Open Game Day Thread: (1) Memphis vs (2) Texas
#1 Memphis Tigers (36-1, 16-0) vs. #2 Texas Longhorns (31-6, 13-3)
Sunday, March 30, 2008 • 1:20 p.m. CT
Reliant Stadium (44,000) • Houston, TX
Television: CBS - Billy Packer and Jim Nantz
Radio: 98.1 FM / 1300 AM (Austin) / Westwood One (Nationally)
So the pot of coffee this morning turned out not to be such a good idea. This game cannot start soon enough.
To win, Texas must...:
1) Win the Point Guard battle. Tim Griffin's got an excellent article on DJ Augustin and Derrick Rose, the two players who will - more so than any others - determine the outcome this afternoon. It seems unlikely either team can win if its point guard is sidelined with foul trouble or has a subpar game at Reliant. Texas needs DJ to be at his absolute best today.
2) Score from the outside with Connor and Damion. Pulling Memphis' bigs from the basket will do wonders for Texas' guards, freeing the lane for back cuts and DJ dribble penetration.
3) Make Memphis shoot. The Tigers are at their best near the rim, punishing defenses with terrific penetration and silly athleticism. They're not, however, the world's best three point shooting team. Taking our chances on Memphis jump shots isn't the worst idea in the world. If they make 'em, they make 'em.
4) Rebound from the zone. Given the tremendously challenging match ups for Texas in man-to-man, I'm expecting a lot of zone defense. More so than ever, Texas' team rebounding in the zone must be sharp. Finding a Tiger body to box out is essential.
Elite Eight. Houston. 40 minutes to San Antonio... This is what we wanted. Time to earn it on the court.
Hook 'em!
--PB--
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well
I wouldn't normally root for Texas in anything, and don't tell anybody, but I sure as hell hope you guys win this one.
Conference USA can kiss my patootie.
Corn Nation - Graduating more of our players than you are!
by cornnation on Mar 30, 2008 11:56 AM CDT 0 recs
btw
what exactly was someone on when they put together that youtube? :)
Corn Nation - Graduating more of our players than you are!
by cornnation on
Mar 30, 2008 11:57 AM CDT
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Luv Your YouTube Video. PB!
I have watched it more than 10 times & still luv it. Especially, the beauty comparison between Damion James and that beast (dinosaur’s hunting). Awesome!
Hopefully, Daimon can explode his destructive nature of the beast in Memphis game. Hook’em!
by Horns98 on Mar 30, 2008 11:59 AM CDT 0 recs
Don't thank me
Thanks Cat Lab. Dude's a genius, far as I'm concerned.
And it's working wonders for our open threads...
Let's win another!
by PB @ BON on
Mar 30, 2008 12:16 PM CDT
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Yeah, I got all tingly
watching the video. There's one comment I read on espn today that I can't get out of my mind. Someone said that they can't remember a more boring NCAA tourney and a lot of people agreed and started talking MLB. I suppose it's the win margins in some of the games he was talking about. That statement bugs me because my beloved Horns are in it so I'm a little defensive. Hopefully they'll be impressed by two exciting games today.
by spinmonkey on Mar 30, 2008 12:32 PM CDT 0 recs
it's
the lack of upsets. Chaos. As someone who's the alum of a school that's never won a NCAA tourney game, I've always looked to the tourney for chaos.
And to be honest, before Roy left Kansas, I always rooted for them. Can't stand Bill Self, though, so I find myself without an identity.
Davidson is a great story, though.
Corn Nation - Graduating more of our players than you are!
by cornnation on
Mar 30, 2008 12:37 PM CDT
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Poor games
I actually made a similar comment to my buddy the other night. There just haven't been that many great match ups--the majority of the games seemed to have been over by early second half.
That being said, I've loved watching Texas. The Memphis tip can't get here soon enough. This ought to be a game for the ages.
by Ramzlita on
Mar 30, 2008 12:37 PM CDT
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Mason at Point
Mason at Point today will be interesting whether we are in a 3-guard set or DJ is taking a breather (if he gets even one). If Mason cannot handle it at all against Memphis, DJ could wear down late. That's happened before to both DJ and AJ and we'll likely need them to have their shooting legs in the last few minutes. Playing zone would normally help but I think we'll be flying all over the place in zone today.
by CyHorn770 on Mar 30, 2008 12:53 PM CDT 0 recs
Let's Go Horns
Let's GO! AHHH!! I am so anxious. Please, Horns, play well, leave it all out there.
WE are good. We are really good. You can't outscore us, Memphis.
ATCH may be the difference.
by jimmer on Mar 30, 2008 1:11 PM CDT 0 recs
I look ridiculous
I've got more UT gear on that is really healthy. A ballcap on top of a beanie?
Damn right. Hook em'!
by DisplacedTexan on Mar 30, 2008 1:19 PM CDT 0 recs
5-2 Memphis
Rose over DJ. Then Rose to paint and kick out for three.
Zone?
by PB @ BON on Mar 30, 2008 1:24 PM CDT 0 recs
Never like to see that
But Rose going out... not the worst thing ever.
by DisplacedTexan on Mar 30, 2008 1:24 PM CDT 0 recs
Good Luck Guys!!
I am hoping for a rematch with with those knuckleheads from across town.
by Paragon SC on Mar 30, 2008 1:26 PM CDT 0 recs
13-8 at <16:00 timeout
All man defense up until that last possession.
Memphis showing why they're so imposing. Last play featuring Rose clearing the defensive glass over two 'Horns who crashed the offensive boards. Rose takes it coast to coast. Not sure we can afford to send two guys to offensive boards. They're too good in transition.
Huge play from Mason so far.
by PB @ BON on Mar 30, 2008 1:29 PM CDT 0 recs
Memphis is playing some good face D
It's make it hard to get open looks from the perimeter. James and Atchley have had the only open 3 looks so far. We need those.
by UTAth on Mar 30, 2008 1:30 PM CDT 0 recs
That pass cost a foul on Atch.
Horns need to reconfigure right now. Dangerous part of the game.
by whills on
Mar 30, 2008 1:35 PM CDT
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He's almost playing nervous, I can't remember him
looking as erratic as he did to open up the game.
by the1austin on
Mar 30, 2008 1:36 PM CDT
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Yikes
Two more turnovers, one from AJ, one from DJ. Memphis leads 17-8, timeout Texas.
Can't sustain playing this man to man defense. Offensively we're just out of sync. Memphis is just longer and more athletic than any team we've played. Our guards are smothered.
NOT a good start.
by PB @ BON on Mar 30, 2008 1:35 PM CDT 0 recs
size at guard
It seems to really be affecting us right now. At least 3 to's so far for Texas, and it could be from having to make passes over and through those long Memphis players. Not looking good right now, but don't know what to try differently. Gotta force them to shoot from outside somehow.
by junglerules on Mar 30, 2008 1:35 PM CDT 0 recs
They've got to stop the bleeding now
This could get ugly quick. Need to get back to playing tough D and hit some outside shots to get back into this one quick.
by longhorn543 on Mar 30, 2008 1:36 PM CDT 0 recs
completely out of control
that floater from aj was not wise. take higher percentage shots! Everybody just lost so far
by owenh on Mar 30, 2008 1:37 PM CDT 0 recs
Looks like Men vs. Boys in size
It's definitely messing us up on both ends so far ... but we've also not converted on at least two good opportunities.
When Memphis plays man defense it almost feels like zone b/c they are long. Wow.
by CyHorn770 on Mar 30, 2008 1:37 PM CDT 0 recs
Mason came to play ... C'mon AJ!
by the1austin on Mar 30, 2008 1:38 PM CDT 0 recs
This is why Rose
will be a top 3 draft pick. You can't teach size. He forced two airballed threes by Texas.
I will still say that DJ is the best PG in college, but Rose will probably have a better career.
It's about damage control now. Keep this one close. Mason has been our best player thus far.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 30, 2008 1:42 PM CDT 0 recs
Zone
The zone is looking good w/ Pittman down there to rebound.
by dtc on Mar 30, 2008 1:43 PM CDT 0 recs
20-13 Memphis, under 12:00 TO
Texas faring much better in this zone. Odd that we waited to go to this. Pittman doing a very nice job. Huge potential momentum swing if we can score coming out of the timeout.
by PB @ BON on Mar 30, 2008 1:43 PM CDT 0 recs
dex
Dex is playing solid so far. Playing as a rebounding force in the paint. We'll need him to get those boards out of the zone.
by junglerules on Mar 30, 2008 1:43 PM CDT 0 recs
CDR can take that shot all he wants
That release looked horrible, plus he had a guy in his face. The 2-3 zone is the way to go. They looked confused.
Way to step up Mason. Maybe it will become contagious. Pittman doing another good job on the boards so far.
by UTAth on Mar 30, 2008 1:43 PM CDT 0 recs
pittmans presence
felt immediately...hopefully itll last
by owenh on Mar 30, 2008 1:44 PM CDT 0 recs
When fresh, he can dominate here, but the speed
of this one (so far) isn't looking good for him later on...
by the1austin on
Mar 30, 2008 1:45 PM CDT
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Time to catch up.
Memphis doesn't seem to get back so quickly, something I would have expected them to do for how much they like to run. Not bad, but we've had some numbers then, but not enough to cash in. May need DJ to exploit that as he did just earlier.
by whills on Mar 30, 2008 1:45 PM CDT 0 recs
Absolutely.
Hell, I'm suddenly worried about getting 20 by half.
by whills on
Mar 30, 2008 1:48 PM CDT
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Not pretty
Memphis came to play. And they are downright terrifying when they're on.
by DisplacedTexan on Mar 30, 2008 1:48 PM CDT 0 recs
to's
Really having trouble with that length, and GJ has to convert that. Frustrating first half so far. Really precarious spot right now for Texas.
by junglerules on Mar 30, 2008 1:48 PM CDT 0 recs
already getting desperate..
we are chunking 3s and hitting nothing.
by UTrumbo on Mar 30, 2008 1:49 PM CDT 0 recs
Definitely need a TO
We're going back to our "shoot 3s" mentality.
by UTAth on Mar 30, 2008 1:49 PM CDT 0 recs
We're Just Lost on Offense.
by the1austin on Mar 30, 2008 1:50 PM CDT 0 recs
Settle them down Rick!
Too many wild shots. No running of the offense whatsoever. Are they itimidated?
by longhorn543 on Mar 30, 2008 1:50 PM CDT 0 recs
Wow we look so unprepared
What's up with the shot selection?
Johnson pulled a Chapman there and missed the pass.
This was what I was so nervous about. Rose is completely outclassing Augustin, and they're already running away with it. Memphis' defense is soooo good.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 30, 2008 1:50 PM CDT 0 recs
Um,,,this is ugly
Looks like Memphis bought into the getting disrespected card.
by longhorn543 on Mar 30, 2008 1:51 PM CDT 0 recs
weak sauce
come on horns...gettin' turned the fuck out on both ends.
by burntorangenance on Mar 30, 2008 1:51 PM CDT 0 recs
well...
I really dont know what to say. So I'll just be quiet. :[
by owenh on Mar 30, 2008 1:52 PM CDT 0 recs
I would say right now
the goal is to get the deficit within 10 at halftime. Damage control.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 30, 2008 1:52 PM CDT 0 recs
Bingo. We need a run of any sort.
We just can't be spectators.
by whills on
Mar 30, 2008 1:53 PM CDT
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This is JV against Varsity.
by the1austin on Mar 30, 2008 1:52 PM CDT 0 recs
left the living room and shut my bedroom door
to watch the game on mute on my tiny 12 in tv.
tequila shots at half time.
by UTrumbo on Mar 30, 2008 1:53 PM CDT 0 recs
And DJ has to wake up. Rose is dominating him in
every way possible.
by the1austin on
Mar 30, 2008 1:55 PM CDT
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Size difference
The size at guards is as bad as I feared. When you field a 6'6 guard, that's just ridiculous. On the plus side, we really can't be shooting much worse.
by DisplacedTexan on Mar 30, 2008 1:53 PM CDT 0 recs
29-13 bad guys, under 8:00 timeout
Memphis destroying us right now. Too many things to list in one comment, but a few big ones:
- Why did we open in man?
- Why on EARTH are we sending two guys to the offensive glass?
- Relatedly, how many transition dunks will it take to get our guys back?
- This is an up-and-down game. As we said, you can't out-Memphis Memphis. We needed to make this a half court game.
As great a job as Rick Barnes has done of late, this game plan is stunningly awful. Memphis routing us with ease right now. And we're playing in their hands.
by PB @ BON on Mar 30, 2008 1:54 PM CDT 0 recs
FG%
Memphis - 50%
Texas - 28%
Result? A 29-13 score.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 30, 2008 1:54 PM CDT 0 recs
still early
just setting the stage for an epic comeback. Those shots will start falling, and we'll figure them out on D. But it needs to happen sooner than later.
by SelimSivad on Mar 30, 2008 1:54 PM CDT 0 recs
Memphis Grizzlies....
I mean Tigers are the best college basketball team I have ever seen. Period. There's nothing we can do. We have college players and they have pros.
by TEXASFIGHT on Mar 30, 2008 1:54 PM CDT 0 recs
more TOs than FGs
Wow i wasn't prepared for this...they actually look nervous out there
and Lord do they have a big team...they're length is killing us
by Not Now Chief on Mar 30, 2008 1:54 PM CDT 0 recs
Is Memphis taller than Kansas?
We're playing like this is the tallest team we've ever faced. Memphis is a great team, but come on guys, play with some heart.
by UTAth on Mar 30, 2008 1:55 PM CDT 0 recs
I hope Rick laid into them at that break
Need to get a spark.
by longhorn543 on Mar 30, 2008 1:56 PM CDT 0 recs
Barnes
seemed like he bought into what Calipari said about this game being in the 100's. It needs to be the opposite if we want to win this game.
Did Rick not watch the Tenn/Memphis game? It was in the 60's!
We have to play halfcourt and play zone. Crash the boards on defense. You don't like to be one and done on offense, but we can't afford to not get back in transition.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 30, 2008 1:56 PM CDT 0 recs
Agreed
Memphis jumped out early against the Vols, but they stuck with the game plan and chipped away.
HUGE DJ!
by DisplacedTexan on
Mar 30, 2008 1:57 PM CDT
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man
Masons going to have to hit a number of big shots. Abrams is having bigtime issues.
Yes sir, big shot DJ!
I still like our chances.
by Blitzburgh on Mar 30, 2008 1:57 PM CDT 0 recs
Damn DJ can't drive without getting stuffed
Makes the three though. Memphis' defense and athleticism is so disgusting.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 30, 2008 1:58 PM CDT 0 recs
That rebound made me
completely snap my Longhorn hoodie strings, which have taken all kinds of abuse this morning.
by Holly on Mar 30, 2008 1:58 PM CDT 0 recs
7 minute slump
please Lord, tell me this brick fest is over
by burntorangenance on Mar 30, 2008 1:58 PM CDT 0 recs
Our bench
Is doing a really good job today. Hopefully that proves to be HUGE.
by CyHorn770 on Mar 30, 2008 1:58 PM CDT 0 recs
That should be a T
Hanging on the rim w/ noone around.
by DisplacedTexan on Mar 30, 2008 1:59 PM CDT 0 recs
Cherry picking Tiger players
Too bad. Every time DJ drives, he gets challenged at the rim. No easy baskets today.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 30, 2008 1:59 PM CDT 0 recs
DJ...
but at least you are hitting FTs. cant do this alone.
by UTrumbo on Mar 30, 2008 1:59 PM CDT 0 recs
goddamnit
DJ needs to take it one less step deep into the lane. Theyre avoiding contact and blocking shots well.
Again, too far by him.
by Blitzburgh on Mar 30, 2008 1:59 PM CDT 0 recs
Agreed
Instead of driving all the way, he needs to take advantage of his midrange Nash-like game.
But at the same time, I think we're trying to draw fouls to get them in trouble, but the calls aren't happening.
by goingforthecorner on
Mar 30, 2008 2:02 PM CDT
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Yep
We should forget trying to draw contact. All it's doing is wearing us down more.
by CyHorn770 on
Mar 30, 2008 2:04 PM CDT
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Cherry picking
DJ needs to remember he's much shorter than Rose. So much for those signs of life.
by longhorn543 on Mar 30, 2008 2:00 PM CDT 0 recs

