Game Recap: Texas blown out in Morgantown, 86-51

[Jameson McCausland]

[SIZE=17pt]Texas traveled to Morgantown Saturday in hopes of getting an upset win on the road, but instead suffered the biggest loss of the season. A long scoring drought in the 1st half and poor defense in the 2nd doomed the Longhorns, and the Mountaineers cruised to a 86-51 win. The loss drops Texas to 3-4 in Big 12 play and 12-7 overall.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=17pt]The Longhorns jumped out to a 20–17 lead following a Kerwin Roach free throw at the 8:51 mark in the first half, but only scored 2 points the rest of the way leading up to halftime, giving West Virginia a 32-22 lead. The Mountaineers then exploded in the second half for 54 points, helping them cruise to an easy win. Guard Jevon Carter led the way with 22 points, including shooting 4 of 7 from deep. As a team, the Mountaineers shot 52.2% from beyond the arc.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=17pt]It was a tough game offensively for the Longhorns. No player scored in double figures. As a team, Texas shot 34% from the field and only 20% from deep. Mo Bamba finished with 9 points and 13 rebounds. Texas was out rebounded 45-29 and committed 15 turnovers.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=17pt]The Longhorns will return home Monday to face Iowa State. The game will tip off at 6PM CST on ESPNU. Follow along at HornSports for live updates. [/SIZE]

 

[dillohorn]

Good Grief.

 

[83Dee]

Texas men’s basketball is in a real bad place and quite frankly I don’t see it getting better any time soon.  

I don’t see any way this team goes .500 in Big 12 play after last year’s dead last finish.  I’m not sure if there is more apathy or empty seats in the Erwin Center.  

Certainly our new and ambitious AD is on high alert here?

 

[Jameson McCausland]

Texas men’s basketball is in a real bad place and quite frankly I don’t see it getting better any time soon.  

I don’t see any way this team goes .500 in Big 12 play after last year’s dead last finish.  I’m not sure if there is more apathy or empty seats in the Erwin Center.  

Certainly our new and ambitious AD is on high alert here?

It is going to be tough for Texas to finish .500 in Big 12 play with the schedule they have left. It’s hard to believe that in 2016, Texas had 2 players declare for the NBA draft (Allen and Jones) and won a total of 11 games. In 2017, they have a potential Top 10 pick (Bamba) and are in danger of missing the tournament. Shaka Smart has to try to get some sort of offensive system in place that allows Texas to score without great shooters.

 

[java]

I love Shaka. He is recruiting very well, very well. However, I think unless you can draw like Duke is drawing this year, a school is almost better off with kids that are almost good enough to be one and done, but not quite. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love watching Bamba, in fact I’m taking my grandson to see the team on a Saturday in a few weeks, which is a rare occurrence, but we would have a better shot in the tourney without phenoms on the team. 

Hook ‘em

 

[MikeV73]

I love Shaka. He is recruiting very well, very well. However, I think unless you can draw like Duke is drawing this year, a school is almost better off with kids that are almost good enough to be one and done, but not quite. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love watching Bamba, in fact I’m taking my grandson to see the team on a Saturday in a few weeks, which is a rare occurrence, but we would have a better shot in the tourney without phenoms on the team. 

Hook ‘em

Agree, the Jarrett Allen experience was a waste of time and a waste of a scholly.  He didn't perform while here, was gone three months later to the NBA.  I continue to hope the NBA will veto its early entry rules and allow HS kids to declare.  If it doesn't work out that is on them if they are not good enough to get drafted.  Also, have a collegiate baseball type rule that makes them not eligible for three years if they go to college.  

 

[java]

Agreed on changing the NBA rule on early entries. 

 

[Bitterwhiteguy]

I love Shaka. He is recruiting very well, very well. However, I think unless you can draw like Duke is drawing this year, a school is almost better off with kids that are almost good enough to be one and done, but not quite. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love watching Bamba, in fact I’m taking my grandson to see the team on a Saturday in a few weeks, which is a rare occurrence, but we would have a better shot in the tourney without phenoms on the team. 

Hook ‘em

Every team in the country would take Bamba in a heartbeat. Every single one. Passing on a guy like him is professional malfeasance. Consider the following one and dones.

2017 Gonzaga, NC runner-up: Zach Collins

2017 UNC, Champ: Tony Bradley

2016 Syracuse, Final Four: Malachi Richardson

2015 Duke, Champ: Jahlil Okafor

2015 Duke, Champ: Justice Winslow

2015 Kentucky, Final Four: Karl Anthony-Towns

2015 Kentucky, Final Four: Devin Booker

2015 Kentucky, Final Four: Trey Lyles

That's just the last three years, we could keep going. The point is, you don't make it to the mountaintop without elite talent, and the 1 & dones are a significant factor in that equation. It's not getting phenoms that's the problem, it's surrounding them with veteran talent that has been Shaka's issue to date. Most of it isn't his doing; as Jeff Haley repeatedly points out there were a couple of Barnes' last recruiting classes which were a complete wash that is just now working its way out of the system. The roster turnover is increasingly Shaka's doing, and if it continues to be in flux where the team is incredibly young every year then that is something he needs to fix. There are signs he's getting better at it; consider his "first" class (which was really Barnes' last class Shaka had to keep together), Roach is playing at a high level on both ends of the floor and Davis is starting to look like himself again. Tevin Mack is at Alabama, and that's a ding on Shaka's resume. If Roach and Davis are both around and playing at this level or better next year, with Osetkowski and Eli Long contributing significant minutes added in the mix this team gets to be significantly more veteran in a hurry and the incoming freshman class will be the first in a number of years that isn't thrown into the fire as stop-gaps. There's a light at the end of the tunnel here, and I promise it's not a train.

Probably.

 

[java]

I agree. Bamba is amazing, and he is improving as the season progresses. I just wish the nba would change its rule. Have them play 2 or 3 years. 

I thought Tevin Mack screwed up badly, and perhaps our former ad made the call. Was it during his tenure?

 

[Bitterwhiteguy]

I agree. Bamba is amazing, and he is improving as the season progresses. I just wish the nba would change its rule. Have them play 2 or 3 years. 

I thought Tevin Mack screwed up badly, and perhaps our former ad made the call. Was it during his tenure?

I'm 95% sure the coaching staff was responsible for the decision to remove him from the team. As for Bamba, I have a hard time justifying a guy like him having to stay in college longer than he already does with reasons other than "I really like him in burnt orange". He's ready to contribute to the NBA now, why put an artificial barrier up to someone who is ready to make money at their dream.

 

[More Cowbell]

Agree, the Jarrett Allen experience was a waste of time and a waste of a scholly.  He didn't perform while here, was gone three months later to the NBA.  I continue to hope the NBA will veto its early entry rules and allow HS kids to declare.  If it doesn't work out that is on them if they are not good enough to get drafted.  Also, have a collegiate baseball type rule that makes them not eligible for three years if they go to college.  

I thought Jarrett Allen had a decent season last year. It was on a bad team however. Myles Turner two years ago seemed more like a college bust to me. I looked up the season stats. Turner 10.1 ppg / 6.5 reb.  Allen 13.4 / 8.4 so slight edge to Allen.

 

[java]

Bamba seems like he needs to add some weight for the NBA, but his shot blocking ability will be a great addition to a fortunate team. The big man can shoot, too!

 

[Bear19]

Good or bad the one and dones have caused me to not give a damn about college basketball.

 

[More Cowbell]

Maybe so but I'm sure happy to have a season of watching the brilliance of KD in person in my fading memory bank. 

 

[MikeV73]

I thought Jarrett Allen had a decent season last year. It was on a bad team however. Myles Turner two years ago seemed more like a college bust to me. I looked up the season stats. Turner 10.1 ppg / 6.5 reb.  Allen 13.4 / 8.4 so slight edge to Allen.

Good post;

with that being said they both had solid freshman seasons on subpar teams.  Both would have progressed with further college hoops.  However, getting paid more than you or I will ever make is a great reason to leave.  Turner has turned into a solid player quickly as well.  Just seems like  wasted time in school to move on quickly.  As to bitterwhiteguys  comments above why not just let them go straight from HS like before if we don't want to impede their right to make money?  If it doesn't work out then they can do something else much like the rest of us in the real world. I agree arrificial barriers shouldn't keep them from moving on, but that doesn't mean a bit of control and regulation on the college game might not be beneficial.

 

[More Cowbell]

Turner's season I just happened to sit next to Matt Doherty one game scouting Turner for the Pacers. I didn't bug him much, but I asked him specifically about his mediocre season and how I didn't understand the lottery pick talk. He told me there just weren't many players with his physical size and it didn't matter, he would be drafted high and it was unfortunate as Longhorn fans we'd never see his potential.  Was he ever right. They don't do it at every position, but the NBA takes the long view on big men.  

 

[Bitterwhiteguy]

Turner's season I just happened to sit next to Matt Doherty one game scouting Turner for the Pacers. I didn't bug him much, but I asked him specifically about his mediocre season and how I didn't understand the lottery pick talk. He told me there just weren't many players with his physical size and it didn't matter, he would be drafted high and it was unfortunate as Longhorn fans we'd never see his potential.  Was he ever right. They don't do it at every position, but the NBA takes the long view on big men.  

Turner's production issues had very little to do with his talent -- he's one of the most-polished freshman bigs I've ever seen -- and very much to do with relationship struggles between him and the coaching staff. I can't really delve much further into it without making one side or the other sound like 'the bad guy', except to say his visions of what he should be doing on the floor didn't align with what the coaching staff wanted him to do.

 

[Bitterwhiteguy]

Good post;

with that being said they both had solid freshman seasons on subpar teams.  Both would have progressed with further college hoops.  However, getting paid more than you or I will ever make is a great reason to leave.  Turner has turned into a solid player quickly as well.  Just seems like  wasted time in school to move on quickly.  As to bitterwhiteguys  comments above why not just let them go straight from HS like before if we don't want to impede their right to make money?  If it doesn't work out then they can do something else much like the rest of us in the real world. I agree arrificial barriers shouldn't keep them from moving on, but that doesn't mean a bit of control and regulation on the college game might not be beneficial.

I'm fine with letting them bypass college entirely. (I suspect that is going to be an option sooner than later, perhaps as soon as the 2019 NBA draft.) I also think we're headed down the path of the G League becoming a legit minor-league system not entirely unlike what baseball has. They already have franchises for nearly every NBA team, and they're developing ways (like the 2-way deals) to cultivate players moving back & forth between the G League and the NBA. This is a long way of saying I kinda feel like this whole "1-year freshman" issue may work itself out over time as the supremely-talented 1st-round types go straight to the NBA/G League and the NCAA starts to resemble something similar to college baseball where more of the rosters are built with players who tend to be around for a couple years or more.

 

[dillohorn]

The NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball, could care less about college sports or the student athletes. Bottom dollar is their only goal. All 3 could disappear tonight and I'd be thrilled. F"em.