The future of Texas basketball
by owenh on Mar 21, 2009 10:38 PM CDT
21 comments
It's time to close the door on another season of UT basketball. While the team frustrated many of us, the truth is attrition gets you eventually and every program has a "down" year. Thankfully a down year with Rick Barnes at the helm is a wave goodbye in the second round of the NCAA's.
Did Texas underachieve? In hindsight I am not so sure they were as good as we all thought, but overall i'm proud of the season they duct-taped and paperclipped together.
Over the course of the season we saw some inspiring improvements and nauseating steps back. Formerly reliable vets like Atchley and Mason regressed while raw players like Pittman and Ward made definite improvement.
Meanwhile the future of Texas hoops looks pretty nice. Consider the tentative roster for next year:
Center:
Dexter Pittman, Clint Chapman, Matt hill (maybe transfers)
Guard:
Varez Ward, Justin Mason, Dogus Balbay, Jai Lucas (not clear on his eligibility), Avery Bradley
Forward:
Damion James, Shawn Williams, Gary Johnson, Jordan Hamilton
Think about what this lineup gives us. Dominant big man inside (Pittman), veteran guards who can both handle and defend (Balbay, Mason, Ward), some newbies that hopefully can knock down an open 3 (the frosh), monster athlete/rebounders (James, Johnson), and a ton of depth.
All we need is some better PG play, and this team could be Texas' best ever.
There's much to look forward to. Ah the offseason, the mother of optimisim.
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Don't forget about Wangmene
along with the (slight) possibility of getting something out of J’Covan Brown
by goingforthecorner on Mar 21, 2009 10:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I was realling looking forward to Wangmene this season
He showed considerable improvement in the first two games.
Blazz
by blazzinken on Mar 21, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wingman had me all fired up.
In flashes he looked like a Hakeem in training. I really hope a season off doesnt leave him rusty, his skills were just starting to develop and show last year.
by BoddickerIsClutch on Mar 23, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't count on James
I think he could benefit tremendously from another year, but money talks. I think he will test the waters.
Even without him, I think this is an excellent basketball team next year if one of the new PGs (Lucas, Bradley) turns out to have any kind of floor leadership. It’s not that I don’t think Dogus will fall completely off the depth chart (as I understand it, Lucas will not be eligible to play until mid-year anyway), but Rick has said himself that Dogus has not picked up “American” basketball as quickly as he expected and is so reluctant to shoot that it’s hard to keep him on the floor for long stretches because of the pressure that puts on everyone else. The next 8 months may make a world difference though.
by bassale47 on Mar 21, 2009 10:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
as far as point guard
from what I gather (which isnt a whole lot) Bradley and Lucas are both SG’s that can “also play point guard”. I’m not really buying this b/c I’ve heard this story too many times.
I just get the feeling Lucas is more of an “AJ Abrams Part II”. I really dont see him as the answer at PG. But geez do we need some guards who can make a J. Bradley I really cant say much, he’s certainly a dynamic game changer but we’ll have to wait and see how good he is leading the team. Balbay needs work, but has shown us flashes.
by owenh on Mar 21, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jai Lucas
is definitly a true point guard and not a shooting guard. The reason he transfered from Florida is because the already have a p.g. (i.e. Nick Calathes) and he would ride the pine or be forced to move to shooting guard. He is a pass first player, whos primary offense comes from slashing to the basket and a decent jump shot.
by bleed'inorange on Mar 22, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In terms of eligibility
Is he going to be a sophomore or junior next season?
Can he red-shirt?
Blazz
by blazzinken on Mar 22, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lucas
He will not redshirt.
He played a full freshman year and then an exhibition game or maybe one real game his sophomore season. I am not sure if he’ll come in as a sophomore or a junior. I think Texas was appealing for him to not lose a full year of eligibility b/c of one game. I don’t know the outcome.
--AW--
by awiggo on Mar 22, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think if he was enrolled this semester
then he will be eligible to play in January 2010, as he has been a year out and Florida gave him permission to transfer.
by Wells on Mar 22, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i talked to my dad before the season
and he said we would win a title in the next 3 years. one of them is up. time to shine
Ian Johnson gets on one knee.
Sam Bradford gets on both.
by acho81 on Mar 22, 2009 12:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Assuming that James is gone
I would actually assume that Damion James leaves rather than stays. He’ll be a first round pick if he leaves, and if he stays he has added competition next year at the 3 spot (Jordan Hamilton) and at the 4 spot Wangmene and Gary Johnson will get some of his time. I’m not trying to say he wouldn’t get his time (of course he would), but if his season this year proved anything it’s that he’s not capable of being “the man,” and thus I think “the man” for next years team is likely Jordan Hamilton.
We do have what looks to be a very talented team. However, next years team certainly is a question mark as we’re relying on two incoming 5 star recruits to provide the superstar punch. For reference, Mike Williams was a 5 star recruit: they don’t always end up as superstars. Next years team would benefit greatly from at least one from the Balbay/Ward/Mason combo to learn how to shoot the 3 ball, so we can comfortably have more than one of those on the floor at once. On another thought, it’s funny to think that it’s possible for none of those 3 to start next year. Anyway, this is what I would predict without considering injuries.
Starters, beginning of the year:
Lucas
Mason
Hamilton
G. Johnson
Pittman
Starters, end of the year:
Lucas
Bradley
Hamilton
Wangmene
Pittman
Key reserves:
Balbay
Mason
Ward
Gary Johnson
Clint Chapman
Bench:
Harrison Smith
S. Williams
Matt Hill
--always Texas--
by longtimelonghorn on Mar 22, 2009 1:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I like most of what you said, except regarding James draft stock
He’s really not a first rounder. He rebounds well and is physical, but his shooting still isnt great and he’s still an awful passer. He has improved his rebounding and defense but its safe to say he lost a lot of his glow from last season. He’ll play in the NBA but I say second round.
Of course there are always teams that are willing to draft sheer athleticism so i suppose thats a possibility.
And that being said, I think it may be in his best interest to leave b/c of depth issues but I’d welcome him back too.
by owenh on Mar 22, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree
I personally don’t think he should be a first rounder either, but his athleticism and “signs of potential” will be enough to bump him up to first round status
--always Texas--
by longtimelonghorn on Mar 22, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right now hes a worse rebounder and defender than James Thomas was
And he misses about as many layups.
He has a good jumpshot, when hes open, but thats not enough to put him into the first round.
This wont be like a TJ, Durant, or DJ decision, but more like a Booby, PJ decision.
Personally I hope he stays, I think everyone is going to benefit from the growth and new talent next year. Either way, I’m sure glad he came here and wasn’t a Sooner. All the crap he took from them in Norman was probably my favorite part of his time here.
by BoddickerIsClutch on Mar 23, 2009 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lucas
will not be eligible until after the first semester, about 10 games or so into the season.
So, Balbay, Bradley, Hamilton, Johnson, and Pittman will likely be your starters, unless Mason can hold onto his job. Ward, Williams, and Mason will be the backcourt subs with Chapman and Wangmene your first off the bench for the post positions.
--AW--
by awiggo on Mar 22, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just my opinion
Yes, I meant to put Balbay on for the beginning of the season. I’m high on Wangmene, and think there is a large dropoff when you go to Chapman. I also think Mason will be given the benefit of the doubt early, as he has the last two seasons, but maybe not.
Interested to hear your thoughts on Damion James
--always Texas--
by longtimelonghorn on Mar 22, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mason
Yeah, Mason probably does hold onto the starting job to start the season. If Bradley and Hamilton are as advertised, they will both be in the starting lineup pretty quickly.
I like Wingman too. I really wish he could have stayed healthy this season. I’m not as down on Chap as most. I still think he has potential.
James, in short, he isn’t ready but I think he turns pro b/c he has ‘upside.’ I could easily be wrong though. I’ll write a post on James soon enough.
--AW--
by awiggo on Mar 22, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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