vs Iowa State

[caryhorn]

If this team only had an inside presence, they would be dangerous.

To me, this is the most relevant statement on this thread, in reference to this season. The bigs were more into this game (active defensively) by far than they were last game. If, big if, Cam were healthy, this team would finish in the top three in the B12, imho.

As it was tonight, the three point shooting and a HUGE game by Taylor made the difference.

Frankly, Niang's all American level of play is what kept ISU in this game. He is the real deal. Just had his way inside all night. Which he's basically done all season against every team he's played.

 

[Htown77]

My original post was just going to be about how the past year we win at home in football and basketball then have terrible road losses which makes me think there must be something in the water in austin or something along those lines.

Then i saw this gem

If you're implying that Barnes would be doing as well or better because of thequantity of his NCAA postseasonappearances, that's quite a leap.

Are you f***ing serious?

I really dont want to make this a barnes thread, because I think Shaka will be fine in the long run. As far as this year, Barnes would do better. As far as down the line? I do not know.

This is a team of seniors that have won at least 20 games a year and been to the ncaa tournament 2 years in a row. They had a key injury to Taylor last year but still beat Uconn, beat Tech, beat TCU and went to the NCAA tournament under Barnes. Barnes never lost to TCU and was 36-4 against Tech including the Bob Knight era.

Most importantly, this team was built to play Rick Barnes defense, not Smart's game. If only for that reason it would be better this year under Barnes, but add in the last two seasons it's hard to say otherwise. (Also barnes beat unc a lot).

All that said, I believe Smart will be fine in the long run once he gets more offensive oriented players for his system. If anyone remembers, I felt the year to fire Barnes, if we were going to do it, was after this year so the new coach could have plenty of scholarships to start with and we would give the seniors the best shot to win with their system. This is a wasted year for the talent and a wasted year for Smart due to the timing of the firing.

 

[Htown77]

Remember, he had the team withMcClellan, Lewis, and Kabongo. Shaka hasn't dug us into that kind of hole yet.

Also, remember the one bad team he had where the players did not get along or work?

That totally counteracts what he did the last two seasons with the players we have now.... not.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

9-0 run by Iowa State, now a 2-point game. Our athletic program loves finding ways to try to lose in spectacular fashion

You must be sad they failed to find a way to lose in spectacular fashion.

 

[Walking Boss]

This team is consistently wildly inconsistent.

 

[BevoJoe]

Got home late last night so only caught the last minute or so. Great game Horns! Way to hang in there.

 

[harry_horns]

You must be sad they failed to find a way to lose in spectacular fashion.

You must've not read what I said literally several posts ago that said "obviously I'm happy that Texas won"

 

[LonghornCatholic]

Obviously

 

[caryhorn]

This team is consistently wildly inconsistent.

Especially when Mack, Davis, and Roach are on the court together; which happens every game for fairly long stretches. All these dudes are freshmen, and usually one is playing the point when all three are on at the same time.

So what I'm saying is this is a recipe for turnovers and inconsistency. Personally, I think this is a calculated risk Shaka is willing to take, to get these guys experience asap in big time games in big time moments. Now that Cam is hurt it makes it even more risky. It worked out ok against ISU because Mack and Davis were hitting enough threes to cover many of their mistakes.

 

[txlandagent]

^^^ agreed. Mack, Davis and Snoop all have big time player ability and potential. Any one or more of the 3 could end up settling in as valuable role players too, which is equally important to have. Coach Smart knows this is prime time to get these three exposure, get them comfortable on the court playing in tough situations and in hostile environments, and improving their skills and confidence. They are the nucleus of his future system. I'm fairly certain he'll get at least 3 if not 4 years our of all of them. This is truly a rebuilding (or building) season for Smart because the deficit of Upperclassman is too great. Lammert, Ibeh, Holland, Felix, Ridley, probably Taylor, all gone next season.

If Shaka can close a 4/5 star big man, on top of the recruits that we appear to be signing, next years group will be very intriguing. They will still be young though. I'd estimate were looking at a starting lineup next year with all sophomores and freshman. I hope Taylor doesn't enter the draft but the way he's playing this year, he could end up being a 1st round pick.

 

[caryhorn]

I hope Taylor doesn't enter the draft but the way he's playing this year, he could end up being a 1st round pick.

Very good post Txland. I think you nailed it. Especially re: how young this team will be next year, and the huge loss of Taylor to the draft ( I will bet my house that he declares and is a first round pick if he stays healthy.) Taylor shows up at his best against top competition--Stanford, UNC, ISU--and this will not go unnoticed by NBA scouts.

 

[ProdigalHorn]

Especially when Mack, Davis, and Roach are on the court together; which happens every game for fairly long stretches.

This is a real issue, and frankly one of the drags on the team right now. You just can't have three guys who are getting into funks at the same time when you need at least two of them to be on in order to be successful. It's just the reality of having a big core of freshmen that have to all step up together.

They'll get there. Mack is clearly a pure shooter who has a little mix of drive in him. Davis needs to be working on his penetration game and not relying on his shot to much. All three of them need to figure out how to guard someone. When those things happen, these guys are really going to be solid.

I hope Taylor doesn't enter the draft but the way he's playing this year, he could end up being a 1st round pick.

If he shoots like he did against Iowa State, he's gone. That's really the only thing that's held him back so far.

 

[txlandagent]

If he shoots like he did against Iowa State, he's gone. That's really the only thing that's held him back so far.

If you throw out Taylor's 3 single digit production games vs (TAMUCC, Samford and UTSA where he only averaged about 20 minutes) he's averaging 19.9 ppg; good enough for 34th in NCAA. His NBAdraft.net big board status has moved up from 48th prior to UNC, to 38th, post ISU and 32nd in the mock draft.

Interestingly, I've seen a couple of draft boards with Prince Ibeh as a late 2nd round projection solely based on his size and physique. Cam was on some early 2nd round boards until his injury.