Let's face it, Texas basketball is enjoying one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent college hoops memory. A mere one year removed from the biggest collapse in program history, the Texas Longhorns have risen from the depths of performance despair and are on the cusp of regaining the top spot in the polls.
Most fans who follow this year's team closely will still point to a couple of hindrances: free-throw shooting and the "second-half" sputter. Clearly, for Texas to make a deep post-season run, they will need to start showing improvement in both of those areas.
If we were to nitpick and look for a third potential weakness worth keeping an eye on, it is perhaps that Texas has at times struggled to shut down the opposition's top guard. Or perhaps the better way to look at it is that if you want a chance to beat Texas, you'd better have a guard who can create his own offense and fill it up.
You can see from the chart below where several marquee guards have had above average games against the Horns. Fortunately, in most instances Texas' nation-leading team defense overcame these top-line performances to help secure wins for the Horns.
Joseph/Brown |
Player |
Game Summary |
Season Avg thru 2/15 |
||||||
Opp |
Pts |
Asst |
Name |
Pts |
FG% |
3PT% |
Pts |
FG% |
3PT% |
Illinois |
18 |
1 |
D McCamey |
22 |
50.0% |
40.0% |
14.360 |
44.0% |
47.2% |
Pitt |
16 |
5 |
A Gibbs |
24 |
57.1% |
42.9% |
16.304 |
43.6% |
46.3% |
UNC |
31 |
4 |
H Barnes |
16 |
50.0% |
25.0% |
13.500 |
40.9% |
32.1% |
|
|
D Strickland |
18 |
60.0% |
100.0% |
7.960 |
46.9% |
26.9% |
|
MSU |
8 |
5 |
K Lucas |
17 |
38.5% |
25.0% |
16.080 |
43.8% |
40.2% |
|
|
D Summers |
11 |
36.4% |
33.3% |
12.640 |
40.9% |
37.5% |
|
UConn |
30 |
6 |
K Walker |
22 |
29.6% |
40.0% |
22.833 |
42.4% |
36.2% |
|
|
R Smith |
13 |
54.5% |
33.3% |
7.292 |
39.2% |
29.4% |
|
KU |
34 |
1 |
T Reed |
17 |
50.0% |
55.6% |
9.731 |
41.2% |
38.2% |
aTm-2 |
19 |
6 |
BJ Holmes |
19 |
75.0% |
33.3% |
10.083 |
43.2% |
43.7% |
TTech-2 |
16 |
5 |
J Robinson |
16 |
36.4% |
50.0% |
13.708 |
37.8% |
41.8% |
Baylor |
22 |
3 |
L Dunn |
26 |
42.3% |
25.0% |
20.773 |
42.1% |
39.9% |
It is important to note that in these outings, Texas did an impressive job holding the opposition's front line to below average offensive output (except for maybe UConn's Oriakhi). Texas cuts off lanes and forces you to beat them from the perimeter. And that is exactly what Pitt and UConn were able to muster.
The Horns have overcome this solid guard play by responding on both ends of the court. It shows that for any remaining opponent to beat Texas, one or more guards will have to have great games. Trips Right at Barking Carnival points this out as a key to the OSU game in his insightful game preview.
This is an area to watch for the balance of the regular season and, especially, in looking at post-season match ups. While it's hard to say that Texas has "struggled" with perimeter defense (opponents are, after all, shooting just 27.9% from downtown), this data does suggest the kind of match up which could challenge Texas -- a team with a guard or two who can really make their own offense.