Good morning. Have you had your coffee yet? If not, we’re about to discuss Texas Basketball so maybe an extra pinch of sugar to help. Shaka Smart spoke on the Big 12 Coaches Teleconference for a few minutes about the state of his team heading into the Big 12 Tournament.
“We have to go after it. But at the same time, it’s still an opportunity. Making sure the guys don’t lose sight of that,” responded Smart about how to approach the group knowing they want to regain their previous form but are also probably at least partially aware of what’s at stake this week. “It’s an opportunity to go play your best basketball in terms of the things we can control against a really good team.
“We have guys on our team that certainly have a lot of experience in doing that… we have some recent experience with this last game of getting away from who we need to be. That will be the first thing as a team is understating the difference between those two mindsets and making sure we take the right one understanding there is certainly a lot on the line. But that’s what happens when you play at this level… got to go after it. Can’t have it both ways. It’s the opportunity we have and an exciting one.”
Smart mentioned anytime a loss like Saturday happens, there “better be some immediate reflection,” but also it’s their job to look forward and focus on the next opportunity. Speaking of that opportunity, the Texas head coach was asked if Texas Tech could have an edge given its recent close losses. He pointed out despite its four-game losing streak Texas Tech has played well and was in a position to beat both Kansas and Baylor.
“I think both teams will be really, really hungry,” Smart said.
When asked if he thinks his team has done enough to get into the NCAA Tournament, Smart mentioned Texas was playing like a NCAA Tournament team prior to Saturday’s loss. But also that it’s all relative to everyone else in the country, and Texas just needs to focus on staying in the conference tournament because as long as it keeps playing its standing will improve.
--- A few NCAA bracket projection notes from this morning:
The general consensus seems to be Texas is among with first four teams OUT currently. BracketMatrix.com currently lists Texas in 33 of 95 brackets, and as the second team just outside the field of 64. BartTorvik.com’s Teamcast, which currently projects Texas to lose to Texas Tech, lists UT as the first team out if that projected result is indeed the actual one.
Longtime bracketologist Brad Evans is still listing Texas as being in the field currently.
What’s helping Texas is a 6-5 record in true road games, no Q3 or Q4 losses, and 5-7 record against Q1 opponents with a strong strength of schedule. What’s hurting Texas is a No. 70 NET ranking, and No. 61 KenPom ranking.
If Texas wins Thursday, I have a hard time imagining any scenario that doesn’t include Texas in the Big Dance. If it loses, it will need help from a bunch of bubble team losses across the country and the committee to focus on its good resume aspects, like a .500 record in a strong league, rather than its poor ones.
Since 2012-13, when the Big 12 moved to 10 teams, only 2012-13 Baylor finished more than two games above .500 overall with a .500 or better record in league play and missed the NCAA Tournament.
“We have to go after it. But at the same time, it’s still an opportunity. Making sure the guys don’t lose sight of that,” responded Smart about how to approach the group knowing they want to regain their previous form but are also probably at least partially aware of what’s at stake this week. “It’s an opportunity to go play your best basketball in terms of the things we can control against a really good team.
“We have guys on our team that certainly have a lot of experience in doing that… we have some recent experience with this last game of getting away from who we need to be. That will be the first thing as a team is understating the difference between those two mindsets and making sure we take the right one understanding there is certainly a lot on the line. But that’s what happens when you play at this level… got to go after it. Can’t have it both ways. It’s the opportunity we have and an exciting one.”
Smart mentioned anytime a loss like Saturday happens, there “better be some immediate reflection,” but also it’s their job to look forward and focus on the next opportunity. Speaking of that opportunity, the Texas head coach was asked if Texas Tech could have an edge given its recent close losses. He pointed out despite its four-game losing streak Texas Tech has played well and was in a position to beat both Kansas and Baylor.
“I think both teams will be really, really hungry,” Smart said.
When asked if he thinks his team has done enough to get into the NCAA Tournament, Smart mentioned Texas was playing like a NCAA Tournament team prior to Saturday’s loss. But also that it’s all relative to everyone else in the country, and Texas just needs to focus on staying in the conference tournament because as long as it keeps playing its standing will improve.
--- A few NCAA bracket projection notes from this morning:
The general consensus seems to be Texas is among with first four teams OUT currently. BracketMatrix.com currently lists Texas in 33 of 95 brackets, and as the second team just outside the field of 64. BartTorvik.com’s Teamcast, which currently projects Texas to lose to Texas Tech, lists UT as the first team out if that projected result is indeed the actual one.
Longtime bracketologist Brad Evans is still listing Texas as being in the field currently.
What’s helping Texas is a 6-5 record in true road games, no Q3 or Q4 losses, and 5-7 record against Q1 opponents with a strong strength of schedule. What’s hurting Texas is a No. 70 NET ranking, and No. 61 KenPom ranking.
If Texas wins Thursday, I have a hard time imagining any scenario that doesn’t include Texas in the Big Dance. If it loses, it will need help from a bunch of bubble team losses across the country and the committee to focus on its good resume aspects, like a .500 record in a strong league, rather than its poor ones.
Since 2012-13, when the Big 12 moved to 10 teams, only 2012-13 Baylor finished more than two games above .500 overall with a .500 or better record in league play and missed the NCAA Tournament.
