Top Seeded Longhorns Advance to Big XII Finals

by awiggo on Mar 15, 2008 3:26 PM CDT in Basketball Comment 37 comments

For the fifth time under Coach Rick Barnes, the Texas Longhorns will play for the Big XII tournament championship. Texas has never won the title but will get another shot on Sunday at 2 pm on ESPN against either Kansas or Texas A&M.

Texas easily dispatched of Oklahoma, 77-49, behind strong first half performances from DJ Augustin and Damion James, red hot shooting from AJ Abrams throughout, and dominating defense in the second half.

After a quick 7-0 run by OU tied the game at 36, Texas turned up the intensity on both ends. Back to back threes by Abrams put the Longhorns up six, Justin Mason added another three to give Texas a nine point advance, and the Longhorns never looked back.

The Longhorns also got strong performances from Alexis Wangmene and Dexter Pittman off the bench. Both were critical to today's success as Gary Johnson was forced to sit out with an ankle injury. It is unclear if Johnson will be able to play in the finals. With the Longhorns in great shape heading into next week's NCAA tournament, I will not be surprised if Gary sits again.

The best part of today's performance was watching Abrams find his stroke. AJ finished with a game high 24 points on 7-of-12 from behind the arc. When he gets hot, this team can really roll and that is exactly what happened in the second half.

This was a very strong performance by a dangerous, balanced, and well-coached team. None of the pundits think Texas can be a #1 seed and I can't seem to understand why. Texas has three of the best wins in the country, are currently #5 in the RPI, played an incredibly difficult non-conference schedule, went 13-3 in the second rated conference in the country, and just reached the tournament finals. If Texas wins tomorrow and is shipped to the West Regional as a #2 with UCLA as a #1 or to the Midwest Regional as a #2 with Tennesse as a #1, I'm going to be extrememly pissed. If the Longhorns win tomorrow, they will have the best overall resume in the country and deserve a #1 or at least to stay in the Houston Regional.

--AW--

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Right there with you...

...I have to think Texas is being punished for their "bad losses" against Tech/Missouri more than getting credit for their "good wins" against KU/UCLA/Tennessee. And that really isn't fair considering Missouri lost key members of their team to a bar brawl soon after dispatching us.

Texas has put together a ridiculous resume, and we don't seem to be getting any consideration as a #1 seed. Barnes would NEVER admit it is bothering him, but I think it's part of the reason we ran up the score today.

by txtwstr7 on Mar 15, 2008 3:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it's the...

two losses in a row to MSU and then Wisconsin at home that really hurt...#1 seeds just don't lose two in a row. We have five losses, the committee seems to wants 3 losses or less.

But isn't this conversation moot if the committee decides the seeding before our conf. title game has ended anyway? I think our fate may have already been decided.

Regardless, give us #2 in the South and I'll be happy as I consider that just as good as a #1 anywhere else.

Be nobody but yourself in a world that desperately wants you to be like everybody else.

by 54b on Mar 15, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's go over this again

The committee will assign the #2 seeds to regions in order with the overall #5 team getting first choice. So we need to hope we are the #5 or else that we are the #6 behind a team that would not prefer Houston. All very possible if we win tomorrow.

by Caradoc on Mar 15, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is not entirely it

They also look at what is called S-curve seeding. Meaning the top #1 would draw the weakest #2. If you rank the top eight teams, all the #1s and all the #2s, then it is 1&8, 2&7, 3&6, and 4&5. Is Memphis the overall #1 right now? Maybe, maybe not. If Carolina wins tomorrow, are the Tar Heels the overall #1? Maybe. How about Tennessee with the top rated RPI. If the Vols win today and tomorrow, they could be the overall #1.

But again, geography also comes into play. They will likely put Texas and Kansas anywhere but East and keep Georgetown in the East or Midwest if they are #2. If Duke wins, then the Duke/UNC loser is probably a #2 in the Midwest or South.

That probably doesn't help.

--AW--

by awiggo on Mar 15, 2008 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

KTXA and ESPN2 screwed me over.

I wasn't going to get to watch the game live so I set up the Tivo to record the game on ESPN2HD. I get home, start the game and its been blacked out on ESPN2 because it aired on KTXA 21, but not in HD. So I missed the whole game and I am now having to watch Aggs vs Kan in smudgy SD.

by AgentBurntOrange on Mar 15, 2008 3:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mine did that too.

Its just no the same if its not in HD

by blazzinken on Mar 15, 2008 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

#2 in the Midwest is fine by me

I would be delighted if we ended up the #2 seed in the same region with Tennessee. I think if we played the Vols 10 times, we'd beat them 9 times, maybe 10. They win games mostly because they get lots of steals. When they don't get steals, their half-court defense is mediocre, allowing lots of open shots. We have Augustin and they don't, which would allow us to control the tempo. And we're the least-turnover-prone team in the country. Ken Pomeroy's research has shown that the offense has much more control than the defense over whether steals get made. So when a team that takes great care of the ball faces a team that's really good at stealing it, the team that takes care of the ball is likely to come out on top.

I just don't see Tennessee being able to beat us, anywhere, ever. If we end up facing a #1 seed for a trip to the Final Four, they're definitely the one I want to be facing.

by JudenSmithFan on Mar 15, 2008 4:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

For what it's worth

The head of the committee just said in an interview on CBS that they've pretty much finalized the four #1 seeds. I think the exact quote was they're "really close" to being finished with that aspect of the bracket.

by JudenSmithFan on Mar 15, 2008 4:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Go Stanford Trees

UCLA had to be lucky to beat them last time. A Stanford win might throw some sand in the Vaseline for the committee.

by Xerxes on Mar 15, 2008 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh-oh

Mario Chalmers tweaks an ankle...won't be said if he rides the pine tommorrow.

Be nobody but yourself in a world that desperately wants you to be like everybody else.

by 54b on Mar 15, 2008 4:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think someone mentioned this after the game...

but I heard Rick Barnes talking on sports radio 610 in Houston. He was saying that he went back and looked at tapes earlier in the season and noticed that they were playing lots of guys. He said he is going to make an effort to play lots of guys depending on the situation. I just thought it was interesting because someone had mentioned the amount of playing time that Alexis got.

by vyrexall on Mar 15, 2008 4:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Most awesome stats

Did you catch that comment about Texas having 9 players on the Big 12 all academic teams? And that we have 11 guys with GPAs of 3.0 or better?

by Caradoc on Mar 15, 2008 4:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Man

I'm pretty bummed now, I took my daughter to the St Patty's Day parade today and missed the game. Then I forgot to clean up my DVR and the game didnt record. Glad to see that we blew out OU though!

I'm like bambi's mom, I take care of you guys!

by kirk1005 on Mar 15, 2008 4:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

DUKE LOSES TO CLEMSON

Houston Rockets winning streak currently at: 21 games

by goingforthecorner on Mar 15, 2008 5:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

A&M is giving KU a tough fight.

A&M is tired, but they have been hitting their shots.

KU finally has a 72-66 lead with 1:34, but has had hell closing it out. And have had to play hard the whole way.

by whills on Mar 15, 2008 5:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Now, 73-71 with 54.9 left.

A trey, missed FT by KU, and then two FTs by Kirk and this looks like a Hollywood horror flick for KU; the dead won't stay dead. Suck some brains.

by whills on Mar 15, 2008 5:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

KU 77, A&M 71.

Manana.

by whills on Mar 15, 2008 5:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

KU and Texas once again

In the words of Yogi Berra "Looks like deja vu all over again."

by poteet76 on Mar 15, 2008 5:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Dare I say

teams might fear having to match up with us in the NCAA? With Atchley who can shoot from outside, James gobbling rebounds, a point guard who can pop up anywhere, a shooting guard who can light it up at any time, and a bench that's actually producing, I think we're looking pretty damn dangerous.

by jjv78 on Mar 15, 2008 5:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Semi-final Win

I only got to listen to the radio, but it sounded like we played well.

If AJ is going off, can any team beat us? Today was a great example of what AJ adds to our tema. I hope that this fixes the problem he has been having lately. To really make a run in the tourney, AJ needs to continue this and be more consistant. His 3 steals were nice also.

Looking at the box score, our assists really jumps out. What a beautiful distribution down the lines. To me, that is a sign of us really playing well as a team.

Did Mason handle the ball at point much today? That has seemed to help.

Hook 'em! Beat Kansas.

by jimmer on Mar 15, 2008 6:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

OU stuck to the paint on D

They wanted to take away DJ being able to drive so AJ was open more than he has been in the last 5 or so games. Every time the OU D collapsed inside on DJ's penetration, he would just dish it out to AJ or dump it off to someone else on the weak side wing/corner.

I didn't watch a whole lot of the second half due to company being over, but Mason did a little point distribution. Not near as much as he was doing during the 8-game win streak when Barnes runs the DJ/AJ corner/wing screen offense.

by UTAth on Mar 15, 2008 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see

Well I guess abandoning AJ on defense is not the correct strategy to beat the Horns. I just hope his high scoring afternoon jump starts him a little. Though he has been a focus of the opponents defense, he has missed some wide open looks that he normally makes in the last couple games.

by jimmer on Mar 15, 2008 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

He missed a few early shots today (even one or two when he was open), but it looks like his mini-slump is over to me. He talked with two of the ESPN+ announcers after the game and he sounded confident his shot was back.

by UTAth on Mar 15, 2008 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

When DJ talked with the announcers, they asked him if he was making a conscious effort to get AJ the ball to help him get out of his slump. DJ said that's exactly what he was attempting to do. I think it just worked out well today because OU didn't defend AJ correctly.

KU definitely won't make that mistake.

by UTAth on Mar 15, 2008 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably true

This second match-up with KU should be good.

I wonder if Barnes will put AJ on Rush again. AJ did a solid job the first game, but Rush lit it up today against A&M and will be looking to score.

by jimmer on Mar 15, 2008 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tennessee loses to Arkansas

I wonder if this will change where we go at all. If Tenn was a 3rd or 4th #1 seed before that game, could they slip to a #2 seed? That would allow Kansas to move to the 4th #1 and give us a better shot at the South regional as a #2 wouldn't it?

Speculation is fun isn't it?

by UTAth on Mar 15, 2008 7:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It could shake things up

If Texas wins, would the committee reward the regular season and conference tourney champs in the Big XII with the #1 seed in Houston? They should and then, Memphis could easily be shipped to Detroit.

Or if Kansas were to win, would the committe reward the Jayhawks with a #1 seed in Detroit and leave Memphis in Houston along with the Longhrons? They should.

Who knows what they will do, though.

21 1/2 hours till Selection Sunday.

--AW--

by awiggo on Mar 15, 2008 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm still very curious...

...if tomorrow's game will have any impact on the selection committee's decision. The media seems split on whether it effects the seedings. Some say since the game is on Selection Sunday that the committee won't take it into account. Others seem to think the game is early enough in the day that they still consider the outcome. Anyone know the real answer? Or is it just one of those things nobody knows for sure?

by UTAth on Mar 15, 2008 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm...

so then either way, win or lose tomorrow, we could end up in the South regional regardless. Awesome if indeed true.

Houston Rockets winning streak currently at: 21 games

by goingforthecorner on Mar 15, 2008 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am of course guessing

It will be a travesty if neither Kansas nor Texas end up being a #1 seed. The RPI ratings have the Big XII as the second or third best conference. For a team to win both the regular season and the conference tourney and still not get a #1 seems unimaginable to me.

I am a UT homer but the Horns will have a bigger beef, given their non-conference wins, if they win and end up on the #2 line.

Kansas didn't play a daunting non-conference schedule but they did go undefeated and only have losses at Texas, at Ok State, and at Kansas State.

The Big XII deserves a #1 seed. Period.

--AW--

by awiggo on Mar 15, 2008 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can you explain

why you believe if we get a #1 seed that "Memphis could easily be shipped to Detroit"?

Is this just about rewarding us or is it about the location? Memphis is a little closer to Houston than Detroit, but the difference obviously doesn't even compare to the difference between Austin to Houston and Austin to Detroit. So then the more reasonable choice for the committee would be putting UT in Houston since the overall distance of campus to regional would be less for both teams combined with this scenario.

Houston Rockets winning streak currently at: 21 games

by goingforthecorner on Mar 15, 2008 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More hope than believe

Memphis has been penciled in as the #1 in Houston since basically the beginning of the season. It probably won't change regardless of who wins the Big XII tourney.

Should Texas win, I could see the committee having a conversation about geography exactly as you've laid out. If they wanted to reward both teams then Texas could get to go to Houston and Memphis could be placed in Detroit.

There is also another school of thought: the winner of the Big XII gets the #1 in Detroit and the loser gets the #2 in South. This is also possible. One problem I see is, who is the #2 in the west? If G'town stays in the East, then you'd have Duke, Tennessee, Stanford, and Wisconsin as potential #2's for the two remaining slots in the Midwest and West. Stanford couldn't be in the West along with UCLA, so someone is going to be shipped a long way despite being rewarded with a #2.

--AW--

by awiggo on Mar 15, 2008 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't agree more

It's absurd that the winner of Texas/Kansas wouldn't get a 1, particularly so if the Horns win. The loss to Wiscy was hideous, to be sure, but looks much better in retrospect and will look better still if they win the Big 10 tourney.

I can't imagine that a reasonable process would not consider, very carfully, the result of tomorrow's game when there is no clear 4th seed.

marshalld

by duras on Mar 15, 2008 8:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

either A&M is really starting to play well

or Kansas isn't as good as I think they are.

Maybe a little of both?

A&M's defense is improving, I'm hopeful we can make some noise in the Dance.
I saw a projection of us as a #8 seed, which I don't want. I think #8 vs. #9 is the worst matchup in the Dance, simply b/c they are usually the most evenly matched teams, and therefore you have more upsets in that game. I'd rather be a #10 than an #8.

The loss of Chalmers should help texas, but you'll still have to deal with playing a virtual home game for Kansas.
I don't think Kansas is playing as well as they are capable of (after watching them against A&M and Nebraska).
Even though it wouldn't be considered an upset b/c texas is the 1 seed (since the game is in KC), I think it would be an upset for texas to beat Kansas, and I think things set up nicely for texas tomorrow.

by Beergut on Mar 16, 2008 12:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs