Postgame Celebration Thread: Texas Picks Up Huge Road Win At Baylor
by Peter Bean on Jan 27, 2009 10:41 PM CST
in Texas Longhorns Basketball
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PrintLet me get this straight: Damion James goes 6-20 from the field (0-6 downtown), Connor Atchley misses all 6 of his shots (0-3 downtown), Gary Johnson is limited to 13 minutes with foul trouble... and Texas pulled out the road win in Waco?
Believe it, and with the win Texas moves to 15-4 overall, 4-1 in Big 12 play. AW's got the full game review tomorrow, but this is your postgame thread to chat about the win. A few quick notes on Texas' 78-72 final:
- Dogus Balbay, you're making me look good. Actually, you're making yourself look good. And the team... He was invaluable tonight, as it was clear from the get-go that Baylor's guard quickness was going to make it a tough go for AJ Abrams as a point. Balbay assumed command and ran things beautifully -- only a couple turnovers marring what was overall an MVP performance.
- Before this year began, I expected next to nothing from Varez Ward. After a couple games, I expected a little bit of defense, but not much else. But the kid is a playmaker and, critically, a through-and-through competitor. He's a gamer, he loves to mix it up, and he's never afraid. Another excellent bench effort from him tonight, and... wait for it... 6-6 on his free throws. Brilliant.
- After a sloppy first half, Texas did a great job limiting turnovers (10 on the game). Huge credit to Balbay for settling things down.
- Despite both players having a ridiculously tough time tonight, I thought the game-clincher was the Gary Johnson drive and -- to everyone's surprise -- dish to Damion James for the slam and 74-70 lead with a minute to play.
- Kudos to AJ Abrams for having a clutch game after an unsuccessful run at point early in the contest. His second half shots -- and especially that pull up J to seal the deal -- were a joy to watch.
- My only criticism of the 'Horns was the poor shot selection early in the game, but credit to Barnes for getting things on track in the second half. A huge, very impressive win for him and the Longhorns.
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Look at the schdeule for Texas
01/31/09 vs. Kansas State
02/04/09 vs. Missouri
02/07/09 at Nebraska
02/10/09 vs. Oklahoma State
02/14/09 at Colorado
All very winnable games. Texas could be 9-1 heading into College Station. They have a very good chance at winning out. Although I do expect them to drop one game. 14-2 in the big 12 is very possible.
Blazz
I think we win all of those... knock on wood..
I hate predicting W’s. Oddly enough, I think the game at Nebraska might be the closest one we have. The Pokes always give us trouble but only in Stillwater.
Yeah
I agree with everything there, PB.
Doj is awesome!
AJ had a really solid game.
Texas’ new sense of passing which leads to flow in the offense is really helping the ball pounding half court sets. The game was really fast paced and to me the Horns had more endurance than Baylor.
ROAD WIN!!! Hook ’em!
for all the perveived sloppiness and offensive frustration
last year at this point in the season we were 16-4 (played an extra OOC game), 3-2 in Big 12 play. Tonight Texas sits at 15-4, 4-1, undefeated at home and holding a 23 game win streak over the Scott Drews. Not too bad Mr. Barnes!
Bit dissapointed
I was hoping it wasnt going to be that close of a game. I know OU played BU at home, and destroyed them, but this put a fine line between OU and rest of big 12. I think we tie OU for big 12 title, both 14-2. OU is getting closer and closer to slipping up one game
Nice win
They didn’t do everything right, but they sure fought hard, and pulled off the victory.
Balbay: 8 pts, 4 reb, 4, assists, 3/3 FG, 2/4 FT, 1 steal, 1 block, 31 minutes….. and 3 turnovers.
He definitely seemed to have turned a corner in his development tonight.
You're right, PB
How could Horns do so many things WRONG and win on the road over a legit team. I was very impressed with Baylor’s quickness and athleticism. I can live with the Notre Dame and Michigan losses -— the Arkansas game kills me.
Still have no handle on this team: They have a lot of weapons but there is no consistency, and I’m not sure if that’s due to the players or RB’s not knowing who to play and when and trying a little of this and a little of that. When they’re not missing MOST of their shots, a fun team to watch.
Damion, please come back. Next year . . .
Horns In a recession
this does not resemble the team that started the season so highly ranked.This was a hard game to watch because the Horns are so much more capable than what they showed.
It seems that we play down to the level of our competetion.Someone must have told the Bears they had a 20 plus losing streak to us.Kudos to them they played hard and had no quit in them.
Our guards didn’t match up well with Baylor.Dougas did an ok job.Mason was not the stopper he usually is.AJ had to fight larger,more physical players.Ward made some poor plays but it seemed the result of trying too hard.
Bad Stat line Dex 7 min 4 fouls 6 points.
If Atchley had played the whole game like he did the last three minutes we would have run Baylor into the Brazos.
Hill and Chapman gave us some good minutes but both still seem a little tentative.
It hurt when Johnson picked up two quick fouls.He was our only offense other than AJ in the first half.
James had a monster second half and took us to the W.
One note Scot Drew looks ten year older than he di last year.
by TCB Orange Dino on Jan 28, 2009 12:18 AM CST reply actions
Yes.
It seems that we play down to the level of our competition
So true, and one of the things that has frustrated me so much this season.
You're both vastly undervaluing this win
Baylor’s not a pesky second-tier team. They’re a legitimate Top 30 team that had us at home, with a rowdy crowd desperate for a win over Texas urging them on. Johnson barely played and Damion’s shot wasn’t there tonight — that happens to everyone — and the team still won.
Enormous performance, all things considered.
--PB--
PB Is Right, this was a great win for Texas
Very losable game for Texas. OU is not going to lose many games, and you have KU at Allen while OU has KU in Norman.
PB, I wasn't necessarily talking about the Baylor game.
Baylor has a solid team, and they have been nipping at our heels for the last two seasons (I’ll never forget the KD Comeback in the Big 12 tourney). Aside from the Tech blowout, there have been some games this year where I felt UT should have ran the opposing team out of the gym and didn’t (most of which were in December when they were still figuring a lot of things out). I said last night that what RIck Barnes is doing with this team right now is quite special.
I'm starting to come around on Balbay.
We were wretched at times on offense in the first half, but we regrouped nicely in the second. Balbay seemed to be the difference. Ward impressed as well.
I'll never forget ol' what's-his-name.
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