Hot Mess

I'd glady pay an extra $600 grand or so for the 13-2 record Gail had at this same point in her first year. The argument that we paid too much would suggest that now we can be happy with a 7-8 record because it came at a discount.
 
Regarding question of I wonder who paid for her tickets to the game.

I saw GG at the South box office Will Call saying "Chris Plonsky left tickets for me". They directed her to the downstairs table by Red River. I assumed comped tickets...........an would expect she could get 10 instead of 2 if she asked.
 
Hmmmm……

I’ve been away from here for a while. Had a daughter graduate college. Became a grandparent. Had a parent fall and break multiple bones. Had a sibling move to LA to become a big movie star. Survived a big fire. It’s good to see nothing much changed on this board while I was gone. I could use some normalcy, so I’ll ramble on about Texas WBB for way too long….

To recap…….I thought much of the disappointment while coach G was at Texas was injury related bad luck. The team could not seem to catch a break. I had some issues with defensive strategy. In retrospect it was a little reminiscent of a Manny Diaz defense. I thought they were a poor rebounding team. I thought effort on the court was inconsistent. But, I thought they had enough talent and good enough coaching to win significantly more with just a normal amount of injuries. I don’t think Coach G forgot how to coach when she came to Texas. I do think it took her too long to understand some cultural differences and adjust. By the time she adjusted there was going to be no quick fix. I think she may have cared too much about her players and their personal development and failed to make some hard basketball decisions. But, had she stayed I still think Texas would have eventually been very successful. It didn’t tear me up that she left. Sometimes you just need change. Maybe that was a good time for change to come. When Karen Aston was hired I was very surprised. I knew she was a candidate, but I really believed her to be a long shot. I didn’t think Texas would take that big a risk when they could still attract a very high profile coach with a proven D1 track record. I didn’t hate the hire, I saw it as very risky.

Today that risk is very apparent. All it takes is a little losing streak to start the conference season and suddenly there is a huge lack of confidence in the direction of the program. A more established coach would get the benefit of the doubt for longer. People would EXPECT a previously successful coach to be successful again. With Coach Aston there is no history to fall back on. It has to be an act of faith. That was the risk. Even if the program is going in the right direction and this is just a bump in the road can they give her long enough to do the job?

I like Coach Aston. I like her personally and I like many of the changes she has brought to Texas. The atmosphere around the program feels much more like what I remember from the past. Many more people from the past are around the program and providing a positive influence. I think Coach Aston understands the expectations of Texas fans, and what it means to be a head coach at Texas. I think she embraces that pressure, and wants that pressure. In that respect I don’t think there was a better hire available.

Coach Aston is a defensive coach. She believes in defense and rebounding. She is a post coach and believes in sending the basketball through the post and denying easy baskets. For the most part I think the Texas defense has been improved this season. I think rebounding has obviously been improved, although losing Cokie will make a difference. Overall I think post play has been improved. I think the posts are more active on defense, and do a better job of demanding the ball on offense. I think the team plays hard, and I think the effort is more consistent. If they would convert layups and put-backs more consistently I would be very happy with the posts.

Guard play is another story…

Chas is still very good. It’s no secret she has had some personal issues to deal with lately and her play has reflected that. But, it’s also very hard to be the star when the other team knows you are the only scoring threat. Chas looks like (IMO) she takes too much pressure on herself. I think she is a much better player when she remembers that basketball is a game and she just has fun. She looks (IMO) like someone who has been told that she should be a leader and isn’t comfortable in that role. (Nothing wrong with that. It doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and there isn’t much worse than trying to force leadership.) I think when she just has fun others follow that lead and good things happen.

Empress has the tools to be very good. But, she looks like she keeps remembering that she is a freshman while she is on the court. She needs to forget. She can’t really be a vocal leader as a freshman. She can lead with her play. She can bring relentless defensive intensity. More importantly, she has the ability to create her own shot and get to the rim. This team needs that desperately.

But, wow. They really need a point guard. I don’t want to rag on Celina. She is a true freshman. Playing D1 PG as a true freshman is very, very difficult under any circumstances. She doesn’t have great size, speed, or quickness to make up for mistakes, or just beat people physically. So, everything she accomplishes has to be with hard work, execution, and working with her teammates. She is commonly joined in the backcourt by another freshman, or a RS freshman, or a JUCO transfer. That is just a tough spot when you get into a Big 12 schedule.

I know there is a lot of complaint about the offense, and a lack of imagination. I also know that very often what you see on the court is not the offense the coaches are teaching. Very commonly the speed of the game is getting the best of the younger players and they are getting off schedule. Most plays have a number of options and a fall back. More often than not we see the fall back.

Is this the fault of the coaching staff? Is it the fault of the players? Is it just normal for a young team? Probably some of all that is true. Regardless it is Coach Aston who has to find a way to get better play from her team, and in that sense blame really doesn’t matter.

Chas, Empress, Nneka, and Imani all have the ability to be as good as they want to be. Chas, I think, just needs to have fun. Empress needs to both keep learning and loosen up a bit and let her natural talent loose. Nneka and Imani both need to keep working and learn how to take advantage of the physical tools they have in the post. Brady looks (IMO) like someone who can be a very valuable part of the team. She also looks (IMO) like she is struggling to find her role. I think she just needs to accept every opportunity and make the most of it and let the rest take care of itself. This team needs for her to bring energy and provide a scoring punch. It doesn’t matter how that is accomplished.

But, they need to play better as a team and it needs to start now. The distressing thing is not that they have lost four conference games. It is that they have lost four conference games that they could have won. Talent has not been the issue. It has been experience and execution. While they play hard and never quit they also look like they are playing to not lose. They need to take an attitude as a team that they will be the ones to set the tone. They may be young but they need to put their collective feet on the other teams throat and never let up. Play to win. Being safe and trying to stay close never won a single championship.

There is no denying that I have seen some very ugly basketball at times this season. I have also seen some signs that are very encouraging, and some periods when they played very well for a while. I don’t begin to know which direction the trend will follow. It’s up to this team. But, I’ll be cheering for them. I think there is a lot of opportunity if they can stay positive.

Beat the hell out of Tech!
 
welcome back to the entitled, impatient and deluded family.
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it does not come as a surprise if she was "comped" free tickets. This should be insulting to you season holders, or for those that get the web coupon for Wednesday games.
 
Seattle -- I agree. How dare Goestenkors accept comp tickets! This is an outrage. I've never heard of a university offering complimentary tickets to games or events to former coaches, players, family or distinguished VIPS, especially tickets valued at a price of at least $6. It's even more dishonorable considering there were thousand and thousands of fans waiting outside to get in to the Erwin Center but couldn't get a ticket and had to miss such an outstanding game. Oh wait. That was the line last year for American Idol auditions. I forgot the arena was 90% empty for this game.

Thank God Coach G is no longer the coach at Texas. Imagine how she could influence the minds of our young players. And if she were still the Texas coach we wouldn't be able to experience history in the making -- the longest losing streak in the program's history that is.

Plus - I bet she'd try to teach players how to cheat the system and pressure the University into handing out valuable comp tickets. In fact, I bet that's why she showed up in the first place. Evil, evil woman.
 
texexted - the next thing you know, she'll be getting a retirement annuity from The University of Texas, for just 5 years of service.

As enlightening (and humorous) is regarding your two cents on complimentary tickets, don't you see a pattern here? She came, she took and now she receives gifts? If she was a "guest", was there an announcement that she was in the crowd at half-time, or before the team introductions?

"Evil, evil woman."

Those are your words not mine. Divisive, polarizing and overpaid would be mine.

Texas should be a forward looking program. A little nostalgia here and there is acceptable. To celebrate one who resigned is NOT what UT should embrace....ever!
 
Do you honestly think any Div 1 coach pays for tickets when they come to our games? Jody gets comped to a suite when she wants it and good for her. Gail deserves same. She took us to the tourney 5 times. She coached a player who holds all-time school blocking record and I believe a few of her other players and Chas as a freshman set a few records too. And Gail had the decency to let the university out of its contract with her when she realized she could not meet the goals and expectations of the job. No. As a season ticket holder I don't begrudge her comped tickets. It speaks volumes that she has stayed in Austin and comes to games. She might not have lived up to the high expectations but IMO she certainly left the program better than she found it.
 
Do you honestly think any Div 1 coach pays for tickets when they come to our games?

SEATTLE - why yes I do. They can afford it.

Jody gets comped to a suite when she wants it and good for her. Gail deserves same.

SEATTLE - No she doesn't. She didn't win any title for Texas except for a Maggie Dixon Surf and Slam Classic tournament..and that's pushing it. A measly trophy that probably stashed, where? Next to the 1986 trophy?

She took us to the tourney 4 times.

SEATTLE - you mean 5 times? (albeit 4 first round exits and 1 2nd round exit)

And Gail had the decency to let the university out of its contract with her when she realized she could not meet the goals and expectations of the job.

SEATTLE - That is your opinion as what I am going to state is as well. She was tired alright..of losing. No one smart would rebuff a million dollars a year. Neither you, I or any of the casual fan will know the real story.

As a season ticket holder I don't begrudge her comped tickets.

SEATTLE - your choice.

It speaks volumes that she has stayed in Austin and comes to games.

SEATTLE - 1 game and counting? Oh great, more distractions for the team and staff! We'll see if she stays in Austin FOREVER.

She might not have lived up to the high expectations but IMO she certainly left the program better than she found it.

SEATTLE - Was it worth the 5.30 million dollars? If anything, 2 of our rivals won the NCAA championship under her direction at Texas.
 
Actually Seattle. She's a friend as is Jody. No hidden story. Both are currently retired from the game. Both for personal reasons. Neither were forced out. Both could still be in the position if they wanted it.

Div 1 coaches who visit the FEC are considered guests. They do not pay. It's a courtesy and something you wouldn't understand.

We hired an "old friend" as our current coach. I hope it works out but I would have preferred we threw more money at a longer resume. We have the money to give.

Good luck tonight Horns. Beat Tech.
 
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