Men's Basketball

[utisdabomb12]

I watched some film from this past season and I came to a few realizations. 

1-We played a lot of uptempo last year. Our point guards liked to push the ball and get quick easy looks. It will be interesting to see what Barnes does in the offseason. IMO we really need to become a half court team, and slow the tempo down for several reasons. Limiting the game to as few possessions as possible is going to play right into our hands. With Ibeh, Lammert, Turner, Holmes, and Ridley Texas should win the rebound battle on most nights. It's also going to be very difficult to get easy baskets at the rim with the size and length Texas now has. Finally, Texas is going to be improved in terms of turnovers with a little more experience/maturity. Texas needs to make it a half court game IMO with limited possessions. I wouldn't mind some lineups where we go small and push the tempo, but this team will be best utilized in a slower/half court game. It's not pretty, but low scoring games will play right into the Longhorn's hands. 

2-Expect more zone next year. Turner brings length on the perimeter, something we sorely missed this year. With the new foul rules  you are almost forced to play zone at certain parts of the game. 

3-Our offense needs to run through Taylor. When Taylor is penetrating our offense is a completely different animal. I would expect a lot more pick and roll looks at the top of the key next year with Taylor and Holmes/Turner. Holmes and Turner both give you the athleticism where they can roll to the hoop, but also kick out off a pick and roll and hit a jumper. The more and more I watch of Taylor, he reminds me of a less refined Tony Parker. It will be very difficult to stop a pick and roll game involving Taylor and Holmes/Turner. This is another reason why I think we need to become more of a half court team. Let Taylor create in the half court (that's where he's the best much like Tony Parker). 

4-I fully expect Walker/Yancy/Barnett/Croaker to steal minutes from Holland and Felix. Walker really came on at the end of the year, and I expect him to be the starter next year at the other wing. Don't overlook Barnett though. Kid is the real deal and brings the intangibles Texas needs at the wing (length and a jumpshot). I don't mind Holland because he's a good defender, but there's no reason Felix should be seeing more then 12 minutes a game next year. 

5-Apparently, Ridley has been working on a little 5 to 6 foot jumper. If he develops a little bit of a mid range game, look out. I fully expect Ridley to be even more improved next year. We saw the improvement from his Freshman to Sophomore year. Also, Texas really needs to work on post entry passes in the offseason. We were absolutely horrible at feeding Ridley this past season. 

6-IMO Lammert was under utilized all year. Turner might eat into his minutes, but Lammert needs to be more involved. 

The reason I like this team. Teams that can rebound, play defense, and get easy looks at the rim normally win games. Texas should be able to do all three of those things very well.

[JimR]

I watched some film from this past season and I came to a few realizations. 

 

1-We played a lot of uptempo last year. Our point guards liked to push the ball and get quick easy looks. It will be interesting to see what Barnes does in the offseason. IMO we really need to become a half court team, and slow the tempo down for several reasons. Limiting the game to as few possessions as possible is going to play right into our hands. With Ibeh, Lammert, Turner, Holmes, and Ridley Texas should win the rebound battle on most nights. It's also going to be very difficult to get easy baskets at the rim with the size and length Texas now has. Finally, Texas is going to be improved in terms of turnovers with a little more experience/maturity. Texas needs to make it a half court game IMO with limited possessions. I wouldn't mind some lineups where we go small and push the tempo, but this team will be best utilized in a slower/half court game. It's not pretty, but low scoring games will play right into the Longhorn's hands. 

 

2-Expect more zone next year. Turner brings length on the perimeter, something we sorely missed this year. With the new foul rules  you are almost forced to play zone at certain parts of the game. 

 

3-Our offense needs to run through Taylor. When Taylor is penetrating our offense is a completely different animal. I would expect a lot more pick and roll looks at the top of the key next year with Taylor and Holmes/Turner. Holmes and Turner both give you the athleticism where they can roll to the hoop, but also kick out off a pick and roll and hit a jumper. The more and more I watch of Taylor, he reminds me of a less refined Tony Parker. It will be very difficult to stop a pick and roll game involving Taylor and Holmes/Turner. This is another reason why I think we need to become more of a half court team. Let Taylor create in the half court (that's where he's the best much like Tony Parker). 

 

4-I fully expect Walker/Yancy/Barnett/Croaker to steal minutes from Holland and Felix. Walker really came on at the end of the year, and I expect him to be the starter next year at the other wing. Don't overlook Barnett though. Kid is the real deal and brings the intangibles Texas needs at the wing (length and a jumpshot). I don't mind Holland because he's a good defender, but there's no reason Felix should be seeing more then 12 minutes a game next year. 

 

5-Apparently, Ridley has been working on a little 5 to 6 foot jumper. If he develops a little bit of a mid range game, look out. I fully expect Ridley to be even more improved next year. We saw the improvement from his Freshman to Sophomore year. Also, Texas really needs to work on post entry passes in the offseason. We were absolutely horrible at feeding Ridley this past season. 

 

6-IMO Lammert was under utilized all year. Turner might eat into his minutes, but Lammert needs to be more involved. 

 

The reason I like this team. Teams that can rebound, play defense, and get easy looks at the rim normally win games. Texas should be able to do all three of those things very well.

I like most of your thoughts, but I am willing to bet you a beer right now that we do not become a half court team.

[BudreauReye]

Well thought out post.  If you are not careful, I am gonna start cutting and pasting your comments into other threads on BOB ... wait! ,,, whut?  But at the least I promise to properly attribute you! 

 

To add to your number five, yes, they need to improve on post entry passes.  But, on the other hand look at how much better Texas was at entry passes to the post this last year from the year before.  So a continuation of that improvement should oughta be a win win, huh?

[BudreauReye]

I light most of your thoughts, but I am willing to bet you a beer right now that we do not become a half court team.

 

 

I think that we will run when we can and we will be much more effective in the half court when we need to be.  Take what they give you.

[utisdabomb12]

I like most of your thoughts, but I am willing to bet you a beer right now that we do not become a half court team.

Probably right. Think this team would be better utilized in the half court though. 

[BudreauReye]

Probably right. Think this team would be better utilized in the half court though. 

 

 

You know, I have a preference for full court press, run at every opportunity, like Nolan Richardson's forty minutes of hell style of play.  But, oftentimes, play between well matched and very good teams seems to be reduced to a half court game.  I was there when Abe Lemons' Longhorns took on Eddie Sutton's Arkansas Razorbacks and the Triplets and upset them 75-69 in the the Drum.  Texas liked to use a a match up zone and run at every opportunity.  Arkansas like to run with the triplets.  That game was so well matched that it "devolved" into a half court game.  Seems to me that Texas should get out and run when they can, they are certainly going to be able to do so, but emphasize the half court offense where ever they can to take advantage of their size inside.  Since they will have an ability to run, they can gobschmack an unsuspecting very good team by putting in the best possible fast break lineup and running them out of the gym until they prove that they can stop it.  I think that we are going to have the personnel to do that.  Well, that's what I want to see, anyway.

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[JimR]

Probably right. Think this team would be better utilized in the half court though. 

I think we have to be able to be a good half court team, but I hope we run at every opportunity.

[utisdabomb12]

Texas vs Kentucky in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. That's going to be fun. 

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/98889/ranking-the-secbig-12-challenge-games

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

[BudreauReye]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

 

These guys need some surly attitude to keep them grounded for next year.  Good for the Prince!  Surly!  Surly!  You betta not call me Shirley!

[Pancho Negro]

I had a feeling we'd either be playing Kentucky or Florida after a.) our surprise year and b.) our signing of a prized recruit. 

 

Rick surely can't mess up next year, can he?!?!

[BudreauReye]

I had a feeling we'd either be playing Kentucky or Florida after a.) our surprise year and b.) our signing of a prized recruit. 

 

Rick surely can't mess up next year, can he?!?!

 

 

I think he has a good team that likes each other and buys into the system that is in place now.  I think he has three players coming in that also buy into the system.  I think that these guys have the attitude that they have something to prove.  I think that I am going to enjoy next season. 

[BudreauReye]

I'm gonna pull some information in here from 247Horns.  Bierce does a great job of pulling together information that others just don't seem to find so easily.  Please consider 247Horns and bierce to have been properly attributed.  These are the two offers that he talks about.  There are several other offers in the body of the thread.  The thread can be found here ...

 

http://texas.247sports.com/Board/21/Contents/UT-basketball-recruiting-thread-videos-offers-commitments-28469864

 

"John Collins 2015 PF, offered

This guy looks like he is going to explode on the scene. 6'9", bouncy, active. Already has offers from Syracuse, Maryland, Wake Forest, and Miami, so it looks like half the ACC is after him. Embedded videos is high school. Other links are to recent AAU stuff in the Dallas area druing evaluation weekend and in Orlando over Easter. I know Florida Flash wasn't at the Adidas Gauntlet, so I guess they were at the Lonestar Challenge in Arlington. Maybe Springmann watched him there. I don't know because the mods never got back to us about who might have been watching which players where in the only evaluation weekend for the spring.  Last link is a single throw down after driving the lane."

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ktvOeqk-8

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mOdrSuauYg

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKoFCMaLFrM&feature=youtu.be

 

 

 

 

"Schnider Herard, 2016 C, offered

 

This guy is a sophomore? What a monster he might be in two years. Heck, he already is. 6'10" 235, playing for Prestonwood Christian.

OU, KSU, Tech, TCU, SMU, A&M, North Texas have offered in state or in conference. OSU, KU, Baylor interested but yet to offer."

 

 

 

And, just in case anybody missed video of this guy on a previous thread, here is my "must have" player from the 2016 class (number one).  Thon Maker.  He is 7'-0", runs like a gazelle, and works out with John Lucas, so maybe we might have a chance ... oh yeah, he has brother one year younger, Matur Maker!  Both of them have not been playing as long as their contemporaries.  Both are tall and skinny, but it looks like they would not play a traditional center roll.  To paraphrase Abe Lemons.  they are deadly cruisers ... now go out and get an aircraft carrier to go with them.  Seems like we are going to have some experience with that over the next couple of years.

 

 

Here is Thon ...

 

 

 

Here is Matur  ...

 

 

 

And, here is Thon and Matur together ...

 

[BudreauReye]

While I am at it, here is a Barking Carnival article announcing TJ Ford's basketball camp in Austin.  Props to Sailor Ripley, and I quote ...

 

"TJ is bringing his bad ass camp experience to Austin on June 25th.

Note that there are TWO camps, each at a separate location and at a different time.

 

CAMP 1

 

LOCATION: Westlake High School

TIME: 8:00-11:00AM

CHECK-IN: 7:15 - 7:45AM

 

CAMP 2

 

LOCATION: Round Rock Sports Center

TIME: 2:00-5:00PM

CHECK-IN: 1:15-1:45PM

__________________________

SIGN-UP DEADLINE: JUNE 20,2014

REGISTRATION: TJ Ford Basketball

Great chance for kids to learn from the best. These have been a big hit in Houston."

 

 

http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/5/16/5723718/tj-ford-basketball-june-austin-camps

[JimR]

bierce is much better covering basketball than the guys who get paid to do it, imo.

[BudreauReye]

bierce is much better covering basketball than the guys who get paid to do it, imo.

 

 

Over at 247, and at many of the dedicated web sites and all,  yes he is - Hornsports excepted of course. 

[BudreauReye]

for all of you statistic geeks, here is an article entitled,  "Examining the Texas Backcourt with Lineup-Derived Statistics: A look back at the 2013-2014 Longhorn guards.",  by  Jeffrey Haley, over at Burnt Orange Nation. 

 

Here as few things he has to say ...

 

"Play-by-play data allow us to develop statistics around what happens when individual players, or groups of players, are in the game. They allow us to look back at how certain lineups performed, and provide details as to why the performance was good, bad, or indifferent."

 

"Those of you who felt that Javan Felix may have played too much or are in love with the game of Isaiah Taylor will find these numbers support your perspective. But those of you who think Rick Barnes gives too many minutes to Demarcus Holland will find that these data challenge your point of view."

 

"... when Holland, Yancy, and Isaiah Taylor all played together, Texas was insanely good. In the 256 possessions that I captured with these three players on the floor, Texas scored 113 points per 100 possessions, while only allowing 77 points per 100 possessions.  I find this absolutely fascinating, and a bit counter-intuitive. It is hard to understand how you can have a functioning basketball team when not one of the three perimeter players on the floor can shoot. But this group didn't just function - it thrived. ... these lineups crashed the glass, took care of the ball, and went to the free throw line 0.54 times for every field goal attempt.  Meanwhile, the defense was suffocating. Opponents shot 14 percent from three point range, turned the ball over 21 percent of the time, and didn't get offensive rebounds very often."

 

" ... Does this mean that Texas would be best served to play Taylor, Holland, and Yancy together for heavy minutes next season? ... "maybe. ... This might be a statistical fluke. On the other hand, it is probably a good idea if Rick Barnes wants to experiment with these sorts of lineups early next season."

 

"Fans like to complain about Demarcus Holland. ... Texas was 7 points per 100 possessions better than the opposition when Holland was in the game, and dead even ... when he sat. ... He is a little turnover prone and doesn't shoot the ball very well, ... When Holland was on the floor last season, the Longhorns scored about 1 point per 100 possessions more than when he sat. ... On the defensive end things are different. With Holland in the game, Texas allowed 6 fewer points per 100 possessions than it did when he sat.  If you were basing decisions solely off of these numbers (and I certainly don't advise doing that), then it would lead you to the conclusion that Holland was Texas' third best perimeter player last season, and the high number of minutes he played were justified. But let's not go that far. A more responsible statement is this: it is hard to argue that Holland hurt Texas last season by playing so much, when the team was clearly better during the possessions he played than it was during the possessions he sat."

 

"In the same corners of the internet where Rick Barnes took heat for playing Holland so much, he also was criticized for relying heavily on Javan Felix. And here the numbers seem to support the arguments made by the critics.

When Felix the Texas offense was decent, scoring 107 points per 100 possessions, compared with 106 points per 100 possessions when he sat. And the defense suffered, allowing 107 points per 100 possessions, compared with 92 points per 100 trips when the Texas sophomore was on the bench. ... Javan Felix heavily shaped the Texas offense when on the floor, taking just under 30 percent of the team's shots when in the game. The Felix effect on the offense was at least partly responsible for a few things. Turnovers dropped, because Javan Felix is pretty careful with the ball. Meanwhile offensive rebounding rates went down, which perhaps has something to do with the fact that Felix often took jump shots, rather than attacking the basket and pulling weakside rebounders out of position. (This is the opposite of the Isaiah Taylor effect, who's presence on the floor increased offensive rebounding percentage.)

While the Horns were fine on offense when Felix played, Texas struggled on defense when the sophomore guard was in the game. Opponents shot 38 percent from three point range when Felix played. Some of this is dumb luck, for sure, but the qualitative observation is that Felix was often not quite as quick on close outs as some of his teammates. At a minimum, these data do not contradict that observation. Additionally, when Felix played, opponent turnover rates were fairly low."

 

"How much blame can we really place on Felix for Texas' defensive problems when he was in the game? This is a difficult question. The most reasonable answer is, at least some of it. Another interesting way to look at this is to look more closely at one of Rick Barnes' most common starting lineups, the grouping of Jonathan Holmes, Cameron Ridley, Isaiah Taylor, Demarcus Holland, and Javan Felix. I have about 300 possessions for this lineup in my database. Texas scored 111 points per 100 possessions, and gave up 107 points per 100, for a differential of +4 point. For the 240 possessions where Holmes, Ridley, Taylor, and Holland played without Felix, Barnes' team scored 107 points per 100 trips and allowed only 85 points per 100 possessions. That is +22 points per 100 possessions."

 

Summary

 

"I think these lineup-based numbers are useful, provided they are used carefully. As with any metric, they do not give a complete picture, and must be compared with other information.  But these numbers do at least provide clues. Where the clues are most interesting are where we don't have other good measures of performance. The most obvious place to apply them is with perimeter defense, where conventional basketball statistics are almost useless.  The cases looked at in this post hint at a pretty interesting idea. At least for the case of Texas during the 2013-2014 season, perimeter defense was a big factor in determining the success of a particular player grouping. It might have been the biggest factor.  Rick Barnes might just know what he is doing when he is giving all those minutes to Demarcus Holland."

 

 

.

http://www.burntorangenation.com/basketball/2014/5/13/5697118/reviewing-the-texas-basketball-season-with-lineup-derived-statistics

 

 

Good thoughts.  Of course, as the old saying goes you can prove about just anything with the right statistics.  Jeffrey, obviously builds a lot of caveats into his discussion.  It seems to me that two things are obvious.  First of all, Javan Felix needs to develop a sharpshooter jump shot coming off of the bench if he wants to see much time next year.  Coach Barnes has had to rely on Felix over the past two years because he was probably the smartest player on the court for Texas.  There is still a place for him in the rotation, but the athleticism of his teammates seems to be passing him by.  Secondly, Demarcus Holland needs to be on the floor, no matter what ... but it would not hurt if he, too, could develop a jump shot.  Thirdly, (you knew there had to be a thirdly, right? it seems that a case can be made that Kendal Yancy needs a long look at minutes at the two guard along with and maybe even ahead of Martez Walker.

[Topstarr]

I watched some film from this past season and I came to a few realizations. 

 

1-We played a lot of uptempo last year. Our point guards liked to push the ball and get quick easy looks. It will be interesting to see what Barnes does in the offseason. IMO we really need to become a half court team, and slow the tempo down for several reasons. Limiting the game to as few possessions as possible is going to play right into our hands. With Ibeh, Lammert, Turner, Holmes, and Ridley Texas should win the rebound battle on most nights. It's also going to be very difficult to get easy baskets at the rim with the size and length Texas now has. Finally, Texas is going to be improved in terms of turnovers with a little more experience/maturity. Texas needs to make it a half court game IMO with limited possessions. I wouldn't mind some lineups where we go small and push the tempo, but this team will be best utilized in a slower/half court game. It's not pretty, but low scoring games will play right into the Longhorn's hands. 

 

2-Expect more zone next year. Turner brings length on the perimeter, something we sorely missed this year. With the new foul rules  you are almost forced to play zone at certain parts of the game. 

 

3-Our offense needs to run through Taylor. When Taylor is penetrating our offense is a completely different animal. I would expect a lot more pick and roll looks at the top of the key next year with Taylor and Holmes/Turner. Holmes and Turner both give you the athleticism where they can roll to the hoop, but also kick out off a pick and roll and hit a jumper. The more and more I watch of Taylor, he reminds me of a less refined Tony Parker. It will be very difficult to stop a pick and roll game involving Taylor and Holmes/Turner. This is another reason why I think we need to become more of a half court team. Let Taylor create in the half court (that's where he's the best much like Tony Parker). 

 

4-I fully expect Walker/Yancy/Barnett/Croaker to steal minutes from Holland and Felix. Walker really came on at the end of the year, and I expect him to be the starter next year at the other wing. Don't overlook Barnett though. Kid is the real deal and brings the intangibles Texas needs at the wing (length and a jumpshot). I don't mind Holland because he's a good defender, but there's no reason Felix should be seeing more then 12 minutes a game next year. 

 

5-Apparently, Ridley has been working on a little 5 to 6 foot jumper. If he develops a little bit of a mid range game, look out. I fully expect Ridley to be even more improved next year. We saw the improvement from his Freshman to Sophomore year. Also, Texas really needs to work on post entry passes in the offseason. We were absolutely horrible at feeding Ridley this past season. 

 

6-IMO Lammert was under utilized all year. Turner might eat into his minutes, but Lammert needs to be more involved. 

 

The reason I like this team. Teams that can rebound, play defense, and get easy looks at the rim normally win games. Texas should be able to do all three of those things very well.

 

Well I am ready for the BB Ball as of today.........#Letsplay

[3xhorndad]

Thanks guys....a lot of good info and food for thought..

 

Am glad to see more basketball discussions.....keep it up

[BudreauReye]

An Ode to Topstarr and his Stick Horse 

 

We did not have a car when I was growing up, hell, I didn't even have a stick horse, so I had to walk, and as I got a little older, I decided to start running everywhere ... I was the Forrest Gump of my home town before anybody even knew who Forrest Gump was.  One of the main differences between me and Forrest Gump was that I was also no less than intellectually brilliant!  Why! I got so many concussions because I ran into so many trees while I was running and trying to read at the same time, that they made me stop running and reading at the same time because we did not have many trees where I grew up in West Texas, and all of those trees were getting pretty bruised up.  As an aside, that is why the coachers decided that I should start playing fullback!  They did not seem to care too much about my concussions, cause well they did not think much about such things back then.  Instead the coachers would put one of those ammonia poppers up my nose, took my book away from me, turned me around, pointed me toward home, and said, now, you run on along home and watch out for those trees! And, they did not even have the courtesy to give me or even loan me a stick horse! 

[Juan]

Matthew McQuaid decommited from SMU.

We are in pursuit

Unsure if this was posted elsewhere .....

 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Matthew-McQuaid-133799

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

McQuaid looks like a skinny Chris Mullin-type.  But, I guess we say that about all white shooting guards!

 

Reel him in, Barnes 

[utisdabomb12]

Haven't been paying attention to basketball at all, can't believe I missed McQuaid decommitting. Damn I hope we get this kid. His body needs some developing but he's an ice cold shooter. 

[Juan]

Small update on SMU decommit McQuaid (film above^) -- says he will "for sure" visit the good guys
 
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sg Admon Gilder will announce a top 6 today (ESPN #5 in state/ 247 composite #25 natl) - we are supposed to be in it

 

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Kerwin Roach will also take an official to UT