Halftime Thoughts on the Basketball Game (Texas Longhorns @ Arkansas Razorbacks)

by Barking Carnival Staff on Jan 6, 2009 9:08 PM CST in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

The game is playing out exactly as discussed in the preview.

Offensively, if Texas moves the ball and makes the extra pass they'll get dunks and layups. If they settle for jumpers early in the shot clock, it plays right into Arkansas' hands with runouts and layups. Essentially the more passing and rotation that Texas has in a given possession, the better the shot. Simple. Arkansas is too young and undisciplined to guard for more than 15 seconds.

As for the zone it's Arkansas only hope and it's a bad harbinger of things to come for next year's group. Texas simply can't be effective with one legit shooter on the floor. Abrams isn't getting any good looks because there isn't another deep shooting threat and dribble penetration to a kick is a non-factor.

Defensively, Arkansas is a bad offensive basketball team if you make them shoot over the top. Their bigs struggle with their back to the basket, and their guards get everything off of dribble penetration. No midrange game to speak of. If Arkansas ever faced a sagging M2M defense like Washington State's they'd be done for. Texas' quickness and athleticism has kept UA's guards out of the lane and stymied UA's attack. The Hogs don't break 20 at half if Texas hadn't given them easy runout buckets off of poor shot selection.

In a nut shell, if Texas doesn't win by double digits, I'll be disappointed. The blue print is easy. No assembly required.

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Atchley out and Abrams scoreless and Texas still leads…

by Bob in Houston on Jan 6, 2009 9:13 PM CST reply actions

Dogus Balbay is killing us. Freddie Williams is a more accomplished offensive player.

by Trips Right on Jan 6, 2009 9:41 PM CST reply actions

Balbay leaves the floor and amazingly Arkansas’ one man zone disappears.

by Trips Right on Jan 6, 2009 9:44 PM CST reply actions

So, uh, when do we go up by double digits?

by RichUT on Jan 6, 2009 10:04 PM CST reply actions

Uh, when we get decent guard play.

by Trips Right on Jan 6, 2009 10:07 PM CST reply actions

I’m am dumb founded that Damion James, a JUNIOR, would run out at Washington in that situation. Let him take that three if he wants it. Inexcusable.

And AJ just shot us out of any chance of coming back.

Horrible collapse.

by RichUT on Jan 6, 2009 10:14 PM CST reply actions

Boy, I don’t even want to read the commentary on the final 20 seconds of this game. Just WOW.

by dick on Jan 6, 2009 10:15 PM CST reply actions

Depressing. Sigh.

by Brandon on Jan 6, 2009 10:18 PM CST reply actions

Rick Barnes is the worst offensive mind in college basketball. I can no longer try and convince myself that it is a lack of execution by the players of our “gameplan”. That would just be naive of me. Until Barnes brings in a GA or Assistant Coach who has any sort of offensive knowledge, Texas will not be able to reach the truly elite. We will always be a hard-nosed defensive squad with a ton of offensive weapons but no team mindset when it comes to running a true offense.

by intellectual type on Jan 6, 2009 10:18 PM CST reply actions

We look like a round of 32 team to me. No handlers, one streaky shooter, and a gaggle of soft, pudgy big guys who like to snuggle and hug. The lack of anything even mildy resembling a point guard is killing this team. Balbay is a huge disappointment.

by RansomStoddard on Jan 6, 2009 10:19 PM CST reply actions

Now that i’ve calmed down from my rage a bit, we are in dire need of Jai Lucas. Without an amazing ball handler and distributor, we will not make it to the Sweet 16 in March unless we get lucky. Is it too much to ask for a set offense though? I continually see less talented teams run smart, balanced, offensive sets that put up points (i.e. Wisconsin, Michigan State for two examples we’ve gone up against). If i’m just completely off, someone please feel free to correct me.

by intellectual type on Jan 6, 2009 10:48 PM CST reply actions

Barnes is no offensive mastermind to be sure, but I think any coach would struggle to have this group of players to be a real scoring threat. Our best hope for wins lies in tough defense and keeping games close. If the effort is on the offensive side of the ball, we will lose more games and get bounced from the tournament sooner.

Our biggest threats offensively include a 5’9" shooting guard, a big man who can’t go for more than 5 minutes at a time, and a great physical specimen who wasted 20 years of his life sitting in the low post.

With the right personnel we will be an elite team, I trust Barnes to get us there again.

by EggNog on Jan 6, 2009 10:50 PM CST reply actions

Would have been interesting to see Atchley in the game. Shame he wasn’t available.

by CallKevin on Jan 6, 2009 11:03 PM CST reply actions

I love great defense, and that’s where it all starts, IMO. It hurt not having Atchley, tonight. We’ve got to get better play at the point. We often seem to go Helter Skelter on offense at the end of close games and lose games that are winnable. That gets old.

by DBH on Jan 6, 2009 11:07 PM CST reply actions

We needed a second shooter on the floor and Atchley would have helped. There was simply no one to drive and kick to. It would have also been nice to be able to pull Washington away from the goal while Pittman did work. Pathetic loss nonetheless.

by Trips Right on Jan 6, 2009 11:25 PM CST reply actions