Has Barnes earned another year?

[Sirhornsalot]

Last spring, when talk began of Mack being ousted - he was lumped in to make a threesome of coaches who were on their way out. Mack. Augie. Barnes.

From what I was told back then, Barnes was at the top of the list of "have to go." We were in line for a new football coach, basketball coach and baseball coach.

Things changed. Augie's going to go out on his own with no hassles. Mack had to go, but certainly made it interesting both during the season and after.

Then there's Rick Barnes. Quietly, Barnes has assembled a blue collar team that works it's tail off and does not get out hustled on the court by anyone. They've just beat a top 10 team, have beaten hoops goddess North Carolina, and are in the mix for the conference title. Granted, it's not world beating stuff, but far better than anyone (including myself) expected. Lanier's return was a big boost for the program.

I'm inclined to see where this goes this year and next fall rather than shift gears, but I'm still a little on the fence here. Do we keep Barnes another year? Or does he have to have this team in the tourney for that to happen? Or is that even good enough?

 

[PTA]

I'm not a BMD...but say let the season play out first.

 

[Bandit]

If Barnes makes the tourney and if he gets Turner, he should get another year at least.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

If Barnes makes the tourney and if he gets Turner, he should get another year at least.

Yea, getting Turner would be a statement. His recruiting has been questioned, but that would quiet that notion.

 

[PDX Horn]

If Barnes makes the tourney and if he gets Turner, he should get another year at least.

I would say he needs to win a couple of games in the tourney. Hasn't done much of that the past 5 years.

 

[pringlelake]

Sweet 16 at a minimum and then I'm in favor of giving him another year but would keep him on a short leash. With all the money and resources available at UT, there's no reason that we shouldn't be a top 10-12 basketball team year in and year out and in the final four at least once in every 4 or 5 year time frame.

 

[Pancho Negro]

I'd still prefer him to be gone. But I'm rooting for the team to succeed.

 

[monarch]

...shaka smart to texas. hope springs eternal...

 

[mesoHorny]

Let's do the smart thing this time. See if a big name guy you really want is available and will come. If so make the move but don't fire Barnes unless you know exactly who it is you will replace him with. If you can't find your guy give Rick another year.

 

[Texdoc]

Yes, if they continue to improve. They are the youngest team (in the Nation ??? ) & are playing way better now than a month ago. If (I know - "IF" ) they had held on vs ou , they would be ranked above ou, 15-3 (Best record in Big 12 w/okie state) & 4-1 (Tied for 2nd) in conference. Tey were THAT close, & like I said - They Are Young. I'm not holding my breath on getting Turner, but either way if guys like Ridley & Javan improve as much this year as they did last (& Holmes) we would be pretty salty next year & beyond. With Turner - even better.

OTOH, if they start to regress, bicker, & defect, then show him the door.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Anyone know where we're standing with Turner?

 

[utisdabomb12]

Down to Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and SMU as of right now.

Larry Brown is the head coach at SMU so wouldn't surprise me if actually ends up committing to SMU. Still, I think it could go either way with those 4 teams.

 

[TexasFan]

Too early to make a call on Barnes. I like his team's results so far, just way too early.

 

[popdaddy]

Barnes is in his 16th year at Texas, it's way past time to make a change. All University of Texas coaches should be held to a standard of conference and national championships.

If Dodds had been anywhere near competent, he would have fired Mack, Barnes and Guito four years ago. It's obvious Mack should have been fired after the 2010 season. Barnes hasn't coached a team past the first weekend of the NCAA tourney since 2008. He is more focused on developing players for the NBA than the NCAA.

The University of Texas needs a basketball coach who can recruit and coach an offensive/defensive game plan to advance in the NCAA tourney. Barnes can find a fine job in the NBA as an assistant but he needs to be relieved of his current job at The University.

 

[valleyhorn]

I would have to say it is time for him to go. 16 years is long enough. I'm ready for an energetic young coach to come in and take this program back to where it use to be.

 

[alonghorn72]

While it can be argued that Rick has done a tremendous job with this years team, it can also be argued that he has had his chances to do this in the time he has been here. Even though this is a football school, with all the resources we have available to us, Rick has underachieved and shown that his coaching ability is not up to the standard that should represent the University of Texas. He does less with more and has done so season upon season. He either starts well out of conference and bombs while in conference or vice versa. Unless he reaches the sweet 16 with this group (which is a dream within itself) he needs to go.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I say keep Barnes if UT wins 20 games and qualifies for the NCAA tourney.

That's a great job with this young team!