Questions on improvement

[jiggy-z]

There has been a lot written and said about this team's improvement after the Uconn game or as the season has progressed.

Obviously the number of losses has been holding steady for awhile, so the W-L numbers are improving. But my question to the basketball experts out there is this:

What have you seen that indicated the level of play is improving from an X s and Os standpoint or that individual players have decreased mistakes or stepped up their game?

Because, frankly I see the same team that took the floor against UConn or Pitt or USC, so how have the Longhorns improved, freethow shooting notwithstanding?

 

[Chest Rockwell]

I would have to say the primary reason is chemistry and everyone understanding what their roles are on this team. But this team is certainly not without its stars. Hamilton is having a POY type of year, Joseph & Thompson will both get on Freshman AA teams, J'Covan will get some 6th Man ink and Johnson & Balbay are the "glue" Seniors. Throw in quality minutes from Hill & Wangmene and this team reminds me an awful lot of the '82 (?) team before Wacker went down.

I don't know that you can fairly compare the team today vs. the team that played Pitt since that was ~75 days ago and the 4th game of the season. The USC game was an anomaly - hopefully the only one we'll have this year.

 

[DINO22]

Defense is better.They play as a team. And the offense is dang good.Plus 2 point guard makes a big difference.We have a lot of offensive weapons.Total different team now
Hookem'

 

[Booyakasha!]

JayZ I dont know what team you've been watching but I see a superior team than the one I saw V Pitt and UConn. Defense is the biggest improvement, it is smothering, UConn couldnt hold our jock NOW after what I saw out of them last night.

 

[elface]

The guards (includes Hamilton) are making more of an effort to get rebounds. The bigs are blocking out better to allow rebounding to improve.

UConn killed us by weakside rebounding. Thompson's defensive timing has improved in that when he goes for a swat, the personnel is in better position to rebound when he misses the swat.

Things will be tough when we play physical guards with lots of bigs. Fortunately the Big 12 doesn't have anybody like this.

 

[Third Coast]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[NorthernNJHorn]

To my untrained eyes, the defense seems more coordinated in that help gets where needed promptly, and the players are more confident because of it. Everyone on the floor seem to enjoy playing stifling defense, too.

On the offensive side, our scheme seems to be improving. Balbay brings the ball the the arc, but then he gives it up and starts roaming, looking for pass & lay-up or rebounding opportunities. He's more involved in the paint and uses his athleticism. He's driving more aggressively, too. Gary Johnson seems to operate closer to the basket, too. He's shooting more 12 - 15 footers instead of 15-18 footers with improved accuracy. From the bench, Wangmene is much improved since the UNC game. Everyone else seems to be the same as when the season began other than the normal course of maturing.

 

[WashU-Horn]

This team plays D.

This team plays hard.

This team plays together.

James and Bradley going to the NBA was the best thing to happen to this team. I never liked James and I thought that he was a bad influence on the team last year. Bradley never really bought in and it showed.

This is the best team we have had under Barnes. This team would beat the **** out of the team that went to the Final Four.

 

[The Horn Identity]

There were a lot of issues on last year's team, but I don't see how you can say James was one of them. The guy always gave 100% and a double-double machine.

 

[3ball]

Chemistry is much improved which helps tremendously.

Offensively, we are running an offense! I don't have a problem with the random ball screen action if we have talented guards and bigs, but for this team, I love our current offense. We are using our bigs that have limited offensive skill as screeners off the ball, which makes them effective and useful. No way Hill and Lexi could contribute this much in a ball screen offense. You don't have to guard them. These screens are also getting guys open (Hamilton, Brown, Joseph) in spots where they can be successful and forces us to only go to guys that need the ball. It also limits the # of bad shots that Brown and Hamilton take, because they don't have the ball in their hand trying to create offense. The offense is already created. The addition of Thompson and Joseph, with the departure of Bradley and Pittman is also good. Thompson and Joseph can do a lot more things offensively than Bradley and Pittman.

Defensively, we are playing as a unit. Everyone is rotating and helping correctly. Some of this could come from another year in the program (hamilton and Brown), some could come from defensive minded players like Joseph and Thompson being added to the team, and Balbay healthy all year, and some could be Barnes just making it more of a priority after last year. I also think too many people underestimate the added length and athleticism our frontcourt has this season. We are blocking way more shots this season than we have in recent years. Thompson is the main reason, but being able to play Lexi and Hill is huge. They are both very long, and way more mobile than Pittman. But again, if we were still using the ball screen offense it would be hard to use these guys as much as we do. Let's face it, there was nothing intimidating about Pittman, James, and Johnson defensively. Pittman can't move laterally or vertically, and james and johnson were 6'7. When you have guards that pressure the ball the way ours do, you have to have big men that can protect the rim.

Overall, I think Barnes deserves a ton of credit for changing his offense to enhance our guys strengths and hide their weaknesses. This is probably his best coaching job, since his 1st season, especially after last year's collapse. He also deserves a lot of credit for getting the players to buy into the changes.

 

[caryhorn]

Seems to me that there is improvement at just about every position. Since the UCONN game improvement is subtle.

Hamilton and Brown have matured. They work well together, combining for big time plays--dunk at atm-- and both are improved passers. Ham's rebounding seems better as the season goes on. brown isn't looking over his shoulder as much. Seems more confident and knows that Barnes is more confident in him.

Hill seems to be improving every second. The guy sets good screens, rebounds tough, and hustles every possession and under the defensive board.

Johnson seems to know where he is on the court better, and has developed a more consistent Jumper.

Balbay, if its possible, seems to be better on defense, disrupting the flow of the other team's offense, and is a better passer than last year. He needs to slash more to the hoop and score a few more points. He can do this. Layups and 3-5 foot jumpers.

Of course Corey is getting more solid every game with his scoring and defense. He seems more comfortable than 10 games ago.

TT is a monster. He is better with each game too. But, every opponent is scheming to stop him. so he has to play double tough just to score the same now as at the beginning of the season. His defense is OUTSTANDING.

My opinions. for what they're worth. I know, not that much.

 

[Bob in Houston]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[Branyon]

I'm with Bob in Houston re Bradley. He busted his hump last season while Hamilton and Brown were immature, unpolished and unintelligent players the entire season. Barnes' marginal coaching (reducing PT for all but the first 7 and his failure to run a decent offense) fouled up the team's flow and eased our opponent's defensive challenges, especially in respect of Pittman who vanished the second half of the season (in part due to his poor attitude).

I surmise that Bradley left in part because he felt that he couldn't play with Brown and Hamilton, and I don't blame him. Candidly, credit to Barnes for his patience in dealing with Brown. Many coaches would have sent him packing. His turnaround, while incomplete, is amazing.

 

[GemStateJim]

I think the OP makes a valid point. The margins for this team are very thin.

When they play with focus and execution, they seem unbeatable. But when they let up, even just a bit, it seems anyone in the country can play even with them.

As examples I would give the second halves of the past four games--when Texas jumped to an early lead in the first 20 minutes and then traded buckets and turnovers for the next 20--and the entire Rice game.

This team absolutely has to keep its edge in order to play well. I suppose that's true of any team, but the difference between "on" and "off" for this group seems greater than most.

As for how this team has improved over the course of the season, I would say the changes are subtle.

The biggest overall improvement that I've seen since the season started has been defense. This group rotates so well defensively and pressures the ball so far from the basket that opponents can't get good looks on the perimeter or inside.

The Twitter incident notwithstanding, J'Covan Brown seems less petulant since conference play began. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that he was staring down officials for calling a foul on him or not calling a foul on a defender.

Corey Joseph was a quick study--he didn't need many games to make the transition from prep to college--but his confidence appears to be growing with each outing.

More and more, Gary Johnson has provided the sort of senior leadership we lacked a season ago. The same can be said of Dogus Balbay, who is also doing a better job of being aggressive to the hoop yet playing within himself (not overpenetrating and getting hung up under the basket).

And then there's Matt Hill. To be honest, I was very disappointed with his play early in the season because he appeared soft and to lack confidence. But what a player he's become. If J'Covan Brown is our Sixth Man, then Matt Hill is Sixth Man B. He's been that good, in my opinion, because he's provided critical interior depth--post-up defense, rebounding, screening ... he's even managed a few contested layups!

I don't know what the ceiling is for this group or if it's possible for any team to play completely focused for a full 40 minutes, but I don't think our 'Horns have peaked yet.

On that note, here's hoping they come closer to their potential this afternoon against Baylor.