Texas Basketball Report 2.10
by Peter Bean on Feb 13, 2008 8:17 PM CST
in Basketball
40 comments
We tip off this week's TBR with a reader email:
I seem to remember LAST year being mentioned as the fastest to 20 wins, and at this point in the season that team was 17-7 (or something like that). But I could be suffering from a faulty memory.
Lesley (Eddie The Albino Squirrel)
Great question, Lesley. I couldn't find the answer in Texas' media guide, but let's just focus on the Rick Barnes era. First, we should note that with Monday's win over Kansas, Rick Barnes has guided Texas to its ninth straight 20-win season. Only in his first year, 1998-99, did Texas fall short of that mark (19-13). I'm not sure if last year's squad was the fastest ever to 20 wins, but they got there on February 20th, a full nine days ahead of Rick Barnes' best team in Austin, the TJ Ford-led 2002-03 Longhorns (March 1st).
This year we reached the 20 win plateau on February 11th and if we've ever gotten there faster, then I don't know about it. What's most encouraging, though, is that Barnes' Texas teams have consistently played their best basketball over the season's final six weeks. That portends well for this year, as Texas enters its final seven games in terrific position to grab an outstanding seed for the tournament.
A few other interesting tidbits I grabbed from this year's Team Prospectus that highlight how good Rick Barnes has been since he arrived in Austin:
- Texas is one of five teams to reach the Sweet 16 in four of the last six years. Others: Duke (5), UCONN (4), Kansas (4), Pittsburgh (4)
- Since Barnes arrived at Texas, the Longhorns have had nine players drafted into the NBA, tops in the Big 12.
That last point is significant in terms of noting how much turnover Barnes has managed throughout his time here. The 2006-07 team, for example, started four freshmen and a sophomore. Great players have come, great players have moved on, and Rick has just kept reloading and winning.
Looking ahead, as amazing as Monday night's win over Kansas was, the most important stretch of the season begins Saturday in Waco, as Texas takes on Baylor, A&M, Oklahoma, and Kansas State (road). Winning two of four would be satisfactory. Winning three would be delightful. Sweeping all four would be... Yikes. Real good.
Bottom line: there's never been a more exciting time to be a fan of Texas basketball.
Texas Basketball Report Archives
TBR 2.1
TBR 2.2
TBR 2.3
TBR 2.4
TBR 2.5
TBR 2.6
TBR 2.7
TBR 2.8
TBR 2.9
TBR 2.10
--PB--
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Nice post.
I was just pursuing bball statistics in the AJ era. Of the NBA players you mentioned AJ has played with Durant, Gibson and Aldrige and he is playing with at least 2 others right now in James and DJ.
Good to see we got to 20 wins so quickly. With what we've done so far 2-2 over the next two weeks would be just fine with me.
by jimmer on Feb 13, 2008 9:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Clemens Hearing/Jason Kidd trade
is overshadowing a great day of college basketball.
It's halftime, and the Houston Cougars are leading #1 Memphis on the road by 2.
In the Big 12, Baylor will suffer a huge letdown to Oklahoma State. This basically confirms that they are still second tier, but still good. Our game @ BU will still be a challenge.
BONUS! K-State is losing at Texas Tech. This would be huge for our chances of winning the Big 12 regular season championship. K-State already lost @ Mizzou without their best players. Looks like they're not that good on the road.
#18 Notre Dame, #12 Indiana, #15 Drake have already lost today.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 13, 2008 9:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Update
Tech is up 16 with 17 minutes left in the game. Memphis is now up 7 on UH.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 13, 2008 9:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for your comments, PB!
I was kind of surprised to realize we'd hit 20 wins ... I think that "magic" number was overshadowed by the quality of the KU win.
Loved your points about team turnover. Every year, I wonder what the team could possibly accomplish after losing talent to the NBA. And every year, Rick astonishes me.
by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Feb 13, 2008 9:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Congrats to Little Knight
Barring a miracle finish, he will get his first win against the 1st place team in the Big 12. KState won't be in 1st after this loss though. They will be tied with UT at 7-2. KU is first at 8-2.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 13, 2008 10:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
How soon...
by mattyj on Feb 13, 2008 11:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
And by the way...
...if there were no early entries, Texas would look something like this.
PG- Augustin
SG- Gibson
SF- Durant
PF- Tucker
C- Aldridge
Bench:
Abrams
James
Mason
Johnson
Atchley
You have to consider that without some of the early defections we don't get some of the current stars, but still its fun to dream.
by mattyj on Feb 13, 2008 11:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
tucker wouldn't have been around
i don't think...
he declared after his junior year, right? would have been here last year, not this one.
by billyzane on Feb 13, 2008 11:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Ah good call
And there's your answer, Lesley. February 6th, with a great team that SHOULD have beat LSU to get to the Final Four in New Orleans...
Thanks, mattyj
by Peter Bean on Feb 13, 2008 11:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
More ancient history
I still have find memories of the 1990 "runnin' horns" with Lance Blanks, Travis Mays, and Joey Wright. Best moment was when they came back from 16 down to Xavier to break into the elite eight. Good times.
by Caradoc on Feb 14, 2008 2:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Was that the team that lost to Arkansas ...
... in the tourney? I remember that game vividly. I always disliked Nolan Richardson, and that game made me hate him. He walked out when his team was down and not playing well, then came back at the end to "claim" and celebrate the small margin of victory.
by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Feb 14, 2008 7:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
1990
Yeah, that was the year. "Strollin'" Nolan retired to the locker room over some call that did not go his way and had to come back after Lee Mayberry canned a ridiculous 30 foot jumper to send the game into overtime. I think that may have been the record for volume of boos in the Erwin Center.
by Caradoc on Feb 14, 2008 12:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Runnin' Horns were a fun team
That was my favorite win as a horn. I remember b/c we were down at half big and I had to go to bed thinking we were gonna lose, and when I woke up in the morning my dad had taped the final score up in my room. 102-89.
That team could light it up from deep.
by jimmer on Feb 14, 2008 9:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
1990 hoops team
I was going to mention this era, but you beat me to the punch. The "BMW" provided much excitement as Tom Penders basically resurrected the Texas hoops program from the ashes. That 2nd half comeback against a good Xavier team in the Tournament was unreal. Lance Blanks would put it up from anywhere anytime -- completely unconscious. Also loved Travis Mays "initiating contact with the sole of the shoe." Hahaha
by brentmcd on Feb 14, 2008 11:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, Matty!
by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Feb 14, 2008 7:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Seven games to go
Doesn't seem unreasonable to hope for one more road win (K-State, Baylor, or Tech -- any one of those would be aces), defend our home court the rest of the way, and head to the Big XII tourney 25-6.
by NYCHorn on Feb 13, 2008 11:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I think the KU win
will be a huge momentum booster. K-State doesn't look so great now after losing @ Tech. They won't be ranked next week. No way they should lose that game. No way Baylor should be losing @ OK State either.
I can see us winning all three of those road games now. A 1 seed is still probably out of the picture, but not a 2 seed.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 13, 2008 11:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Unless K State Loses Another
game this week they'll still be ranked. K State is #18, Notre Dame is #20 and both already lost, but three of the four teams lurking just outside the Top 25(AP) also have losses this week. And there is quite a drop off after #29. Also, there are at least 3-4 more losses this weekend to be taken by teams ranked #21-28.
Road games are tough in every conference in college hoops, especially the BCS conferences. Despite their poor showings last night both KSU and Baylor will be tall challenges for the Runnin' Horns. Good thing is after Saturday UT has four of the last six games at home and close out against relatively weak teams. These next two weeks determine if we land as high as a #2 seed or as low as a #4 seed.
My concern for UT is them showing that they can put six wins in a row together against quality opponents. That's what it takes to win a NC. If UT goes 4-0 these next two weeks that'll make five straight wins over five likely tournament teams (OU on the bubble).
At that point I wouldn't mind a loss at Tech (get it out of their system just before the games really count), grab two wins against average teams, win the Big XII tournament and then get those six straight to make San Antonio the host city for their first basketball NC!
I can dream, and it is a pretty plausible one - if UT wins the next four.
by RkyMtnHorn on Feb 14, 2008 3:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
KSU is #22 in the ESPN/USA Today poll
by goingforthecorner on Feb 14, 2008 4:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
AP is IMHO a More Reliable Poll
And in any event, the same dynamics apply, half the teams behind KSU from #23-30 in ESPN/USA Today have already lost this week, and at least 3-4 of them will pick up losses this weekend. KSU gets Mizzou in Manhattan, I doubt they drop two straight. KSU WILL be ranked again next week since no one behind them will get their work done, either, to knock them below #35.
by RkyMtnHorn on Feb 14, 2008 4:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
AP v ESPN/USA Today
ESPN/USA Today poll is horribly biased. ESPN does more than report college sports news, it creates it and controls it. Notice how they don't say "boo" about Reggie Bush and USC's tainted Heisman and corrupt seasons, only AP reports it.
ESPN constantly sucks the dicks of east and left-coast conferences, proclaiming the Big East with Rutgers, Cincinnati and South Florida a top conference, when they are only a cut above the WAC or MW in football, ditto with a three team (one cheating) P10 conference a powerhouse, with every other team grossly overrated.
Ditto in college hoops, they bias the coast conferences. I know they do it to chase ratings by getting the population centers giddy about highly ranked teams that inevitably crash to the ground at the end of the day. ESPN ranks teams and promotes teams that help their business model by getting higher ratings because of their artificial hype so they can charge more in advertising rates. They are a scam.
I don't trust their polls as sole source, nice to know the info and maybe look at something I didn't notice before, but it is no gospel. They push reality to the limits people would accept before everyone would obviously cry foul.
Have I mentioned how little regard I have for the ESPN/USA Today poll lately?
by RkyMtnHorn on Feb 14, 2008 4:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
you realize it's not ESPN people
that participate in the poll, right?
Like, in college football the ESPN/USA today poll is the coaches poll. No one associated with ESPN or USA Today has a vote. They're just the ones that administer it.
ESPN has its own "power poll" that it publishes once a week that is done by ESPN people.
by billyzane on Feb 14, 2008 11:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, I know
it's coaches. But the assistant coaches who rank 'em for their bosses only have time to watch ESPN talking heads spout off about who's good. The writers usually have too much time on their hands to dig deeper and keep up daily.
The only AP polls I think are BS are the end of year football ones. "Split National Championships" are a travesty in Bowl Series/BCS era. Every team knows going into the start of a season they need to win the BCS Championship game to win it all. To have the writers come along and rewrite the rules because they don't like the outcome (LSU/USC) is wrong.
But I still stand by my assertion that ESPN creates and controls the perceptions we have of sports today. They long ago injected themselves into the story and have a financial incentive to continue to do so, unfairly favoring teams that will generate more profits, necessarily harming teams that won't.
by RkyMtnHorn on Feb 14, 2008 12:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i will agree
that ESPN (the tv network, not necessarily the website) does not do a good job of separating the business, entertainment, and news aspects of its operation, but i find it hard to believe that there's some overarching agenda behind it.
by billyzane on Feb 14, 2008 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
eastern bias
ESPN clearly favors the Big East. Remember the ridiculous fawning over Rutgers football team two years ago?
by brentmcd on Feb 14, 2008 5:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
no it doesn't.
that was a good story. Rutgers had been so terrible for so long, it was a good story when they had a magical season.
perhaps they got more coverage on ESPN news outlets because ESPN the network televised a lot of their games (because the big east sucks and they play on thursdays). but that goes to what i was saying: they don't separate their news/entertainment/business very well. but i really can't believe that there are ESPN secret meetings where they decide "hey guys, let's pump up rutgers this week and see if we can get them in top 10 for our broadcast of their game next week."
if they do, that's shameful, but let's try and be reasonable here.
by billyzane on Feb 14, 2008 11:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree re: Rutgers
I got interested in them when we needed Louisville to beat WVU and Rutgers to beat Louisville that year. Both of those games were great, but Rutgers winning on a second chance last second field goal? Awesome. I think they made it to OT with WVU to end the year, and had they won, would have been in the BCS. I also kind of liked the fact that they finished their season in the Texas Bowl, where they smashed KSU for us.
by Horn Brain on Feb 15, 2008 12:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Texas Bowl
What a joke that game is. NFL network = zero audience. Shame they only got that game after that great season.
by Blitzburgh on Feb 15, 2008 5:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
over-rated
Their season was a joke. Who did they beat? UNC and Illinois - who were both way down that year. Then they ran the Big LEast table before losing to West Virginia. Call me underwhelmed. The Big Deceased doesn't deserve an automatic BCS berth. The conference is pathetic.
by brentmcd on Feb 15, 2008 6:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
your series of puns
on the name of that conference has convinced me that your point is correct. why would a conference name rhyme with so many words if it wasn't accurately described by all those same words?
case closed. you win.
by billyzane on Feb 15, 2008 7:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Why defend the Big East on a Texas website?
Are you some kind of Yankee or something?
Seriously, I think OU's defeat by WVU was more a reflection of OU's poor performance than any greatness of the Big East. For whatever reason, OU doesn't seem to play well in BCS games. Here's a link to someone who did a bit of Conference comparison research: http://year2.wordpress.com/2007/08/0...
"sarcasm is the protest of people who are weak"
by brentmcd on Feb 17, 2008 4:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Dude
you may want to check your comment history for sarcasm before rolling with that signature.
by Wells on Feb 19, 2008 5:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
signature
by brentmcd on Feb 20, 2008 2:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
speaking of which
Texas moved up to 8 in the espn power poll
by BigTexBD on Feb 14, 2008 1:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Mighty Mice
Another possibility for an early 20 wins was Slater Martin's 1947 team which went 26-2. Since one of those losses came in the final four, they much have been something like 23-1 for the season. They might well have picked up win #20 in mid February.
by Caradoc on Feb 14, 2008 2:15 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
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