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Interesting Max Abmas/MBB stat (kill shots)

evanmiya.com is a basketball analytics site similar to KenPom and Bart Torvik. One of the metrics they measure is "kill shots" aka "the number of double digit scoring runs per game (10 or more points scored in a row without the other team scoring".

Last year the #1 kill shot team in the country was Oral Roberts (Abmas's previous team, for the casuals), averaging 1.13 kill shots a game. Last year Texas was #83 in kill shots (.58 per game). This year, with Abmas, Texas is #10 in kill shots per game (.92 per game).

Is Abmas the kill shot king?

That's the type of explosive scoring you need in March. Hopefully Abmas gets hot at the right time.

OT: Off season discussion - Healthcare

I’ve spent ten days in the US over the Chinese New Year Holiday (my son is off school) in Los Angeles and Jackson Hole. I have a number of observations on the US as a citizen, taxpayer and nonresident. Some of you may find them interesting and perhaps it will stimulate debate. NB: I am a proud America, although I am not sure I’d ever want to live in the US again. I’m a veteran, Texan, double UT graduate (ideally this slows down potential partisan ad hominem). I am politically neutral, as an Expat no one represents me and I’m abused equally by both parties.

So - Healthcare. I tweaked my knee skiing in Jackson Hole. Recently I had moved off the all inclusive Expat Cigna health plan I had at work - essentially pay 30k a year or so and get everything pad for anywhere in the world, it was great, but if I retire I can’t take it with me and the cost was going to like 40k this year as the pool at my company went down.

I bought an expat HC program that you can take anywhere, has US coverage, covers inpatient, lab work, tests etc but not outpatient - about 12k a year for family of 3. I get a free policy at work that does outpatient, about 50 bucks per visit - I self insure the rest of the outpatient. I chose that policy in case I get cancer, I can be treated in the US. I will likely retire in Spain which has awesome, but slow public HC and will have the private policy in case I need to do something quick.

Where I live in Hong Kong, HC is free, emergent care is generally pretty good, if you need something like an MRI at a public facility if it’s emergent, you get it right away, if it’s not, you wait months.

However, if you just want to get an MRI privately, you can get one anytime (and private insurance covers all that if you need it). One good example of the public HC system in an emergency setting - I got a kidney stone, I had no idea what it was but it hurt so bad I went to the public hospital 1 km away - I got x ray, tests, MRI, CT scan, drugs, all within a few hours for 12.5 USD (100 HKD).

I then went to a private hospital for the (empire green ) laser cannon sedated. If no private I would have been drugged and had to “pass” the stone as it was 5mm - ugh.

So - back to the US - I go to the knee guy here (230 USD - about the same for private doc in HK) - i ask to get an MRI - with Insurance it is 1600 USD and because it’s not emergent care (it wasn’t, I hobbled in) my insurance (Blue Cross) needs to pre-approve (48 hours).

I could have gone to the emergency room, weirdly, same doctor would have looked at me, would have gotten MRI (for much more than 1600), and insurance would have paid no problem. I sort of kind of knew this but didn’t want to do some gigantic bill I didn’t need, even if i wasn’t paying. Perhaps this is stupid, but it just didn’t feel right to get like an 8k bill for something I can do in HK for 400 USD.

And back to this - i can get an MRU in HK for 400 dollars anytime I want, anyone can. As in I can walk in and get one, I don’t need a doctor’s note, I can say i twisted my knee, get the MRI, go to my doctor and show it to him - now I’d typically go to the doctor first, and he’d send me but you get the idea,.

USA HC is the best in the world, and for some things like Cancer, it’s the only place in the world i’d go, but for things like basic knee surgery it’s not any better than HK. I’d argue cardiovascular preventative health and preventative in general is better here.

It is ****ing so much cheaper. We can also whip over to Thailand or Korea for medical tourism and the standard is equally high - so why does an MRI cost 1600 bucks outpatient and i can only surmise, tons more inpatient/emergency? Doctors in HK somehow still drive 911s and live well just like in the US. I can also see my Doctor here whenever, as in “can I see you today” and generally can, and the receptionists are hot, Asian and young. The doctor isn’t in a hurry either.

I know why the US is more expensive generally, and the reasons are not good.

Also while the doctor was cool the reception staff was typical US, surly (and not hot and not Asian). So wtf guys?

BTW the hot asian comments were to lighten the mood

  • Poll
The "80's Dream Girl" Prom Date Poll Final

Who's the lucky lady your're taking to the dance?

  • Star- The Lost Boys

    Votes: 44 10.3%
  • Cherry Valance- The Outsiders

    Votes: 89 20.7%
  • Ali Mills- The Karate Kid

    Votes: 101 23.5%
  • Linda Barrett- Fast Times at Ridgemont High

    Votes: 195 45.5%

This is for all the marbles; you have one vote each. Keep the criteria for your choice to the approximate time of the actresses' film/show. This isn't a "where are they now" special. Feel free to explain your vote and of course, post additional pics (spoilers if you got 'em).

Let's meet the contestants...

Star
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Cherry Valance
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Ali Mills
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Linda Barrett
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Why Texas Will Take Over the SEC (Matt Hayes of Saturdays Down South)

Inject this directly into your veins….


First and 10: Dear SEC, Texas is built to take over everything. Starting now​

Matt Hayes | 8 hours ago
https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?ur...s+built+to+take+over+everything.+Starting+now

1. I don’t want to get on a soapbox, but …​

It’s all set up now. The timing is perfect, the investment has been made and Steve Sarkisian is on the way to building a monster at Texas.
A monster that can take over the SEC.
“I came here to win a championship,” Sarkisian said earlier this month during a national signing day press conference. “And then if I can get one, I want to get two. I’m borderline obsessed with it at this point.”

Just like Nick Saban was when he arrived at Alabama. Or when Kirby Smart took over at his alma mater Georgia.
When the right coach is in the right situation — and everyone is pulling in the same direction — the results can be intoxicatingly devastating.
It should come as no surprise then that Texas last week made official its intentions of moving forward in Year 1 of the SEC — without hesitation or reservation. A 4-year contract extension for Sarkisian nearly doubled his salary (to $10.3 million annually), and laid out a clear vision of the future in the SEC.
Nick Saban is gone, and there’s a breach in the SEC. And guess who’s moving into town?
The greatest revenue-generating program in college sports, complete with a head coach recruiting in the geographic footprint of the richest state for high school talent, and NIL money to burn.
Or as one Power 5 coach told SDS, “It was only a matter of time before (Texas) got their s— together.”
As absolutely crazy as that sounds in the year-to-year grease fire of competing in the SEC, Sarkisian is about as close to a lock at winning a national title at Texas — much sooner than later — as anyone since the Mack Brown golden years of the 2000s.
Timing, everyone, is everything.
When Brown arrived at Texas, the program was stagnant, headed nowhere and bleeding elite recruits from the state of Texas. Legendary coach Darrell Royal told Brown Texas was like a box of BBs, and the box had fallen to the floor and split at the seams.
The job is getting all the BBs — from the president to the student managers washing the jerseys — back in the box together.
Texas nearly got there with Chris Simms, made it with Vince Young and could’ve gotten there again with Colt McCoy — in less than a decade. Brown, to this day, swears Texas beats Alabama in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game if McCoy isn’t injured and lost on the 1st drive of the game.

Then the box dropped to the floor again, and Charlie Strong couldn’t put all the BBs back in place. Tom Herman couldn’t, either.
Because when everyone pulls in the same direction, it’s nearly impossible to stop it from gaining championship traction. It’s inevitable.
That’s what we saw in 2023 with the Texas win at Alabama. What we saw with the Big 12 Championship, and the final 4 throws in the end zone in the last-second Playoff semifinal loss to Washington.
It’s only a matter of time before the next, final step of winning it all.

2. Building for the now​

Sarkisian and Texas agreed in principle on the framework of an extension before Saban retired from Alabama — and before Tide AD Greg Byrne kicked the tires on the possibility of Sarkisian returning to Alabama.
Saban’s retirement simply sped the process, and also helped Sarkisian secure a long-term deal for DC Pete Kwiatkowski, who was behind courted by NFL and college teams.
Investing in Sarkisian means investing in his plan, and where he wants to take Texas and how to get there. There’s too much positive momentum to make any drastic change in course.
Star quarterback Quinn Ewers decided to return for his final season instead of leaving for the NFL Draft, and his top backup — former No.1 overall recruit Arch Manning — stayed, too.
The Longhorns added a handful of impact players from the transfer portal (more on that later), and a 3rd straight top-5 high school signing class has the roster primed for another big season.
Not since Brown’s team won the 2005 national championship — after winning the Rose Bowl in 2004 — has Texas had this type of momentum. There was no chance Alabama was getting Sarkisian, no way Texas president Jay Hartzell and AD Chris Del Conte were heading into the SEC all hat, no cattle.
This is what happens when you’ve found what works and will do anything to keep it. This is how championship programs are built and sustained, how coaching careers are cultivated and strengthened and built for the long haul.
Not by throwing good money after bad in hopes of recreating what once was somewhere else. There’s a difference between throwing money at a coach whom you believe can win a championship — or reach the Playoff, or both — and one who has done it.
This is what winning looks like at the highest level of college football, and within the framework of the most profitable college sports program.
It’s only going to get better.

3. Texas takeover, The Epilogue​

There was no wasted motion. No projects.
Every addition through the transfer portal over the past 2 months has been with pinpoint addition.
There were losses on the defensive interior, so Texas got DT Tiaoalii Savea of Arizona, a disruptive space eater over the 2nd half of the season for the Wildcats.
Texas got edge rusher Trey Moore from UTSA (14 sacks in 2023), and elite All-ACC safety Andrew Mukuba from Clemson.
And then the help for Ewers, a continuing process of building pieces around the star quarterback and giving him every opportunity to play at a high level.
Texas added WR Isaiah Bond and TE Amari Niblack from Alabama, and WRs Matthew Golden (Houston) and Silas Bolden (Oregon State). That’s 2 speedy options on the outside, a gifted slot receiver in Bolden, and an athletic matchup problem at tight end.
Every move was made with intent and purpose, not unlike what the Texas administration did by extending Sakisian and declaring its intentions. It’s a new time, a new day in the SEC.
And Texas is ready to fill the breach

Looking for Investors in a Start up Oil Company

First off I would like to say I’ve asked for an investment on OB one time before and as of now ,that investment has been an absolute hit. I won’t say who the OB is but he has been our best investor as of yet.

With that being said I won’t give too many details but I own 66 acres of mineral rights with the options to purchase another 645 acres linked to ours. With the 66 acres we can drill 2 wells, which in the Woodford Shale on average produces 200-300 k barrels total on one well.

I’ll give more details to serious investors looking to diversify their portfolio. DM me if you are looking to talk, we need a total of 1.3 mill for each well. Please , please don’t DM if you are just nosy.
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Rounding the Bases - Weekend Recap and Around the Big 12

Musings from the Disch:
Was this weekend the most complete three game series that the Horns have played? No. Was this weekend the worst three game series the Horns have played? No. Honestly, this is exactly what you come to expect from the Horns in the first series of the season. Only once between 2017 and 2024 have the Longhorns started off 3-0. That was in 2022 when the #1 team in the nation smacked a terrible Rice team around. Twice since 2017, the Horns have started 0-3, both of which occurred in the hellhole known as Arlington. In 2019 and 2018, the Horns went 2-1 against Louisiana, needing extra innings to win one of the games in 2019.

All that to say, taking too much away from the first series of the season is never a good idea. We know have seen the kind of pitcher that Lebarron Johnson Jr is and can be. Cody Howard has had a string of strong performances going back to the summer, and yesterday gave everyone a glimpse of where his trajectory is headed. That leaves Charlie Hurley and Tanner Witt as the question marks for the starting rotation.

After the game on Sunday, Coach Pierce stated that Tanner had a small setback physically last week, but had continued to progress and they liked what they saw during his pen sessions. He said right now, it is not a mental issue like they saw during the summer and going back to last year. There is a small physical issue that is not allowing Tanner to get full extension on his arm, which is causing the command issues he is having. They are going to continue to work with him on getting to a satisfactory place.

Coach Pierce further stated that the goal with starting Tanner on Sunday was to have him get 6-9 outs and then turn to the bullpen, thus allowing Cody Howard to start Tuesday night. Things obviously did not go to plan and Cody pitched a heck of a game.

Overall, the Horns battled well throughout the entire weekend, despite some miscues here and there. These are all things that can and will be cleaned up as the season progresses. The goal is never to be perfect the first weekend, but instead get better throughout the season.


Useless Stat of the Day:
Through the first three games of the season, here are the stat lines for Jared Thomas and Peyton Powell. Both guys are already in mid-season form

Thomas - .545 BA, 1.394 OPS, 7 R, 6 H, 2 2B, .727 Slg%, 4 BB, .667 OB%
Powell - .462 BA, 1.379 OPS, 2 R, 6 H, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .846 Slg%, 1 BB, .533 OB%


Mid-week Preview:
Opponent: Houston Christian (3-1)
Date: Feb 20th
Time: 630pm
TV: LHN


The fighting Lance Berkman's aka the Huskies come to Austin for a Tuesday night game against the Horns. This will be the 8th time the teams have matched up with all 7 prior games occurring in Austin and resulting in a Horns win. The last meeting occurred back in 2022 when the Horns won 13-3 in 7 innings.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS

TUESDAY–
Texas LHP Luke Harrison (0-0, 0.00) vs. HCU LHP Ty Dagley (0-0, 0.00)


Stats Breakdown:

Texas BA: .269
Houston BA: .261

Texas OB% .386
Houston OB% .380

Texas SB: 3-4
Houston SB: 8-9

Texas ERA: 3.10
Houston ERA: 2.45

Texas Errors: 3
Houston Errors: 8


Big 12 Recap
  • Houston (3-0) - The Cougars handled Binghamton with ease, earning the series sweep to open the year
  • TCU (3-0) - Frogs needed walk-off heroics to beat Florida Gulf Coast on Friday, had to mount a comeback on Saturday and then used a big 6th inning explosion to pull away and get the sweep.
  • UCF (1-0) - The Knights held on to beat Bryant on Friday night and then had the rest of their weekend cancelled due to rain.
  • Kansas State (2-1) - After losing to Cal on Friday, the Wildcats bounced back to beat Boston College and held on to beat Georgetown on Sunday
  • Oklahoma (2-1) - An impressive weekend in Arlington for the Sooners. After losing to Oregon on Friday, they beat Tennessee in extra innings and hit a walk of win to beat Nebraska on Sunday.
  • Texas (2-1) - Won 2 of 3 against San Diego Toreros at home
  • Texas Tech (2-1) - After losing Friday night to Tennessee, the Red Raiders beat both Nebraska and Oregon behind solid hitting and power arms.
  • BYU (1-1) - Cougars beat USC with ease on Friday night, but lost to Ohio State on Saturday.
  • West Virginia (1-1) - Mountaineers beat Stetson on Friday, but lost to them on Saturday. The series will be decided by a Monday double header
  • Kansas (1-2) - Jayhawks lost their first two games of the season to Illinois-Chicago, but bounced back to get a Sunday win down in Corpus Christi
  • Oklahoma State (1-2) - Cowboys lost their first two games of the season to Sam Houston before putting on an offensive clinic in the Sunday series finale
  • Cincy (0-2) - Bearcats lost the Friday double header to Jacksonville and then had their Sunday series finale cancelled due to weather
  • Baylor (0-3) - Bears lost to Nebraska, Oregon, and Tennessee, but acquitted themselves fairly well up in Arlington.

Big 12 RPI/SOS
  • 10 / 7 - Texas Tech
  • 10 / 7 - Oklahoma
  • 16 / 11 - Kansas State
  • 54 / 62 - BYU
  • 64 / 60 - Baylor
  • 65 / 65 - Houston
  • 65 / 65 - TCU
  • 65 / 65 - UCF
  • 133 / 65 - West Virginia
  • 144 / 65 - Texas
  • 180 / 65 - Oklahoma State
  • 225 / 65 - Kansas
  • 246 / 65 - Cincinnati

Top 25 Rankings

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PFF's Top 75 Draft prospects (5 Longhorns make it)

No.29 - Adonai Mitchell
No.33 - Xavier Worthy
No.40 - Ja'Tavion Sanders
No.55 - Jonathon Brooks
No.70 - Quinn Ewers


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