Texas 67 Colorado 56: One Interesting Stat Line

If we get to the 2nd weekend this year, it will be on the back of Big Dexy.

“Big Dexy” has been a season long disappointment. One game doesn’t change that. However, I agree that next year looks a lot brighter.

Ecurbmanchild brings us our Stupid Take of The Day.
 

To be fair, you’d have to admit that Dexter’s been missing “chippies” all season long. It’s something he’s had issues with all season.

Steve – The bigger point is he’s a puppy growing into his feet and he has never been able to play extended periods. He’s just now getting experience and gaining body control. I like the potential.

Gary Johnson needs to quit spazing out like Damion James. They both have zero control and act like they are supised whenever they get the ball down low. I keep making excuses for them but Gary is just not effective enough for my confidence.

Dexy is shooting 61% from the field on the season. What percentage would blow your skirt up, Steve?

I think he’s had a heck of a season, but I could see where he could be shooting 70 percent with just a little bit more something.

Texas has had their share of disappointments this year. Dexter Pittman is not one of them. Connor Atchley, on the other hand…

“Connor Atchley, on the other hand…”

has been playing like a tall, lanky white bread from clear lake. oh wait…

Dex is close to becoming a dominant big man. The two assists were very impressive. He is keeping his head up, seeing where the double team is coming from and spinning away from it or finding the open man.

He can’t be guarded one on one on the block by anyone in college outside of the state of Connecticut. And I’d like to see if Thabeet could handle his strength with no help. So being able to pass out of double and triple teams and make them pay is huge for us next year.

Now if we could start getting GJ to do the same thing maybe we’d have something. He’s starting to make PJ Tucker look like a distributor.

Chuck. You are the mayonnaise calling the sour cream white.

Gig ’em, by the way.

Big Dex is raising his game.

If only Balbay could shoot threes. Heck, anybody. A sweet inside-outside two man game a la the Houston Rockets circa 1994 is very possible next year.

It is gratifying to see Dex do so well.

It would be better if he would usually set up on the right side of the lane (instead of the left). If he can hit a jump hook (preferably off the board) as soon as he gets the ball, it makes it very tough for the D to double him. Setting up on the right side means the D cannnot deny to the high side or Dex can just seal and present an opening for a pass to the rim.

By having a shot that he can shoot without footwork (just a slight pivot), Dex forces the D to overplay him to deny that jump hook from the lane. This makes the drop step to the middle much easier and faster to execute. It also makes the D much more likely to jump when he fakes the immediate hook from the lane. This makes it easy for Dex to draw a shooting foul by shooting the jump hook (after the initial fake) while the defender is still in the air.

The problem with setting up on the left side of the lane is that Dex usually has to get to the middle to shoot his shot. This takes so much time that it facilitates the double teaming of Dex. Dex is already drawing a bunch of double teams and it is just going to get worse.

Dex needs to work on his left hand a bunch so that he is comfortable with finishing at the rim with his left hand (including a very short jump hook shot).

Obviously he needs to get in better shape (get off the bike and on the elliptical). Maybe spend the summer in Colorado Springs and work out at the Olympic facility there to get the cardiovascular in better shape. He is an explosive guy already and when he gets in shape, he should be spectacular.

I’ve always thought the guy has a world of potential and that he just needed a chance to show what he can do. If Dex will pass out of double teams efficiently (which looks promising), Barnes can run his offense through Dex.

Dex “getting in shape” was always going to be a long-term project. That’s straight out of Todd Wright’s mouth.

A lot of the work Dex does these days is just to maintain and improve flexibility now that the bad weight is off.

But maybe we should just fire Wright and give them all P90x DVDs?

I could have him looking like Dwight Howard in 30 days.

Once he can sustain playing 25 minutes per game I think we’ll all be pretty happy with the results.

A really sloppy first half against K State. 12 turnovers.

3 fouls on damion. Now go sit until there’s two minutes left in the game to avoid that loss-quenching 4th foul!

19 points and 20 boards for Dexter.
 
Next up, Baylor.

Looks like Dexter scored the last 4 points in a 3 point win.

This 3-day stretch is great for Dex. He is finding out what it really feels like to put in 20+ minutes back-to-back-to-back.

He may not be worth a damn at the end of the Baylor game, but it will give him real feedback on what he needs to do to be ready to physically take playing at the next level. It will also give him a true idea of what he can do at this level next year if he is in shape enough to go 25-30 minutes a game.

AJ – 10 shots in 2 days.

I feel SHOCKED!

I can see why a lot of you have remarked on how painful this team can be to watch. Some real talent mixed with brain-dead mistakes in shot selection, fouls and turnovers.