The Genius of Barnes

H

Hardwood Horn

< 25 Posts
Barnes is such a great coach that it is easy to overlook that he is a genius at working with the talent that is available. As this basketball season progressed I think that many of us forgot what we knew at the start of the season. That is; that this years team had a lot of deficiencies. The surprise was not that we got beat in the Elite Eight. The surprise was that we did as well as did.

As well as they play, we have two really short guards. We don’t really have an inside presence. We did not have a quality bench. We lost two players to injuries that would have helped tremendously. The first guy off the bench missed half the season.

Still Barnes took what he had and put together a plan for the season that allowed the team to exploit the strengths and hide the deficiencies. Assuming that DJ and DJ come back, assuming that J’Covan Brown is as good as advertised, assuming the typical year to year development in the players, then next year will be a very good year for us. It will be a year where we will have far more strengths than this year.
 
I love Barnes and think he's a great coach. The best thing to ever happen to Texas basketball. But a genius? That might be a stretch. You are correct that this team had a lot of personnel deficiencies, but Barnes is the one who puts together this roster. If we don't have a bench, that's really on Barnes. I know there are circumstances out of his control (injuries, NBA early entries, etc.). But the fact remains that we really needed depth in the backcourt all year long, yet we have two guards at the end of the bench who are apparently incapable of seeing any legitimate minutes. Same thing with having two really short guards. Barnes knew their heights when he signed them and everyone else on the roster.

Regardless, like I said, Barnes is great. It was disappointing today sitting in Reliant Stadium, but not because I am disappointed with this year as a whole. The year was a success and Barnes deserves much of the credit (as usual).
 
WIth the players we seem to be in for in recruiting the next 2-3 years, these roster deficiencies will be eliminated and we we truly see the genius of Barnes.

We are just entering a golden era of Texas basketball. It's going to be amazing what's going to take place here in the next 5 years and hopefully even longer.
 
My hat is off to the guy. We lose Durant and I think we are toast this year. The guy just takes what he has and competes. Every player on that team improved a lot during the season and that is a mark of a really good coach. Look at the way Mason ended up and big Dex. James is a lot better player than last year and so is Atchley. You can just go on and on. I am sure glad the guy is here!
 
I can't think of anyone out there that I'd rather have coaching Texas than Barnes. If Barnes ever leaves, maybe we ought to look at Calipari...just a thought.
 
Sure. Texas should bring Jerry Tarkanian out of retirement, too. Let's go ahead and hire Barry Switzer as the new football coach as well.

Terrific idea.
 
Barnes has done a great job. The reason they lost to Memphis was not about depth it was about our top 4 players not doing anything offensively and turning the ball over.

This team overachieved. Making the final 8 is a great accomplishment. Memphis is arguably the #1 team in the nation right now. This is the 1st time in history that four #1 seeds have made it to the final four. Great year for texas to have made it as far as they did. If DJ comes back and I think he has things to work on still then this team is favorite next season to make it to the final four.
 
SLX, is your point about Calipari that he has ethical issues? What's the connection between him and Tark and Switzer?
 
Barnes is incredible.

He made Texas a basketball school, when so much focus is on football here. His recruiting is excellent, and we never hear anything shady that he does to get players here. He is well liked among the NCAA. Good friends with Calapari and many others.

I have never been disappointed with Barnes.
I hope he lives forever and stays as the coach of Texas until I die.
 
hornpharmd-Our top 4 didn't play like usual, but Memphis had a lot to do with that. Our 3 guard lineup had guys guarding them that were a lot taller. That alters your shots and frustrates you too. Abrams had a guy on him that was 6'6" that is tough. Atchley took some shots that he usually doesn't. They just got us out of our game some. Rick mentioned in the news conference that we were shooting it too quickly some times. Also, when you throw in Memphis hits 30 out of 36 from the line, it is just not to be. They were the 3rd worst team in D-1 shooting FT's and they do that! I just shook my head. Also, Texas kept fouling the best FT shooters they had; mainly Rose and Douglas-Roberts. That strategy I didn't like. That one big guy Dorsey shoots 39% why not wack him a little? They were just better and we need a few more pieces. We went just about as far as we could. We have beaten 2 out of the 4 that are in there though!
 
Tune down the sarcasm meter folks...tongue was in cheek about Calipari...I don't see Barnes leaving here for any other jobs. I'm not sure I'm ready to hang a genius label on him, but there aren't many, if any coaches out there who can outcoach Barnes when he's on his game.
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I think the team did way better than I expected. We should end up ranked 4,5 or 6 which I think is about right. We beat teams we were supposed to beat, and lost to a team we weren't. If Memphis goes on to win it all, then we will have lost to the best team in the country. We possibly could have gotten to the final four in another bracket (Memphis was not a good matchup), considering we beat 2 of the final four teams.
I'm happy, and excited for next year.
 
the memphis game was really the only game this year where I felt our size was truly exposed -- at least on the offensive end. besides being short, no one has ever really accused Abrams of being a strong defender. despite this, we were a pretty solid defensive team for the latter half of the year. this despite being smallish and only having one front court player that really goes to the rack for boards.

many national pundits had labeled DJ/AJ as the best backcourt in the country after the first weekend. funny how some of our own fan base seems to have lost sight of that after a single game.

anyways...I think this is the best coaching job Barnes has done since arriving at Texas (with year one being a possible exception -- specifically through conference play that year). I really feel like we overachieved.

early in the year, I was really wondering whether some of our young frontcourt players even deserved scholarships. by the end of the year I was convinced that Chapman, Wangmene and Pittman could all have tremendous impacts by the time they leave.

if all these guys improve incrementally, DJ comes back and Balbay/Brown contribute, I think we could be very good next year. this doesn't even account for possible contributions from Hill and perhaps one more 08 signee.

I think we could ultimately resemble the Michigan State teams with Cleaves and MoPete from a few years back. not from a physicality standpoint, per se...but with a certain tenaciousness and especially in depth. that team seemed to go 9 or 10 deep with all sorts of interchangeable pieces. if things work out, I could see next year's team being very tough to deal with for this reason.
 
I do like Coach Barnes and I think he does a great job. I would like him to put that genius to work landing a BIG man.
 
The recruiting is through the roof.

His adjustments to his personnel have been exceptional.

His personality and humor are things that I am proud of as a Texas Ex in so far as he is a highly visible representative of this school.

I hope he stays here until retirement.
 
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