After a disappointing season, this team could surprise...

H

hornarama

100+ Posts
Yes, I've made posts that support the idea that its time for a change at head coach. But that is in moratorium throughout our run in the tourney. While its clear we have potential on this team to beat just about anyone in the country, we've had problems reaching that potential. These last games have given me some encouragement. Although we've had problems closing games and we turn it over and foul way too much, there are also signs of ball movement, I Taylor penetration and floaters working, and Yancey, et al starting to heat up from 3.

Can a switch be flipped and we simply start playing our best ball of the season? I think it is possible. Of course its also possible we lose the first game against the very respected program of Butler. I hope Coach Barnes can inject some fun into our run so that the players can loosen up a bit.
I'll go on record as predicting we "upset" Butler. Next up would probably be Notre Dame and there are few teams that would be sweeter to beat. That game I believe will be very tough to win. However, if I was Notre Dame, I would want an easier game than us to get to sweet 16. Given our season, we will have little to lose and really the pressure will be on Notre Dame. That could be a recipe for victory.
 
I'd love to see Barnes lighten up and just "roll out the balls". It seems we've played at our best this year when we just played "school yard ball". The most frustrating thing about this team is that there is so much potential there. If we put it all together, I can see running Butler out of the gym. Of course, I can also see us playing like the Washington Generals in the last few minutes of the game to wrestle defeat out of the jaws of victory . . . again.
 
I agree Barnes needs to do something different to change the mojo, loosen / shake things up, help them have a little fun - it might pay off with an attitude change and some victories. Hell why not? The past efforts have resulted in very predictable patterns of play / poor results and normally a loss until a couple of wins recently.

:hookem:
 
For once when I heard the players say this a clean slate and we're here to make some noise, I really believe they have that mindset going in. It sounded to me like the pressure being off with nothing to lose sums it up nicely from the tone of their voices. Typically that's just player speak, but i didn't get that impression this time. This coming from someone very critical of players/coaches sunshine pumping and towing the company line. For once, those type of comments came across as determined and ready to lay it on the line. We shall see but I'm feeling pretty optimistic about Thursday.
 
Per Jay Williams, Barnes biggest mistake was probably moving Holmes from his natural position at the 4. I tend to agree with that. I think Barnes tried the same thing with another power forward, I think it was PJ Tucker. I don't think that worked out very well. Then again Barnes (and I have to admit, I am one of his biggest supporters) has said in the past that the main thing is to make sure those players that are able, make it to the big show, not just the big dance.
 
Agree'd. Moving J Holmes was more for him than it was for us. While you admire him for putting a kids best interest at the forefront, at what point do you ultimately do what is best for the program and win games?
 
I stated on another thread that Texas should beat Butler. However, I am now in full waffle mode. I checked the Butler schedule and they have at least eight wins over teams in the tourney. We have three wins over tourney teams. This makes me nerrrvous.

Horns will need a good shooting night to keep up with the Big East Butler bullies. Come on Felix!! Come on Taylor!! Come on Holmes!! And come on Conner, take a few more Threes!! You can do it!! :hookem:
 
Regarding Holmes, he plays for The University of Texas last I checked, not the NBA prep league. As the well paid head coach of the Longhorns, it's your job to use players where they best maximize the success of your team. It's not okay to cost other kids more team success while looking out for one player.

NBA scouts are no fools. Especially with Holmes and the tons of tape they have on his game. They know good and well where college players will fit best in their league. If they disagree with a college coach's improper usage for NBA purposes, they'll still draft said talented players and immediately move them to their own desired position. The NBA does this all the time, so does the NFL.

I've heard analysts (Bob Knight, etc) say many times that a player is in one spot now, but will serve another role on the professional level. To me, Barnes is not fulfilling his duties here if he's purposely playing Holmes out of position. Aiding one player's career interests at the expense of the team is not what he's paid to do.
 
caryhorn said:
I stated on another thread that Texas should beat Butler. However, I am now in full waffle mode. I checked the Butler schedule and they have at least eight wins over teams in the tourney. We have three wins over tourney teams. This makes me nerrrvous.
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Allow me to add to your nervousness . . . Barnes is 1-6 at Texas when playing a higher-seeded team in the NCAAs. His teams haven't pulled off an upset (*) since his 6th-seeded team beat 3rd-seeded Miss State in '02. For the record, Penders was 6-5.

(*) - yes, I understand we are the favorite to win the game so "upset" might not be the best term.
 
Chest Rockwell said:
Allow me to add to your nervousness . . . Barnes is 1-6 at Texas when playing a higher-seeded team in the NCAAs. His teams haven't pulled off an upset (*) since his 6th-seeded team beat 3rd-seeded Miss State in '02. For the record, Penders was 6-5.

(*) - yes, I understand we are the favorite to win the game so "upset" might not be the best term.
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How is Texas vs the spread this year?
 
Butler is a BB school and has good teams. They have been to the Big Dance many times and will bring their A game. The Horns will need to focus, play well and CLOSE if they have the lead.

I am very concerned about this game.
 
It's a weird matchup because it's not really an upset if we win, but it is not a game we are supposed to win either (based on seeding).

I would not give Barnes credit for an upset if we win, but i would not fail to give him credit and say "he should have won" either. I guess it's a tossup? I am not sure how to classify the game.

I am leaning towards us winning but who knows.
 
Well, actually no surprise. The horns played pretty much as they did all season. Many dumb fouls, brain dead turnovers, bad shooting, and bad offense. We didn't earn our way into the NCAA tourney, but got in because the Big 12 was probably overrated. So, what was supposed to be a top 10 team starting the season played no better than maybe a top 100 team.
 
Turner's play was inexcusable. I'm not sure if he's just "done" with the program and on autopilot leading up to the Draft invitee camps, but a versatile big man should typically get more than a basket and fewer than 4 turnovers in a tournament game. Just awful. God awful.
 
Brad Austin said:
For once when I heard the players say this a clean slate and we're here to make some noise, I really believe they have that mindset going in. It sounded to me like the pressure being off with nothing to lose sums it up nicely from the tone of their voices. Typically that's just player speak, but i didn't get that impression this time. This coming from someone very critical of players/coaches sunshine pumping and towing the company line. For once, those type of comments came across as determined and ready to lay it on the line. We shall see but I'm feeling pretty optimistic about Thursday.
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Texas made some noise. It was the sound of the ball clanging off the rim.
 
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