So, it's really not unrealistic is it?

H

Horn69

2,500+ Posts
In the next 2-3 years the Horns could be in the Final Four which means there is a great chance of winning a NC?

With all the national talent pouring in here, our level of play should be way off the chart, right?

I realize we all have BO spectacles, but good god...the amount of talent either already here or due here is just enough to think we have to be serious contenders.

Sorry for the non-technical drivel, but as fans this is what you want out of your program. Barnes is getting the talent here which now puts the target on him to produce with it. And...I think he'll do it. Go Horns!

Hook'em!!!
texasflag.gif
 
I think it's going to be tough to have excessive expectations for this year's team.

After this, there's going to be a dropoff. IMO, the program will be gutted after this year, and will have to start over. As much talent as is coming in over the next several years, I have my doubts as to whether Barnes will ever field a more talented team than the group he has currently, for the rest of his career.
 
Barnes has been getting this kind of talent to Texas for a while now. The problem has been keeping them around long enough for it to matter. It's going to take a national title to get to the level of Kansas or UNC in terms of keeping good players on campus.
 
SL Xpress,

I hope you are wrong and that Texas basketball will be elevated to the next level and can expect to have such talents year in year out.

I do agree with you that this years team will be the most talented, at least on paper. We'll have to see how it meshes chemistry wise. It is at least 2 deep in each position, with 4 starters who might someday be in the NBA.

But it did get me to thinking about past teams and comparing this years team to those teams. I will do it real quickly and not in depth.

2003: TJ Fords leads team to Final 4. This team was led by TJ and is very deep, 10 deep. 2 pros, TJ & Ivey. James Thomas didn't stick in NBA. This team got big man and shooters (Boddicker, Mouton) and good defense and great point guard play. Ultimately it lost because they don't have anyone to guard Carmelo.

McDonalds All American hype era: we got Aldridge, Gibson and Williams plus 2 more recruits (guy who Transferred to Houston & Atchley). Also we got PJ Tucker in school. This team got to the Elite Eight the 2nd year, but ultimately did not have great point guard skills or reliable go to guy.

Elite talent era: Durant, DJ Augustin, Damion James & 2 others Mason & Pittman. Their first year was pleasantly unexpected. Could have won Texas' first Big XII tourney if not for Kansas miraculous 3 at the end of regulation, precursor to their similar miraculous 3 against Memphis the next year. Team fizzled out in NCAA, too young and inexperienced and no big man.

2nd year, great point guard play and still no big man. Got to Elite 8. 3 guard plays, too small and got buzz killed by Memphis who's bigger in the back court.

I think all of us know all this occurs after Barnes was hired. While he has his shortcomings, he certainly has elevated Texas basketball tradition and expectation. He deserves full credit. He's awaken the sleeping giant and made Texas a top job in the country. Him and Texas moving to Big XII.

All those past teams were great but always lacked something. It always has that ingredient missing, if only Owens is eligible, if only Mihm stayed another year, if only Evans stayed, if only TJ came back, if only Durant came back, if only DJ came back ....

Well this years team, on paper has everything. 2 deep in every position and high level talent. No more ingredient missing. I think Lucas & Balbay will provide enough PG play. We've got scoring & perimeter plays from incoming freshmen and Jai. We've got interior defense and rebounding from the 2 pro prospects coming back. Pittman hopefully continue his improvement and be a monster consistently on the offensive end, and teams can afford to double him less this year with help outside. Then the bench is super deep, with Gary Johnson, Mason, Ward, etc. high level bench help. This team can play big, small, fast, slow. So this team on paper lacks nothing. They just have mesh as a team and develop chemistry. I can't wait to watch this team and at the end of the year I hope I don't have to say on paper anymore.
 
I meant the first year after he transferred he had to sit out, from Tulane I think. Evans too for that matter.
 
Hell SLX or even Trips could coach these guys to a NC game, this team has that much talent,

I like Barnes but if he coaches like he did the last two years,angry at everyone, limited offense scheme then I fear the worst.....

I really hope that Barnes is flexable enough to change up the offense scheme as the first 7-8 guys are very good playing uptempo, pressing the ball, intransition off the defensive boards, hope to see several minutes of trapping the ball this year. Doing some things different in our motion and pick and pop schemes.

Hope I get to see them in Indy !!!!
 
I am excited as hell about this upcoming year, and on paper we will have more talent that we have ever had. However, there are other ridiculously talented teams out there like UK and KU. I feel like folks are setting themselves up for disappointment with anything less than a NC. I expect a great year, but anything can happen in college basketball. Without having seen how these youngsters will adapt to the college game, what are your minimal expectations for a successful year?
 
Uh, guys like Darrell Arthur, Julian Wright, Amare Stoudemire, etc. Not saying that they have to be as good as those guys (or even NBA prospects), but the athleticism is mandatory, and guys like Chapman, Wang, and obviously Sex just don't have it...
 
Well, I agree, but those guys are in the NBA. My point was that there just aren't that many big guys in college who can get up and down the floor like that, and the ones who can, not only stand out, but are on a fast track to the next level.
 
Yes, I figured that was your point. I guess you are saying that we have the perfect team with Damion at the four to do something like a diamond press? Keep Dex under the basket (though I'd be worried about foul trouble). I agree in that case because having Doge/Mason/Ward at the point of the press with Jordan and Avery on the wings and Damion at center court would be absolutely filthy...
 
I just don't bother with discussions about Barnes and pressing, because he almost never does it. I'd love to see it more... it just doesn't happen.
 
digging up an old thread, but the comment that 2010 only has 2 post players would be a surprise to Baylor and Perry Jones. he, by the way, can run the floor and stands 6'10". He's got faults from what I hear, but athleticism isn't one of them.

the real reason I'm on the board, is ut done for the '11 class with the 4 current commits or is it "wait and see" with who stays after next season?
 
bul, Perry Jones is a terrific big man and pickup for Baylor, but my reference was to high level programs which Baylor is not.

Drew has done a spectacular job of recruiting at Baylor, but if he was to go to greener pastures, then Jones could end up anywhere.

CNNSI had a recent article on the dearth of big men in classes 2010 and 2011. And I think outside of Smith and Melo, no other big men are considered elite in the 2010 class.
 
Perry Jones is a badass. Texas tried to get in on him late, but couldn't make any headway whatsoever.

He's had some problems with consistent effort, but if there's anything Scott Drew can do for a player, it's maximize their effort level.
 
I think Jones is an elite big man in 2010, which is why I made the comment. probably baylor's first one & done.


SL, is ut done in 2011?
 
Angle Chole or another kid named Shaw ??
Both are in Cali around 6'10" and run well with a big upside, foot work is good, shot out to 10 feet or so, good rebounders,defense needs work but still need to mature a couple of years. Very good prospects or are we trying to get some one in TX ?
 
I had not heard that MShaw and Blackshear wanted to play together, lots of kids say that but very few do so. We were lucky with Jordan and Avery.
Blackshear as I understand it is a 90% Illinois lean at this time. This guy is a Player in every aspect of the game wish we had a shot at him and Shaw as a bonus.
 
I don't want to comment on Keith Davis. I don't think a certain premium site is as on top of that situation as their reports would make you think, but they're doing the best they can covering the situation, so I don't blame them. They didn't get the J'Covan Brown situation correct earlier this summer (and in fairness, Mark Rosner and others have continually put out incorrect information because their source of information was bad, and it's been tough getting information from official sources), and I don't think they have the Keith Davis situation wholly correct either. That's all I'm going to say about it.
 
Recruiting Chicago makes me about as nervous as recruiting the state of Louisiana in football. Hoop Dreams was made there for a reason.

Jordan Hamilton and Avery Bradley didn't come to Texas to play together. That got too much hype. They independently decided to go to UT, then when they played together, looked forward to it. Because of the timing of the announcements, it made it look like more of a package deal than it ever was.
 
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