A Salute to Rick Barnes

[IndyHorn]

Lord knows, I have been one to criticize Rick Barnes in the past. This season, I think he has done as good a job with this team as in any of his seasons in Austin, with lone exception of his very first Texas team. That team featured Chris Mihm and Ivon Wagoner, and very little else- and won a lot of games played with scores in the 50s. This season I am pretty impressed with how Barnes has the team playing two seemingly separate offensive systems within a single game. Barnes has us playing motion offense running JCovan Brown off multiple screens to receive the pass and shoot. Alternatively, Barnes has Myck Kabongon run the dribble-drive system utilizing a ball screen at the top of the key. Barnes has also coaxed his usual good defense and rebounding from Champman and Wangmene. Barnes also deserves a lot of credit for developing the frosh wings. Barnes has done a great job as best indicated by the team playing better ball now than in early season. Let's hope the trend continues and we can sweep the Sooner state and put us back on the right side of NCAA tournament bubble. The Longhorns are certainly a top 40 club at present, and I hope they get a chance to show it come March. If Brown and Kabongo somehow shrug off the NBA fever madness that drives all of our kids away from 6th street at too damned early of an age, then I can foresee a 2nd Final Four season next year. But for now, NIT or NCAA tournament up-coming, we should agree: Rick Barnes has done one hell of a job with this year's team.

 

[TexHorn71]

I agree. He never anticipated Tristan and Corey being one and done when he recruited them, so he had no choice but to play so many freshman this year. Other than Kabongo, they should all be 4 year players and much improved next year.. Barnes has lots of critics, but he'll never give us the embarrasment of the 2010 football season. Every major program has at least one down year each 10-12 years. See UConn this year. Still need to get to 20 wins though.

 

[VYFan]

I agree, too. I think there could still be some great surprises this year.

 

[hornpharmd]

The team this year is limited due to the lack of size inside. I think they are playing very well for what they have and look to be getting better as the season goes on. The young players are gaining valuable experience that they will need next year. Next year we have 4 guys with size coming in and it will be an entirely different ball game. Barnes just got unlucky this year when Thompson left after 1 season. He looked to be a guy that would come back for his soph season last year and if he did this Texas team would be dramatically different.

 

[Bob in Houston]

OK, who got Indy's signon?

 

[IndyHorn]

Ouch Bob, it's me. I have to call a spade a spade. I hope you will agree that this is the first time in how many, maybe 4 seasons, that Texas is playing better ball in mid-February than in early December.

 

[Branyon]

They better ratchet it up against OSU pretty damn quick. Turnovers and poor defense are costing 'em.

 

[planohorn91]

"Barnes has lots of critics, but he'll never give us the embarrasment of the 2010 football season."

While he may not give us the embarassment of the 2010 football season, I also believe he will never give us the joy of the 2005 football season either.

 

[LakeErieHorn]

Isn't our next coach up at Mizzou?

 

[Branyon]

Miami taint might be too strong.