Texas "fighting for its life"

Bucksgal

500+ Posts
Wow, today ESPN is saying that "something is just not right" at Texas. Now, we're gonna get all the bad press like Tennessee did! I did feel bad that they included Norte Dame in the story. I mean, everyone knows that ND's team was totally decimated by the WNBA and injuries. Texas doesn't have those excuses, after all they have four seniors on the team. BTW, I watched the post game media conference, and it's still more excuses. Give me a break...these girls have been playing since they were middle schoolers...should be second nature by now. Keep making excuses for the players, instead make them accountable!
 
Wow, today ESPN is saying that "something is just not right" at Texas. Now, we're gonna get all the bad press like Tennessee did! I did feel bad that they included Norte Dame in the story. I mean, everyone knows that ND's team was totally decimated by the WNBA and injuries. Texas doesn't have those excuses, after all they have four seniors on the team. BTW, I watched the post game media conference, and it's still more excuses. Give me a break...these girls have been playing since they were middle schoolers...should be second nature by now. Keep making excuses for the players, instead make them accountable!
A coach needs to be accountable before their players are expected to be.
 
I agree Bucksgal. It's just basketball. These players have been playing with a mix of different teammates since middle school or earlier.
 
Anyone remember the 2002-2003 final four season? In the first 4 games, the team lost at BYU ( lost in first round of NCAA), won at home against McNeese State and Texas State, and lost at New Mexico (NCAA Sweet 16). The team went on to lost 3 more games before the end of January. One of the losses was to LSU who Texas then beat in the NCAA tournament elite eight.

I am not predicting a final four (!), but it is ridiculously early to predict that the team will miss the tournament all-together. If the team loses all the non-conference games they are predicted to lose currently (NC State, Tennessee, and Stanford), they could be in a precarious situation heading into conference. Another factor that may be against the Horns this season is that the Big 12 may be respected than it was in 2002-2003.

Another game to anticipate is Ohio at home on December 28. Normally, I think this would be considered an automatic win. This season Ohio could be a bad loss or a good RPI win. The Ohio Bobcats already have have a win at Ohio State and a loss by only 11 at Syracuse (Massey 28). The Bobcats also have a decent upcoming schedule in November and December.
 
Anyone remember the 2002-2003 final four season? In the first 4 games, the team lost at BYU ( lost in first round of NCAA), won at home against McNeese State and Texas State, and lost at New Mexico (NCAA Sweet 16). The team went on to lost 3 more games before the end of January. One of the losses was to LSU who Texas then beat in the NCAA tournament elite eight.

I am not predicting a final four (!), but it is ridiculously early to predict that the team will miss the tournament all-together. If the team loses all the non-conference games they are predicted to lose currently (NC State, Tennessee, and Stanford), they could be in a precarious situation heading into conference. Another factor that may be against the Horns this season is that the Big 12 may be respected than it was in 2002-2003.

Another game to anticipate is Ohio at home on December 28. Normally, I think this would be considered an automatic win. This season Ohio could be a bad loss or a good RPI win. The Ohio Bobcats already have have a win at Ohio State and a loss by only 11 at Syracuse (Massey 28). The Bobcats also have a decent upcoming schedule in November and December.

Apples and oranges compared to that Final Four Team from the roster to the coaching.

However speaking of Conradt - wonder if she would/could step in to finish out this season if the wheels come completely off the wagon? Probably a crazy idea....
 
Apples and oranges compared to that Final Four Team from the roster to the coaching.

However speaking of Conradt - wonder if she would/could step in to finish out this season if the wheels come completely off the wagon? Probably a crazy idea....
 
From ESPNW that Bucksgall alluded to...…"Coach Karen Aston has used different starting lineups in all four of Texas' games, searching for the right chemistry. It wasn't there in a 25-point home loss to Arizona on Sunday, or in the season opener, a 64-57 defeat at South Florida. The two wins (Texas-Arlington and UT Rio Grande Valley) do nothing for the résumé, and the Longhorns can no longer be considered a lock for a tournament berth. Games against NC State, Stanford and Tennessee await before Big 12 play, but without a win in at least one of those matchups, Texas will enter the new year playing for its postseason life." No arguments from me with those opinions.
 
Awaiting the football game this afternoon, it is a good time to throw up another hypothesis. In my fair and biased opinion, the easiest way to improve a team's chemistry is with a good point guard. At the same time, it is the hardest thing to find. Crossing genders here, but if anybody has been watching Luka play recently, having a generational talent at the point guard makes EVERYTHING simply look effortless, efficient and wonderful. It is a joy to watch. In reality, Carlisle uses a free flowing offense (very few scripted plays) and lets Luka's creativity and imagination take over. Now with that out of the way and realizing the exceptionality of Doncic, I will offer that Sutton has few if any of the skills that make the Horns offensive efforts easy. Not relieving Aston of her responsibility in the offensive struggles; however, I wonder if it might get better with Chevalier next year. Sutton has some skills. Perhaps not the ones that help others a lot? Now I will go and get ready for the football game. Be gentle in your comments regarding the above. I am sensitive.
 
In the game notes for Texas' game against Southern tomorrow, Texas is 8th, 9th or 10th in 13 of 18 Big 12 ranking summary. That's definitely "fighting for your tournament life"!
 
Awaiting the football game this afternoon, it is a good time to throw up another hypothesis. In my fair and biased opinion, the easiest way to improve a team's chemistry is with a good point guard. At the same time, it is the hardest thing to find. Crossing genders here, but if anybody has been watching Luka play recently, having a generational talent at the point guard makes EVERYTHING simply look effortless, efficient and wonderful. It is a joy to watch. In reality, Carlisle uses a free flowing offense (very few scripted plays) and lets Luka's creativity and imagination take over. Now with that out of the way and realizing the exceptionality of Doncic, I will offer that Sutton has few if any of the skills that make the Horns offensive efforts easy. Not relieving Aston of her responsibility in the offensive struggles; however, I wonder if it might get better with Chevalier next year. Sutton has some skills. Perhaps not the ones that help others a lot? Now I will go and get ready for the football game. Be gentle in your comments regarding the above. I am sensitive.
Sug Sutton was a Top 10 recruit coming out of high school -- #2 PG and #6 overall. The problem with her game has been, just as with the other 10 HS All-Americans we once had on our roster, LACK OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT by the coaching staff. I don't know what level of talent we think we need to lead us to elite status.

Hell! When Celeste starts the game we've still got FIVE (count them) HS All-Americans in our starting lineup:
Higgs (2015 #7)
Holmes (2016 #2)
Sutton (2016 #6)
Collier (2018 #2)
Taylor (2019 #40)
Who ELSE has that?! And, if they do, what's the state of THEIR program?

Seriously...our staff has failed miserably. This is why, as we can well see, the elite level talent has stopped coming to Texas. It won't change until the staff has been overhauled. Even with that... who is willing and able to come in and do something with whatever scraps might be left? I'm very concerned about the future of our program.

Oh... and before anybody starts with the whole "rankings don't mean anything blah, blah, blah..." go tell that to Geno, Mulkey, Tara, Muffett, Walz, Gary Blair, Schaefer, Kelly Graves, Brenda Frese, Dawn Staley, and EVERY OTHER Div I coach.

Just sayin'
 
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Regarding the point guard play, I have had similar thoughts as those of Flash34 regarding Sutton. When Sutton played USA basketball a couple of years ago, she played off guard. Crystal Dangerfield played point. I have been watching Isabel Palmer and wondering if she could handle more of the pg duties as the season progresses and allow Sutton to focus more on scoring. This would not necessarily require any "official" position change. When Norman and Carey played together, often Norman (with her great speed with the ball) would bring the ball up on the break. If nothing quick was available, Carey would take over running the offense in the half-court. Brooke liked playing with Celina Rodrigo because that allowed Brooke to pop out to the three point line more.

In general, I still hope the team will look better just as a result of Sutton and Higgs getting back to form following injury. Texas runs have often occurred this season when Higgs is on the floor. Sutton appears to be working on getting her successful drives to the paint for a score going again. Palmer did a good job in the last game of driving and either scoring or kicking the ball out for a score. Can she do that against better teams? I have no prediction on that.
 
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@flash34 just letting you know I wasn't attacking your post in my previous comments. I respect your opinions and enthusiasm for our program. Just thought I'd clarify that because so much gets lost in translation sometimes when by text alone. I was merely stating my opinion regarding the state of our program and how we got here, not personally directed it at you. Have a great day.
 
brnkj, appreciate your clarification and concern. I had to go back and read your post to see where an attack might have occurred. Nothing there first time, or tenth time I perused it. I did enjoy your comments though. For clarity for all, I may have given the false impression that I am sensitive. Contraire. According to The Wife, I have the sensitivity of a purple turnip or any vegetable group. I do prefer the Mr Rogers approach to postings but there is absolutely nothing that anybody on a message board could say about my opinions or me personally that could rankle me. Too much experience to let anything like that ruin a second of my life. The only thing that wakes up my nerve endings is bad basketball. Appreciate you and ALL the others that offer insights and wisdom on Horns basketball.
 
I gave my opinion on Coach Aston and the program after the Arizona game and it isn’t going to change. So I’ll let the season play out and ramp it back up when the season is over.
 
BINGO!

Sug Sutton was a Top 10 recruit coming out of high school -- #2 PG and #6 overall. The problem with her game has been, just as with the other 10 HS All-Americans we once had on our roster, LACK OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT by the coaching staff. I don't know what level of talent we think we need to lead us to elite status.

Hell! When Celeste starts the game we've still got FIVE (count them) HS All-Americans in our starting lineup:
Higgs (2015 #7)
Holmes (2016 #2)
Sutton (2016 #6)
Collier (2018 #2)
Taylor (2019 #40)
Who ELSE has that?! And, if they do, what's the state of THEIR program?

Seriously...our staff has failed miserably. This is why, as we can well see, the elite level talent has stopped coming to Texas. It won't change until the staff has been overhauled. Even with that... who is willing and able to come in and do something whatever scraps might be left? I'm very concerned about the future of our program.

Oh... and before anybody starts with the whole "rankings don't mean anything blah, blah, blah..." go tell that to Geno, Mulkey, Tara, Muffett, Walz, Gary Blair, Schaefer, Kelly Graves, Brenda Frese, Dawn Staley, and EVERY OTHER Div I coach.

Just sayin'
 
Awaiting the football game this afternoon, it is a good time to throw up another hypothesis. In my fair and biased opinion, the easiest way to improve a team's chemistry is with a good point guard. At the same time, it is the hardest thing to find. Crossing genders here, but if anybody has been watching Luka play recently, having a generational talent at the point guard makes EVERYTHING simply look effortless, efficient and wonderful. It is a joy to watch. In reality, Carlisle uses a free flowing offense (very few scripted plays) and lets Luka's creativity and imagination take over. Now with that out of the way and realizing the exceptionality of Doncic, I will offer that Sutton has few if any of the skills that make the Horns offensive efforts easy. Not relieving Aston of her responsibility in the offensive struggles; however, I wonder if it might get better with Chevalier next year. Sutton has some skills. Perhaps not the ones that help others a lot? Now I will go and get ready for the football game. Be gentle in your comments regarding the above. I am sensitive.
 
I agree with this observation about Sug. Recall that our season ended last year with her falling on her face as time expired against Indiana = a play that summed up the year. She's a good off-guard and if she plays professionally, I don't see her being a PG. I don't know if a different PG would help us, because I always think that the team tends to play without (or ignores) a plan, or that someone tends to sprint down court, shoot from anywhere or throw a sloppy pass rather than set up a play. Maybe Palmer will emerge. Can't say I'm looking forward to upcoming games against NCSt, Stanford or Tenn., especially after the Arizona debacle. Football is coming to a disappointing end, counting on volleyball to cheer me up!
 
I agree with those above -- Sug has not looked too great so far this year. Maybe it's the injury, not sure. She looked a lot more confident and in control toward the end of the year last year. Palmer is really promising. I'm impressed with her passing and her lack of turnovers, not to mention her good shooting the other night.
 

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