Stanford

This is going to be a tough game. It is one Texas can win, but it will be tough. If Stanford takes out AJ we will be in for a long day. I don't see the Lopez duo being a problem if AJ can sink the 3 ball, Conner too.
 
If we can get the game into the high 70s we win. If they control tempo and its a 60 point half court game we are in big trouble.

If DJ is the best PG in the country, and I think he is, this is where it has to show up.

Make those trees run and defend away from the hoop.
 
I think our bigs move their bigs out of the paint for most of the game. I look for DJ to have a big day by driving for lots of buckets. Horns win by 5.
 
From what I saw in the Marquette/Stanford game, the Marquette guards got into the lane very easily. If DJ/AJ/Mason can get penetration into the lane, I think we can get the trees into foul trouble.

Thoughts?
 
They are going to pound it inside very early. The problem comes if Conner and Damion get into early foul trouble.....not so much on the defensive end, but on the offensive end. If Connon and Damion are out fo the game we cant pull the Stanford bigs out to the perimeter bc none of our other big men have any legitimate outside game. That will screw our offense with relies upon Connor and Damion's ability to pick, roll or hit the three. I have no confidence in any of our other bigs running that kind of offense.
 
Stanford does not play a tremendous amount of 2-3 zone. They have used is some during conference play but usually only to let the guards rest.

However, one thing that has been used more and more throughout the season and especially against Marquette was a 3-2 zone with the realization that the Lopez boys are more than ample to clog up the middle.

The 3-2 zone could give us fits if Brook and Robin do not get into foul trouble. However, I really don't see that happening. We should get them in foul trouble quickly.
 
My problem with being a perimeter team is we are going to be shooting in that cavernous dome. You can get some bad backgrounds for shooters.

Thats why we need to be running and not get into a half court game. DJ has to impose our will on Stanford.

Tempo is going to be everything and unfortunately for whatever reason a lot of the games get into a half court FT shooting contest as you get deeper into the tourney.
 
Whether Stanford plays a tremendous amount of zone or not, I don't see any way around them trying it. IMO Texas is going to beat the ever living **** out of them off the dribble if they try to stay in man.

My goodness, forget Mason and Augustin, both of whom are going to have a field day. Give the ball to Damion or Connor, clear out for them, then watch them grind the Lopez twins to dust off the dribble. Johnson too if they get him the ball 12' from the basket and he only has to do a couple of power dribbles to get to the rim, assuming he's healthy.

I just don't see how Texas doesn't make mincemeat out of the Stanford starters in man to man, unless the Longhorns are just not hitting shots, or one or two starters get into foul trouble.

I realize they haven't played a whole lot of zone, however, they did play plenty against Marquette --- again, to stop the dribble penetration more than anything, and while Marquette's guards are at least as good as Texas at attacking the basket, Marquette isn't as good at hitting 3 point shots, and they certainly don't have the equivalent of either James or Atchley, much less both of them.

As far as UT's transition game, one thing Texas doesn't do under Barnes is dictate tempo all that well. Barnes would prefer to defend by staying in front of players and not taking chances. He might double off of ball screens --- which I'd LOVE to see, especially if Gary is 100% --- but we all know unless they're behind, Barnes is going to have Augustin bleed the clock pretty much every time down the floor inside the 10 minute mark, particularly if Texas has a multiple possession lead.
 
I really think that us dictating the tempo is not the most important thing. We never dictate the tempo and we do fine. Besides that the Lopez brothers get down the court well.
 
I'm with you, Hobbes. Texas will play at whatever tempo their opponent plays, especially in the tournament. They'll run with a team that wants to run. They'll look for transition opportunities, but normally they'll pull it out and run their halfcourt offense.
 
Hopefully, the Longhorn guards will be able to slice and dice the Stanford D. I'm just a little worried about the Texas shooting. It just seemed that it went a little cold with about 10 minutes left in the Miami game. Hopefully some rest will get it back on track. With that said, HOOK'EM HORNS!!
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At leas tin the Miami game, Texas was taking wide open 3 pointers. DJ was driving the lane and finding AJ for shooting practice 3's.

Although DJ seemed to be back to his mid-season ways of looking for contact more than finishing the lay up. Not very logical, but he is 'due' for a 20+ point game and I would love to see him get it from the line after repeatedly getting fouled by the trees.

Aside from AJ running around trying to get open, our offense is either pick and pop with DJ/Conner or Mason will swirl around and sometime find the lane. Its been working, but a 3 for 25 from distance will prove to be fatal.
 
Marquette was hurting them by getting to a ton of loose balls/rebounds. This is where a guy like Mason could have a pretty good game.

I just dont like the idea of running a half court offense and counting on AJ to hit 60% BTA in a dome. If Texas shoots its season average we will be fine, if its brick city there is work to be done.

At the end though, this is DJs team. If he does whatever he wants, the Horns are awful tough.

I actually think we match up better with Memphis if we can get there.
 

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