Texas vs. Texas A&M Post Mortem

by Barking Carnival Staff on Jan 20, 2011 12:12 PM CST in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

Wow, that was nice. A crisp, efficient offensive performance on 58% shooting against a state rival that always defends well portends of good things to come for the Longhorns down the road. Sure, the Horns shot the ball really well, but I’m more impressed with what kind of shots we were getting than I was with our field goal percentage—the fool’s gold factor in this ballgame was pretty low with the exception of a couple contested looks from Jordan.

I was especially pleased with our deployment of Hamilton early in the game which helped to untrack our post game. The hallmark of well executed offense is first to know where help is going to be coming from and then attacking accordingly. Then you add counters off of your attack and string together real, honest to goodness offense.

Case in point would be our use of a simple flex cut early in the game to loosen Aggie post defenders and free Tristan Thompson. The flex cut is a simple corner to lane cut where the weakside block is setting the screen.

The weakside block defender has to come off his man and show to the cutter otherwise it’s an easy catch and layup. When the defender shows to the cutter, he has to give up post position which loosens the lowblock post and allows the screener to establish his own post position. A ball reversal, and voila, you have a fantastic post entry angle leading to an easy bucket.

So given this scenario, who would you choose as the flex cutter, and who’s your flex screener? Naturally, Rick used his best offensive player Jordan Hamilton as his cutter to loosen things up for his best post player Tristan Thompson. The results were easy looks and a couple of drawn fouls for TT.

Once the Aggies countered by putting Dash Harris on JH, a smaller defender that requires less cutting help, Hamilton just shot over the top on the way to 10-14 shooting. Throw in some dribble penetration to efficient catch and shoots, as well as some well timed transition, and the Horns were on their way to an explosive offensive performance against a good defensive basketball team. Offensively, the diversity of the Texas attack should have you smiling ear to ear.

On to the players.

Jordan Hamilton. Make no mistake, everyone including Bob Knight loves unselfish basketball, but Jordan Hamilton is special to the point that he needs to be selfish at times to open the floor up for his teammates. Texas lacks true blow-by guards until Kabongo gets to campus, so Hamilton needs to draw defenders out of the paint and 24 feet from the bucket to open driving lanes for Brown and Joseph. The 25 foot heat check has its place for this reason. Sure we can lift Johnson and Thompson out of the lane to create room, but most of our penetration all starts with Hamilton’s shooting credibility.

Hamilton also showed last night that he’s the team’s second best rebounder mainly because night in and night out he’s boarding against an undersized opponent. Defensively, Hamilton got lost a couple of times as he’s prone to do, but you take the bad with the 10-14 every chance you can get.

Tristan Thompson. The kid dominates the painted area like no other player we’ve had in a good while. He’s so athletic and flexible that he’ll dunk on you if you try to contest, and he’ll slide and slither right by you if you try to play positional defense or attempt to draw a charge. If he adds a face up 12 footer he’ll be an all star power forward in the NBA. Kids that size aren’t supposed to move like that. I’m resigned to the fact he’ll be in the League this time next year. Enjoy him while you can.

It sucks too, because I’d love to see TT and Kabongo in transition next season. It’s tantamount to a VY/Adrian Peterson backfield.

Gary Johnson. The third piece to one of the nation’s best frontcourts, settled down and ended up having a terrific shooting night. It’s disheartening for a post defender to be taken out to 15 feet and then have a face up 4 man get in triple threat, rocker-step you off the shot, and then rise up and drain a little jumper. It’s a helpless feeling because there’s nothing opposing 4’s can do about it. Then, when you put a smaller forward on Gary, he pummels you on the boards. GJ’s dynamic skill set is a huge value to a club that lacks elite playmakers at guard because he creates mismatches that teams need to help to.

J’Covan Brown. Wow, really played within himself and directed traffic out there. He showed a little Chris Corchiani, so much so that Bob Knight loved on him like he was Dan Dakich-with a neck tat.

If Brown can continue to run the show while threatening the arc as a jumpshooter, this team can take the next step. Elite lead guard play is the one thing this team lacks. It also helped that Brown had an easy cover with Holmes or Harris on the floor for the Ags. That won’t be the case in Lawrence this weekend.

Cory Joseph. I thought Cory had one of the better floor games he’s had all year. He didn’t take any bad shots, he found teammates, and he defended well against Holmes and Harris. Joseph in the pick and roll can also be a good offensive supplement to all the motion we’re doing in the half court. If we can find him a mismatch the ball screen game pays dividends. See the North Carolina game.

Alexis Wangmene. Lexi gave us big productive minutes from the 5 against an Aggie frontline that likes to play physical. He softened things for Tristan to go to work, and gave the Ags a huge body blow in the form of 6-6 from the line. We’ll need similar production against the Morris twins this Saturday.

Doge Balbay. Not his ballgame because the Ags lacked elite offensive guard play, and Turgeon refused to guard Balbay which mucked up some stuff we were doing in the paint when Doge was in. We’ll need Balbay on Selby, however, so it’s good he was able to rest his legs. It should also help that Self will probably want to run with us, which means Balbay can help us offensively.

Matt Hill. He came in and banged, but more importantly, he played about as well as a big can play when it comes to helpside defense. He probably saved us two or three easy penetration buckets and a handful of fouls in his 17 minutes. Matt made a huge contribution even if it didn’t show up in the boxscore.

Coaching. I’m shocked by how well we’re playing on the offensive end, and how diversified this offense has become without truly elite guard play. Kudos to Rick for making the change. It’s been a pleasure to watch.

On to Kansas. Hook ‘Em.

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The way things have been clicking – and the number of close games Texas has lost – tells me things look good for Saturday’s game.

Looking forward to that preview from y’all here at BC.

by TXinDC on Jan 20, 2011 12:45 PM CST reply actions

The highlight of the night for Brown was when he got called for his first foul [very questionable], he turned and handed the ball to the ref and ran down to play defense. That tells me as much or more about his upside than anything else he did all night.

by ransomstoddard on Jan 20, 2011 12:48 PM CST reply actions

Good reporting, as always. However, I have not been able to find anything on this site (or any other for that matter) that says anything about Tristan Thompson’s late game leg injury. Hopefully this is because it’s nothing to worry about? Does anyone know anything?

by Ryan on Jan 20, 2011 12:52 PM CST reply actions

I actually enjoy watching this team more on the defensive end. They are really good at help defense esp showing and falling back on the high screens. And there is usually a body waiting at the goal if the help doesn’t get there.

by Some Guy on Jan 20, 2011 12:53 PM CST reply actions

Ryan, it was a cramp I believe.

by Trips Right on Jan 20, 2011 12:54 PM CST reply actions

Nice work as always! Brown looks like a guy finally transformed. Let’s hope he doesn’t go into remission. If not, the ceiling for this team goes way up.

The only Knight quote I took notice of was his saying facetiously that Rick should forbid TT from working on his mid range jumper. Maybe that’ll give us one more year to prove to the NBA scouts he can make it consistently.

Hey, even the Gnome is giving us all he can. This team seems to have each others’ backs, which is another reason why they won’t go into a tailspin, IMO, but continue to get better. They also have some serious killer instinct, which has been missing for a very long time and used to be a Barnes trademark.

Can’t wait for the KU game!

by Hank The Plank on Jan 20, 2011 12:59 PM CST reply actions

A poster on BON said the TT leg issue was just a cramp.

by Horncasting on Jan 20, 2011 1:08 PM CST reply actions

I think Tristan stays. He seems like the type that would love to win a NCAA championship with his buddy Corey. They know that next year’s team is going to be one of the favorites to win it all if we don’t lose anyone early.

by Texoz on Jan 20, 2011 1:18 PM CST reply actions

Clarification. I’m assuming Jordan is gone, so I’m saying that we’ll be a favorite if nobody else besides Jordan leaves early.

by Texoz on Jan 20, 2011 1:20 PM CST reply actions

Trips—

Great write-up, as usual, especially your explanation of our early offensive strategy.

You noted Brown’s ability to run the show. At one point in the first half, Barnes rolled out a bizarre bigs line-up featuring Brown handling the ball with Hamilton, Thompson, Hill and Johnson. I don’t recall what their plus/minus was, but I wonder if we will see this again. Any thoughts?

Hamilton had a frustrating first 16 minutes from my perspective (I was in the arena, so saw him play away from the ball and also paid attention to his body language).

But from around the 3:30 mark of the first half and to about the 18:00 of the second, his possessions went:

made 2 (from about 18ft)
made 3
made 3
made 2 (on an indefensible fade-away off a baseline pivot)

Four points on the Hamilton stat sheet became 14 and all of a sudden he let it all hang out on offense. The Ags were done at that point.

I am impressed both by how quickly he can heat up and how his frustrations don’t seem to derail him, as opposed to last season. Of course, he doesn’t get the quick hook this year for his lapses in judgment, which helps considerably and is yet another credit to Barnes’ approach to this season.

by jonestopten on Jan 20, 2011 1:25 PM CST reply actions

Good stuff, Jones, thanks for that. The lack of the quick hook cannot be over-stated. It’s done wonders for Hamilton’s game.

by Trips Right on Jan 20, 2011 1:28 PM CST reply actions

Was at the game. Pretty sure TT just had a cramp. When he came off the floor, he was very careful not to bend the leg at all, looked like he was trying to keep it from cramping. The trainer was massaging his leg and stretching it out for awhile so I don’t think it was anything serious.

I was shocked by how we manhandled them. I expected a close game.

by New Braunfels Horn on Jan 20, 2011 1:29 PM CST reply actions

They said during the ESPN broadcast that it was just a cramp.

by jinx on Jan 20, 2011 1:57 PM CST reply actions

I was looking for the sub going to the scorer’s table after the first deep three early in the shot clock. Bobby K was about to have a fit. I get the felling he doesn’t approve of Hamilton’s style of play.

by jinx on Jan 20, 2011 2:06 PM CST reply actions

What were they looking at on the floor at mid-court with just a few seconds left in the game? It was kind of odd. A couple of fans sitting courtside walked out onto the floor to point to something for the refs.

by Texoz on Jan 20, 2011 2:19 PM CST reply actions

Coach Knight didn’t miss an opportunity to critique a shot with more than 10 seconds left on the shot clock. I thought they had his dialogue on a loop at one point.

by nobis60 on Jan 20, 2011 2:21 PM CST reply actions

Texoz, it’s my understanding that an Aggie player lost his contact lens, which is why their coach subbed with 2.5 seconds remaining. I’m guessing that was the spectacle at mid-court — search for player’s lens.

Sweet 8 lb 6 oz baby Jesus, please inspire TT to stay just one season with MK…

by Abe Lemons on Jan 20, 2011 2:34 PM CST reply actions

This was the first full game I’ve seen in a month or so and it was very enjoyable. About the only nitpick I have is that our spacing gets a little out of whack at times. So, we’ll end up with two posts within a few feet of each other or a guard isn’t positioned at the correct spot on the 3-point line when passing out of dribble penetration.

I’d like to see our dribble penetration yield a few more open looks from 3, but if we can fine-tune these couple things, we’ve got as good a shot as anyone of making a run in March.

by czarcw on Jan 20, 2011 2:55 PM CST reply actions

Great game for your guys. Refs let your inside plYers rebound over our guys backs while we stood around and watched. Couple that with grabbing people instead of beating them to their spots and well let’s just say Mark has plenty of coaching moments to work on. Frankly the loss comes at a good time for us so maybe we will stop sleep walking the first 5 minutes of every damn game.

Good luck in Lawrence. I think your performance last night will lead to an intense focus from the Hawks. I’m not sure you will like what you are gonna get from that.

by Aggie Lurking on Jan 20, 2011 3:03 PM CST reply actions

Yes, we have all heard from our aggy friends how ESPN, the refs and UT conspired to call non-existent fouls on hapless aggy defenders. In fact, one of my aggy friends shared a massive post on an aggy blog about how it all went down. Burnt Orange conspiracy indeed!

by ransomstoddard on Jan 20, 2011 3:33 PM CST reply actions

Frankly the loss comes at a good time for us so maybe we will stop sleep walking the first 5 minutes of every damn game.

Dare I say, moral victory?

by magnusbleuveigner on Jan 20, 2011 3:42 PM CST reply actions

The only mini-run the ags had was when we had Balbay and Lucas in the game at the same time. Let’s hope we don’t see that duo against a good team.

Not sure what to make of the Ags, we were bigger, stronger, faster at every position on the court it seemed. But, we seem to be getting more athletic as the season progresses. That’s not something that you see very often. Kudos Todd Wright? Or maybe our confidence is just growing. Hell, maybe Rick isn’t beating the hell out of them in practice a day before the game and we are just fresher.

The reason this team is good is because everyone has found their role and are staying within it on offense. That, and we flat out bust ass on defense. Nobody takes plays off on defense. We may have lapses mentally on occasion (JH), but it is not for a lack of effort. Lastly, they really seem to like each other and are all playing unselfishly.

Lastly, I admit that I kind of like Bob Knight. But, damn Bob, when your best shooter by far gets a decent look and takes a shot, I don’t give a rat’s ass if there are 34 seconds left on the shot clock. It is what you work for on offense, getting good looks from your best offensive players, time on the shot clock is irrelevant unless it’s in the last few minutes of the game. How can one of the best coaches of all-time not understand that?

by Bartoncreek on Jan 20, 2011 3:55 PM CST reply actions

Damn that was an incredible performance last night — no, no I’m not quoting my girlfriend, I’m talking about the Longhorns! (rimshot)

sound of crickets

I was expecting a bare-knuckle, down-to-the-wire brawl, but wow, was Texas dialed in or what? Just goes to show what can happen when the whole team buys in and the coach has a cohesive offensive gameplan that plays to his team’s strengths. This has the makings of a pretty special season. I think Saturday could be another in the series of great games we’ve played with KU.

I don’t know if we’ll win, but I think we’ll have their attention for a full 40. If we can avoid foul trouble and shoot FTs like we did last night…

by burnt orange outrage on Jan 20, 2011 4:12 PM CST reply actions

Great write-up Trips – thank you.

Your 2010/11 Hoops MVP: Rick Barnes

by Dude on Jan 20, 2011 4:15 PM CST reply actions

Texas looked good. Hell, Texas looked damn good. But let’s remember it is one game in mid-January. aTm did a horrible job of adjusting to the calls. Were some of the calls questionable? It’s basketball. When you start getting tagged with calls like that you have to adjust, not whine. aTm didn’t adjust. But given there overall effort last night, even if they did adjust I don’t think aTm had what it took to win last night.

I highly doubt the same aTm team hits the court at Reed a week from Monday. Should be a more competitive game. Gig’em.

by '01 ag on Jan 20, 2011 4:32 PM CST reply actions

In this case I wouldn’t say the calls were questionable. Texas was simply faster, getting to their spots and driving relentlessly to the hoop. Knight said much the same thing, that the Horns just looked much more energetic.

And Turgeon himself said nothing in the postgame presser that even hinted he was frustrated by the officiating during that stretch in the first half. He said, “I had to make a fool of myself to try and get us going and I don’t like acting that way…” I think he realized his guys were running on a mud track while Texas was firing on all cylinders, and he was trying to give them a spark. Which worked — for a few minutes.

by burnt orange outrage on Jan 20, 2011 4:43 PM CST reply actions

b.o.o.,

If you didn’t think some of those calls during the stretch where aTm got tagged with 6 fouls in about a minute, then you need to re-watch the game. And citing B. Knight on an aTm basketball game is not exactly rock solid authority. I’m not saying the calls were wrong, I’m saying there were some that could have gone either way and they all went the way of a whistle. There were more than a couple of the same variety called against Texas when aTm made its mini-run.

by '01 ag on Jan 20, 2011 4:52 PM CST reply actions

Lastly, I admit that I kind of like Bob Knight. But, damn Bob, when your best shooter by far gets a decent look and takes a shot, I don’t give a rat’s ass if there are 34 seconds left on the shot clock. It is what you work for on offense, getting good looks from your best offensive players, time on the shot clock is irrelevant unless it’s in the last few minutes of the game. How can one of the best coaches of all-time not understand that?

Though you’re right in principle, in my opinion, for the majority of the shots that Knight criticized, I didn’t think they were decent looks at all. Until it started clicking for Jordan late in the first, his shot selection and forces looked far too much like Jordan of last year. He was holding and then taking out-of-rhythm jumpers that he can get anytime he wants rather than facilitating any motion whatsoever.

by jb on Jan 20, 2011 5:18 PM CST reply actions

The two little aggie guards were tiny and were over matched. Lucky for the aggies that Lucas played 15 minutes.

Like to see Wangmene develop a modified jump hook so that he can use his wide body to shield the defender away from the shooting hand.

Entry passing into Tristan was awesome. The entry passing into Jordan as he was cutting off internal screens was not so awesome; many, many opportunities were missed. Shooting the turnaround jumper really helps Jordan get his rhythm.

Watched the game a second time, focusing on the lane. The horns always had somebody posting up on the lane, sometimes 2 guys. Would definitely like to use Gary and Tristan some as screeners way outside. Tristan’s defender will not be able to hedge an outside screen properly or stay with Tristan as he rolls to the bucket. The more space Tristan has to operate, the more difficult he is to defend. Tristan is just too fast and agile for a big man to keep up with him in space. Using Tristan outside setting picks would also open up the lane for Brown, Cory, Jordan, Gary, and even Tristan to drive to the hoop and finish or dish.

Many thanks to you, Trips, for your outstanding writeups.

by Kafka on Jan 21, 2011 2:04 AM CST reply actions

I agree with ‘01 Ag that Texas certainly got the benefit of a lot of calls in that game. Does bad officiating mean there is a conspiracy? No. Does not having a conspiracy mean there isn’t any bad officiating going on? Certainly not. UT fans would have thrown a fit if the calls were going against us and rightly so in my opinion.

And no, Bob Knight is not a good person to ask about whether officiating is biased—especially when it pertains to Texas and his good friend Rick Barnes. I swear, for a guy who’s supposed to be one of the best coaches in the history of American sport, he is a complete and total moron when he steps into the commentary realm. Makes me wonder how he used to get it done back in the 70s and 80s.

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by Online Home Of Cory McCoy on Oct 28, 2011 1:26 PM CDT reply actions