overseasbbfan1
1,000+ Posts
The TCU loss was disappointing because it's a game we could have won, as was the case with our other two conference losses. And also because we need to win on the road at some point; just taking care of home court isn't enough in this league. Road wins are hard to come by, but you have to rack up a few (at least) along the way; hopefully that day is coming sooner rather than later for the Horns. I think the criticism of TO's is fair. Through 18 games, we're averaging the same number we did last season, and actually one more than last year in league contests thus far. Of course there's the old adage no one cares how many TO's you have when you win, and we are winning more this season than last. But not enough, in particular when we don't have the scoring to compensate for the sloppy play. We have to take better care of the ball. There has also been criticism about the number of missed shots, which is addressed below.
The above said, there's more to bear in mind with respect to this team:
*We were picked to finish 5th in league play, and even that was considered ambitious by more than a few on this board, and elsewhere. We are currently tied for 4th in the conference standings. We would have been sole 4th had we won at TCU, but that didn't happen. Conversely OU was picked to finish first in the Big 12 and currently sits 7th. The three road losses are disappointing because all were winnable, and we could just as easily be 6-0 as 3-3 at this point. But other teams can make similar statements about their records, and bottom line we're doing better relative to where we were picked, and what many expected, than a lot of other league teams thus far.
*A lot have commented that we lack playmakers at the guard position, and no question we've missed easy baskets that would have been the difference in several close games. That's fair but I think all agree our guards are much improved this season over last. The missed shots are frustrating, but for those who want playmakers and scorers, we've got some of the best in the country coming in the next two seasons. And just ask OU if a big time scorer is all that's needed to win games in this league; Ellenberg scored 37 vs. the Horns and the Sooners still lost. It's about balance, and depth, and we are in much better shape in that respect that we have been in a very long time. And the few pieces still missing are on the way.
*7 Big 12 teams made the NCAA field each of the last three seasons. In 2011 the last conference team in was 7-9 league play, and in both 2011 and 2012 the last teams in were 8-10. With 12 conference games remaining, winning 5 (with at least one win in the league tourney) will likely get us into the NCAA field. Of course most of us would like to see The Horns do more than just get in, but a big step up in league finish and a return to post-season play would certainly be viewed as a successful season by most, in particular given our struggles last year, and the general direction many seem to feel this team was headed in prior years. It's also important to note that all of our league losses thus far have been close contests; no blowouts, which certainly wasn't the case last season. We're winning more, and playing better in our losses, but clearly it's time we get over that next hurdle and win a few on the road.
There has been some good discussion about TOs, missed shots, and even decisions regarding why certain player/s were on the floor, and others pulled at crucial points in some contests. But it is easy to distinguish between criticism and questions posed by fans, and the garbage thrown out by trolls who don't support the program in the first place. That will continue to happen as long as we keep getting better, and getting commitments from top recruits (and won't go away even when we win). And when other top (uncommitted) recruits remove certain programs from their short lists, while keeping the Horns near the top (something that's happened quite a bit lately), the noise will get even greater. Fortunately that kind of behavior only makes it more likely those players will end up at Texas.
This team has work to do if they want to keep the momentum swinging in the right direction. I don't know if it's fair to talk about the role, or future of any assistant coaches, though some have done that lately. I will say that someone has likely been tasked with getting these players to take better care of the ball. Is that an assignment that needs to be reevaluated? Perhaps. There have certainly been games where we played with passion, and a sense of urgency. If we want to maintain, or even improve our current standing in the conference race, we've got to play that way every time out going forward, and for a full 40 minutes.
Let's go, Horns. Play tough, and finish strong!
The above said, there's more to bear in mind with respect to this team:
*We were picked to finish 5th in league play, and even that was considered ambitious by more than a few on this board, and elsewhere. We are currently tied for 4th in the conference standings. We would have been sole 4th had we won at TCU, but that didn't happen. Conversely OU was picked to finish first in the Big 12 and currently sits 7th. The three road losses are disappointing because all were winnable, and we could just as easily be 6-0 as 3-3 at this point. But other teams can make similar statements about their records, and bottom line we're doing better relative to where we were picked, and what many expected, than a lot of other league teams thus far.
*A lot have commented that we lack playmakers at the guard position, and no question we've missed easy baskets that would have been the difference in several close games. That's fair but I think all agree our guards are much improved this season over last. The missed shots are frustrating, but for those who want playmakers and scorers, we've got some of the best in the country coming in the next two seasons. And just ask OU if a big time scorer is all that's needed to win games in this league; Ellenberg scored 37 vs. the Horns and the Sooners still lost. It's about balance, and depth, and we are in much better shape in that respect that we have been in a very long time. And the few pieces still missing are on the way.
*7 Big 12 teams made the NCAA field each of the last three seasons. In 2011 the last conference team in was 7-9 league play, and in both 2011 and 2012 the last teams in were 8-10. With 12 conference games remaining, winning 5 (with at least one win in the league tourney) will likely get us into the NCAA field. Of course most of us would like to see The Horns do more than just get in, but a big step up in league finish and a return to post-season play would certainly be viewed as a successful season by most, in particular given our struggles last year, and the general direction many seem to feel this team was headed in prior years. It's also important to note that all of our league losses thus far have been close contests; no blowouts, which certainly wasn't the case last season. We're winning more, and playing better in our losses, but clearly it's time we get over that next hurdle and win a few on the road.
There has been some good discussion about TOs, missed shots, and even decisions regarding why certain player/s were on the floor, and others pulled at crucial points in some contests. But it is easy to distinguish between criticism and questions posed by fans, and the garbage thrown out by trolls who don't support the program in the first place. That will continue to happen as long as we keep getting better, and getting commitments from top recruits (and won't go away even when we win). And when other top (uncommitted) recruits remove certain programs from their short lists, while keeping the Horns near the top (something that's happened quite a bit lately), the noise will get even greater. Fortunately that kind of behavior only makes it more likely those players will end up at Texas.
This team has work to do if they want to keep the momentum swinging in the right direction. I don't know if it's fair to talk about the role, or future of any assistant coaches, though some have done that lately. I will say that someone has likely been tasked with getting these players to take better care of the ball. Is that an assignment that needs to be reevaluated? Perhaps. There have certainly been games where we played with passion, and a sense of urgency. If we want to maintain, or even improve our current standing in the conference race, we've got to play that way every time out going forward, and for a full 40 minutes.
Let's go, Horns. Play tough, and finish strong!
