Texas Pre-Preseason No. 1... if Augustin stays

by ma tt on Apr 9, 2008 5:06 PM CDT

Check out Andy Katz's EARLY predictions:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3337602

from ESPN:

Texas

Why? D.J. Augustin said that he's going to take his time on his decision of whether to declare for the NBA draft. Until he makes up his mind, Texas has to be the favorite to win it all. The Longhorns reached the Elite Eight this season. They beat UCLA and Kansas during the season -- two teams that reached the Final Four, including the national champ. If Augustin returns, the Longhorns will have the entire core of their team back for another run. The tandem of Augustin and A.J. Abrams in the backcourt, the developing Damion James and the likelihood that Gary Johnson will continue to shine makes Rick Barnes' club a formidable force. If Augustin comes back, the Big 12 has a legitimate shot to have back-to-back champs.
Why not? If Augustin does declare, the Longhorns won't be the favorite, but they likely wouldn't drop out of the Top 25, either. Texas under Barnes has established itself as a reliable power.

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What Katz didn't mention...

... is that we'll have an actual front court to lean on against the big, scary, athletic teams like Memphis. THAT is what makes us the most dangerous, IMO. DJ is icing on the cake.

Go boom, mothers. Please, just go boom.

by Horn Brain on Apr 9, 2008 5:10 PM CDT reply actions

makes sense

They were obviously top 5 this season, and with the exception of UNC, the others are all losing a lot. None of the incoming freshmen really has the absolute stud profile either.

I watched this season kinda assuming Augustin would be gone. With every day that passes though, it seems like he might actually stay. Given the strength of this year's draft versus next, he might even make more money staying.

by tenuki on Apr 9, 2008 5:58 PM CDT reply actions

if Augustin stays, Texas will dominate

Kansas will be weaker next season, no Rush, no Kaun, no Robinson, no Arthur, no Jackson (maybe), and possibly no Chalmers. That pretty much leaves the big 12 free for the taking. A&M loses a couple guys. Beasleys gone and so on.
UCLA will be weaker, Memphis weaker.
And look at the depth: Pittman, Chapman, Wangmene, Johnson, Abrams, Mason, James, Atchley, (if he stays) Augustin. Those guys are all proven contributors. In addition, Matt Hill will probably be back, along with Balbay at PG, and Brown the new recruit.
The potential is huge.

by owenh on Apr 9, 2008 10:40 PM CDT reply actions

Look out for Oklahoma though

I believe Blake Griffin is coming back and they're getting another huge recruit next year.

by goingforthecorner on Apr 9, 2008 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions

As if we never do.

You'd be looking at one of the best, if not the very best, team in Texas basketball history and all you gotta say is look out for fucking oklahoma?

Why don't they just watch the fuck out for us?

by whills on Apr 9, 2008 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions

LMFAO

That's what I'm talkin' about, whills! Watch the fuck out, motherfuckers!

BOOM!

Go boom, mothers. Please, just go boom.

by Horn Brain on Apr 10, 2008 12:15 AM CDT up reply actions

ya theres no way OU is better

even if we lose augustin. They were slow and one dimensional. They have been getting a lot of buzz recently, but I dont think they're that great. The griffins were containable. Crocker and Austin johnson were average to bad.

by owenh on Apr 10, 2008 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Just couldn't help myself.

Sometimes you gotta put the boots on and stomp the hills.

No offense to gfc, just a great set-up.

More BOOM!.

by whills on Apr 10, 2008 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Gosh....

....Texas would have 5 returning starters from an Elite-8 team, along with a Matt Hill back from injury and a slimmer better conditioned Pittman and Katz wants to call us a pre-season #1??!!

Boy, Ol'Katz really went out on the limb on this one, didn't he?

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Apr 10, 2008 1:12 PM CDT reply actions

LEAVE ANDY KATZ ALONE!!!!

Seriously, why do you have to hate on the guy for PRAISING Texas? I happen to think Andy Katz is a great CBB writer and one the actual knowledgeable talking heads they have about the sport.

What did you want him to do, go against the grain and darkhorse pick, say, OU?

By the way, OU's big rig recruit is Willie Warren, from North Crowley. They made it to the 5A championships against my alma mater, Dulles, who probably doesn't have a single D-1 recruit on the team. They were playing each other pretty evenly until the last 5 minutes, when Warren decided he wanted to take over and dominate. Needless to say, North Crowley won the game.

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

by jc25 on Apr 10, 2008 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

No one....

.....was "hating" on Andy Katz. You are waaaayyyy overly tender. I was just pointing out that Katz was pointing out the obvious. When Florida returned all 5 starters and the first man off the bench from their Nat'l Championship team, it didn't take a genius to point out Florida had a good chance at a repeat.

In this case, it didn't take a rocket scientist to say Texas might win another 3 games next season if their PG passes on the NBA.

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Apr 11, 2008 12:43 AM CDT up reply actions