Curry’s Clickbait Corner 11.9.18

Games today -- Friday, Nov. 9:

[MBB] Texas (1-0) vs. Arkansas (0-0)

Armed Forces Classic - El Paso, Texas

6 p.m. CST -- ESPN

---

First Thoughts

Texas football is not eliminated from the Big 12 Championship game yet, but it no longer controls its own destiny.

Three teams remain in the hunt alongside the Longhorns (4-2) -- Oklahoma (5-1), West Virginia (5-1) and Iowa State (4-2).

If Texas and West Virginia win out and Oklahoma beats WV, the Mountaineers will face OU again one week later for the title -- as they hold the tiebreaker over Texas following last week’s brutal loss. If West Virginia beats Oklahoma and Texas wins out, the Horns will get a second shot against the Mountaineers in Dallas.

Assuming Texas and Oklahoma both win out (lofty assumption), a Red River Rivalry rematch game is still a possibility if West Virginia falls to either TCU or Oklahoma State in the next two weeks.

A Big 12 Championship no longer means a playoff invitation for Texas, but the opportunity to play in a NY6 bowl game will help monumentally on the recruiting front.

****

Texas basketball struggled early in its season opener against Eastern Illinois before pulling away late for a 71-59 victory.

Texas faces its first real test Friday night, as the Longhorns travel to El Paso to take on former Southwest Conference rival Arkansas in the Armed Forces Classic at 6 p.m. CST on ESPN.

Senior guard Kerwin Roach -- who was suspended for the opener -- will return to the starting lineup tonight.

Newcomers Elijah Mitrou-Long -- a transfer from Mt. St. Mary’s -- and freshmen Jaxson Hayes, Courtney Ramey and Kamaka Hepa all saw significant time against EIU. EML is a pure outside shooter and tenacious defender with leadership qualities as one of the veterans on the roster. He and sophomore Jase Febres should provide a much-needed three-point shooting boost.

While Texas didn’t have a headliner in its most recent recruiting class -- Jaxson Hayes is already turning heads, but didn’t arrive with the traditional five-star hype -- many college basketball insiders believe this is Texas coach Shaka Smart’s deepest and most talented roster since he arrived four years ago.

****

Texas basketball received more good news on Thursday afternoon when Westlake High five-star center Will Baker committed to Shaka Smart and the Longhorns.

Baker is the nation’s No. 20 prospect, the No. 7 center and is considered the second best player in the state, per 247’s composite rankings. The Austin native chose Texas over UCLA, Georgetown and Stanford.

---

Texas Longhorns

Texas freshman PF Jaxson Hayes ‘won’t be a secret for much longer’ — Burnt Orange Nation, 11.6.18

($$$) HOOPS: My season predictions, thoughts about 2018-19 Texas team, and much more — Orangebloods, 11.6.18

Takeaways from Texas’ 71-59 season-opening win over Eastern Illinois — Burnt Orange Nation, 11.6.18

Searching for an explanation behind air raid struggles — Inside Texas, 11.6.18

Ahead of trip to Lubbock, Tre Watson explains why he chose UT over Texas Tech — Austin American-Statesman, 11.6.18

Unsportsmanlike decision?: Should throwing the ‘Horns Down’ be a 15-yard penalty? — Austin American-Statesman, 11.6.18

While playing through pain, Sam Ehlinger has emerged as a special QB — Burnt Orange Nation, 11.7.18

The SMO: Sam Ehlinger will win a Heisman Trophy before he leaves Austin — Burnt Orange Nation, 11.7.18

Eyes on Texas: Ten years later, Blake Gideon refuses to let one play define his Longhorns career — Austin American-Statesman, 11.8.18

Local 5-star C Will Baker commits to Texas over UCLA — Burnt Orange Nation, 11.8.18

Texas WR Collin Johnson added to Thursday Longhorns injury report — Burnt Orange Nation, 11.8.18

Ten-hut!: Texas-Arkansas renew their rivalry at Fort Bliss in Armed Forces Classic — Austin American-Statesman, 11.8.18

We meet again: Texas players to reunite with ex-teammate John Bonney at Texas Tech —Austin American-Statesman, 11.8.18

Report: Texas Tech QB Jett Duffey will start QB against Texas — Burnt Orange Nation, 11.8.18

Big 12

Report: Les Miles Has ‘Emerged as a Front-Runner’ for Kansas Head Coach Job — Bleacher Report, 11.6.18

45 Kansas head coaching candidates, based exclusively on who the AD followed on Twitter — SB Nation, 11.7.18

Texas Tech football: Kingsbury instructs team to refrain from Horns down — Wreck’em Red, 11.7.18

The night of three field stormings: When Texas Tech beat No. 1 Texas — ESPN, 11.7.18

West Virginia’s Will Grier and the Decision That Transformed His Career — Bleacher Report, 11.7.18

Here’s where Jeff Long traveled Thursday as part of KU’s coaching search — Kansas City Star, 11.8.18

National

6 keys to Boston College going from laughingstock to ‘College GameDay’ host — SB Nation, 11.6.18

Who’s No. 4? Michigan and Georgia closer than you think — ESPN, 11.6.18

Miami’s Mark Richt is replicating one of mentor Bobby Bowden’s biggest mistakes — SB Nation, 11.6.18

Maryland fires trainers responsible for improperly treating football player Jordan McNair’s heatstroke — Baltimore Sun, 11.7.18

Championship Weekend Might Mean Nothing ... Unless It Means Everything — Sports Illustrated, 11.7.18

Multimedia

Men’s Basketball Highlights vs. Eastern Illinois [Nov. 6, 2018] -- YouTube

Coordinator Media Availability [November 7, 2018] -- YouTube

Breaking down every facet of the West Virginia game. What happened to the defense and can it be fixed? -- 4th-and-5 Podcast -- Spotify

Random Musings

Colgate (Patriot League) is the Alabama of FCS football. The Raiders are 8-0 (5-0) and have outscored opponents 239-23. After giving up 17 points in the Week One opener against Holy Cross, Colgate has allowed three points in two games and shut opponents out in the other five. Colgate’s dominance will be put to the test Nov. 17 on the road against 7-2 Army.

After losing 77-16 against Clemson on Saturday, a new report says that 20 Louisville football players have asked for paperwork that would initiate the transfer process. -- Twitter

Seven years ago this week, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit reacted to an earthquake at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. while live on SportsCenter. -- YouTube

Texas third-string quarterback Cameron Rising made it as a Jeopardy question. -- Twitter

‘Dug into the archives for this one. Here’s Democratic U.S. Representative-elect Colin Allred sacking the hell out of Rhett Bomar.’ -- Twitter

Andrew Jones checks into game for the first time since beating cancer. -- Reddit

RIP DKR. Darrell K. Royal Poem feature from LHN -- Facebook

Great pic of Texas Memorial Stadium from some time in the mid-1920s. -- Twitter

UMBC trolls UVA in banner ceremony after becoming the first 16-seed to knock off a 1-seed. -- Reddit

This week four years ago, Kaelin Clay pulls a DeSean Jackson by dropping the ball before he crosses the endzone on a 79 yard pass. Oregon picked up the fumble and ran the ball back 99 yards for a TD. -- YouTube

Pat’s Picks

My DC-based friend Pat -- a South Carolina grad, SEC homer and gambling expert -- is here to share his five locks of the week. He prints money on Saturdays.

1. Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Michigan State
2. Boston College (+20) vs. Clemson
3. Texas A&M (-11.5) vs. Ole Miss
4. USC (-5) vs. Cal
5. Tennessee (+6) vs. Kentucky

Bonus: Houston (-4) vs. Temple

---

Final Thoughts

Texas unveiled its new basketball court design on Tuesday during its 71-59 victory over Eastern Illinois at the Frank Erwin Center.

While the changes look relatively minor from its old look, the gradient burnt orange Longhorn at center court still irks me a bit. All in all, I’m glad they didn’t incorporate any black into the design (which was the original plan), otherwise we’d look a lot like Oklahoma State.

****

To have this delivered directly into your email inbox every Tuesday and Friday morning, click HERE.