#25 Baylor at #10 Texas Open GameDay Thread
by Peter Bean on Feb 2, 2008 10:05 AM CST
in Texas Longhorns Basketball
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Print#10 Texas (16-4, 3-2) hosts #25 Baylor (16-3, 4-1) at 12:45 today at the Drum. For Texas to stay on track to get to 12-4 or 11-5 on the season, winning today is imperative.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Defend the three, defend the three, defend the three! The Bears have five players who can stroke it from the outside - Curtis Jerrells (35% from downtown), Aaron Bruce (42%), Henry Dugat (37%), Tweety Carter (40%), and LaceDarius Dunn (43%). If Texas is allowing Baylor open looks from outside, it's going to be a long afternoon.
2. Contain Aaron Bruce. Baylor's point guard is one of my absolute favorite players to watch, as he does a fantastic job of making those around him better. He has a killer first step, uses his body exceptionally well, has terrific vision, and isn't afraid to penetrate with authority. He's improved significantly with his turnovers from a season ago, which was his biggest weakness. With Justin Mason likely to guard Curtis Jarrells, the Bruce assignment likely goes to DJ Augustin. Fingers crossed for no foul trouble.
3. Get Damion James involved early and often. Getting James involved early greases the wheels of the Texas offense; we can't afford for him disappear like he did against Texas A&M. Rick sent him a strong message after his tentative performance, so look for him to be much more assertive this afternoon.
4. Make your frackin' free throws. Baylor has been one of the hackiest teams in the conference this season, a weakness Texas needs to exploit with aggressive play inside. But it also means we'll need to start hitting our free throws. There must be a penalty for sending us to the line.
GAME TIP: 12:45 p.m.
TELEVISION: ESPN PLUS (broadcast regionally; see affiliate list here)
--PB--
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free throws
I agree about the free throws. Texas has been horrible shooting free throws all year. They leave 15 points on the court every game because of poor free throw shooting.
Matchups?
So does UT match up with Baylor or does Baylor matchup with UT? Does UT go with the starting lineup you were recently recommending (I think it was Dex, Connor, Damion, Augustin, and Mason) or go with Connor, Damion, Mason, Augustin, and Abrams primarily? My guess is the latter (i.e. UT matches up with Baylor). Does UT have to play man to man most of the game? My guess is yes.
Do you think Dex will play much in this game? Is there anybody on Baylor that Dex can guard man to man? I guess the answer to both questions is no.
When Dex does play (might be the game after Baylor), is UT going to be able to get the ball to Dex on time when he is in optimal position? Given that Dex can get position right in front of the bucket (i.e. in the 3 second lane), shouldn't UT call plays to deliver this pass so it can be properly synchronized? Should Damion and Connor be doing most of the entry passes to Dex?
Augustin is a shoot first point guard (but all the great point guards have been pass first guys). Is being a shoot first point guard a good thing for the horns(especially they have a lot of guys who need a bit of help setting up their shot)? Why does UT seldom run pick and roll (as opposed to pick and pop)?
I don't mean to pester you with questions but maybe some of them will be interesting to discuss.
You know what I miss?
I miss the high-low action that Chris Mihm and Gabe Muoneke had going on here. Back then, it seemed the forwards did a good job of working the ball down low to each other when the guards couldn't. Our point guards back then were horrible, so the big guys picked up the slack by catching the ball in the high post and looking down low for each other. Now that we have better guards, you'd hope we could find some more success posting up. Damion James seems like a solid passer- maybe we can get him looking low to Dex or even Gary Johnson if Gary ever sees the floor again....
There's that high post pass.
Nice to see two big guys underneath - you can already see the difference on the board. But Baylor isn't missing on their end....yet.
geez
Do teams ever go cold from 3 on us? I'd almost rather give up defenseless layups than these three pt. barrages
James is in.
Teams seem to enjoy playing us - not too good for us.
another 3...
...wide open due to aj gambling on that steal. Also, DJ starts cold again. Seems to be a pattern this year.
Glad GJ is ok; went down really hard.
Offense is making shots, giving up ball too quickly; make Baylor work on D.
Looks like Barnes is gonna play the freshmen a lot.
has our team lost confidence or something?
Little transition game
not like the start of the season.
They do look tentative at times.
aj
got hit and pushed in the face when Gary went down. anyone else see that?
by bdog33 on Feb 2, 2008 1:07 PM CST reply actions
James is attacking more.
Dex is starting to feel comfortable.
Horns are drawing fouls.
Few baskets but the fouls are piling up.
Considering it is the Frank Erwin Center
that would suggest drinking heavily, if only to honor one great sot.
You know, we haven't had a run in some time, about five quarters now. That's odd.
what is
with this team's inability to defend the three?
nice possession
Missed shot, but GJ offensive reb., foul, and one free throw. Then, GJ again...hmmmm....
Attempted steals and too much helping out
Can't they just play their positions. There is a time for help defense, but not to forsake your position and create their offense. That sucks.
Whatever James had
he's over it. That's 10 plus a FT coming.
Better late than never.
Barnes looks like he's going with an 8-man rotation.
what wrong with dj today?
normally i would be watching on espn360 but they changed their policy and i have register to watch so i have to find my verizon account info and its a huge pain. keeping track of the game on espn.com...
If you want, you can listen to it
at CSTV
Instant registration and free (at least for today's game). It's the Baylor announcer, not Craig.
Good half from AJ
That half showed that he is more than just a three point shooter. He created his own shots and created some for others as well. With DJ cold AJ is creating most of the offense today.
Baylor had 10 fouls in first half.
Bruce has three but seven other players have one each, so no one else is in trouble.
Texas has four - and Dex has 0. Baylor shooting 50% (14-28), 6-13 on threes (46.2%). Horns are 12-29, 41.4%, and 4 of 10 from three point range.
If Bruce is covering Mason
Mason needs to take him to the hole, Bruce does not seem to be able to stay in front of him without fouling.
That sucker that hit the half court shot
is going to get sick of chicken sandwiches, don't you know.
Oops, not a reply to you.
They shoot 'em up in El Paso.
I'm annoyed by all commercials.
Expensive propaganda in action.
I dont mind propaganda
as long as it entertains me.
Those comercials not only don't do that, they actually grate me like nails on a chalkboard.
I'm sorta surprised that he hasn't been.
You think it is punishment?
He is mixing it up.
When he gets proficient at finishing, that will help this team a hell of a lot. He's really concentrating on FTs.
GJ's rebounding
simply superb. He's been a monster. Now if only he can make his FTs.
Same goes for James... AHHH!
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:29 PM CST up reply actions
If this becomes a FT contest
I don't like our chances unless DJ/AJ are the ones getting fouled.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:30 PM CST reply actions
What a sweet pass by DJ
The stats say he hasn't done much, but that's far from the truth.
Looks like Barnes must've told DJ to play much more passive so we can get everyone involved in the offense. I prefer this to be honest. This is much better than DJ putting up big stats and everyone watching him.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:31 PM CST reply actions
That's essential to developing young players.
Plus, it diversifies the offense. Right now three in double figures, Atchley with 9.
"LETS GO BAYLOR"
chants going on during James' FTs.
But remember, the Erwin Center is a "hostile environment" -- the ESPN color commentator.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:32 PM CST reply actions
Of course there was a chant...
...during James' free throws.
Would you really want our crowd to shout down the 150+ Baylor students who came to the game during our own players free-throws?
Left out a zero...
...meant for that to be 1500+.
Our guess was 1600-1700 Baylor fans at the game, but it was hard for us to tell since they were directly above us...
Atchley for three!
BU needs to get up on him. Bad D.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:35 PM CST reply actions
I absolutely love this offense
We're getting EVERYONE shots. DJ playing more like a true PG than a hybrid PG/SG. Love it.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:37 PM CST reply actions
mizzou beating k st with a minute left
up 3
by the other Andrew on Feb 2, 2008 2:41 PM CST reply actions
Mizzou got some players back
Which is good. I was worried they would single-handedly ruin our RPI numbers by losing every game.
Also, Florida getting their ass kicked at Arkansas.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:47 PM CST up reply actions
WOW
so much for that stagnant offense. I'm seeing movement off the ball and I'm seeing ball movement.
Looks like we CAN play a half-court offense, especially if Johnson/Pittman/James/Connor give us consistent production.
We can't put "Texas Longhorns" and "run and gun" in the same sentence ever again.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:49 PM CST reply actions
Well, we haven't in a couple of weeks.
Tech was an aberration, so it seemed.
Haha...
Looks like K-state won their Super Bowl against KU.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:53 PM CST up reply actions
Probably not a good idea
DJ should've kept the ball. Don't want to pass it to James in that situation. There was still 16 secs left on the shot clock.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:51 PM CST reply actions
And we needed those FTs, at least one.
So it was a critical mistake. Seven was much better than six. Now four.
argh
Gotta get that rebound. All about free throws now....We know Baylor can hit three's if they need to.
Should James even be in the game?
I know you may not like this, but I believe JD Lewis is a good FT shooter, so maybe he should be in the game.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:54 PM CST reply actions
EXCELLENT
People who bet on this game must be very nervous. The line was Texas -7.5
All up to DJ FTs.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 2, 2008 2:56 PM CST reply actions
What a cash cow! heh
Four in double figures, DJ with 9, Mason shot 3-7 from field, but 0-1 from trey land. Those layups help.
good win
I'll take it! Nice to see some more diversity in the offense, a little development from Gary Johnson, Atchley getting some good looks, and a win without a monster game from Augustin. That's a good Baylor team. If they can make it to the tourney, they'll be a dangerous squad.
If Bruce doesn't get those fouls,
this becomes an incredibly tight game and maybe even a loss.
WHAT??
If they can make it to the tourney, they'll be a dangerous squad.
Uhm, they could lose 6 or 7 of the last ten, lose the first round of the big 12 tournament and still make the NCAA.
very deserving
Don't get me wrong- I think they totally deserve it, and they'd easily be in right now. The season is FAR from over, though, for everyone. And there are no guarantees for them at this point. However, being a top team in a top conference works in their favor. I'd think that anyone finishes at least .500 in the big 12 this year will get in since there is lots of strength across the board.
I think the win over Notre Dame will help them a lot, as will the victory over the ags. They did play Wazzu well, too. However, other than that, they haven't beaten anyone of note. We'll see how the season progresses, though. I hope they make it....
I feel like
We really imporved as a team in this one. Johnson and Mason had strong games and James reasserted himself. If Mason and GJ play like that and we get a little bit from Dex, we're going to be tough.
I really wonder about Wang.
Dex wasn't punished for tech, so I don't know if Wang was, but he did get ejected. I suspect that is it more than anything else. Maybe that will be clarified in post-game press conference.
Stat of the game
AJ Abrams, 6/12 from the floor, 4/8 from three.
AJ had good shot selection, actually made his threes, plus got a couple of good drive and dish assists.
PB, you questioned if Charles should really be playing running back and he comes back with a monster second half of the season. Could AJ do the same?
State of the Game Part II
Aarron "the" Bruce - 4 Fouls with 17 to play.
And do Baylor's two 7-footers, Lomers and Mamadou Dieme have a nickname. If not, I volunteer...
Ebony and Ivory Towers
Take care of business @OU and @ISU and come home to play KU for a chance at the conf. leaderboard.
Nice rebound.
by 54b on Feb 2, 2008 3:15 PM CST up reply actions
reasons we won:
- mason on D and running the point
- gary johnson taking over
- aaron bruce in foul trouble
Mason was incredibly impressive today doing all the things he does other than score. phenomenal player. We just witnessed Gary Johnson's coming out party. If he learns how to finish drives and make free throws, watch out. And Baylor is about 20 times better as a team when bruce is in the game.
also, congrats to atchley, james and AJ for having a hell of a game, and to DJ for realizing it wasn't there today and deferring to his teammates. great game.
I think
by maryllmmj113 on Feb 3, 2008 5:45 AM CST reply actions
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