How good do you think this team is? They're 5-3, with losses against Arizona, Gonzaga, and Indiana, and a win over Stanford. Should they be ranked? I tend to think so. They play great defense, with great guard play (both important in college bball). I haven't seen too many other teams play, so I really don't know how good they are. I guess we'll find out next month. Owens is a very good college player, but I just don't know if he's enough of a go-to guy, which I think is their biggest weakness. Any other opinions? I haven't watched a lot of college basketball in a while, so be nice.
I think they are improving by leaps and bounds. They should be ranked now, in my opinion, but they'll get there eventually. For the first time in the "Barnes Era", this team can: (1) Shoot from outside 10 feet (2) Run (3) Pass Plus, the team is two deep at every position. Offense is finally a strength for the team, it seems. TJ has 3 near-triple-doubles (there's only been 1 in UT history) and is still playing on a gimpy ankle -- he's the key to the entire thing, though. If he's hurt, we get much, much worse. The team will also be much, much better when Fredie Williams comes back -- he's the best on-the-ball defensive guard I've ever seen (college or pro). UT Basketball is good medicine for the Rockets woes.
Who is the better coach...Barnes or Brown? I'll take Barnes for basketball and football. He isn't much of a people person, but he knows his X's and O's. And he gets angry
I thought this would be a post about Longhorn basketball and not Longhorn basketball this season. Anyway I'd like to offer some insight since I'm from Arkansas and in the days of the old SWC I remember some great battles between Arkansas and Texas, like when Coach Penders led his Texas team to the Elite Eight but were stopped short of the Final Four by only 3 points by an Arkansas team led by Rollin' Nolan. I also remember some great football duels as well. Man I miss that Arkansas-Texas rivalry.
Hey Pun, from the start of that tournament I was pissed off that they put the only two SWC teams in the same regional and sure enough, they had to fight it out for the final four. Another great Texas-Arkansas basketball moment: Coach Richardson walks off the floor and into the locker room in protest of an official's call during a game in Austin. As usual, the old SWC officials were to scared of Nolan to do the right thing and failed call a technical for leaving the coaching box. After he leaves, the Razorbacks tie the game and send it to overtime and that coward has the nerve to come back out and coach the overtime period.
**** yeah Joe Joe...Major and I will definitely be at all the weekday home conference games. Hell, we should have a cc.net road trip to Waco and/or College Station as well.
This year's team is definitely more fun to watch. During my first 3 years I was used to seeing guys like Darren Kelly and Mo Evans swing the ball around the perimeter then dump it down to Muoneke and Mihm or miss a three. This year it's run and gun. For once we've got a true point guard who is a playmaker. Ford can drive, dish, and take it to the hole. Owens is an All-American, and one of the best in the nation.
Texas should be ranked, in my opinion. The Big 12 is the best conference in college basketball. With currently 3 top 10 teams( KU, MU, OSU) and OU and Texas lingering behind, we have 5 top 20 teams in my opinion. I watched the OU last night on TV, and have you guys heard about Jabahri Brown? He is a 6'10 Center, and he doesnt even look to score. He is one of the best passing big men I have ever seen. He really has no need to score, because We've got 3 guys capable of 20 a night(Hollis Price, Ebi Ere, Aaron McGhee). I just can't wait until Friday, when we play Maryland, the best team we've played this year by far. I think at the end of the year, the Big XII Conference could have at least 4, maybe 5 Sweet Sixteen teams.
Yes. First off, Texas has owned Oklahoma St, especially at home, even though Gallagher-Iba is a hellish place for visiting teams, its still possible to win. But . . . Fredie Williams or Royal Ivey are going to have to slow Maurice Baker down, and score on the offensive end, and Thomas, Boddicker and Klotz are going to have to control the glass and be effective offensively. And it wouldnn't hurt if Sydmil Harris starts nailing three's again.
I think the Owens loss will hurt down the road. I think we'll do OK in Big 12 play. Because of the number of "good" teams (Mizzou, Kansas, OU, OSU, Texas, Tech?) all likely to beat each other, a 12-4 record might win the conference. I don't think Texas will win the conference, but they should be in the mix. The last couple of years, we've been a much better home team, so I'm not sure about this weekend against OSU, but I think we'll be competitive in the Big 12. Where Owen's loss will really hurt us is down the road in the Big 12 championship games and the NCAA Tournament. He's our most experienced player and apparently the best player. I didn't think much of him last year, but this year he's become a real force, both on offense (where he struggled last year) and defense (where he was already a stud). He's was our best shotblocker and intimidator. It will be interesting to see how James Thomas steps up. I think, if given the minutes, he could lead the nation in rebounding next year. The Stanford announcers had a pretty good comparison in that he's like Dennis Rodman rebounding. If he can have any type of offensive game (which he severely lacked up until about 2 games ago), he can be a star.
I was fairly impressed with Utah. I imagine they don't hit all those shots on the road, though. Still, I would think they would have at least received some votes to be in the Top 25, but they haven't.
