First Look: Texas 69 Colorado 67 Box Score

by Peter Bean on Jan 19, 2008 10:04 PM CST in Texas Longhorns Basketball

Full Box Score

AW with a game report later tonight or tomorrow.

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The Justin Mason issue...

...without Damion James in the ball-game, or AJ struggling from downtown, this team is going to struggle to score points with Justin Mason being terrified of shooting the basketball. I don't know if he needs to go to a sports psychiatrist or something, but he isn't even considering shooting the basketball when he gets it on the perimeter.

Getting a grand total of four points from the bench just isn't going to cut it, especially when one of the starters gets into foul trouble...

His defense was ferocious in the 2nd half, including the three straight stops, but it can get really hard to watch our offense with Mason in the game when AJ is cold and Atchley is covered up...

by txtwstr7 on Jan 19, 2008 10:16 PM CST reply actions

Yup

Most interesting thing about tonight's game was the various dynamics with different personnel.

We looked better - certainly defensively - with Mason in the game, but he's SO LOST on offense. Meanwhile, Johnson looks Not Ready Yet.

Tough to figure out what lessons to draw just yet, but if there's anything encouraging to focus on, it's that we've got PLENTY of room for improvement. We need 1 or 2 guys to take a step forward over the next 6 weeks.

Fingers crossed.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jan 19, 2008 10:20 PM CST up reply actions

Starting second half

Do you think starting the second half helped Mason's confidence?

The guy is by far the best defender the horns have in the back court. He was amazing tonight on D and is starting to regain his confidence.

for now Mason should focus on practising his free throws, driving to the bucket and drawing fouls or dishing the ball when he has to do something on offense. I suggest that if he has to shoot outside, focus on shooting shots where he can put the ball off the backboard. Otherwise do not shoot it for now.

when Mason is in the game with 3 or 4 other good offensive players, his offense is just not needed much.

by Kafka on Jan 19, 2008 10:31 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think...

...he ever lost confidence in his defense. Only his jumper.

It's also hard for him to drive to the basket when the defender is playing off of him and DARING him to shoot the basketball. One of the threes he missed was literally held for 2-3 seconds before he realized he had no other option but to shoot it.

I've tricked myself 4-5 straight games that a specific basket or shot for Mason will be the "tipping point" for his offensive confidence, but it just isn't happening. It really does appear like, for the second year in a row, a monster non-conference season for Mason is going to spiral out-of-control during the conference season.

by txtwstr7 on Jan 19, 2008 10:39 PM CST reply actions

One thing I wanted to add...

...is that I'm interested in the idea of letting him handle the ball at the top of the key. Rick has tinkered with this arrangement for a few games now, usually when DJ gets a breather, but I think it might be a pretty good option or change-of-pace when Mason is forced into the game.

DJ slashing from the wing is still pretty lethal, and it at least presents this arrangement presents the threat of AJ or DJ bombing away following the initial pass from Mason...with Mason at the top of the key, it also doesn't interfere with Atchley's role in the offense.

I'm not sure if it tires him out on defense, but I wouldn't mind seeing Rick try it out to see if it can get him more involved with the offense...

by txtwstr7 on Jan 19, 2008 10:43 PM CST reply actions

Mason on offense

While it is true that Mason is not hitting anything outside, if he is playing with 3 or 4 guys who are good/really good offensive players (such as Augustin or Abrams, Damion, Connor, and Gary), it is pretty easy to hide one weak offensive player on offense. He can run around setting screens, he can drive until somebody guards him and then dish off. If nobody guards him when he drives, then he can shoot the layup.

Most teams are used to hiding at least one relatively weak offensive performer. It is much easier than hiding a poor defensive performer (which is one reason why the horns play so much zone).

The idea of Mason taking the point some is an interesting idea because it gives Augustin a chance to rest and just be a 3 point shooter for a few possessions.

Mason was brilliant on D against colorado and was one of the main reasons the horns won the game. Barnes has already announced that Mason will start the next game. this should help Mason's confidence (which was no doubt hurt by the demotion from his starting position when Gary Johnson was cleared to play).

by Kafka on Jan 20, 2008 10:58 PM CST up reply actions

Re:

Man, my Comcast TV Guide lied to me, I had no idea the Texas game was on KNEWS until there was 4 minutes left. That was an awful stretch by the Horns, so I'm really hoping the rest of the game held better performances by our guys.

Caught the Kentucky-Florida game, though, and it was two gutty performances by teams that I feel will be REALLY good in the upcoming couple of years. It was also possibly the worst officiated game I've seen in quite some time.

Caught glimpses of K-State throttling A&M as well; it's nice to see that offense struggle without Acie Law at the helm. The Michael Beasley show should be nice to catch whenever we go up against the Wildcats, though.

My adopted kid is pure genius at the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model.

by jc25 on Jan 19, 2008 10:51 PM CST reply actions