Morning Coffee Is Jumping The Gun

by PB @ BON on Feb 17, 2008 4:46 PM CST in Quick Hits

Unclear what my posting schedule might be tomorrow, so I'm posting now while I can.

Beware revisionist history. Barking Carnival's Scipio Tex has an outstanding essay on sports, journalism, and history, using the media's portrayal of Muhammad Ali to warn readers of the agendas which drive how sports are covered in the mainstream press. He correctly notes that those agendas are sometimes worthy, but cautions us to temper our desire to see comfortably packaged storylines with an even stronger commitment to truth.

I especially like the essay for bringing to light the importance of understanding that there are human beings behind the by-lines on each story. Writers are flawed, sensitive people just like the rest of us. To believe, as journalists will often try to have you, that they offer a God's-eye view of the truth is to be insufficiently skeptical. And though we have evolved to understand this reasonably well with history in general, the perception of sports as "merely entertainment" can lull us into a too lax acceptance of the stories we consume.

A happy consensus. I noted in my postgame review that Augustin, despite not scoring well, was playing strong basketball overall. So I'm happy to see that most everyone else covering the team agrees. The AAS' Cedric Golden has a column on the subject; Barking Carnival's Trips Right likes the improvement in his distribution; and Tim Griffin agreed with me that DJ was the most important player on the floor for the Horns, even without scoring much.

Along with DJ's improved distribution game, there are encouraging signs up and down the roster. Damion James is playing with that killer instinct again. Gary Johnson is a legit college player, with tons of room to grow. AJ Abrams' shot selection is right where we want it. Connor Atchley is looking to score after a mini-slump in which he became too passive. And Jay Mason is all over the box score, giving Texas value on both sides of the court.

We said pre-season that this team might not be a good or great one until March. And we're now seeing a lot of that growth that we expected... The surprise is that as we start to move towards our peak, we've gone 21-4 along the way. Credit to Rick Barnes...

No rest for the weary. Big as Saturday's road win over Baylor was, Texas now enters a critical three-game stretch that could go a long ways towards determining Texas' NCAA Tournament seed and regional assignment. The Longhorns will face three of the conference's top five teams with back to back home games against A&M and Oklahoma, then a road trip to Manhattan to battle Kansas State.

Protecting the home court is by far the most important goal here; if successful, Texas would find itself 10-2 in conference (23-4 overall) heading into its Big Monday showdown with KSU. With three games to close out the season (at Tech, vs Nebraska, vs Okie State) in which the 'Horns will be solid favorites, winning two of the next three would give the team a real shot at finishing the season 13-3 in conference. Two important notes on seeding:

1. The goal is not to get a #1 seed in the NCAAs, it's to land an assignment in the South Regional in Houston. There's only the slightest advantage in being a #1 seed instead of a #2. But there would exist a very real, tangible benefit to landing a spot in Houston. Unless Memphis collapses down the stretch and we can replace them as the #1 seed in Houston, I'd much prefer us on the #2 in line in Houston than the #1 line anywhere else.

2. Earning the #1 seed in the Big 12 tournament would be nice this year. As of now, K-State, Texas, and Kansas are tied atop the Big 12 standings, at least in the loss column. If Texas were to win out, its head-to-head wins over each of the Kansas schools would give it the #1 seed for the conference tournament. I bring this up because this year's tourney is in Kansas City, which means both Kansas schools will have the bulk of the crowd support in each of their tournament games. If Texas were to claim the #1 seed, it would draw A&M, Baylor, or Oklahoma in its semifinal game (assuming high seeds advance through the early games). That would leave Kansas and Kansas State to battle with one another in the other semifinal. It's not a huge deal, but it's something I'm keeping an eye on.

--PB--

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Solid as usual PB

Earning the number 1 seed in the Big 12 tourney is something I haven't even thought about, just finishing in the top four. You're right though, beating KSU in the little apple would be huge for the tie-breaker but I'm not holding my breath.

If we can win 2 out of 3 and hold home court I would be freaking out of my mind delirious with this team.

As long as out matchups stay favorable and our starters can rest (as much as possible) I think we have a tremendous shot at the elite 8.

Now, to work on those free throws...

by UT2001 on Feb 17, 2008 6:40 PM CST 0 recs

#2 Duke loses at Wake Forest

by goingforthecorner on Feb 17, 2008 9:18 PM CST 0 recs

and 5 Duke players foul out

What a mind blower.

"I asked Darrell Royal, why he didn't recruit me and he said: "Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren't any good." W Garrison Oklahoma State

by 512 on Feb 18, 2008 3:15 PM CST up 0 recs

Christian Michael...

...has committed to A&M. He was the #2 running back in the state for 09 and for a long time considered a lock for Texas. There's nothing saying he won't change his mind, but I thought it was worth noting.

'Til Gabriel blows his horn...

by mattyj on Feb 17, 2008 10:42 PM CST 0 recs

Doesn't the saying go...

Never trust someone with two first names.

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

by jc25 on Feb 18, 2008 9:27 AM CST up 0 recs

Which regional?

If you are willing to accept a #2 (or #3) seed, then your overriding concern should be which #1 do you have the best chance of beating. And from what I've seen, Memphis is probably not that. We do know we can beat Kansas and we match up well against Duke, but the team I'd rather face is Tennessee. Who knows who'll end up as the actual top seeds, but it's highly likely Memphis will be there and I'd rather not see them until the final four. (And I would prefer not to have to go through Little Rock to get to Houston.)

by Caradoc on Feb 17, 2008 11:01 PM CST 0 recs

#1 Faces #2

In the elite eight if Im not mistaken.

Call me pessimistic after last year, but my main concern would be getting the bracket which makes it most likely we will get to the elite 8, and beyond, and not worry about who we have to play until the teams are decided because:

A) You don't know what team will get hot and take out a #1 early, remember there has never been a final four of all #1 seeds, and I think only like 3 times ever have (3) #1 seeds made it to the final four. My point being, its very probable that one or more #1 seeds will lose before the final 4. I think it more prudent to worry about that game if/when it comes, especially if we land a 2 seed.

B) Playing closer to home gives us our best intangible chance. Theres the home crowd to consider, but perhaps even moreso is the travel involved. Either way, playing closer to home gives us our best shot.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Feb 18, 2008 8:18 AM CST up 0 recs

Agree 100%

You're gonna have to beat great teams no matter what. I think the potential home crowd advantage (which can be significant) overrides any "I'd rather have to beat _ than _ concerns."

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Feb 18, 2008 8:34 AM CST up 0 recs

If I may..

I'm not willing to settle for Elite Eight. If so, I'd be talking about which #2 or #3 team we would want to play.

As to A) a good many of those #1s that didn't make it to the Final Four were knocked out in the Elite Eight by a #2 or #3, which would be us. I'd say it's wishful thinking to plan on a #8 or #9 taking care of Memphis for us. Hardly prudent.

And B) no doubt that a home crowd will help. But at a tournament regional, the team should already be inspired and the refs should be good enough not to be influenced. And to get there, we have to go through Little Rock, where we are not exactly loved. As to travel, we would have at least four days and once you are at the airport, travel time to all big cities is about the same. Finally, a game in Houston means added distractions for team members from there. That said, I'd love the chance to attend the game. But I don't think its the team's best chance to win.

by Caradoc on Feb 18, 2008 10:34 AM CST up 0 recs

Well...

I didnt say Memphis would lose at the round of 32. Point is I dont know if they will or not, they could exit at the sweet 16, they could even be the first ever to lose at 64.

Is talking about who you would rather face in the Finals getting too far ahead? Should we concern ourself with the other 2 brackets that will give an eventual final opponent and all of their potential matchups to give us the final opponent we are most likely to beat?

What about in the final 4, should we worry about what #1 through #6 seeds are in the adjacent regional?

Elite eight then maybe, worry about the #1, the #8, #9, #4, #5 that we may face?

Sweet 16? Concern with what #3 or #17 we draw?

I guess everyone has a line to draw as to where is too far ahead thinking. Thats all I meant to illustrate. Personally, Ill worry about the individual matchups after selection Sunday.

As to playing closer to home, I wont change your mind if you think that being closer to your home fanbase doesnt help, but I think I could safely say that the majority of sport faring fans would disagree with you. Traveling less, and having more home fans is usually considered a good thing, and will give us our best chance to win.

So I contend to continue to hope for the Houston Regional, no matter what our seed.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Feb 18, 2008 11:31 AM CST up 0 recs