Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (I hate to say it, but a change is needed...)

[discostu007]

We had to hire a hatchet man to fire Mack and Rick Barnes. There's no hatchet man on campus right now and I still argue this school doesn't make a shit about basketball.

I thought it was pretty well documented that CDC's number one sport is basketball. Obviously, football is king at Texas (and CDC knows that) but he is a basketball guy through and through. I doubt he'll sit idly by and let our basketball program struggle to achieve mediocrity.

 

[EdSimmonsPants]

So you’re saying Shaka is a damn good coach only not here and not now.

 

[RLong68]

OK, I may have overstated the case. And of course there will be varying opinions of what constitutes a "pure shooter." But at this point we are in a chicken and egg discussion - do we have lousy shooters, or is the offense getting them lousy shots. It may very well be both.

However, I have not seen enough of these guys to vouch that they are not good shooters. And we keep hearing from Smart how well they shoot in practice.

On the other hand, I have seen this offense for that last 3+ years and it is a stagnant, awful mess. We don't consistently get guys free looks, our guys don't consistently move off the ball to get themselves into a prepared shooting position, and we don't consistently deliver crisp passes to enable a quick, accurate shot.

So in this chicken/egg scenario, I'm of the opinion that the prime factor (and the most easily fixable) is our offensive system. I may very well be wrong, but that's what it looks like to me.

It's not really a "chicken/egg" scenario. We don't have shooters which is where it starts. Would give them better looks more consistently help to some extent? Sure. But we don't shoot 32% (262nd) mainly because get don't generate good looks. We shot like crap because, well, we have generally poor shooters. BTW, DUKE is only shooting 33% from the 3s this season which is EASILY their worst in I don't know how long. Hell, you have to go back TEN years to even find a season where they were as low as 35%. Are they suddenly generating far less good looks? No. They simply don't have the shooters amongst their top scorers as they normally have had.

 

[Ketchum]

Again, we sorta have to define "talked about." I mean, what discussion of QB missteps in the last 10 years even remotely include the names of Bomar and Mustain. Rest assured Luck comes up in them all the time. Again, just coming at it from a different vantage point.

This is all related to conversation about them as recruits.

 

[Ketchum]

I joined the site during the 2005 recruiting cycle on the heels of the Rose Bowl win against Michigan. I was fascinated with the recruitments of Perriloux, Bennett, and Fred Rouse. I felt like all three can be rolled into one as a storyline. I also feel like the storyline of Kyler may be higher as well.

I have a feeling that winter 2005 time period saw one of your greatest increases in the membership.

2,000 new subs in 2 months

 

[Ketchum]

Good stuff, Site Owner. Best 10 Thoughts from the weekend tbis year.

I agree!

Thanks!

 

[Ketchum]

So you’re saying Shaka is a damn good coach only not here and not now.

The lack of proof is in the pudding.

 

[discostu007]

It's not really a "chicken/egg" scenario. We don't have shooters which is where it starts. Would give them better looks more consistently help to some extent? Sure. But we don't shoot 32% (262nd) mainly because get don't generate good looks. We shot like crap because, well, we have generally poor shooters. BTW, DUKE is only shooting 33% from the 3s this season which is EASILY their worst in I don't know how long. Hell, you have to go back TEN years to even find a season where they were as low as 35%. Are they suddenly generating far less good looks? No. They simply don't have the shooters amongst their top scorers as they normally have had.

Oftentimes, we get good looks because we have poor shooters. Teams gladly sag off of us and invite the three, which we willing jack up.

 

[streettopeschel]

We had to hire a hatchet man to fire Mack and Rick Barnes. There's no hatchet man on campus right now and I still argue this school doesn't make a shit about basketball.

Patterson was hired in 2013 to fire Barnes in 2015?

If by doesn’t make a shit, you mean hoops is nowhere close to football in importance, of course. The fact remains our GOAT coach was shown the door after a better season than Smart is likely to have. We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

[soberstan]

Weltlich coached when I was going to UT. I witnessed Phi Slamma Jamma destroy us at the drum.

Thanks for reminding me.

However, Phi Slamma Jamma was awesome.

Even more than Olajuwon, Rob Williams killed us.
That knuckleball jump shot went in against us. Always.
And that yo-yo dribble(carried the ball) is the stuff of my nightmares.

 

[EG-man]

Agreed. Tennessee No. 3 in the new AP poll. Ugh.

gut punch!

 

[McLovin327]

Patterson was hired in 2013 to fire Barnes in 2015?

If by doesn’t make a shit, you mean hoops is nowhere close to football in importance, of course. The fact remains our GOAT coach was shown the door after a better season than Smart is likely to have. We’ll just have to wait and see.

I liked Rick Barnes a lot, but let's be honest, he was allowed to meander and struggle for quite a while before UT finally addressed the situation. It was best for both parties.

I could see Shaka getting another year simply because there isn't any urgency on the school's part when nobody makes a shit about Texas hoops.

 

[longhornms]

I'll say it again. A lot of these kids were pure shooters in HS, and by all accounts they light it up in practice. Our problem is that about 90% of possessions we run an offense that would embarrass most pickup games. We do not space the court, move away from the ball, set picks to get guys open, look for the post men, or do much anything (besides dribbling) to pressure the defense. As a result we get a lot of poor looks, and when we do get an open shot we almost look surprised.

Watching this offense operate is about as fun as a root canal.

I watch our guys miss wide open 3’s every game. We are getting good looks yet we’ve hit them ONE game this season. It’s unreal how bad we shoot the ball. Most have bad form as well.

 

[EG-man]

Exactly my sentiments too, brother.

I'm a member of your club. I cried and threw a chair (and then got my ass whipped by my dad) as an 8 year old after the Ice Bowl loss and then again after each *&%%$$#&*&* SB loss to Pittsburgh....and "the catch"...and so on. I grew up a Texas B-ball (and of course Football) fanatic watching them in Gregory gym. Now? Apathy towards Dallas and this B-ball team. Saddens me to say that.

 

[RLong68]

I liked Rick Barnes a lot, but let's be honest, he was allowed to meander and struggle for quite a while before UT finally addressed the situation. It was best for both parties.

I could see Shaka getting another year simply because there isn't any urgency on the school's part when nobody makes a shit about Texas hoops.

Barnes went 28-3/13-3 and was math-challenged ref from getting to the Sweet 16.
Three seasons later, he went 24-11/11-7 and got to the 2nd round of the tournament.
He was fired after the following season when he went 20-14/8-10 and lost in round 1.

In other words, he was fired after 4 seasons removed from what was a pretty damn good season and just 2 years after winning 24 games and actually winning a tournament game.

Meanwhile, Shaka is staring a 2nd missed tourney in just his 4th season and his "best season" pales in comparison to Barnes' next to last season. If Shaka DOES mist the tournament this season, then more than a few people will question CDC about the justification for keeping him if he does.

 

[EG-man]

Yeah, I'll remind you that almost everyone on this site said the same thing about the defense from 2017 to 2018.

Truth. Key word about our DL next year is "potential".

 

[streettopeschel]

I liked Rick Barnes a lot, but let's be honest, he was allowed to meander and struggle for quite a while before UT finally addressed the situation. It was best for both parties.

I could see Shaka getting another year simply because there isn't any urgency on the school's part when nobody makes a shit about Texas hoops.

Completely agree on Barnes. He HAD become stale. But we got the hire wrong. I doubt they’ll let Shaka’s reign, which makes stale look good, exist a 5th year. Obviously he could still salvage the season.

 

[HornScott10]

@ketch, can you give us some bullet points or key moments that made the recruitment's of Perriloux and Scott such circuses? I was around for those, and still have resentment towards them for it deep down, but I honestly can't recall some of the specifics at this point.

I vividly remember the Martellus Bennett 'commitments'. His hat dance announcement was one of the OG announcements in my mind that launched the circus that has become the standard today.

 

[McGuapo]

Two other things:
1. The Tech crowd Saturday certainly controlled the noise in the building to an embarrassing level. If that doesn’t ring CDC’s bell, I’m not sure what will. It was the bell tolling in my mind.
2. Lache is way too low. That shit was insanity.

 

[I Hear Voices]

It was a joke.

Yes. I know it was, but it was not an analogy that I expected from you. That's all.

You give Beard no less than 3 times to say no. Jay Wright isn't leaving 'Nova. Let's not waste our time chasing someone like Jay Wright. The one problem I can see with Hoiberg is NBA demand will always be an issue.

I would add that based on what I've seen and read, Hoiberg - supposedly a really nice guy - is a Zombie coach. And that was said about him as I recall when he was fired.

 

[McLovin327]

Barnes went 28-3/13-3 and was math-challenged ref from getting to the Sweet 16.
Three seasons later, he went 24-11/11-7 and got to the 2nd round of the tournament.
He was fired after the following season when he went 20-14/8-10 and lost in round 1.

In other words, he was fired after 4 seasons removed from what was a pretty damn good season and just 2 years after winning 24 games and actually winning a tournament game.

Meanwhile, Shaka is staring a 2nd missed tourney in just his 4th season and his "best season" pales in comparison to Barnes' next to last season. If Shaka DOES mist the tournament this season, then more than a few people will question CDC about the justification for keeping him if he does.

I hope I'm wrong and we move on from Shaka. Texas needs to decide it's a priority.

I'd like care about Longhorn basketball again.

 

[WTexasHorn]

That’s the thing. He wasn’t successful at VCU. He never once won his conference. He had one lucky run in the tourney that made everyone th8nk he was the next big thing. A little more digging and it would’ve been obvious.

The Matt Schaub of college basketball coaches.

 

[WTexasHorn]

He's still larger than life to me in death. So many stories.

Well in McCallum lore he’s no Johnny Ham (I kid! I kid!).

Outside of my own father, few have made an impact in my life like some of my coaches. Sorry to hear he passed.

 

[DUANETB]

Okafor was better than good. Nelson was good.

No one else has proven to be close to either of those marks.

Based upon what I have read none of these guys are projected to go until day three of the draft.

 

[jwebtx]

A top 10 missed recruits list without DJ Williams is flawed. He was top 5 for sure.

 

[Ketchum]

A top 10 missed recruits list without DJ Williams is flawed. He was top 5 for sure.

He predates OB.

 

[Ketchum]

Two other things:
1. The Tech crowd Saturday certainly controlled the noise in the building to an embarrassing level. If that doesn’t ring CDC’s bell, I’m not sure what will. It was the bell tolling in my mind.
2. Lache is way too low. That shit was insanity.

Like I said, ordering the Top 10 was difficult. Lache's mom probably means he should be top 5.

 

[Ketchum]

Based upon what I have read none of these guys are projected to go until day three of the draft.

Omenihu has a chance to be a day two guy.

and it changes nothing about the rest of what I said.

 

[Ketchum]

The Matt Schaub of college basketball coaches.

when did Schaub have a lucky run?

 

[Ketchum]

Yes. I know it was, but it was not an analogy that I expected from you. That's all.

I never jury duty was a topic you couldn't joke about. My bad!

 

[WTexasHorn]

when did Schaub have a lucky run?

He had the ONE good playoff game in relief (for Atlanta IIRC) and went straight to the catbird seat....then proceeded to shit his pants in Houston. Is he even still playing? I don’t keep up with the NFL anymore.

 

[Ketchum]

He had the ONE good playoff game in relief (for Atlanta IIRC) and went straight to the catbird seat....then proceeded to shit his pants in Houston. Is he even still playing? I don’t keep up with the NFL anymore.

Isn't he more like Nick Foles?

 

[WTexasHorn]

Isn't he more like Nick Foles?

Minus the Super Bowl win...sure?

 

[chihanston]

Sam McGuffie
JB Shugarts
Ryan Mallet
Stephen Goode
All come to mind for being talked about quite a bit..

 

[Ketchum]

Minus the Super Bowl win...sure?

exactly