 11:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs