outlookdude
250+ Posts
I apologize in advance for the length of this post. Maybe I can set some sort of record. This is sort of my end of season thoughts – even though it is not over. I don’t think anything that can happen will change my perspective all that much. I’ll do my best to post this and then just listen to what others have to say.
I have been reading with interest, frustration, and even some amusement various points of view concerning the apparently unexpected losses at the end of this season. Some believe this team is loaded with talent and under-achieving. Some believe there is a lack of talent and expectations were not realistic. Probably some, who are not ready to say so this soon, also question the coaching.
As usual I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Some think the glass is half full, some think it is half empty. Personally, I think the glass is too big.
Coach Barnes likes to say that you are what your record says that you are. As over-simplifications go that is a pretty good one. But, we don’t want to make it that simple. Otherwise why would we have message boards?
First, let’s be honest. This team could have played better at times this year. I don’t think anyone believes that we have seen the best performance this group is capable of providing. We have seen mental mistakes, easy shots missed, and at times simply being out worked. There is a natural tendency to look for a place to point a finger of blame. But, I don’t think there is one single place to point.
If I had to point in one place I would classify the issue as “growing pains”….. Three freshmen have seen significant playing time. This is only the second season with a new coaching staff teaching new offensive and defensive schemes. EA may be a junior, but this was her first season to play in the new system. Remembering what this team has been through helps understanding the mental mistakes.
Anyone who has shot a basketball knows that half the battle is confidence. It is difficult to have confidence when you are still becoming comfortable with a new system. A split seconds hesitation can make all the difference. A pass that arrives just a hair later than ideal. A cut made not quite as hard as when it just comes to you automatically. This is a fast paced game. There is no time to stop and think. You have the correct reaction, or it is too late.
This can also lead to a team looking like they have no passion, or do not work hard. If one team is just reacting, while the other stops to think for that half second….well, one team is going to look slow and lazy.
I can make excuses. But, it appeared that this team played really well at times this year. Why was it not consistent? Personally I think that some of what was generally seen as playing well had more to do with nights that shots fell, and other teams not playing quite as well as we thought. Don’t misunderstand……I’m not saying this team has been bad or only won through luck. I’m just suggesting that they have not been as inconsistent as it might seem on the surface. I don’t think they have ever reached that comfort level where they could just relax and play basketball.
So, should they have been better prepared by now? Is this a coaching issue? Well, if you believe they have under-achieved then you have to point the finger that direction. You don’t get paid seven figures to pass the buck. It is the coaching staff’s job to have the team ready to play at the highest possible level for every game. If you don’t believe the team has under-achieved this is no issue. If you do then don’t let the coaches off the hook just because they are relatively new.
Ultimately we have to get back to talking about the talent on the team, and just how much there is to work with. I know people have disagreed on this subject. I think it is mostly a question of definitions. We are almost forced to define players in subjective terms. But at the end of the day, the question really isn’t about how talented are they. The question is, did they play as well as they were capable of playing?
I believe this team played almost as well as they possibly could. The loss at Tech to open conference, and the loss at home to OSU were the ones that disappointed me. As I see it OU and aTm simply have better overall talent this year. They are NOT unbeatable, but there seems to be a clear overall talent separation between those two teams and the other Big 12 teams. There is no embarrassment there. Any team with the Paris sisters as seniors should have an advantage over others. Takia Starks and Danielle Gant are two more really, really talented seniors who could play for anyone. I think Baylor and Texas are very close for the third and fourth most talented teams, in conference. Baylor has had an advantage in that they have played in the same system longer. So, realistically I (IMHO) see Texas as the fourth most talented team in the Big 12. We go to the conference tournament as the sixth seed – but we all know that if Iowa State and Kansas State played a south division schedule the results would look different.
An 8-8 conference record does not look that good on the surface. But, there are really only two of those losses that bother me. Half the losses came to OU and aTm, two teams that I think are clearly among the best in the country this year. We split with Baylor, which is respectable. The loss to Kansas State was on the road, on their senior day, and they played lights out. We could have been better, but give them some credit.
I do not believe that this team has under achieved, or if they have then not by much. I do believe that they are capable of playing better, and making a run in the conference tournament and the NCAA. It may not happen, but I do believe that I have seen continuing signs of progress. The second half of the OU game was clearly the best they have played all year. I am hopeful that was not a peak, but will be something to build upon.
As to talent and results vs expectations……..in the four seasons from 01-05 Texas was 52-12 in conference. In the four seasons from 05-09 Texas was 28-36. Such a dramatic change, over a significant period of time, can only happen with a drop in overall talent.
How many players from this team would be starting on a team that included Jamie Carey, Stacy Stevens, Heather Schreiber, Annissa Hastings, Tai Dillard, Nina Norman, Kala Bowers, Tracy Cook, Coco Reed, Alisa Sare and Asha Hill? That is the heart of the teams which compiled the 52-12 record. Is there a player from our team this year that could start with that group? I see 4-5 who would get significant PT – I’m not so sure about starting.
I don’t bring this up to belittle this year’s team. This group of players is very good. They are certainly a top 20-25 team. Maybe top 15. That is very good for a young team still learning a new system. I know they have worked hard, and I have enjoyed watching them. I think they can be better, but I do not think they have under achieved.
Before I leave this alone and wait for some discussion, or blasting…….I spoke in another post about elite teams needing elite players. Let me offer my definition…….an elite player is one that makes the four other players on the court better, every minute of every game in which they participate. That may come from physical skills, knowledge of the game, leadership, or some combination of those. But, when I say elite that is what I mean. Jamie Carey was a combination of shooting, passing, understanding the game, and leadership. Stacy Stevens incredible ability to rebound gave her teammates extra opportunities to score, and limited those of the opponents meaning her teammates spent less time playing defense.
It is no knock on a player to say they are not elite. Very, very few are. Maybe someone on the current Texas team will develop into an elite player. That could certainly happen, but I don’t see one this season. I see a team full of excellent basketball players……yes, very talented, all of whom can make very significant contributions. Maybe a top 15 team. But, I don’t think we get over the elite bar that all Texas sports fans watch without developing or recruiting an elite player – or two.
I do not think this team has under achieved. I do think this team has been under appreciated……Unfortunately I think Texas fans have been jaded by success in pretty much every sport. Give us a top 5 team and the house is packed. Give us a top 15 team and the reaction is very ho-hum. I’m not sure how to fix that….certainly not by lowering standards.
I have enjoyed watching this team. I have high hopes for the tournaments to follow. I see opportunity for great improvement in the years to come, both for the returning players and the program in general. Overall, I think at this point it is more appropriate to talk about and focus on what this group has accomplished, and not what we wish would have been.
I have been reading with interest, frustration, and even some amusement various points of view concerning the apparently unexpected losses at the end of this season. Some believe this team is loaded with talent and under-achieving. Some believe there is a lack of talent and expectations were not realistic. Probably some, who are not ready to say so this soon, also question the coaching.
As usual I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Some think the glass is half full, some think it is half empty. Personally, I think the glass is too big.
Coach Barnes likes to say that you are what your record says that you are. As over-simplifications go that is a pretty good one. But, we don’t want to make it that simple. Otherwise why would we have message boards?
First, let’s be honest. This team could have played better at times this year. I don’t think anyone believes that we have seen the best performance this group is capable of providing. We have seen mental mistakes, easy shots missed, and at times simply being out worked. There is a natural tendency to look for a place to point a finger of blame. But, I don’t think there is one single place to point.
If I had to point in one place I would classify the issue as “growing pains”….. Three freshmen have seen significant playing time. This is only the second season with a new coaching staff teaching new offensive and defensive schemes. EA may be a junior, but this was her first season to play in the new system. Remembering what this team has been through helps understanding the mental mistakes.
Anyone who has shot a basketball knows that half the battle is confidence. It is difficult to have confidence when you are still becoming comfortable with a new system. A split seconds hesitation can make all the difference. A pass that arrives just a hair later than ideal. A cut made not quite as hard as when it just comes to you automatically. This is a fast paced game. There is no time to stop and think. You have the correct reaction, or it is too late.
This can also lead to a team looking like they have no passion, or do not work hard. If one team is just reacting, while the other stops to think for that half second….well, one team is going to look slow and lazy.
I can make excuses. But, it appeared that this team played really well at times this year. Why was it not consistent? Personally I think that some of what was generally seen as playing well had more to do with nights that shots fell, and other teams not playing quite as well as we thought. Don’t misunderstand……I’m not saying this team has been bad or only won through luck. I’m just suggesting that they have not been as inconsistent as it might seem on the surface. I don’t think they have ever reached that comfort level where they could just relax and play basketball.
So, should they have been better prepared by now? Is this a coaching issue? Well, if you believe they have under-achieved then you have to point the finger that direction. You don’t get paid seven figures to pass the buck. It is the coaching staff’s job to have the team ready to play at the highest possible level for every game. If you don’t believe the team has under-achieved this is no issue. If you do then don’t let the coaches off the hook just because they are relatively new.
Ultimately we have to get back to talking about the talent on the team, and just how much there is to work with. I know people have disagreed on this subject. I think it is mostly a question of definitions. We are almost forced to define players in subjective terms. But at the end of the day, the question really isn’t about how talented are they. The question is, did they play as well as they were capable of playing?
I believe this team played almost as well as they possibly could. The loss at Tech to open conference, and the loss at home to OSU were the ones that disappointed me. As I see it OU and aTm simply have better overall talent this year. They are NOT unbeatable, but there seems to be a clear overall talent separation between those two teams and the other Big 12 teams. There is no embarrassment there. Any team with the Paris sisters as seniors should have an advantage over others. Takia Starks and Danielle Gant are two more really, really talented seniors who could play for anyone. I think Baylor and Texas are very close for the third and fourth most talented teams, in conference. Baylor has had an advantage in that they have played in the same system longer. So, realistically I (IMHO) see Texas as the fourth most talented team in the Big 12. We go to the conference tournament as the sixth seed – but we all know that if Iowa State and Kansas State played a south division schedule the results would look different.
An 8-8 conference record does not look that good on the surface. But, there are really only two of those losses that bother me. Half the losses came to OU and aTm, two teams that I think are clearly among the best in the country this year. We split with Baylor, which is respectable. The loss to Kansas State was on the road, on their senior day, and they played lights out. We could have been better, but give them some credit.
I do not believe that this team has under achieved, or if they have then not by much. I do believe that they are capable of playing better, and making a run in the conference tournament and the NCAA. It may not happen, but I do believe that I have seen continuing signs of progress. The second half of the OU game was clearly the best they have played all year. I am hopeful that was not a peak, but will be something to build upon.
As to talent and results vs expectations……..in the four seasons from 01-05 Texas was 52-12 in conference. In the four seasons from 05-09 Texas was 28-36. Such a dramatic change, over a significant period of time, can only happen with a drop in overall talent.
How many players from this team would be starting on a team that included Jamie Carey, Stacy Stevens, Heather Schreiber, Annissa Hastings, Tai Dillard, Nina Norman, Kala Bowers, Tracy Cook, Coco Reed, Alisa Sare and Asha Hill? That is the heart of the teams which compiled the 52-12 record. Is there a player from our team this year that could start with that group? I see 4-5 who would get significant PT – I’m not so sure about starting.
I don’t bring this up to belittle this year’s team. This group of players is very good. They are certainly a top 20-25 team. Maybe top 15. That is very good for a young team still learning a new system. I know they have worked hard, and I have enjoyed watching them. I think they can be better, but I do not think they have under achieved.
Before I leave this alone and wait for some discussion, or blasting…….I spoke in another post about elite teams needing elite players. Let me offer my definition…….an elite player is one that makes the four other players on the court better, every minute of every game in which they participate. That may come from physical skills, knowledge of the game, leadership, or some combination of those. But, when I say elite that is what I mean. Jamie Carey was a combination of shooting, passing, understanding the game, and leadership. Stacy Stevens incredible ability to rebound gave her teammates extra opportunities to score, and limited those of the opponents meaning her teammates spent less time playing defense.
It is no knock on a player to say they are not elite. Very, very few are. Maybe someone on the current Texas team will develop into an elite player. That could certainly happen, but I don’t see one this season. I see a team full of excellent basketball players……yes, very talented, all of whom can make very significant contributions. Maybe a top 15 team. But, I don’t think we get over the elite bar that all Texas sports fans watch without developing or recruiting an elite player – or two.
I do not think this team has under achieved. I do think this team has been under appreciated……Unfortunately I think Texas fans have been jaded by success in pretty much every sport. Give us a top 5 team and the house is packed. Give us a top 15 team and the reaction is very ho-hum. I’m not sure how to fix that….certainly not by lowering standards.
I have enjoyed watching this team. I have high hopes for the tournaments to follow. I see opportunity for great improvement in the years to come, both for the returning players and the program in general. Overall, I think at this point it is more appropriate to talk about and focus on what this group has accomplished, and not what we wish would have been.
