Where's 2008-2009 in the Rick Barnes Era?

by RMHorn on Mar 22, 2009 12:49 PM CDT

In looking back at the just completed UT Men's BB season it obviously was a disappointing one in the Rick Barnes era. Only once before under his leadership have the Longhorns not been ranked in a final poll ('04-05). We won't know for sure if UT is ranked for a few more weeks, but I think it's safe to say the chances are slim.

Also, only one season ('98-99, RB's 1st at UT) had more losses (13), with only one other season tied at twelve ('01-02). And there have been only three seasons with fewer wins ('98-99, '01-02, '04-05).

NCAA tournament exits under RB:

1st round - '98-99, '00-01, '04-05
2nd round - '99-'00, '06-07, '08-09
Sweet Sixteen - '01-02, '03-04
Elite Eight -'05-06, '07-08
Final Four - '02-03

What makes this season the biggest downer for me is that the two of the three comparable seasons had an easy excuse to assign blame to:

'98-99 (19-13, 20th AP), was, well, Barnes' first year.
'04-05 (20-11, NR) UT lost Aldridge to season-ending injury and Tucker to poor grades.

The third comparable season, '01-02 (22-12, 18th Coaches) Texas made the Sweet Sixteen to redeem an off regular season. Of course you could say that three more seasons had premature tournament endings that could qualify as disappointing seasons ('99-'00, '00-01, '06-07) if that's a part of the equation.

But, all in all, the just-completed season will go down as one of the least impressive bodies of work for a Rick Barnes coached Texas team. Other squads faced high attrition from prior years but they found a way to be better than this team was.

It's not my intention to be overly critical of Rick Barnes in this post. In fact, the poor seasons cited here are relative to the higher expectations of UT hoops this coach has created for the program. All but five to eight programs in the nation would pay dearly for the outcomes we've had since he took over.

It is my intention to raise expectations of '09-10. With the talent coming in and RB's history of success much greater than this past season I'm down right giddy about it. Barnes will have every opportunity to teach and coach the players who are teachable and coachable, and with the addition of great recruits and a solid transfer Coach can't help but improve the team chemistry and proper positioning/lineups of players.

PS - I know I had issues with some BON fans during the season, accusing many of being "homers" for not acknowledging the deficiencies until late in the season. My apologies for rubbing you the wrong way. I am so excited about the prospects for UT sports these next thirteen months, though and look forward to continuing to read, learn and share thoughts along the way. The baseball team is capable of great things this season, I'm chomping at the bit for August and football season to rectify last year's atrocious wrongs inflicted on them, and the men's and women's hoops will both be primed for deep runs.

'Til Gabriel blows his horn!

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Comments

Was this year a disappointment?

I’m not sure it was. Once it was established how badly we missed Augustin, expectations changed dramatically. I’ve said for months I would be satisfied with just getting out of the 1st round, because there was a good chance our 2nd round matchup would be against a 1 or 2 seed, and that’s exactly what happened.

We got out of the first round, and gave a #2 seed a hell of a scare. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Not exactly what I would call a disappointing season relative to my expectations. We didn’t overachieve, and we didn’t underachieve. We were right in the middle. Hardly something to merit criticism for Barnes.

But, all in all, the just-completed season will go down as one of the least impressive bodies of work for a Rick Barnes coached Texas team. Other squads faced high attrition from prior years but they found a way to be better than this team was.

As opposed to losing Augustin not being considered high attrition? Losing Augustin was the biggest loss we’ve had since losing T.J. Ford in 2003 and then losing Tucker, Aldridge, and Gibson in 2006. If they had an MVP award in college basketball, DJ would’ve won it last year.

by goingforthecorner on Mar 22, 2009 1:29 PM CDT reply actions

Clearly a disappointment

Just because something may be predictable does not clear it from being a disapointment. If I ever play the lottery and don’t win the millions, I’ll be disappointed. Surprised? No. Disappointed? Yes. When UT doesn’t win a national championship, I’m disappointed. Do I expect the basketball team to win it all? No. But I’m disappointed.

If you’re the University of Texas basketball program and you are not a top 15 team, most would contend that that’s disappointing (regardless of whether you’re fielding a team of 12 McDonald’s All-Americans or just 12 kids you pulled from the ball pit at McDonald’s), and further exacerbated by not even being regarded among the top 25 this year. If you’re UT and the one year that both OU and KU are upset early in the conference tournament, and you don’t manage to finally sneak in a conference crown…let alone even get to the final game, that’s disappointing.

If you prefer to then evaluate a season based on expectations. When was the last time this program actually surpassed our expectations? I’d argue 2003. That was the last year I recall a team exceeding what was though to be their collective talent. We’ve certainly had players since then, including this year, who have overachieved but very few teams as a whole which have done so collectively. What were the realistic expectations for Kansas this year? Memphis? They could easily have written off this season after reaching the final game last year and losing the star players they lost. Instead, they’re still dancing and really didn’t even see much of a drop off this season.

Texas has a very good coach and lots of players we like. But Texas was not a good TEAM this year. And yes that’s disappointing and at times was even discouraging.

————

Tangent: Is Rick Barnes disappointed that the Erwin Center isn’t a frequent sell out? Sure. Should he expect it to be? No. It’s been a few years since there has been a consistant product to watch to the extent that you can have a general idea what you’re about to pay money to see. This can easily become a chicken and the egg debate… supporting the team leads to better performance vs. constant/predictable performance leads to better support. But the way my brain is wired I tend to be appreciative of those fans who show up through thick and thin while understanding that you’re just going to get packed arenas when Kansas, etc. come to town.

by Lincoln on Mar 22, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Crowd Support

Going to games at Maryland has taught me one thing, it is that crowd support is not contingent on consistency. The display at the Erwin center is weak compared to Maryland, who barely made it into the madness.

by Wells on Mar 22, 2009 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Maryland is an ACC school....with a Championship this decade.

I know times have been frustrating in College Park since 2002, but they’re going to show up to watch basketball in full force just as Nebraska fans are going to show up to football games regardless of what their record is. I haven’t travelled to the Big 12 arenas, but my impression is that only KU year-in and year-out can be compared to an ACC crowd and its understandable when you see the names who have coached the Jayhawks and the conference and natonal titles that have been produced.

It would be geat if the Erwin Center was intimidating, but it still wouldn’t mean much if the home team does not put itself in a position to build on that intimidation.

I’m excitied to see how much more Dex can continuie to improve this offseason and how some of this year’s new ingrediants can continue to work on their chemistry. They’re all a bunch of guys who are easy to root for. Hopefully they can put something special together

by Lincoln on Mar 22, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions

We have different perspectives

I’m not disappointed because all I wanted this year was to get out of the 1st round, because that’s all I expected out of this team. Not only did we win the 1st round, but we gave Duke a hell of a scare, so I’m not disappointed. In fact I was proud of the team and how they fought despite the obvious weaknesses on offense, such as lacking a PG that could shoot from outside or create his own shot. I admire how they made up for their offensive woes by playing hard on the defensive end.

You want disappointment? I’m looking at NIT teams like Baylor and Kentucky that underachieved. I’m looking at Wake Forest and its epic flop in the 1st round.

by goingforthecorner on Mar 22, 2009 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree...all experiencing disappointment.

And we are looking for different things and judge the team we root for using different qualifications/perspectives. Though disappointed with the NIT after their late Big 12 run, Baylor is giddy with the progress they’ve made. And yes, Kentucky is in a far worse place than Texas right now. Kentucky will continue to pack Rupp though and if you had to put money on it, do you think UK or UT will win a title soonest? (I’d ultimately pick UK…just probably won’t be with Billy G.) As for Wake, they’re probably hugely dissapointed but have every reaso to believe they’ll be competing among the best again next year.

I’ll stop typing now and resume counting down to the next season….

by Lincoln on Mar 23, 2009 12:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Re: Barnes

I honestly think he has like 2-3 set plays they try to run. Obviously the results speak for themselves but I dont think he has a lot of actual strategy as far as the offense goes. Barnes coaches solid defense and lets them “play their game” on offense.

It’s really unbelievable that this actually works as well as it does, but may put a ceiling on rick barnes teams barring some transcendant players (Augustin, Ford)

Im a firm Barnes believer but I wonder what he actually coaches as far as offensive sets.

by owenh on Mar 22, 2009 2:11 PM CDT reply actions