Rick Barnes & UT Basketball: It’s About Accountability & Expectations
I know for a lot of folks, basketball doesn’t even begin until after football season, but UT will start practice in a few weeks, and Rick Barnes will welcome back four starters off last years Elite Eight squad.
As Barnes comments about each of the players in this article, a pattern emerges - one that has been a consistent part of the Barnes program at Texas.
A.J. Abrams: “I do expect his role to change, because I expect A.J. to be better”
Connor Atchley: “On the basketball side, we absolutely expect Connor to get better and add to what he did last year.”
Justin Mason: “There is no area that Justin will not improve in, because he has so much pride in what he does.”
Damion James is one of just six returning players in college basketball who averaged a double-double last year.
Damion James: “Like every player on our team, we expect more of Damion. No one is going to expect more from any of our guys more than our staff and our players.”
Dexter Pittman: “We know how hard he has worked, but it’s now time for him to put it in the books. Our expectations as a team have changed for Dexter.”
Clint Chapman and Alexis Wangmene: “Both of them have been through it now, and we’re expecting more consistency from both Clint and Lexi.”
Texas is a consensus pre-season Top 20 selection for 2008-09, making a lot of Top 10 lists. In fact, even Dickie V thinks a lot of the Horns.
Barnes has built Texas into a nationally recognized basketball program by elevating the talent level and then getting those players to respond to his expectations.
September 25, 2008 at 9:27 pm
God Bless Rick Barnes.
September 25, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Amen.
1st & 2nd Round in KC March 19 & 20
Memphis or Indianapolis March 27 & 29
And on to Motown for the Final Four. First game Apri 4th, Finals on April 6th.
September 25, 2008 at 9:36 pm
And we got fall baseball next month.
Rice here on October 19th. TExas State on November 2nd.
And if you are interested, I understand they are practicing at the Austin High field on 1st street through next week.
September 26, 2008 at 3:18 am
Rick Barnes has his players overachieve, quite the opposite of the underachievers Mack produces……
September 26, 2008 at 5:49 am
Are we better at the guard position than we were a year ago?
September 26, 2008 at 5:50 am
There are few things more tiring to me than Texas fans who use our hoops program as simply an instrument with which to beat the football coach. Barnes accomplishments with this program are phenomenal and deserved to be recognized and celebrated in their own right.
So basically give it a fucking rest already FtWorthHorn.
As to the subject at hand all of those expectations are fine but I think we all understand that the season hinges on Dogus Air Jihad Balbay. If he’s a high level collegiate point guard this team’s a potential final four squad. His play this summer in European U20 was certainly encouraging so I’m cautiously optimistic at this point.
September 26, 2008 at 5:57 am
I agree with FtWorthHorn. Barnes will never allow his players to accept anything less than their absolute best. Not trying to say Mack doesn’t but I don’t think Mack gets the best out of them sometimes.
Barnes is tremendous and I hope he doesn’t ever feel he’s not appreciated. I look forward to college basketball every year which is great since i can’t stand the NBA and don’t care much about the NFL either.
September 26, 2008 at 6:09 am
We graduate good kids and try not to use abusive language when coaching. clap, clap, clap….
September 26, 2008 at 6:12 am
Barnes is a lot like Stoops in some ways. Sometimes he pushes his players TOO hard. Like, say, last January.
September 26, 2008 at 7:59 am
Barnes took a lot of undeserved crap when Kevin Durant was here (I’m talking about YOU, Bill Simmons), and it filtered through to a lot of fans.
I’ve never thought he was the world’s greatest strategist, but he’s good enough that everything else he does has raised this program to the brink, as John Feinstein might say.
This is going to be a good season, but next year could be even better.
September 26, 2008 at 8:35 am
Barnes is one of the best in Country. Period. And don’t overlook Barnes’s assistants and Todd Wright. Helluva team in suits on our bench.
September 26, 2008 at 9:40 am
Minnesotahorn, please hear(listen to) my point. Barnes does better with less. Mackie is great, but why can’t he win the big games…Mack Brown seems like he’s a great guy, but why is it okay for him to have a poor record against superior opppnents. If Barnes loses it’s his time management, his players aren’t prepared enough,and etc. While Mackie gets away with finishing second place in the south division, every single year. Is it his coaching style or his OC? ONE conference title in how many years? Please note the number of titles won by Barnes @ a FOOTBALL school to mackie’s total!!!! I’m sorry the truth hurts…
September 26, 2008 at 9:59 am
You misunderstand. I’m not a Mackpologst. I want Barnes’ fantastic basketball program appreciated in its own right and not as simpply a measuring stick for the football team.
September 26, 2008 at 11:14 am
Mack Brown’s program has diddly poo to do with Rick Barnes’ program. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
Why not just appreciate the great job Rick’s doing and jog on?
People who get their panties in a twist over football when they realize what a great job our B-Ball coach are spoiled f’n brats.
I can think of no other explanation because it’s truly baffling.