Longhorns Blow Lead, Lose Third Straight
by awiggo on Feb 7, 2009 3:31 PM CST
in Texas Longhorns Basketball
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PrintThe losing streak continues, and the bubble watch begins. #17
Forget the top-20 ranking and forget the early season wins over Villanova and UCLA. This team is really struggling right now with almost no signs of things changing. The Big XII is pretty good this year but is at least behind the Big East and the ACC in terms of national respect. Even the Big 10 is getting more love recently. I don't see the Big XII getting six teams this season, more likely four or five. In order to be in the top four or five, Texas probably needs to get to 9-7 in conference to be assured of an NCAA bid but five more conference wins is going to be really tough.
After a pretty good first half,
The turnovers that plagued the Longhorns to start the game returned, Dexter Pittman picked up a couple of fouls and was relegated to the bench, and the Huskers started to make shots and get to the line.
Give credit to
Issues: rebounding in the second half, failing to attack the rim against smaller defenders, protecting the ball in the first half and in spots in the second, failure to control the tempo and generate offense from good defense, settling for perimeter jumpers, offensive execution in the final possession, etc.
I’m too frustrated/disappointed to write anything else.
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3 THINGS
- We will not make the tourney this year… mark my words…. we will prolly in 2 games the rest of this season
- Ward, Mason, Atchley, and Balbay should never shoot the ball….. EVERRRR. they all suck ass at shooting bigtime!
- Why dont we play Harrison Smith instead of Atchley or Mason or Ward even on offensive possessions… AT LEAST HE CAN SHOOT A JUMPER AND PENETRATE!!!
You all know the above 3 points are true.
O, and we have no leader and put absolutely NO EFFORT in playing, defending, or rebounding. Its like this team knows that its destiny lies in the NIT. It breaks my heart to write this.
Yea right
Dude can shoot better than Mason, Ward, and Atchley.
He can also dribble better than half our team.
He also has a better FG percentage than Mason and Atchley.
He prolly hustles more than both of them too…..
by greenspointexas on Feb 7, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions
Harrison Smith
Has been in the program for three years and hasn’t seen the floor. There are lots of reasons for this.
We are not playing well, can’t shoot, have poor offensive execution, etc but Harrison Smith is not the answer.
--AW--
Smith isn't the answer, no
But putting him on the floor does send a message to the rest of the team. I don’t know how that message would be received, but I’m beginning to think that it needs to be sent.
A stupid system that works exactly like it's supposed to is still a stupid system.
you just eliminated 1/3 of your team from shooting
Ward, Mason, Atchley, and Balbay should never shoot the ball
-rBr-
And it's wrong anyway
The problem with Ward, Mason, Atchley and Balbay isn’t that they can’t shoot, it’s that Barnes has spent so long telling them to give it up that they no longer have any confidence in their shot.
In fact, I don’t even know whether or not Balbay can shoot, since I’ve never actually seen him do it.
A stupid system that works exactly like it's supposed to is still a stupid system.
if Harrison Smith is your answer
you’re probably asking the wrong question.
I am wholeheartedly behind this movement, btw. I think Smith should play 40 minutes a game and be guaranteed 25 shots a game.
i know im being completely irrational right now...
BUT WE NEED SOMETHING/somebody to step it the freak up!!!
Actually, that's a coaching problem to be solved.
That’s why they get the big bucks, and we get bad grammar and caps.
by whills on Feb 7, 2009 7:53 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
OMFG
Moron announcers in the MSU/IU game.
Any sports commentator who says “untracked” when they mean “on track” should be fired on the spot.
A stupid system that works exactly like it's supposed to is still a stupid system.
This is Barnes with AJ abrams... substitue Superman with Big 12
<img src=“”http://www.lolcats.com">
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That was the year Tucker and Aldridge were out
we fell apart and then somehow won @ Oklahoma State and snapped their home streak. Then we lost in the 1st round in the tourney I think.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 4:17 PM CST up reply actions
That was in the first round
Which I guess was fine, since the second-round matchup was against the one-loss Illinois team that made it to the title game and would have completely obliterated us.
A stupid system that works exactly like it's supposed to is still a stupid system.
Give some credit to Nebraska
Doc Sadler’s Huskers should have beat Oklahoma State at home as well. When we embarked on this 5 game stretch after Baylor, I thought the only game we would lose would be this one. I didn’t however see us losing this game in this fashion (blowing a 12 point lead).
The last three they made
Ade Dagunduro made that last shot. He was shooting just 26% from three. That’s just how it’s going for us. I noticed he was being guarded by Johnson there, so that wasn’t a good matchup. James was guarding Brown for KSU when he made his three. Needless to say our perimeter D at the end of games is suspect. Too many open looks.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 4:29 PM CST reply actions
We'll beat teams we shouldn't beat and lose to teams we shouldn't lose to
that’s what happens when you don’t have a good PG. There’s no doubt Barnes is leaving points on the board with some of his decision-making, but he’s notoriously been a decent to mediocre head coach on offense. He’s an excellent defensive coach and an excellent recruiter. I wish we had an “offensive coordinator” as an assistant that could help him out with the X’s and O’s.
It feels like the end of the world, but looking at our last 8 games of the regular season, the only game where I don’t think we have a chance to win is @ Kansas. I think we will go anywhere from 5-3 to 7-1 to finish the season. I just have that feeling.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 4:48 PM CST reply actions
You guys can't catch a break.
All of these games were a couple of plays away from being in your favor. Sure you aren’t playing well, but its not like you are getting run out of the gym. Good teams do find these ways, but look at OU they have had scares as well against similar competition. Sometimes its just not your year.
Don't hate 'cause you can't duplicate.
I wish I could agree
but we’re making these breaks for ourselves.
by the other Andrew on Feb 7, 2009 5:19 PM CST up reply actions
I'm hoping for law of average kicking in
After all these heartbreaking losses, maybe we’ll be able to deliver a few heartbreaking losses for other teams later in the season.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 6:35 PM CST up reply actions
Help me out here.
I admit I don’’t know alot about basketball, but people keep saying our problem this year is we don’t have a (good) point guard. How could a major program like UT not have a good point guard? Isn’t that like a football coach saying, “Oh, I forgot to recruit a quarterback?” Whether it is a failure of recruiting, a problem with team chemistry, or coaching during the game, it seems it falls on Rick Barnes. To be trite, the ball is in his court.
"Only angry people win football games." --DKR
I'll help you out
The best point guard in the nation last year was a Longhorn, DJ Augustin. Remember him? He bolted for the NBA after his sophomore season.
Dogus Balbay was the heir apparent but he didn’t get to play last year as a backup because of an injury. And Balbay hasn’t progressed as rapidly as Barnes and most fans expected.
So, I don’t think it is a failure in recruiting so much as it is a combination of an early departure and an injury.
--AW--
In football,
you normally don’t have to worry about losing your best players after their freshman and sophomore seasons.
Good news is we won’t have that problem for at least the next 4 years with an improving Balbay, Jai Lucas, and Kabongo coming in.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 6:33 PM CST up reply actions
Football case in point this season: LSU.
I also think this team is – and has been – feeling a ton of pressure.
If they played NU or the other teams they’ve lost to in a pick up game, they’d kill ’em.
Right now, the end of the game is the scariest thing in the world to them.
Instead of executing an end-game strategy, they’re just trying to hang on.
That’s no way to play basketball or any other game; it’s a sure recipe to lose.
by whills on Feb 7, 2009 8:01 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Thanks
I don’t know if “remember him?” was supposed to be sarcastic or not, but yes, I remember DJ. Your point about Balbay is a good one. As far as basketball players leaving early goes, that certainly makes the coache’s job harder, but hopefully he is not blind-sided by it at the last minute. I don’t know at what point in the season DJ’s leaving became a likelihood. As leaving early becomes more and more the “norm” for top players, it must somehow be anticipated and prepared for by the coach. And whills, sounds like the team needs a sports psychologist.
"Only angry people win football games." --DKR
im getting rather concerned with our perimeter defense
first clemente laying down 44 points on us and NU sinking from outside. whats going on, barnes?
Few things
Our actual guards are small and undersized. When our D is at our best, we’re playing man to man and everyone is getting help. Our big guys starting with Connor swats everything out of the paint, and we force turnovers with our hands. We’re not really doing much of that anymore.
As we’ve seen lately, our forwards, namely Johnson and James have been forced to guard shooters, which is not the best matchup for either of them. Both have the strength and athleticism (jumping + reach) to guard post-up wings, but are not quick enough to guard three point threats. It has killed us in at least 3 games I can think of – Nebraska, Arkansas, and Kansas State.
Hopefully the forwards we have coming in next year can play some D on the perimeter.
And for our overall defense, having a pathetic offense hurts your defense as well because of turnovers and points we give up in transition. Last year we led the nation in fewest turnovers but still looked awful at times on defense. This year if we had Augustin, we’d be better defensively, even though DJ himself isn’t a good defender.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 6:31 PM CST up reply actions
Its all cause Harrison Smith aint seein no playing time.......
by greenspointexas on Feb 7, 2009 6:33 PM CST up reply actions
ROFL yes
clearly the shutdown defender known has Harrison Smith getting no PT has decimated our perimeter D.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 6:35 PM CST up reply actions
why's that?
neither of those guys was a PG..
by the other Andrew on Feb 7, 2009 8:40 PM CST up reply actions
I was excited when we got Dowell
I knew it would take time for him to blossom, but last time I saw him play he looked really good. Can’t blame him for transferring though.
LOL wow I can't believe Nebraska's coach was crying after the game
good home win, but sorry man, but that Texas team was not who you thought they were.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 10:46 PM CST reply actions
Midnight Madness on ESPN
they are about to go over our highlights and will talk to Joe Lunardi (Bracketologist) specifically about Texas and how this 3rd straight loss affects our seeding. I’m guessing we’re 7-8 seed now.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 11:15 PM CST reply actions
He says we're a falling 7 seed
65% chance of making the tournament.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 7, 2009 11:22 PM CST up reply actions
THIS SUX
Anyone else miss DJ as much as I do?
by LonghorninRaiderland on Feb 8, 2009 8:27 AM CST reply actions
It is what it is
I think that we now see how much DJ meant to the team, and how he made other players better. The fact is that this team, as hard as they play, is a collection of inconsistency. Barnes is not suddenly a bad coach. There are no sudden and miracle fixes. The fix is in the players themselves. Play good D, cut the turnovers, and pass if your doubled up. Those that can not hit a perimeter shot might slash to the basket every now and then.
anyone know a good psychologist?
I think this team needs a good psychologist. They are now at a stage where losing begets losing. They need to stop dreading the end of the game and stop worrying about keeping their lead and those are mental problems. This team has all the talent and ability in the world which is why Texas fans are so depressed right now. It should have been a better year. There’s no reason (including lack of a point guard) that should make this year so dismal.
So what games are left? Probably not going to beat Kansas or OU. Should be able to handle Texas Tech. OK State, Baylor and Colorado are toss ups. It’s unlikely that this team makes the tournament with this record. I’m very sad.
Good comparison
on ESPN last night one of their analysts (a new guy) said we’re a “head-less monster” and that if we had Augustin, we could be national champs because of DJ and our front court. Sigh… what could have been.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 8, 2009 10:51 AM CST reply actions
Boom or bust
When you have player like DJ you play him and the team rides his back. But that means no time to train a replacement when all the PT going to the guy leading the team.
Now that is a more common scenario with the cream of the crop leaving after one or two years for the NBA. No time to train up the replacement before the stars are gone. The team flounders till the replacements gain the experience. You just hope the floundering doesn’t damage their confidence for the following seasons.
One more thought with AJ being the only semi reliable outside threat, what happen next season when hes gone? A season of Zone defense packed inside spaced 3 feet apart?
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