Is Rick Barnes becoming "Coach November"?

by dtc on Feb 4, 2009 11:31 PM CST Comment 13 comments

This is probably pretty knee jerk after watching tonight's game, but I'm gonna write it anyway.

I love Rick, and we all know how much he has done to bring Texas to the college basketball forefront. He puts together stellar recruiting classes, some of the best in Texas basketball history, and his teams do usually play good hard-nosed defense. Plus he's just a likable guy to boot.

However, even as Texas' prestige and recruiting classes get bigger and better every year, I can't help but feel like he is more and more deserving of some criticism. In his entire tenure at Texas he hasn't developed a sound offensive strategy. Way too much of his offense revolves around the superstars being superstars and making plays happen. The only problem is that when for whatever reason the superstar on the team can't make plays, our offense seems to just become a bunch of guys standing around waiting for the superstar to do something amazing. The same is true when there is no true superstar on the team (see this season). When Durant was here, it was the Durant show, and it worked pretty well, but whenever his game was off, the team just went flat. Same is true about Augustine the year without Durant.

I almost feel like Barnes is having the same kind of troubles that Mack Brown was accused of for so many years. He can bring in a ton of talent. He can put together a really solid season (10 win season!, NCAA tourney). But he can't win the big one with his current offensive system unless a once in a lifetime athlete comes through( Vince Young, ???).

I know that this years team isn't spectacular, but it is better than it has played in the last stretch of games. We are better than Kansas St. and we are better than Mizzou. I think we all agree we are under performing. Thankfully for our football team, Mack appears to have grown enough in his approach to coaching that he can finally avoid the under performing stigma. I am sure it is possible for Rick to do it too, but I think it is getting to be about time for him to start. I don't know if it means bringing in new coaches to contribute new ideas, or just a change in philosophy on his part.

To end on a positive note, the next couple of years in Texas basketball appear to be primed for something amazing. We've got a ton of talent coming our way. Maybe it can be the catalyst that Rick needs to take his coaching to the next level.

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Is Rick going out too much with Augie?

I don’t know enough about basketball to know what is wrong with this team, but one would have hoped the problems would have been worked out before conference play. Instead they seem to be getting worse. You raise a valid point that Barnes does not seem to be getting as much out of the highly- regarded recruiting classes as perhaps he should. Given that, it sort of moderates my enthusiasm over “the ton of talent coming our way.” What we may be “primed for” is “amazing” disappointment, as excellent players leave early while others under-perform. As for me, I am ready for baseball!

"Only angry people win football games." --DKR

by OBdoc on Feb 5, 2009 8:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Relax

I love the Longhorns as much as anyone, but it was apparent (at least to me) heading into this season that the basketball team was not going to be very good, and they aren’t. No point guard and no scorer. Can’t win too many games like that. The seasons Atchley and James are having remind me of the season James Thomas had after TJ Ford left. Without a true point guard, the games of the big men suffer. We have no one that can dribble penetrate to create open shots. Oh well there is always next year. I just hope this team can make the tourney. There’s nothing worse than having to watch your team in the NIT.

by Horns82 on Feb 5, 2009 8:36 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

The Horns just aren’t that good this year, and no one should be worried. What you are seeing in the difference guys like DJ, Gibson, and TJ had on the players around them vs now without them. Its difficult to find players that possess their passing skills, scoring skills, and dependable game management. Its natural to have a drop-off every once in a while and what matters is that recruits recognize Barnes’ ability and the program’s national appeal. We have a ton of talent coming in the in the next few years, not to mention a point guard next year (Jai Lucas via transfer) and another one in 2011 or 2012 (Myck Kabongo). A few years from now we’ll look back at this season as a blip in Barnes’ otherwise stellar tenure at Texas.

by BMG on Feb 5, 2009 10:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

imho

there was a problem with recruiting this year – with only Varez Ward coming this season, though i don’t know the reason for a poor recruiting plan.

by justfr1day on Feb 5, 2009 9:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

no open spots

The team had only one open scholarship position, which went to top 100 recruit J’Covan Brown. After Augustin left, Barnes had another open spot, which went very late in the recruiting process to Varez Ward. Unfortunately, Brown was academically ineligible, bumping us down to 12. At that late in the process, Ward isn’t a bad get—he’s got some skills and looks like a young Justin Mason, someone who’ll provide quality minutes and stay for four years.

Currently, we’re in a similar situation; however, Barnes is taking a different approach. Right now, we have 3 open spots next year (Abrams and Atchley graduating, and Brown’s unused scholly). However, we’ve also got Damion James as a possible early entrant. Barnes took a more proactive approach this year and signed 4 players to 3 currently available spots (Bradley, Hamilton, Williams, and Florida transfer Lucas). If James doesn’t leave, there’ll be a logjam that Barnes will have to work around. But honestly, if you can bring in those four players and keep James, that’s a problem you’d like to have.

by jc25 on Feb 5, 2009 9:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

James will leave after this year

My opinion’s that there’s very little chance he stays

--always Texas--

by longtimelonghorn on Feb 5, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's not all coaching

If you’ve been watching all season, you will have noticed that sometimes the effort just isn’t there. Remember how long the starters were benched during the OU game? The other problem that is apparent in the last 5 games is that Barnes never knows who is going to show up. Sometimes Damion is on and sometimes he is not. Sometimes Mason looks like the old Mason and sometimes I just watch him dribble around for 20 seconds of every shot clock. It’s very hard to have a game plan when you never know if your 10 players are going to have a good night or a nonexistent night.

But I’m worried that this season will hurt Texas recruiting for years to come. Maybe some of those early recruits who have already signed will back out. This affects more than just this season.

I also think people need to start thinking realistically. Will this team even make the tournament? There should be no more talk of a 4 seed. We’re talking a 12 if we’re lucky. If you cannot win games at home, you’re not tournament material. Period.

by bballgrl on Feb 5, 2009 10:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

12 seed??

Unless we get a season ending injury to Damion or Abrams, we’ll get in with 20+ wins, and will be well above a 12 seed. Yes the team is not playing well, and isn’t loaded with talent…but they’re also slumping and flat out not shooting well right now. They’ll play better, and at some point the shooting from Abrams will get hot again. Realistically, this team will be as high as a 4 seed come tourney time, as low as a 7 seed. And with no elite teams this year, this year’s tourney is WIDE open and it’s all about which team gets hot in March.

The recruits coming in the next 2 years should get this team back in the elite category.

by silky51 on Feb 5, 2009 10:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's really cyclical more than anything

You’re going to have years like these when your best recruits only stay for a few years, and you’re bogged down with role players, preventing you from getting more fresh blood.

As bad as this year has become, next year could be real special with the infusion of young talent to go with our frontcourt. Plus we’ll have some PGs!

by goingforthecorner on Feb 5, 2009 11:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

agree

maybe we are all just spoiled and have come to think of “rebuilding” seasons as those that end with a 12-1 record and Fiesta bowl championship ; )

this is a TRUE rebuilding season and we don’t need to fret too much. we should all be excited about the next few years to come. big dexy is showing exciting flashes, varez and gary are too. true point guard jai lucas is practicing with the team already so that should really help out for next year as well.

i’m not expecting too much from this team this season, but nice thing about bball is that losses are more forgiving…hell, none of these games will even matter if we make a magical run in the tourney come march! i mean, i don’t think we’re that good and i don’t think we’ll get too far this year but you never knoww…

by hooked on texas on Feb 5, 2009 1:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Some of the lack of chemistry

on this year’s team, can it be partially attributed to the ill-will AJ created when he stepped on DJ’s exit to the NBA? Or just AJ’s incessant hot-cold 3-point jacks? Anyway, I think it is more AJ than Barnes at this point. Second round exit from March Madness and get ready for next year.

"Hey, a White guy! They're funny."

by bfaut86 on Feb 5, 2009 3:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The headline on this is offensive

The “Coach February” moniker was dropped on Mack because of several years without a Big 12 championship. YEARS, not year.

Are you forgetting last season? Failing to remember how many times Rick has taken his team to the Sweet 16 in the last several years? Like more often than not?

Again, if you follow a school over the long haul, there will be good years and bad. Apparently, you’ve been absolutely spoiled by the good. Even the best of coaches cannot produce a winner every time.

Rick has been and is a great coach. A SINGLE year of under-achievement should in no way result in scorn and negativity.

As others above, I blame a lack of chemistry, AJ’s ego, Conner’s inability to develop (which is on him, not the coaches), lack of a point guard because of problems with recruits, etc.

Don’t insult the man because of one bad season. It makes you look foolish, not him.

Watch out, I bite.

by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Feb 8, 2009 10:13 AM CST reply actions 2 recs