Varez Ward Leaves Texas

by Barking Carnival Staff on Aug 22, 2010 11:16 AM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

Smack dab in the middle of our mass salivating for the football season (great coverage by Scip, Nickel, and the crew, BTW), we got a little hoop news a day or two ago.

Surprisingly, it's not good news. Varez Ward, who missed almost all of last year with a gruesome quad injury, has decided to leave the team. The declared reason is to be closer to home and his mother, who has a heart condition.

Regardless of the reason, it's yet another blow to Barnes and the Longhorns' program. It's a shame that we never got to opportunity to see if Varez could have taken the next step in his progression and built off his strong game vs. Duke in the NCAA tourney his freshman year. He was a player that could play defense, penetrate off the dribble, and pull up from inside 15 and knock down shots. All of these were skills that our basketball team was curiously devoid of last year in what was an epic meltdown after ascending to a #1 ranking.

Now, Barnes is left with only four true guards on next year's team: Recovering Dogus Balbay, undersized Jai Lucas, perplexing J'Covan Brown, and true freshman Cory Joseph. Barnes could also use Jordan Hamilton and Shawn Williams at off guard on occasion. Joseph will have to grow up fast. For what it's worth, Ward's recovery had been progressing extremely slow and he wasn't expected to be ready for the opening of the season.

Tough times. Remember back in 03' when Rick Barnes was more valued than Mack Brown amongst most Longhorn fans? Seems like a lifetime ago. Over/under on number of wins next year.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program of "Muschamp moves boulders with but a glare.".....

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Man, that sucks.

Best to Varez’s mom. I was really looking forward to seeing him play this year. had been hearing good things.

Now, Barnes is left with only four true guards on next year’s team: Recovering Dogus Balbay, undersized Jai Lucas, perplexing J’Covan Brown, and true freshman Cory Joseph.

Whoa. That’s not what I wanted to see. I did also hear that J’Covan has J’Come back in good shape and is re-dedicating himself. Hope that’s true. And hope Cory is awesome. And hope that Jordan Hamiltion…

by Sailor Ripley on Aug 22, 2010 11:22 AM CDT reply actions

Sailor, the reports on J’Covan are spot on. I saw him earlier in the summer at Gregory and he was looking like a world beater! I mean just really looking all kinds of athletic, ripped, draining threes, holding up the gooseneck! Wetted up! Although this was all in a game of one-on-one with a little freshman girl, I couldn’t be more excited for J’Covan’s prospects in the ‘10-’11 season.

by Iceberg on Aug 22, 2010 11:57 AM CDT reply actions

jacovan is going to go ape shit this year

by wisconsinhornybadger on Aug 22, 2010 12:32 PM CDT reply actions

For pete’s sake, would someone write the behind-the-scenes book about the 09-10 Longhorns. A team does not go from number 1 in the country to one of the last teams in the tourney without serious issues. This transfer represents the last act of that terrible season (I hope).

by milevin on Aug 22, 2010 12:50 PM CDT reply actions

21 wins

by Savage Henry on Aug 22, 2010 1:26 PM CDT reply actions

I hear J’Covan is patting ref’s butts in mid to late season form.

by Dude on Aug 22, 2010 2:58 PM CDT reply actions

I think our goal should be to make the tourney. Anything else would be a blessing.

by Scipio Tex on Aug 22, 2010 3:54 PM CDT reply actions

i second Scipio here.

22 wins.

by scagnetti on Aug 22, 2010 6:00 PM CDT reply actions

Which tournament?

by Sailor Ripley on Aug 22, 2010 6:28 PM CDT reply actions

Here’s more welcome BB diversion:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38808696/ns/sports-nba/

by Mostly a lurker on Aug 22, 2010 7:49 PM CDT reply actions

Sad to see Varez go. His skill set and the added depth/maturity would have been worth 2 wins, minimum.

After a quick look through the schedule, I would say we’re 21-10 before the Big 12 tourney. From there’s it’s anyone’s guess.

However, I am hard pressed to believe that this is a Sweet 16 team. Round 2 at best.

Sigh…

by Dr. UCLA-Longhorn on Aug 22, 2010 11:57 PM CDT reply actions

I’m thinking this will be A Season on the Bubble. I have no handle on this at all. Anyone who says he does is a liar.

by Bob in Houston on Aug 23, 2010 10:47 AM CDT reply actions

I know exactly what’s going to happen.

by Drew Dunlevie on Aug 23, 2010 8:04 PM CDT reply actions

Liar

by The People's Elbow on Aug 30, 2010 11:49 PM CDT reply actions

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by Roxie Anagnos on Feb 21, 2011 8:57 PM CST reply actions