One for the Ducks

by BobInHouston on May 24, 2011 4:53 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

Rick Barnes and the Longhorns lost out in their bid for a one-year plug-in at power forward.

Olu Ashaolu, a 6-7 All-WAC defensive player who has graduated from Louisiana Tech and has one more season of immediate eligibility, chose Oregon over Texas and San Diego State today.

Ashaolu, another Canadian who had connections with both Oregon and Texas through the Grassroots Canada program, averaged 14 points and 9 boards for La Tech last season, and looked good in a blowout loss in Austin early in the year.

Myck Kabongo hosted Ashaolu and his brother on their visit last week and briefly posted a tweet suggesting that Olu was bound for UT. He would have fit in nicely among UT's incoming freshmen, and probably would have been a prime beneficiary of Kabongo's passes. At Oregon, he'll be playing with Devoe Joseph, Cory's older brother, who transferred from Minnesota last year.

Texas could use another body up front. The loss of Ashaolu could increase their interest in Tony Woods, a 6-11 center who left Wake Forest last year and dunked freely in WF's NCAA overtime win over Texas in 2010. Woods was booted by the new Wake coach, Jeff Bzdelik, after a domestic disturbance rap. But he may be highly sought after a sympathetic piece about the situation by Jason King of Yahoo! Sports. Kentucky was very much interested.

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Flapjacks!

by Drew Dunlevie on May 24, 2011 6:57 PM CDT reply actions

Hope Daniels didn’t go there.

by Bob in Houston on May 24, 2011 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

Nebraska figures out another way to kick Texas one last time before moving on.

Coach Altman used to coach at Creighton.

Ok, not really Nebraska, but at least a guy from a state that rhymes with Nebraska.

by Really? on May 24, 2011 11:03 PM CDT reply actions

Whatever happened to DeAndre Daniels?

First, he was supposed to announce his decision last Wednesday, then he pushed back the announcement to the next day. Still no word?

Is this guy flaky or what?

One bad news tidbit: His teammate is going to KU.

by Joetx on May 25, 2011 11:04 AM CDT reply actions

Another one and done—-not sure this is a big loss. Chapman and Wagmene have been here long enough for one of them to have a productive year.

by Frank the Plank on May 25, 2011 11:40 AM CDT reply actions

So he is going to go to Oregon because they will get him to the NBA. Huh?

Oregon Ducks in NBA:
Aaron Brooks, PG
Luke Ridnour, PG

Texas Longhorns in NBA:
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF
D.J. Augustin, PG
Avery Bradley, SG
Kevin Durant, SF
Maurice Evans, SF
T.J. Ford, PG
Daniel Gibson, PG
Royal Ivey, PG
Damion James, SF
Dexter Pittman, C

by TexasGarcia39 on May 25, 2011 11:45 AM CDT reply actions

I blame Will Lyles.

by magnusbleuveigner on May 25, 2011 11:45 AM CDT reply actions

That context for his domestic disturbance is going to be important for Rick. I know Barnes has been getting a lot of heat lately – much of it deserved – but the choir boy off-court demeanor and the exceptional academic performance of the basketball team during his tenure here has been notable.

If Barnes wants Woods, he’s got more than enough good will built up in these areas to sell it to me.

by Scipio Tex on May 25, 2011 12:48 PM CDT reply actions

Joetx: He actually will have two IMG teammates at KU. One is a walk-on. If that was going to be a decider for him, he already would have committed.

by Bob in Houston on May 25, 2011 3:43 PM CDT reply actions

@ Bob – I hope you’re right.

by Joetx on May 25, 2011 4:11 PM CDT reply actions

Scip: He can take a hard line with the guy — anything like this again and you’re gone, and we’ll be OK without you.

He dealt with this with Jason Klotz. Only drawback I foresee is a quick and dirty comparison to Lacedarius Dunn, which only works if the comparison is quick and dirty.