Texas Basketball Defeats Temple 77-65 Behind Outstanding Second Half

by Peter Bean on Dec 17, 2011 4:37 PM CST in Texas Longhorns Basketball

Although this Texas basketball team should have been undefeated coming in to today, after letting two wins slip away in New Jersey Saturday afternoon's match up against Temple was a huge game for the Longhorns' non-conference resume. It didn't look very good in the early going as Temple opened up an 8 point lead and led the Longhorns by 3 at intermission, but Texas came roaring to life in the second half, rallying with a 17-5 run midway through the half to open up a 9 point lead. Texas extended that lead to 16 with a minute left and wound up picking up an impressive and important 77-65 win, improving to 9-2 with their seventh straight victory.

If you'd told me before the game Texas would shoot 2-17 from downtown while Temple made 9 of 18, I would have figured we'd be on the losing end, but we did a terrific job making adjustments in the second half that completely changed the dyanmic of the game. J'Covan Brown led the way with 23 points, including three buckets that just made you shake your head in amazement ("Did he really just make that?"), while Myck Kabongo followed up a forgettable first half with yet another brilliant second half that turned the game. If he ever starts playing that well from the opening tip, opponents are going to be in big trouble.

I noted in my preview of the game that "we have the two best guards in this game, a deeper and better frontcourt, and home court," and that was pretty much the story. J'Bongo combined for 41 points, we dominated the Owls on the glass 48-23, and both Clint Chapman (7 points, 13 boards, 2 blocks) and Jaylen Bond (12 points, 8 boards, 1 steal) played fantastic basketball in the second half that helped spark our rally.

I've got some Christmas parties to attend this evening that I need to get ready for, but I'll have much more on this game and individual performances in tomorrow's Texas Basketball Report.

Congrats to this young Texas basketball team on picking up a huge win against the best team we've faced to date.

Hook 'em

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Chapman was great today.

Other than the ill advised three at the end of the first half he was super solid today. Hope that’s something to build off of.

by BeeCaveHornFan on Dec 17, 2011 5:00 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I want to see him hit a three though.

TEXAS FIGHT

by Darklust on Dec 17, 2011 11:26 PM CST up reply actions

Also needs to stop hesitating so long

When he gets the ball in the high post on the J’Covan post-up play. He acts like people are just going to let him hold it forever like it’s a shootaround.

Follow me on Twitter @GoHornsGo90

by GoHornsGo90 on Dec 18, 2011 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

Great adjustments whether Barnes or the Players

Texas pushed the ball much more in the second half after makes, misses or turnovers. Once the floor opened up Myck starting getting much more comfortable and we kept the pressure on from their.

Very encouraging game, extremely pleased with Chappy and Bond. Hook Em

by HornsUpInLA on Dec 17, 2011 5:04 PM CST reply actions

Fernandez couldn't guard Myck

So he started holding him up and down the court every possession. Should have fouled out in 5 minutes the way he was playing. Dirty.

Follow me on Twitter @GoHornsGo90

by GoHornsGo90 on Dec 18, 2011 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

Merry Christmas PB

Thanks for your great coverage and analysis of all things Horns!

by Bevo1 on Dec 17, 2011 5:45 PM CST reply actions

Many thanks

And a Merry Christmas to you too! Hook ’em

76-37-5. Now GTFO.

by Peter Bean on Dec 17, 2011 5:47 PM CST up reply actions

Good win

Better watch those turnovers (6 Brown, 3 Kabongo) though. Also JCB needs to concentrate on his free throws. He’s missing way too many this year. Otherwise, a solid performance and win we needed.

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Dec 17, 2011 5:46 PM CST reply actions

We were at the game

My son and I were impressed by Bond’s hustle for garbage points.

Brown was unselfish in the first half but showed real leadership in the opening of the second half, taking us into the lead.

When Bond fouled the 3 point shooter in the final minutes he made his first real error of the game.

Fouls on Holmes and Wingman limited their minutes, so the surprising effort by Chapman and the hard work by Bond was appreciated even more. As someone noted, Chapman can pass.

There was no lack of hustle, especially on defense.

UNC will penetrate on us rather easily, I think, and trap the freshmen on the sidelines. After three straight against the Tar Heels, don’t get your hopes up. Nevertheless, Wednesday night will be fun for all of us, I think. These freshmen play above their age, already.

by MarkInAustin on Dec 17, 2011 6:19 PM CST reply actions

Agree with everything said

Except the first part about UNC. They don’t have a perimeter player that can penetrate. Marshall is a sub-par dribbler and extremely slow. Strickland is the pinnacle of a JAG; Covan will tear him apart on defense assuming he comes to play fired up like he usually does against big time competition. Barnes, Hairston, and Bullock are shooters.

I’m terrified of getting offensive-rebounded to death and even more terrified of not being able to score if we can’t knock down threes and midrange jumpers, because there won’t be any layups or tip-ins against Zeller and Henson. Lewis, and McClellan will have to knock down jumpers. JCB will have to be other-worldly.

Follow me on Twitter @GoHornsGo90

by GoHornsGo90 on Dec 18, 2011 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

Marshall's value is in the open court

He is fantastic on the break, throwing those 40 ft passes to wide open players. In the half-court, he is pretty ordinary.

I am on Twitter @jeffchaley
Burnt Orange Nation

by Reggieball on Dec 18, 2011 1:16 PM CST up reply actions

Aggies

Lost to Florida by 20 today. 0-2 against the SEC this year, getting a head start.

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http://www.twitter.com/JayMashBON

by 40AS on Dec 17, 2011 6:38 PM CST reply actions

lol

They can’t even beat the SEC in basketball. Poor Aggies

TEXAS FIGHT

by Darklust on Dec 17, 2011 11:26 PM CST up reply actions

A little early I know...

but with our stellar recruiting class, who stays and who goes pro next year? Aside from the Seniors, I assume Myck goes?

by Egonz on Dec 18, 2011 1:19 AM CST reply actions

I don't mean to be morbid/down on this year

I’m just interested in how we stack up for the future years

by Egonz on Dec 18, 2011 1:20 AM CST up reply actions

I think Myck and Brown are the

two at risk players. Its hard to say at this point though

by Texastriplecrown on Dec 18, 2011 3:16 AM CST up reply actions

Before the lockout went utterly haywire

part of the agreement was extending the time players must stay from 1 to 2 or 3 years. I’m not sure if that stayed in the final agreement, but if so, all the freshmen will return so we’d be looking at losing JCB (I have no doubt he makes the jump this year) and the upperclassmen pretty much since we’ve churned out so many freshmen to the NBA the last couple years.

TEXAS FIGHT

by Darklust on Dec 18, 2011 9:01 AM CST up reply actions

Ok, from the looks of the articles I just looked up

The agreement probably keeps it at a 19 age limit.

TEXAS FIGHT

by Darklust on Dec 18, 2011 9:05 AM CST up reply actions

20+ Wins?

So if twenty wins is the normal minimum cutoff for NCAA tournaments extended to legacy schools from strong conferences the question becomes what are the Horns likely and/or capable of doing in conference?

This is the first year where everyone plays everyone in a H/A series. Figure UT loses at UNC but beats Rice. That leaves Texas at 10-3 with 18 conference games remaining. Do they go 10-8 in the Big 12? Better?

by RMHorn on Dec 18, 2011 4:01 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Kenpom predictions

Right now, Kenpom has Texas with ~ 80% to get to 20 wins. The median win expectation is about 21-22.

I am on Twitter @jeffchaley
Burnt Orange Nation

by Reggieball on Dec 18, 2011 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

should read ~ 80% chance

but you probably were able to figure that out.

I am on Twitter @jeffchaley
Burnt Orange Nation

by Reggieball on Dec 18, 2011 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

SRS

At the moment, SRS has Texas as the #4 team in the Big 12 conference. I am a big believer in SRS. I think it is about as good as the kenpom ratings (usually the two come to very similar conclusions). Early in the season, the kenpom ratings are probably more stable (this is by design), but we have now more or less reached the point where the two ratings are quite close.

I usually look at both of them. Both SRS and kenpom have Texas as a fringe top 25 team.

I am on Twitter @jeffchaley
Burnt Orange Nation

by Reggieball on Dec 18, 2011 9:39 AM CST up reply actions

So Let's Play This Out

Obviously it’s early, the kids are still learning how to play with each other at this level and will improve. But for kicks I’m trying to map out the path to 20 regular season wins (conference tournament gets them a good shot at 1-2 more wins).

Figure we get swept by KU & Mizzou – that’s 4 losses. Then figure we split Aggie & Baylor (though Bear could also sweep) – that’s another 2 or 3 losses. We’re also snakebit by KSU and Tech, Okie Lite could each bite us away. I see 8-10 losses likely there with no other bad surprises.

That makes 20+ wins a push – that we probably pick up in the conference tourney. But with the possibility of some bad, young team kind of surprises there come the potential for some good surprises. Which games do you see where we pick up the upset(s) that make the path to 20 in the regular season more likely?

by RMHorn on Dec 18, 2011 10:19 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

You are right that we are probably going to win a game or two that we don't expect

Let’s take for example the North Carolina game. I think you and I both agree that the probability of a Texas win is pretty low there. But it isn’t zero. I think kenpom gives us something like a 20% chance of winning that game. That sounds about right. (It could be lower, say 10%, but the point is it isn’t 0%.)

………………………
I am not big on trying to do projections myself, but let’s give it a shot.

Most statistical projection systems are going to say right now that the odds are we will sweep A&M. The stats have A&M as being the second worst team in the conference. So the expectation is that Texas sweeps.

We will see with Tech, but right now they don’t look very good. They are significantly worse right now (by SRS) than everyone else in the conference. Could be headed for a long season. They aren’t very good on offense, and aren’t very good on defense. Not a winning combination. Two more wins for Texas. That brings us to four.

Iowa State and OSU aren’t great, but they are playing pretty well right now. Let’s say Texas wins 3 out of 4 of these games. We are now at 7 wins.

I could see us winning 1 or 2 out of 6 in the KU/Mizzou/Baylor category. So 8 or 9 wins is now the total.

OU and KState are probably a pretty close to even match up for Texas. So perhaps Texas wins 2 out of 4. Now we are looking at 10 or 11 conference wins.

Obviously, these outcomes can vary a lot. But my expectations going into conference are much higher than they were at the start of the season.

I am on Twitter @jeffchaley
Burnt Orange Nation

by Reggieball on Dec 18, 2011 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

LOL - I Forgot About OU!

They just totally escaped my consideration. But you’re right, they’re having a good season so far. And I was being too generous with Tech. We’ll call that an even swap, still leaving the regular season a push to get to 20. If I were wagering at this point of the season I’d bet we hit 19 and get to 20-21 in the conference tourney. And that would be better than I gave them a shot at being over the summer.

by RMHorn on Dec 18, 2011 10:52 AM CST via mobile up reply actions