Texas Rolls Minnesota With Strong Team Effort
by Peter Bean on Mar 19, 2009 8:39 PM CDT
in Basketball
53 comments
Abrams, Ward, Pittman, James... The 'Horns came to play tonight and overcame a bumpy start to beat Minnesota 76-62 in the opening round of the East Regional. The 'Horns were far from perfect, but their key players did enough things very well to get comfortably past the Golden Gophers.
Next up: winner of Duke-Binghamton, set to tip here shortly. This is your victory celebration and late games open thread.
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Dex liked the taste of gopher meat
3/19/2009 - Dogus Balbay Made a Three-Pointer. Never Forget.
by burrito on Mar 19, 2009 8:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
my favorite gif
3/19/2009 - Dogus Balbay Made a Three-Pointer. Never Forget.
by burrito on Mar 19, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought today was a great performance
I thought the team looked very well prepared overall. Yes, we got behind early but we did not panic and stayed with the game plan. We had a tremendous rebounding advantage, which may give the Dookies fits, and continued to drive the basketball in the second half even when Abrams was hot and making everything he shot. Look how early we got Minnesota in the bonus and double bonus. There were some errant shots here and there but we were able to make the second half a breeze and Minnesota had a little run. We ended the first half well and began the second half well, which is a great sign of poise.
I also think this is made more impressive by the other 7-10 match-ups, thus far, going to the 10th seed.
Hook ’em
"Thanks for looking out for my pelvis!"
by Thedude356 on Mar 19, 2009 8:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Minnesota is a horrible horrible team
They play D like Del Valle kids go to college
Hope we can keep up the offensive effort against Duke
by greenspointexas on Mar 19, 2009 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What I found encouraging...
was that we got a lead over an inferior opponent and then kept it. How many times this year did we either allow inferior opponents to hang around (e.g. Texas State) or blow a lead to an inferior opponent and lose (e.g. Arkansas). We have a nasty habit of playing right to the level of our competition, whether it be a good team or a bad team. We’re such a good rebounding team (Dex and James as well as Chap) with a shooter that can easily score ~30 pts (hopefully efficiently); to me this equals NCAA tourney gold. I think Duke will be concerned about us (unless Binghamton does the unthinkable) and if we come through with an effort like today, it will be, at the very least, a close game.
"Thanks for looking out for my pelvis!"
by Thedude356 on Mar 19, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I loved the fact
that we actually outscored an opponent at the end of the first half. I was so tired of seeing us give up half of a lead in the last minute before intermission.
by Longhorn in Canada on Mar 19, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the back of AJ Abrams.....
is the only way were are going to beat Duke.
Great job by the Horns tonight.
Abrams definately the best player on the team. Although I think a smarter coach like Coach K will actually D up on Abrams, forcing us to go through Chapman and Johnson for our points.
The only thing that really killed me about this game were the turnovers by Balbay on lazy lazy lazy passes. Also, Balbay needs to shoot more to keep the D somewhat honest…. Hook em
by greenspointexas on Mar 19, 2009 8:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Tubby Smith is a very smart coach
His problem was that he had no one who could guard Dex, so he went zone, probably figuring leaving Abrams was a safer gamble than just allowing Dex to have his way inside. Abrams happened to have a hot stretch, and it backfired. Duke will obviously have more talent to contend with both Abrams and Pittman. Sadly, what Texas will have to worry about against Duke in front of the home crowd is whistle-happy refs who may take Pittman out of the equation.
by bassale47 on Mar 19, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a good synopsis of the game
Taking nothing away from Texas who I thought played pretty well, Minnesota is average and the matchups just didn’t favor them. I also thought they were overseeded (should have been a 12).
Texas will pose matchup problems for Duke as well, but they’ll be a lot more talent on the court.
by DoubleB on Mar 19, 2009 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And ironically
the zone still didn’t exactly work
by goingforthecorner on Mar 19, 2009 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Balbay needs to shoot more"
Maybe next season after he works on his shot. Now is not exactly a good time to start jacking up shots you normally don’t. We all would like for him to be able to shoot, but right now he can’t do so consistently so we have to work with what we have.
by TheElusiveShadow on Mar 19, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey now dont discourage him...he made a long 3 today!!
COACH BOOM BABY!!
by hookemkp on Mar 20, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
From the game thread...
Ward already in!!!???
hahah we are done…. this team already cant shoot… its like putting lipstick on a corpse
for gods sake did anyone see james watch that dude coast right by him for a layup in transition!!????
wow horns, wow
by greenspointexas on Mar 19, 2009 6:20 PM CDT reply reply actions actions 0 recs
-rBr-
by run Bevo run on Mar 20, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
PB
Is there a link to the BON Bracket page? The only time I ever accessed it I linked from here…… Can we maybe leave a floating link? Cyber smack me if this is a stupid question and there is some easy way right in front of me!
Hook’em
"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese
P.S. 45-35
by SwimTexas on Mar 19, 2009 8:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?entryID=258800&groupID=20180&selGrp=20180
by Kasper-pA- on Mar 19, 2009 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gracias. nt whills
"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese
P.S. 45-35
by SwimTexas on Mar 20, 2009 2:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crowd vs. Duke
How much can we count on the UNC fans to try and neutralize Duke’s advantage on Saturday?
by JohnsonUT on Mar 19, 2009 9:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
majority of crowd
will be cheering for Texas. Same thing happened a few years ago.
by 7Swords of Salat on Mar 19, 2009 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can thank me later
As I said earlier, every time I posted something earlier today, the game would change completely as I was typing. So, I only posted once Texas was down by 10 early. Sure enough, we turned it around. I don’t want to take all the credit, so i will say this: regardless of how many points AJ got, my MVP is Big Bad Dex. When it was 15-5 or so, who had all 5 of UT’s points? You got it. If Dex doesn’t show up early, we could have been so far down that it could have changed the outcome. Dex seemed to be saying “OK, while we wait for the rest of my team to show up, I’ll just show you what I can do.”
by Longhorn in Canada on Mar 19, 2009 9:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
One more point
While everybody here already knew how good Todd Wright is, Dex is going to make him famous.
by Longhorn in Canada on Mar 19, 2009 9:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
@ Duke
We don’t even have a lacrosse team!
"Hey, a White guy! They're funny."
by bfaut86 on Mar 19, 2009 9:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Changing hats for a moment
It’s rare that I have an opportunity on the board to take my (grad school but first love since childhood) UT hat off and put on my (undergrad) Johns Hopkins hat, but I can only hope that Texas can crush Duke’s tourney hopes as easily as my Blue Jays have crushed the Blue Devils’ lax tourney dreams three of the last four years.
Oh, and I loathe Duke. Absolutely, completely, totally loathe Duke. If Duke played OU in the finals, I’d root for OU in a heartbeat. Never have I come across an alumni base so smug, self-righteous and with a greater sense of entitlement as Duke’s.
by Hopkins Horn on Mar 19, 2009 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wait where did you go to undergrad?
Bob Vance, Vance refrigeration
by UT2001 on Mar 19, 2009 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Johns Hopkins...
…but since it’s D-III in everything save lax, I was able to keep rooting for Texas (which I had since I was five, without any family ties to the school) with no conflict of interest. It’s pretty inconceivable that Texas will ever play JHU in any sport.
by Hopkins Horn on Mar 19, 2009 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OU game
12-11 halfway through the first half?!
"Hey, a White guy! They're funny."
by bfaut86 on Mar 19, 2009 9:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's worse
than the Cal – Maryland game. I thought the coaches in that one had forgotten to tell the players that the object of the game was to put the ball in the basket.
We ain't Bogus. We got Dogus. Yes, I know it doesn't rhyme.
by Longhorn in Canada on Mar 19, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now basically doubled up at halftime
40-21, OU.
bfaut86 says: Drink more and more often.
by bfaut86 on Mar 19, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now OU blowout by 20
but the UCLA game is close at least
Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Texas, 1986
by bfaut86 on Mar 19, 2009 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is off-topic, but
I heard from OB that Reggie Wilson took an unofficial visit today to Austin. Does anyone have any news on how this went?
Garrett Gilbert: 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
by jordansb on Mar 19, 2009 9:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't know but Texas beat Minnesota today to advance to the 2nd round
by goingforthecorner on Mar 19, 2009 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, thanks.
Garrett Gilbert: 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
by jordansb on Mar 19, 2009 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually
Inside Texas says not only did he visit, but he brought his whole family with him. They also say he has dropped OU from his top 3. So now it is between us and TCU.
Today was a good day.
Bring on the Dukies!
"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese
P.S. 45-35
by SwimTexas on Mar 20, 2009 3:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jordan - I am sure if he did
Ghost will have some news about it soon. Sorry some folks can’t respond to a simple question.
"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese
P.S. 45-35
by SwimTexas on Mar 20, 2009 2:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duke takes about 20 threes a game
so it’s obvious what’s going to be key here. Not only with Duke’s ability or inability to stop Dexy, but we have to hope they have an off-night from three. If they don’t, we’ve got to get threes from Abrams and maybe someone else like James and Atchley to counter.
And as always, try to control the boards and play an efficient offensive game. Missing shots is fine, but turning the ball over, leading to the Duke fast breaks is not fine. Need some activity from Mason, Ward, Balbay, and Johnson. Come on Gary, we need you.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 19, 2009 9:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
A little off point
but nowhere else to put this. Ken McDonald seems to be in good shape to win his first NCAA tourney win. up 17 with just less than 4:30 to go. The Barnes coaching tree rocks.
We ain't Bogus. We got Dogus. Yes, I know it doesn't rhyme.
by Longhorn in Canada on Mar 19, 2009 11:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Man how did I not pick W. Kentucky
that was the easiest 12 vs 5 matchup
by goingforthecorner on Mar 19, 2009 11:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
WKU
is making me look good (or not quite so bad) in my bracket picks.
We ain't Bogus. We got Dogus. Yes, I know it doesn't rhyme.
by Longhorn in Canada on Mar 19, 2009 11:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I should have learned by now
As soon as I post something, the opposite happens
We ain't Bogus. We got Dogus. Yes, I know it doesn't rhyme.
by Longhorn in Canada on Mar 19, 2009 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A hypothetical win over Duke
what would this win mean in the grand scheme of things? Huge recruiting boost (like we really need one).
Would it be the biggest win in Texas history? Biggest win in Barnes’ career? Probably a no for both, since we’ve been to the Final Four. BUT, I think it would be the most gratifying win ever, given the low expectations of this season’s team.
I’m already pleased and satisfied with the season regardless of what happens on Saturday. This was my goal once I realized how awful we were offensively without Augustin. Just make the tournament and advance a round. Mission accomplished. I hope the boys play with a “nothing to lose” attitude either.
Darn, UCLA escapes VCU. Great D by Collison to stop Maynor.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 19, 2009 11:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If we can beat Duke
it can’t hurt, for recruiting or just prestige. While Duke may not be as good as they usually are, they still have the national cred. A win, particularly one that is not expected, can only help us.
We ain't Bogus. We got Dogus. Yes, I know it doesn't rhyme.
by Longhorn in Canada on Mar 19, 2009 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i like that if we beat Duke...
…we’ll face a team (either UCLA or Villa.) which we’ve already beaten!
by Heart of a Muschampion on Mar 20, 2009 12:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
in my 1 and only bracket
on facebook I picked us to make it to the Final Four so we better get past Duke! Ok I’m just kidding kind of. I think we can beat Duke but we probably won’t. This team came into the year with high expectations btw, not low expectations. This team just underperformed by a lot. I mean we lose 1 member from last season’s Elite Eight team and we were in the preseason top 10. Just shows the importance of Augustine to this team. I had high hopes for this team but they’re too inconsistent.
by clra2 on Mar 19, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha in my facebook
I have us winning the whole thing. It’s like a tradition for me. Doesn’t even matter now, because the prizes this year are pretty lame compared to the million dollar prizes on other sites.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 20, 2009 12:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
what beating duke would mean in regards to the season
I started off the year expecting a sweet 16 given the veteran presence on the team. obviously throughout the course of the year, those expectations changed. at some points, I was seriously questioning if we’d get out of the first round. I have to say that if we somehow pull off the upset against duke, I’d see the season as a “push”. I expected we’d be there early on, all but gave up hope late only to see us persevere and make it to where I thought this team was capable of going.
Like someone mentioned above, if we can get past duke, we have a team that we’ve already beaten waiting for us. I’ll take that match-up in a heartbeat.
3/19/2009 - Dogus Balbay Made a Three-Pointer. Never Forget.
by burrito on Mar 20, 2009 12:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
good win
We went from down 10 early on to winning by 14. We just gotta get the coffee on earlier Saturday. We can’t just check out of the game for any period, like we’re known to do, if we’re gonna win. I liked seeing Ward & Abrams step up tonight, & I feel really good about not having to wear out Dexter. No reason to think he won’t be rested up for Duke. If we can put together a complete game Saturday, we’ve got a chance to erase the memory of all the frustration from earlier in the year.
by hungry on Mar 20, 2009 2:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Great start for the Horns
I’ve been going back and forth w/ my bro on email a bit so I’ll just copy and paste some thoughts if ya’ll don’t mind
Bro: Duke looked good yesterday. Don’t think the Horns have much of a shot. We looked awfullly disjointed until AJ came alive in the second half. I think we’re going to get boat raced.
Me: I don’t know dude. I turned to my buddy I was watching with last night w/ 4 mins left in the first half and said “we’re going to win by 15.” Once they withstood the early flurry and settled their own nerves they looked, dare I say it, “good.” I think if the Horns played the same game they did last night they have a shot. If they have the same balance and keep TOs under 10, they could pull off the upset. And man I loves me some Varez Ward.
Pittman – 17
AJ – 26
James – 18
That is a formula for success. It’s like Tubby didn’t watch a single minute of our film this year. If you can blanket AJ and force him to chuck it (which lord knows he will), you can beat Texas.
I have 3 fears:
1) Foul trouble. We are susceptible to the charge and Duke is the best in the country at taking them (a whiney, bitc-y Coack K helps the refs call more charges then actually happen). Damion James and Dexter need to play under control and avoid the cheapies.
2) Coach K. For all his red-faced, ref nut-hanging he’s a gifted game-planner. He will have an effective defensive approach ready. If we settle for jumpers we’ll lose by 15. If we are patient and feed Dex it will be very close.
3) AJ. The blessing that was last night’s shooting performance is also a curse. He’s going to jack it just as many times now vs. Duke after feeling it last night. He needs to hit over 50% of his shots if we are to pull it off. He was great last night and it sure is refreshing but he hasn’t had 2 good games in a row this year that I can remember.
I have a strange, good feeling about the game…just as I said I did vs. Tech in October…
Man it sure is fun to be dancing!
by Horndogger on Mar 20, 2009 10:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Against evenly matched opponents we need AJ to drain long 3's
there is no way around it…let him jack up the shots and pray that he makes them
COACH BOOM BABY!!
by hookemkp on Mar 20, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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