Morning Coffee
by Peter Bean on Mar 6, 2007 8:48 AM CST
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Let's start with Durant's ankle, which he says "will be fine." Head Coach Rick Barnes told the media yesterday he also thought it "would be fine." So, all's fine in the world.
We hope. Durant is supposed to return to practice today, and he'll have all of the next three and a half days to recover from the injury before Texas takes the court on Friday night. As of now, every indication is that Durant will be out there to tip for Texas, but I'm more than a little nervous about him getting out there and aggravating the injury before the Big Dance. I'd love for Texas to get a comfortable lead on Friday and play Durant less than 20 minutes.
Staying with the hoops team, the AP and Coaches polls were released yesterday, and Texas checks in at #15 and #14, respectively. Elsewhere, great news for bubble teams yesterday, as VCU rallied to beat George Mason and Gonzaga won the WCC tournament for the eighth time in the last nine years. Bubble teams will continue to hope for a dearth of conference tournament upsets. AW's got your full rundown of March Madness notes below.
If you missed it in the diaries, ESPN Page 2's Bomani Jones' most recent column is another hack job on everyone involved with Texas hoops not named Kevin Durant. According to Jones: Barnes can't coach, Augustin's a lousy point guard, and AJ Abrams doesn't do enough to create his own looks. He uses these "facts" (along with injury risk) to support the conclusion that Kevin Durant should leave for the NBA after this season.
This is garbage, and it's pretty sad to see columnists - who fancy themselves up a peg on the food chain from shock jocks on the radio - write this sensationalistic crap. Trashing Barnes is juvenile, bemoaning Augustin's contributions is just ignorant, and wishing that Abrams wouldn't drift to the corner to wait for shots exposes a fundamental misunderstanding of what he's good at. What's more, there are a LOT of good reasons for Durant to go to the NBA. Like, 55 million of them. It's just sad that these mainstream writers are going out of their way to tear down everyone around Durant, in an effort to boost him up. It's wrong, and I'm sick of it.
Mack Brown chatted with the press yesterday, but if you're hoping for substantive commentary from spring media interviews, you're headed for disappointment. The next big Texas football report will come after the official spring scrimmage on March 31st. Speaking of which, a spring game tailgate is in the works.
Some quick notes from around the blogosphere. . . Card Chronicle is tough to beat for updates and commentary on all the conference hoops tourneys. . . Corn Nation has posted its Big 12 baseball week in review. . . Jamie Mottram and Dan Shanoff unveil their Top 20 Most Influential Sports Bloggers, and I'm proud to see SBN's Tyler Bleszinski checking in at #2. Not only is Athletics Nation the standard bearer for individual team blogs, but his work presiding over the expansion of this network has been a thing of beauty. And, of course, helped bring AW and I here to BON. Kudos to Tyler.
--PB--
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ESPN
"Will be fine"
Woo Hoo
ESPN article
When KU was making their comeback, I couldn't believe Barnes waited so long to call a timeout. The 12 point lead was gone in three minutes.
Against A&M in overtime, we won the game, but Barnes made no effort to get the best player in the nation the ball on any set plays.
Texas offense is often stagnant. There is no movement, and Durant usually sits on the wing until he gets the ball, and then HE creates his own offense. While this has undoubtedly been successful for him, with 30 points a game in Big 12 games, can you imagine if Barnes made a more concerted effort run set plays for him?
Also, his criticism of Abrams is exactly right. He has awful ball handing skill (how many times did he lose the ball against KU?) and his inability to create off the dribble is a liability. He has made some huge shots, but has become so one dimensional that it is incredibly frustrating at times.
Augustin has been nothing but clutch, consistent, and mature beyond his years. Thank goodness he told the DMN he's coming back. Jones' criticism of Augustin was way off, but the rest of the article was a pretty valid assessment of Barnes coaching and Abrams play.
Not so sure about that
Um, yes - that's what we want AJ to do on offense. He can't create his own shot, and we don't want him trying. Jones is just wrong here.
In any case, while some of the individual criticisms contain some merit, the them of the article is: "Tear down everything around Durant as a justification for him not returning to Texas."
That's a bullshit argument to make. There are plenty of valid reasons to send KD to the NBA. Trashing his teammates and coach strikes me as the -worst- of them.
Also
You hit the nail on the head
I bet if Coach Knight asked his players to spend Christmas with him they would probably just refuse because he's such an "ass", I mean wouldn't you???
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 6, 2007 1:49 PM CST up reply actions
Isaiah Thomas
Can you see into Isiah Thomas' heart?
Whether Bob Knight was an "ass" to his players, there really isn't any comparison of him vs. other Coaches in the amount of players he graduates. Whatever you think you know about Bob Knight, the vast majority of his players remain with him throughout their collegiate careers. Moreso than other Coaches. Moreso than Rick Barnes. Whatever relationship Barnes has with KD he will probably end up playing less for Barnes than Thomas played for Bob Knight.
That is not a nock on Rick Barnes, who I have enormous respect for. That is a defense of your utterly uninformed opinion about Bob Knight.
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 6, 2007 5:31 PM CST up reply actions
This is a joke right?
"Whether Bob Knight was an "ass" to his players, there really isn't any comparison of him vs. other Coaches in the amount of players he graduates. " Great I do not think we are talking about Graduation here.
"Whatever you think you know about Bob Knight, the vast majority of his players remain with him throughout their collegiate careers." First you do not even know what I know about Knight. Second, the vast majority of ALL coaches have players that remain throughout their careers, that is indicative only of the limited opportunities Student athletes have to transfer. I do know Bob Knight choked Neil Reed, I have seen the video many times. I do not think he stayed with Knight throughout his collegiate career.
"Whatever relationship Barnes has with KD he will probably end up playing less for Barnes than Thomas played for Bob Knight." Not the issue, the article was about the reason players left, not who stayed longer. Also that does not prove or disprove whether Bob Knight is an ass.
"That is not a nock on Rick Barnes, who I have enormous respect for. That is a defense of your utterly uninformed opinion about Bob Knight." Since you have no knowledge of what I am basing my opinion on you really have no way to determine it is "utterly uninformed". The only basis you have for that statement is it does not agree with you. That's a really great argument, not my opinion so it must be "utterly uninformed".
Again this was the argument from the article, Bob Knight yelled Isaiah out of town. Not my argument, the article's. It also pointed out Jordan stayed and Dean Smith had to tell him to go. I think KD's situation is closer to Jordan than Isaiah.
Please provide
I'm not trying to see into other player's hearts. I am not claiming that players leave Barnes because he's such a nice guy. I'm saying players stay with Knight in spite of his tough persona -- and the facts support that.
I mention Graduation Rates because it speaks directly against something you've accused Bob Knight of being. An aggressive, yelling Coach he might be, but Knight is also a mentor to the young men who play for him and takes a personal interest in their professional lives. This is why they overwhelmingly speak positively about Coach and their experience playing for him. Graduating players, even the ones that cannot help you win basketball games, is a sign of compassion Knight has for these kids that is rarely pointed out.
I know what you don't know about Bob Knight, as you've presented an insane argument that ignores piles of evidence about him as a beloved mentor.
You and the article argued that the reason players leave Coach Knight is because he's mean. It's an insane argument because players don't leave Coach Knight to any significant degree. Not moreso than other Coaches. Why do you want to distinguish between "leaving" and "not staying longer"? Rick Barnes' players choose "not to stay longer" but Bob Knight's players "leave"? Is that about right?
Again, the vast majority of Coach Knight's players stay in spite of his tough persona, and later positively rate that experience.
The "only basis" I have for evaluating your knowledge of Knight is the argument you've presented. And that's more than enough to reasonably conclude that you don't know what you are talking about -- sometimes referred to as being uninformed.
"Not my argument" is simply retreat from a bad argument that you endorsed through repetition. Do you or don't you think that Coach Knight has a hard time keeping players from playing for him? If you don't, then stop repeating other people's work and treating it as your own position. If you do, how do you reconcile this against the fact that so many playerse play for him and do so throughout their entire collegiate careers?
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 7, 2007 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
For the record...
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 7, 2007 1:11 PM CST up reply actions
I like Bob Knight
I used to
Red Blooded, however feels it is OK to assualt people as long as the person is not "torn up" about it.
When did I sa that?
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 7, 2007 2:22 PM CST up reply actions
This is your exact quote below.
was so torn about the choking incident that he waited 3 years to tell anyone about it."
I've already explained why this is relevant
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 7, 2007 3:06 PM CST up reply actions
Exactly
No...
Part of what makes a choking a choking is whether the person on the receiving end feels threatened. Neil Reed was clearly not threatened by what happened given the way he behaved afterwards. I don't think Coach Knight choked Neil Reed, so quit trying to say that I think it's ok to choke a player. I also don't endorse what Coach did to that player in that particular instance, but it isn't enough for me to ignore a lifetime of excellent coaching and improving the lives of the young men he came into contact with over those years.
He's human. He made a mistake. It wasn't "assault". His players still overwhelmingly support him. Your argument isn't any less ridiculous because of Neil Reed Neil Reed Neil Reed Neil Reed.
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 7, 2007 5:18 PM CST up reply actions
Also
Can you see into his heart. Maybe he did not say anything sooner because he was scared, a pretty common reaction when someone chokes you.
The defenition of assault:
a threat inflict offensive physical contact or bodily harm on a person (as by lifting a fist in a threatening manner) that puts the person in immediate danger of or in apprehension of such harm or contact.
If being choked is not a threat of offensive physical contact that puts a person in apprehension of harm or contact I do not know what is.
Back and forth...
Can you see into his heart. Maybe he did not say anything sooner because he was scared, a pretty common reaction when someone chokes you.
This "scared" explanation would make sense if he mentioned it after practice, or a week after practice, or perhaps for the next three years when he wasn't even at the same University as Bob Knight. It would have made sense if he had filed charges against Bob Knight to protect himself.
I can't recall Reed ever claiming fear. If you've got some reason to suspect this to be the case, then by all means post it.
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 7, 2007 3:08 PM CST up reply actions
Neil Reed
No Please defend that and tell me Knight is not an ass.
While your at it defend these:
In 1976, Knight pulled guard Jim Wisman off the court by his jersey
In 1979, Knight was arrested for assaulting a police officer during the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico.
In 1985, Knight threw a chair across the court to protest a referee's call during a game against the rival Purdue Boilermakers.
Knight kicked his own son, Pat Knight, during a 1993 game.
Knight was shown berating a NCAA university volunteer at a 1998 news conference.
In 1999, an Indiana University secretary accused Knight of throwing a potted plant at her.
In 1999, Assistant coach Ron Felling claimed Knight threw him off a chair and punched him in the chest.Felling sued Knight for assault and received an out-of-court settlement of $35,000 from IU.
In February 2004, Knight again made national headlines for a "verbal dustup" with then Texas Tech University Chancellor David Smith at a Lubbock supermarket.
In March 2006, a student's heckling at Baylor University resulted in Knight having to be restrained by a police officer.
On November 13, 2006, Knight was shown allegedly hitting player Michael Prince under the chin to get him to make eye contact.
Is that informed enough for you? I think the neil reed thing alone should be enough for any person to realize Knight is an ass because quite honestly, it is indefensable.
I know he has lost players becuase of this attitude. I'll go ahead and concede Thomas if you want me to, just because I do not really have time to research it, but I am pretty sure you can't come up with 5 coaches that have assaulted players.
Neil Reed
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 7, 2007 1:32 PM CST up reply actions
My arguement
Saying, oh the Humanity over and over again just shows you are an ass as well.
How many times do we have to go through this?
For your point to be true, you'd have to demonstrate that a dispraportionate number of Bob Knight coached players left his team and explicitly stated his treatment as the reason for transfer. Even if I eliminated the last qualification you wouldn't be capable of proving that Bob Knight has more trouble retaining players than another Coach -- because he doesn't.
You can watch the video and interpret it differently. Certainly it is strange that Neil Reed waited 3 years to say anything about it. Remember too that Neil didn't leave Indiana because of the choke; he left because he was voted off the team by teammates.
I can live with what happened to Neil Reed. I've seen the tape, it looks bad but certainly nothing inforgivable. It's a Coach being aggressive with one of his players.
I say Oh the Humanity because you bring up nonsense like a Coach grabbing a player by the jersey. Seriously? That's too aggressive for a Coach? Are we talking about infants? Reasonable minds might disagree about the severity of that. Are you certain that Rick Barnes has never grabbed a jersey?
You should remember that you don't speak for anyone besides yourself and I'd rather put more stock in what the majority of Coach Knight's actual players say than your particular take on an incident that happened 10 years ago that wasn't important enough -- at the time -- for a player to even mention it.
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Mar 7, 2007 2:16 PM CST up reply actions
In a less sarcastic response
And
- These guys are freshman.
- Barnes' coaching record for the last nine years at Texas.
PB, in your predictions at the beginning of the season, did you predict we would be shooting for a 4-seed? At Mid-Season?
This guy is rediculous.
There is some truth to the article
Jones has a point about Durant's injury being a factor in KD's decision to stay or go. If he feels like another injury could hurt his chances later on, then he'll likely go pro- you've got to cash in when you can, much to our misfortune.
by boomhauer25 on Mar 6, 2007 2:33 PM CST reply actions
Bill Simmons commentary on Barnes...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/blog/index?entryDate=20070302&name=simmons
Here's an excerpt from another Page 2 columnist, Bill Simmons. I'm as big a Horn fan as there is, Class of 2004, but I think these criticisms have merit.
Here's an excerpt.
It's no secret that Texas has become my favorite college hoops team; my man-crush on Durant has reached the point that I should probably remain at least 100 yards away from him at all times. So I finally fall for a college hoops team, and just my luck ... they have a crappy coach! It's like my destiny in life to root for poorly coached basketball teams. The way Rick Barnes butchers this team on a game-to-game basis is unconscionable. Seriously, did you SEE Wednesday night's game? What was your favorite bad coaching moment? Acie Law being repeatedly allowed to shoot game-tying threes from his favorite spots on the floor? Durant going 4-5 straight possessions in OT without touching the ball? D.J. Augustin being allowed to recklessly drive to the hoop again and again when he's playing with the most unstoppable college scorer in 40 years?
I asked this question a few weeks ago, and I'm asking it again now: How can you not run more plays for Kevin Durant? Post him up and he has 27 different ways to score. Curl him off picks and he makes 15-footers like they're layups. Spread the floor out, let him handle the ball at the top of the key and he can pull up and swish 25-footers over anyone. THE GUY IS A SURE THING!!!!!!!! Why are they giving him a degree of difficulty? Do they have plays in their playbook called "Durant stands frozen 25 feet from the basket while other guys dribble aimlessly" and "half-assed pick-and-roll that leads to nothing" and "Durant posts up while the point guards stare him down, then reverse the ball the other way?"
I can't handle it. Watching Texas screw up the Durant Era is like watching a guy spend three straight hours buying drinks and working it with a girl who already announced, "Sure, I'll sleep with you." In other words, WHY ARE YOU MAKING THIS HARD????? Seriously, I feel like Barnes should resign. He's overmatched. He's Dubya-esque. It's a disgrace. They're going to get bounced from the NCAA Tournament this month solely because Barnes has no idea how to get Durant the ball ... and even worse, doesn't seem to feel any pressi
AP voters smarter than Big XII Coaches
That still doesn't mean I think he's a great gameday coach.
by patienthornsfan on Mar 7, 2007 1:56 AM CST up reply actions
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