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Thoughts on the win in Austin
Posted by Hiphopopotamus on February 9th, 2010 under Basketball
We weren’t overly impressive, and at the same time, it may have been this team’s most impressive win.
The game didn’t have much rhythm. We never shot it well. In fact, our two best guys can’t be much worse from the field. But damned if we didn’t guard them – especially in that first half. It really is amazing. All you can point to in this one is defense, and yet we finish with 80. Cole and Sherron go 5-23 and we hardly miss a beat. Until proven wrong, I still want to see another big rotating in, but I’m starting to think Bill Self might know a little more than me about this basketball stuff.
And I know he knows a whole lot more than Rick Barnes.
Damion James played great in the first half and scored 15. He kept it going in the second and finished with 24, aided by 4-4 three point shooting, including a bank from the wing. The guy is a warrior and I took no offense to his slapping away Cole’s apology or his frustrations as he fell a few minutes later. He’s an All-American type player and I’d take him on my team any day of the week.
J’Covan Brown finished with 28, 26 of which came in the second half. Without his late flurry of taking advantage of our bigs that switched onto him from ball screens, and this one wouldn’t have been close. With 9 minutes to go, we had our biggest lead of the game at 55-36. From that point on, the score was Kansas 25, Brown 24 (+8 from other UT players). Sure, we were trying to shut him down, but regardless, a job well done by him and further proof that he is Texas’ point guard, despite what Rick Barnes thinks.
The rest of the Texas team finished with 16. Johnson netted 10. Bradley 3. And Pittman 3. Including Brown (9-19) and James (8-13), the Horns shot 37%. Remove those two and everyone else shot 18.5% (5-27). Unfuckingreal.
Some of that was missed shots. More of that was defense and that’s why we’re sitting where we are. We still don’t get enough in transition and our offense still sputters too often, but we’ve learned how to guard and rebound. With the talent we have, if we keep doing those things, we’re going to like how the rest of this season goes. Onto the grades.
Sherron Collins - I’d like to petition that Sherron get to guard The Doge every game; that worked out nicely. Wasn’t his night from the field (3-13), but hit a couple big ones, only took one stupid one, handled the ball nicely, got others involved and wreaked havoc defensively. And then he knocked down every FT he stepped to the line for. He was hardly at his best, but he was still the leader.
(side: My favorite moment was after a little laughter with James, Sherron grabbed the inbounds pass, saw he had Bradley on him (good defender, but a freshman), and knew right then that he was going straight to the rack. And he did. And he finished. it may have been meaningless and it came when we were in that 15-17 range, but it was vintage-Sherron.)
Cole Aldrich - I didn’t think Pittman could defend Aldrich by himself, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Although, to be fair to me, I think he got in Cole’s head more than anything and I’m still not sure why. Just a hideous offensive showing for Cole and I really hope it doesn’t carry over. But as always, he did the job defensively, utilizing perfect post traps and limiting Pittman to 3 points and recording 6 blocks in the process.
Marcus Morris – We loved him early in the year, then he went into a funk. Since conference play began, he’s been nothing short of fabulous. His defense has improved. He attacks the glass. He goes to the basket and he finishes with touch. There is no arguing that he’s been our best offensive player in Big XII play.
Xavier Henry - Bill said it first and I’ll say it here – best Big XII game he’s played. Shot still wasn’t falling, but he guarded hard, rebounded well and went to the basket. It wasn’t like old times, because it wasn’t pretty, but he ended up with 15 points, 5 boards, a couple of assists and did not commit a single turnover. Keep playing like that and he’ll find his outside touch sooner than later.
Brady Morningstar - Well the free throw was nothing short of through the roof anger and laugh about it later hilarity. But the rest of the night, he did what he does. Played nice D, had a couple steals, hit a couple big threes and took care of the ball. Very Brady performance.
Markieff Morris - 8 points, 9 boards, 3 blocks and 3-5 from the stripe. We’ll take that any time. Three turnovers is less than attractive, however, and two of them were atrocious.
Tyshawn Taylor - Speaking of bad turnovers, Tyshawn had a couple. But he also gave us good minutes defensively, knocked down another triple (been shooting much better lately) and kept attacking. We still need him better between the ears, but I only screamed at him once last night.
Tyrel Reed – Blew a fast break,but made up for it later. Grabbed a board and played decent defense. Barely noticed him.
22-0 runs, on the road, especially when talent level is pretty equal don’t happen. I still can’t believe it did happen. I know we’re better than Texas, but that was one of those things you never think will happen. This team still doesn’t have a true killer instinct (yet), but they’re tough as nails, they’re coached well and they know their roles, they’re usually under control and they’re clearly driving toward something bigger as one. It might not always be pretty, but it’s become damn fun to watch and last night was another gem. Here’s to 16 more. Rock Chalk!
Thoughts?
Check out the post-mortem by Trips Right here.
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Triston27 said:
February 9th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Ag_in_Tx has some pretty nice views of the game as well.
http://spenceparksoapbox.fantake.com/2010/02/09/did-rick-barnes-use-a-plant-last-night-to-distract-ku-players/
Mister Mike said:
February 9th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Don’t follow basketball as much as you guys do here, but I did watch that game last night. Using my extensive experience in analyzing the sport (next to none) the game felt like it had that “Big Game” feel to it, but somehow it just didn’t turn out that way. Kind of…lackluster? Like Domino’s pizza or when you end up going home with the drunk chick that’s not the total hottie, but you didn’t get stuck with her fat friend either. Not disappointing, but you were hoping for more.
Damn, I thought you guys shot better than 40% from the floor last night. It sure seemed like it. And you’re right about Self. Barnes and the Horns just seem lost out there.
Triston27 said:
February 9th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Thought our defense was great. Doubling down when the ball went to Pittman was smart. It forces him to either put up a bad shot or kick it right back out to the guards. If Pittman shoots it, he likely misses, and we already have someone in great position to keep him off the glass. If he kicks back out to a wide open guard… well I’m ok with that too.
RRR said:
February 9th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Good write up, hiphop. I love the versatitility of the Morris twins on defense. Xavier Henry is probably the key to a big run in the tournament. If he starts hitting open looks, the inside game will really open up. Post to post passing is fun to watch.
It’s pretty nice when you don’t even bring your best game and are still in control throughout. Carry the Big XII flag for us into the Final Four.
Farmer Ted said:
February 9th, 2010 at 10:07 am
Nice job Hiphop. Very nice to win what is probably the toughest game on the schedule handily, although the Hawks obviously caught UT at a good time.
The Morningstar FT was terrible and hilarious. He said the ball was wet, which clearly means Texas was cheating somehow. Would the second chance off balance leaner have counted?
Triston27 said:
February 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Would the second chance off balance leaner have counted?
He did put in a nice effort to re-gather it and get a shot off, but since he was the shooter and stepped into the lane before the ball hit the rim, it would have all been for naught. That was just a head shaking moment.
distantkin said:
February 9th, 2010 at 11:34 am
The ball was wet b/c Brady looked a couple of rows behind the KU bench and drooled on it….then premature ejaculation took its course.
distantkin said:
February 9th, 2010 at 11:40 am
What a fun game to watch. Bill’s first W in Austin…and I have a feeling it won’t be the last. It’s been talked about a bunch how TU doesn’t know how to run an offense….last night was validating enough for me. Our points off TO’s is what did them in….keep up the strong D Hawks and the offense will find its rhythm sooner than later.
Trips Right said:
February 9th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Great write up. I’ll be rooting for you to keep Calipari on the schnide.
That typed, I envy your program and hate you for it. fuckers
Jerod said:
February 9th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
I think it’s clear that Brady’s sleeves got in the way…..
RoboBoogie said:
February 9th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Trips: Filp it around for the pigskin. fuckers…
Sailor Ripley said:
February 9th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Ouch. That’s a killer.
Barking Carnival — Blog — Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem said:
February 9th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
[...] Updated: Oread Boom Kings Birds Eye View Post Mortem [...]
Sailor Ripley said:
February 9th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Oh, and I laugh that this was your offensive clunker game. The ball movement and reversal was awesome compared to what we’re used to seeing.
Hoping for a KU / UK final and as Trips says, keeping Johnny The Lip winless in finals.
hiphopopotamus said:
February 9th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Triston – Agreed. The double was almost there before the ball was most of the time and it couldn’t have been executed better.
RRR – Really is crazy how far the Morris twins have become and their passing – always a strength – has really improved as well. Very fun to watch.
Trips – Appreciated on both counts.
Jared – That’s the most logical explanation I’ve heard.
Sailor – There was never really any doubt on Self > Barnes, but last night was a pantsing. As to our offense, I didn’t think it was a total clunker and I thought our ball movement was generally very good. In fact, if Cole hadn’t looked so incompetent, I’d probably have even called it a good offensive showing. Just nice when your best two go 5-23 and you still get 80 and control the game on the road.
FlyingPliers said:
February 9th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Marcus is ballin so hard right now…will he enter the draft??
brosiusjb said:
February 10th, 2010 at 4:58 am
If Sherron would even once settle for a 5 foot jump-shot he would make the help-side defense have to guard him honestly and hed get better looks on his lay-ups i.e. he shoots better that .230 from the field. As it is every time he beats his man its a 5 man race to the rim, 4 of them being defenders and the other himself. MJ would have a tough time shooting through 8 elevated arms.
Hiphopotamus said:
February 10th, 2010 at 6:52 am
Pliers – I’d be stunned if he left this year, but I’ll be equally surprised if we keep him past next year.
Brosius – I’m not sure he needs to be shooting 5 foot pull-up jumpers, but you do bring up a good point…it seems like he hasn’t used that beautiful floater for at least the last 10 games or so, which was such a nice piece of his arsenal early in the year. Would probaby be a bit higher percentage shot and take less of a toll on his body.