As we all try to make our way through a slow July, let’s take a look back at the 2017-18 calendar season and look ahead to five things that should excite Texas fans about the upcoming 2018-19 schedule for UT’s big three:
FIVE HIGHLIGHTS
1) With Oklahoma looming on the schedule the following week, Texas, at 1-2, desperately needed to beat a pesky Kansas State at home.
During a game that needed two overtimes, the Longhorns encountered adversity at nearly every step. Sam Ehlinger’s first pass was an interception, and Kansas State jumped out to an early 10-0 lead. Joshua Rowland missed a 45-yard field goal to win the game at the end of regulation.
But the Longhorns kept responding. Down 17-7 before halftime, Texas made one of its better offensive play calls of the season when it rolled Ehlinger out to his right before he stopped, planted, and threw back to the other side of the field to a wide-open Chris Warren, who was all alone after leaking out of the backfield. He took it to the house for a 33-yard touchdown. Trailing 27-24 with 1:38 left, Rowland made a 34-yard field goal to tie the game.
In overtime, Ehlinger found an open Jerrod Heard for a 25-yard score on the first play, but Kansas State responded. Then, the Texas defense stepped up, forced a long missed field goal, and UT’s final score represented its effort that day: Warren kept his feet moving near the line of scrimmage, and a mass of both Texas and Kansas State players led to Warren being pushed into the end zone.
Ehlinger finished 30-of-50 for 380 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also added 107 rushing yards on 20 carries. Make no mistake, it wasn’t a perfect effort by Texas. However, it prevented a potential 1-4 start to the season, and gave us our first true glimpse of what Tom Herman wants his program to represent, and also what the Texas offense could look like in the future.
2) Less than a month removed from learning Andrew Jones had leukemia and just a few days removed from a soul-crushing loss in overtime at Texas Tech, the Longhorns were 14-8 and 4-5 in the Big 12. They had no time to feel sorry for themselves as the story of college basketball, Trae Young, arrived with a 16-5 (6-3) Oklahoma team, and college basketball’s focus would look towards Austin during ESPN College Gameday.
The turnout for Gameday was terrific. ESPN, fairly skeptical about the crowd, was blown away. During the show, there were multiple emotional segments about Jones and his teammates. It was a heavy morning as Jones and his battle was on the mind of everyone, and Texas still had a game to play that evening, and it started sluggishly.
Young carved up Texas by routinely throwing the ball up the floor in transition for easy buckets against a defense that was paying too much attention to him. Texas fought back, but couldn’t string together enough quality possessions on defense and offense, which led to a 66-57 deficit with eight minutes remaining.
Texas closed the game on a 22-8 run.
The Longhorns dug deep and elevated their execution in all areas. A game after missing three-straight free throws to potentially clinch a win at Texas Tech, Matt Coleman was brilliant down the stretch (17 of his 22 points came in the second half), made all four of his late-game free throws and outplayed Young, which included impressive defense down the stretch.
An exclamation point came when Eric Davis, Jr. tossed Mohamed Bamba a lob in the open floor with about 40 seconds left, and the big man grabbed it and used a reverse slam to complete the alley-oop, which created as loud of a pop from the UT crowd as I’ve ever heard in the Erwin Center.
For one day, everything about the Texas Basketball program was right; everything came together, including the fan support, atmosphere, player performances, and coaching. It wouldn’t last long, but for that one Saturday the potential of Texas Basketball was on display.
3) With everything – Big 12 championship, regional host, a chance to put the program firmly back on the map – on the line in a three-game series against TCU, the Texas Longhorns swept the Horned Frogs during the final regular season series. Before they could complete the sweep, they found themselves in a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. And before Kody Clemens could play the role of hero, Duke Ellis, against a tough lefthander, had to find a way on base. Down in the count 0-2, Ellis competed and pulled a grounder between the second baseman and first. He beat the pitcher to the bag on the flip to first, and kept the inning alive, which set the stage for Clemens.
“I just remember... It was weird. I got the chills once he went, ‘safe.’ Everybody started going crazy as I walked up to the plate,” responded Clemens about what he was thinking when Ellis beat out an infield single with two outs to keep the ninth inning alive. “I was like, ‘Alright, I'm going to do something cool.’ I was thinking like, ‘Oh, I'm not going to try to hit a home run.’ I was focused on staying inside the ball and putting together a good at-bat and hopefully do something good.”
On a 1-2 breaking ball, Clemens lifted a walk-off homer to right field. For the first time in years, UFCU Disch-Falk Field had its magic back. The next day, Texas completed the sweep, which started a run to Omaha.
4) Was it pretty? Well, if you enjoy smothering defense against a good quarterback and an all-time good performance from a punter, yes, it was. However, enjoyment requires ignoring an eyesore on offense, which, despite Tom Herman’s increased involvement, still screamed for help.
For the Longhorns, a win was a win for a program that desperately needed one following the way it finished the regular season. The expectations heading into the Texas Bowl didn’t represent optimism for the Longhorns, and they finished with a 17-point win after keeping Missouri in a sleeper hold for nearly the entire game.
Make no mistake, the conversation and mood, both externally and internally surrounding Texas as it entered the offseason and eventually began spring football was significantly affected by the bowl game outcome. Plus, it was the first time Texas won a bowl game since 2012.
5) After losing the first game against Tennessee Tech, the Longhorns, as they did all season, responded with competitiveness, confidence, and better execution. Matteo Bocchi played the role of unlikely hero on the mound while Clemens played the starring role he played all postseason. With the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning, Nolan Kingham, as Texas held a 5-2 lead, emptied whatever he had left in his tank to induce a game-ending, Omaha-clinching ground out.
Not only did Texas reach Omaha for the first time since 2014, it became one of the only representations in years of a big-three sport exceeding expectations. Sure, Omaha is always an expectation at Texas, but in year two under David Pierce and with a roster that had its warts, hosting a regional after winning the Big 12 was a heck of an accomplishment.
And as the celebration on the field carried on, Texas players eventually made their way to left field, where they fired the cannon in celebration as a banner hung to their right that said one powerful word: Augie.
FIVE BUMMERS
6) The football gods delivered Texas a gift when Will Grier left the game early at West Virginia. Who knows if Texas needed it? The Longhorns played a solid all-around game and looked like the better team throughout, which allowed them to return home with a crucial road win and a lot of confidence and momentum. Up next was a struggling Texas Tech team led by a head coach many thought wouldn’t last beyond the game.
Easy, right? Texas built a 20-10 lead at halftime, and was positioned to cruise to a 7-5 regular-season finish.
Well, it all came crashing down and nearly inexplicable fashion.
On third and two with 2:21 left, Texas elected to throw at the Texas Tech 37-yard line. Ehlinger, despite having a fairly clean pocket to work in and a back kept in to help protect, rolled out of the pocket, threw across his body back towards the middle of the field, and was picked off.
Texas was able to move the ball to the Texas Tech 42-yard line with 1:05 left and a timeout. On second and 12, Ehlinger, against a three-man rush with a clean pocket and no pressure, floated a bad ball into coverage, which was picked off.
Has anyone ever mentioned there’s some uncertainly surrounding the quarterback position, the offense, and the offensive coordinator? On that night, someone took a tanker full of gasoline and dumped it onto a fire to produce a raging bonfire with angry, burnt orange flames.
Earlier that day…
7) In Portland, Oregon at the Nike PK80 Tournament, the Longhorns had No. 1 Duke on the ropes. With 9:39 left, which was around the same time Duke, according to KenPom.com, had a 3.9-percent chance of winning, Texas led 62-46. But that’s also when Mohamed Bamba picked up his fourth foul, which totally changed the complexion of the game. And Bamba’s two fouls to get to four could have been easily avoided.
With Bamba and Jericho Sims in foul trouble, Texas began to play tentatively, which allowed Duke to close the game on a 32-12 run; the lottery pick frontcourt duo of Marvin Bagley and Wendell Carter, Jr. combined to score 27 of Duke’s final 32 points.
Still, despite Duke roaring back, Texas had a chance to grab a lead to end regulation, but Coleman missed the second half of a one-and-one with 19 seconds left and the game tied. In overtime, Texas elected to play a small lineup, and Duke crushed it.
The Longhorns let that one slip away. They were the better team for most of the game. Unfortunately for them, that type of potential and team never really showed again the rest of the season when the Longhorns left Portland. Shortly thereafter, Andrew Jones hurt his wrist before being diagnosed with Leukemia.
8) Speaking of signature wins early in the season on the West Coast that slipped away, the Longhorns fumbled away a road win at USC early last season.
Texas was a perfectly executed Sam Darnold jump pass away from winning in regulation. On second and two from the third yard line in double overtime, Ehlinger, with the score tied 24-24, was stripped in a pile as he pushed towards a first down. USC then made a field goal to win the game.
All game, Texas was the tougher, more physical team. But most of the big breaks, including Roland Jones – I mean, Ronald – turning a short pass with the clock expired into a long touchdown before halftime, went USC’s way.
Who knows how Texas’s season played out if it won? After a bye, it won at Iowa State, beat Kansas State in double overtime, nearly knocked off Oklahoma, and lost another winnable game in overtime, at home, to Oklahoma State.
9) Texas led Nevada 40-25 early in the second half of a first-round NCAA Tournament game, and then watched Nevada fire back to force overtime. In overtime, Texas, particularly Coleman and Kerwin Roach II, looked like it wouldn’t be denied. Roach completed a four-point play to give his team a 77-73 advantage with 3:13 left in the extra period.
Nevada then made its next six and final shots from the floor.
It was a fitting end. Texas teased with its ability to build a lead, didn’t continue to be aggressive, stalled on offense with lack of movement and spacing, had a key player foul out, and then was on the wrong end of great shooting.
10) Unfortunately for Texas in Omaha, it began its trip with a game against Arkansas. Needing to be near-perfect to win, it was far from that. Then, the nation’s No. 1 overall seed, Florida, sent Jackson Kowar on the mound, who threw better than any pitcher Texas saw during the 2018 season.
Was it a disappointing performance for Texas? Sure. It could have played better, but it also met two superior rosters that played at a high level.
FIVE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2018-19
11) If Tom Herman is the coach I think he is and the coach Texas thought he was when it hired him, there will be improvement this season. The Longhorns can’t get worse offensively, and they’ll probably be just as good defensively. With the first season now fully behind him, Herman’s had more than enough time to truly evaluate his roster, his program, and begin to significantly impact Texas by instilling his culture.
12) What will help Herman have a better 2018 than 2017? The Longhorns should be deeper. Although their talent will be younger, the influx of some big-time freshmen should especially aid that depth. Most importantly, the addition of Calvin Anderson, maturation of some experienced linemen, projection of better injury luck, and Herb Hand should get more out of the offensive line.
13) On the hardwood, the Longhorns should start two seniors and two sophomores with a redshirt junior, and two sophomores ready to contribute off the bench. Maybe more importantly, UT’s best player won’t be a freshman big man, and one of its best players will be a returning point guard. On paper, the 2018-19 roster looks like Shaka Smart’s best at Texas.
14) David Pierce was recently named National Coach of the Year by Baseball America, and a big reason why he received that honor was he and his staff’s ability to maximize UT’s available pitching. From a talent and depth perspective, the 2018 pitching staff would probably rank last among Texas teams I’ve covered, and I started writing about UT Baseball at Orangebloods.com during the 2006 season.
Help is on the way.
The freshman arms that will soon, if they’re not there already, arrive on campus will provide an immediate, much-needed boost to the Texas pitching staff. They’re not going to become studs overnight, but they’re going to throw significant innings. And they’re going to immediately upgrade the stuff and talent in the Texas pitching staff.
15) If everything goes according to his plan, Andrew Jones will make his return to basketball this upcoming season. Obviously, there’s a lot of time between now and then, and predicting how Jones progresses is difficult; asking and expecting a young man less than a year removed from a Leukemia diagnosis to play basketball at the top collegiate level is a lot. However, there’s a realistic chance he’s able to return to the hardwood in a Texas uniform.
I’m not betting against him, and what a moment it would be.
15) Retaining Chris Paul was a much-needed move by the Rockets, but losing both Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute is a big blow. Sure, the latter was awful in the playoffs as he worked his way back from injury, but he provides a substantial defensive impact with his defending ability, intelligence, and length. Plus, he can shoot it a little from deep.
Suddenly, the Rockets lack a defensive presence at the wing position. P.J. Tucker fits that some, but he’s probably best suited as a “big” in a smaller lineup. Rookie De’anthony Melton is known for being a defender, but he’s not ready.
What happens from here? I think the Rockets will find a way to sign at least one wing that fits the three and defense mold, and will resign Clint Capela because he’s a restricted free agent and there isn’t a lot of money around in the NBA for another team to sign him to a max offer sheet. Michael Carter Williams was a smart, cheap signing because of the defensive versatility he adds and potential ballhandling presence.
The Rockets will probably sign Carmelo Anthony, but the fit isn’t ideal. Sure, Anthony would add some scoring punch in the playoffs as he’d slide into a lot of the shots Ariza had. That’s an improvement. Anthony would be in the best offensive fit – both in style and personnel – of his NBA career. But he’s a liability defensively, 34-years-old, and wins haven’t followed him throughout the NBA. The funny thing would be Anthony choosing an opportunity to be featured and more money to go play for the Heat, who have no chance of winning the NBA Finals. That would be a very Melo move.
How did Houston, without Paul, come one game away from the NBA Finals? By being a standout team defensively and frustrating the Warriors into playing the Rockets’ style. Anthony doesn’t make that a reality again. The wildcard in all this is Ryan Anderson’s contract. He’s on the books for two more seasons at around $21 million. If Houston adds Anthony, Anderson becomes almost irrelevant unless you enjoy second-team fours that can’t defend and make a ton of money.
Whatever happens, I can’t see Houston building the type of team capable of beating Golden State. If Houston was in the East, it would be a different story.
16) While the American League could have a team with 100 wins or more in a Wild Card game, is there a legitimate contender in the National League? Sure, there must be one by default. But look at the standings and tell me who the clear best team is, and then stack it up against the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees. Big difference.
And that’s why the contenders – like the Diamondbacks, Braves, Phillies, and Brewers – should swing for the fences at the trade deadline. The National League is there for the taking, and all those teams, some more surprising than others, find themselves either leading their division or in the Wild Card game if the season ended today. The Brewers need a good starting pitcher to bolster its bullpen and offense. Arizona and Manny Machado makes sense. The Phillies could use a starter and a veteran bat. Atlanta has arguably the most loaded farm system in baseball and simply needs to decide whether it is going for it or not.
The American League race looks pretty much decided. But the National League? It’s going to get real weird down the stretch, which should be a lot of fun.
17) After watching the first episode, I consider myself intrigued by HBO’s 'Sharp Objects.' It definitely appears like it’s heading on a very dark path, but Amy Adams’s character is worth following through the journey. What I’m most looking forward to is the return of HBO’s 'The Deuce,' which reminds me of 'The Wire.'
18) I’m not the biggest fan of IPAs so I’m constantly on the lookout for some new lagers and ales to add to the rotation. Karbach’s Tasty Waves, themed after Jeff Spicoli, is an enjoyable, light, easy-drinking ale with a hint of grapefruit. It’s more on the stronger side in terms of flavor and is a little bit of a heavier ale, but Austin Beerworks’s Flavor Country gets two thumbs up.
19) I’m still at a loss for words after the news of @meroney04's death. Christian was my age, and lived in an area just about five minutes from my old place. The OB community is a tight one, and it’s hurting right now, but I can't even begin to imagine the pain his family and friends are enduring. I wish I had some words for his family and friends, but I don’t even know what to say other than Orangebloods.com will greatly miss him.
Say something nice to someone today, and every day.
FIVE HIGHLIGHTS
1) With Oklahoma looming on the schedule the following week, Texas, at 1-2, desperately needed to beat a pesky Kansas State at home.
During a game that needed two overtimes, the Longhorns encountered adversity at nearly every step. Sam Ehlinger’s first pass was an interception, and Kansas State jumped out to an early 10-0 lead. Joshua Rowland missed a 45-yard field goal to win the game at the end of regulation.
But the Longhorns kept responding. Down 17-7 before halftime, Texas made one of its better offensive play calls of the season when it rolled Ehlinger out to his right before he stopped, planted, and threw back to the other side of the field to a wide-open Chris Warren, who was all alone after leaking out of the backfield. He took it to the house for a 33-yard touchdown. Trailing 27-24 with 1:38 left, Rowland made a 34-yard field goal to tie the game.
In overtime, Ehlinger found an open Jerrod Heard for a 25-yard score on the first play, but Kansas State responded. Then, the Texas defense stepped up, forced a long missed field goal, and UT’s final score represented its effort that day: Warren kept his feet moving near the line of scrimmage, and a mass of both Texas and Kansas State players led to Warren being pushed into the end zone.
Ehlinger finished 30-of-50 for 380 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also added 107 rushing yards on 20 carries. Make no mistake, it wasn’t a perfect effort by Texas. However, it prevented a potential 1-4 start to the season, and gave us our first true glimpse of what Tom Herman wants his program to represent, and also what the Texas offense could look like in the future.
2) Less than a month removed from learning Andrew Jones had leukemia and just a few days removed from a soul-crushing loss in overtime at Texas Tech, the Longhorns were 14-8 and 4-5 in the Big 12. They had no time to feel sorry for themselves as the story of college basketball, Trae Young, arrived with a 16-5 (6-3) Oklahoma team, and college basketball’s focus would look towards Austin during ESPN College Gameday.
The turnout for Gameday was terrific. ESPN, fairly skeptical about the crowd, was blown away. During the show, there were multiple emotional segments about Jones and his teammates. It was a heavy morning as Jones and his battle was on the mind of everyone, and Texas still had a game to play that evening, and it started sluggishly.
Young carved up Texas by routinely throwing the ball up the floor in transition for easy buckets against a defense that was paying too much attention to him. Texas fought back, but couldn’t string together enough quality possessions on defense and offense, which led to a 66-57 deficit with eight minutes remaining.
Texas closed the game on a 22-8 run.
The Longhorns dug deep and elevated their execution in all areas. A game after missing three-straight free throws to potentially clinch a win at Texas Tech, Matt Coleman was brilliant down the stretch (17 of his 22 points came in the second half), made all four of his late-game free throws and outplayed Young, which included impressive defense down the stretch.
An exclamation point came when Eric Davis, Jr. tossed Mohamed Bamba a lob in the open floor with about 40 seconds left, and the big man grabbed it and used a reverse slam to complete the alley-oop, which created as loud of a pop from the UT crowd as I’ve ever heard in the Erwin Center.
For one day, everything about the Texas Basketball program was right; everything came together, including the fan support, atmosphere, player performances, and coaching. It wouldn’t last long, but for that one Saturday the potential of Texas Basketball was on display.
3) With everything – Big 12 championship, regional host, a chance to put the program firmly back on the map – on the line in a three-game series against TCU, the Texas Longhorns swept the Horned Frogs during the final regular season series. Before they could complete the sweep, they found themselves in a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. And before Kody Clemens could play the role of hero, Duke Ellis, against a tough lefthander, had to find a way on base. Down in the count 0-2, Ellis competed and pulled a grounder between the second baseman and first. He beat the pitcher to the bag on the flip to first, and kept the inning alive, which set the stage for Clemens.
“I just remember... It was weird. I got the chills once he went, ‘safe.’ Everybody started going crazy as I walked up to the plate,” responded Clemens about what he was thinking when Ellis beat out an infield single with two outs to keep the ninth inning alive. “I was like, ‘Alright, I'm going to do something cool.’ I was thinking like, ‘Oh, I'm not going to try to hit a home run.’ I was focused on staying inside the ball and putting together a good at-bat and hopefully do something good.”
On a 1-2 breaking ball, Clemens lifted a walk-off homer to right field. For the first time in years, UFCU Disch-Falk Field had its magic back. The next day, Texas completed the sweep, which started a run to Omaha.
4) Was it pretty? Well, if you enjoy smothering defense against a good quarterback and an all-time good performance from a punter, yes, it was. However, enjoyment requires ignoring an eyesore on offense, which, despite Tom Herman’s increased involvement, still screamed for help.
For the Longhorns, a win was a win for a program that desperately needed one following the way it finished the regular season. The expectations heading into the Texas Bowl didn’t represent optimism for the Longhorns, and they finished with a 17-point win after keeping Missouri in a sleeper hold for nearly the entire game.
Make no mistake, the conversation and mood, both externally and internally surrounding Texas as it entered the offseason and eventually began spring football was significantly affected by the bowl game outcome. Plus, it was the first time Texas won a bowl game since 2012.
5) After losing the first game against Tennessee Tech, the Longhorns, as they did all season, responded with competitiveness, confidence, and better execution. Matteo Bocchi played the role of unlikely hero on the mound while Clemens played the starring role he played all postseason. With the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning, Nolan Kingham, as Texas held a 5-2 lead, emptied whatever he had left in his tank to induce a game-ending, Omaha-clinching ground out.
Not only did Texas reach Omaha for the first time since 2014, it became one of the only representations in years of a big-three sport exceeding expectations. Sure, Omaha is always an expectation at Texas, but in year two under David Pierce and with a roster that had its warts, hosting a regional after winning the Big 12 was a heck of an accomplishment.
And as the celebration on the field carried on, Texas players eventually made their way to left field, where they fired the cannon in celebration as a banner hung to their right that said one powerful word: Augie.
FIVE BUMMERS
6) The football gods delivered Texas a gift when Will Grier left the game early at West Virginia. Who knows if Texas needed it? The Longhorns played a solid all-around game and looked like the better team throughout, which allowed them to return home with a crucial road win and a lot of confidence and momentum. Up next was a struggling Texas Tech team led by a head coach many thought wouldn’t last beyond the game.
Easy, right? Texas built a 20-10 lead at halftime, and was positioned to cruise to a 7-5 regular-season finish.
Well, it all came crashing down and nearly inexplicable fashion.
On third and two with 2:21 left, Texas elected to throw at the Texas Tech 37-yard line. Ehlinger, despite having a fairly clean pocket to work in and a back kept in to help protect, rolled out of the pocket, threw across his body back towards the middle of the field, and was picked off.
Texas was able to move the ball to the Texas Tech 42-yard line with 1:05 left and a timeout. On second and 12, Ehlinger, against a three-man rush with a clean pocket and no pressure, floated a bad ball into coverage, which was picked off.
Has anyone ever mentioned there’s some uncertainly surrounding the quarterback position, the offense, and the offensive coordinator? On that night, someone took a tanker full of gasoline and dumped it onto a fire to produce a raging bonfire with angry, burnt orange flames.
Earlier that day…
7) In Portland, Oregon at the Nike PK80 Tournament, the Longhorns had No. 1 Duke on the ropes. With 9:39 left, which was around the same time Duke, according to KenPom.com, had a 3.9-percent chance of winning, Texas led 62-46. But that’s also when Mohamed Bamba picked up his fourth foul, which totally changed the complexion of the game. And Bamba’s two fouls to get to four could have been easily avoided.
With Bamba and Jericho Sims in foul trouble, Texas began to play tentatively, which allowed Duke to close the game on a 32-12 run; the lottery pick frontcourt duo of Marvin Bagley and Wendell Carter, Jr. combined to score 27 of Duke’s final 32 points.
Still, despite Duke roaring back, Texas had a chance to grab a lead to end regulation, but Coleman missed the second half of a one-and-one with 19 seconds left and the game tied. In overtime, Texas elected to play a small lineup, and Duke crushed it.
The Longhorns let that one slip away. They were the better team for most of the game. Unfortunately for them, that type of potential and team never really showed again the rest of the season when the Longhorns left Portland. Shortly thereafter, Andrew Jones hurt his wrist before being diagnosed with Leukemia.
8) Speaking of signature wins early in the season on the West Coast that slipped away, the Longhorns fumbled away a road win at USC early last season.
Texas was a perfectly executed Sam Darnold jump pass away from winning in regulation. On second and two from the third yard line in double overtime, Ehlinger, with the score tied 24-24, was stripped in a pile as he pushed towards a first down. USC then made a field goal to win the game.
All game, Texas was the tougher, more physical team. But most of the big breaks, including Roland Jones – I mean, Ronald – turning a short pass with the clock expired into a long touchdown before halftime, went USC’s way.
Who knows how Texas’s season played out if it won? After a bye, it won at Iowa State, beat Kansas State in double overtime, nearly knocked off Oklahoma, and lost another winnable game in overtime, at home, to Oklahoma State.
9) Texas led Nevada 40-25 early in the second half of a first-round NCAA Tournament game, and then watched Nevada fire back to force overtime. In overtime, Texas, particularly Coleman and Kerwin Roach II, looked like it wouldn’t be denied. Roach completed a four-point play to give his team a 77-73 advantage with 3:13 left in the extra period.
Nevada then made its next six and final shots from the floor.
It was a fitting end. Texas teased with its ability to build a lead, didn’t continue to be aggressive, stalled on offense with lack of movement and spacing, had a key player foul out, and then was on the wrong end of great shooting.
10) Unfortunately for Texas in Omaha, it began its trip with a game against Arkansas. Needing to be near-perfect to win, it was far from that. Then, the nation’s No. 1 overall seed, Florida, sent Jackson Kowar on the mound, who threw better than any pitcher Texas saw during the 2018 season.
Was it a disappointing performance for Texas? Sure. It could have played better, but it also met two superior rosters that played at a high level.
FIVE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2018-19
11) If Tom Herman is the coach I think he is and the coach Texas thought he was when it hired him, there will be improvement this season. The Longhorns can’t get worse offensively, and they’ll probably be just as good defensively. With the first season now fully behind him, Herman’s had more than enough time to truly evaluate his roster, his program, and begin to significantly impact Texas by instilling his culture.
12) What will help Herman have a better 2018 than 2017? The Longhorns should be deeper. Although their talent will be younger, the influx of some big-time freshmen should especially aid that depth. Most importantly, the addition of Calvin Anderson, maturation of some experienced linemen, projection of better injury luck, and Herb Hand should get more out of the offensive line.
13) On the hardwood, the Longhorns should start two seniors and two sophomores with a redshirt junior, and two sophomores ready to contribute off the bench. Maybe more importantly, UT’s best player won’t be a freshman big man, and one of its best players will be a returning point guard. On paper, the 2018-19 roster looks like Shaka Smart’s best at Texas.
14) David Pierce was recently named National Coach of the Year by Baseball America, and a big reason why he received that honor was he and his staff’s ability to maximize UT’s available pitching. From a talent and depth perspective, the 2018 pitching staff would probably rank last among Texas teams I’ve covered, and I started writing about UT Baseball at Orangebloods.com during the 2006 season.
Help is on the way.
The freshman arms that will soon, if they’re not there already, arrive on campus will provide an immediate, much-needed boost to the Texas pitching staff. They’re not going to become studs overnight, but they’re going to throw significant innings. And they’re going to immediately upgrade the stuff and talent in the Texas pitching staff.
15) If everything goes according to his plan, Andrew Jones will make his return to basketball this upcoming season. Obviously, there’s a lot of time between now and then, and predicting how Jones progresses is difficult; asking and expecting a young man less than a year removed from a Leukemia diagnosis to play basketball at the top collegiate level is a lot. However, there’s a realistic chance he’s able to return to the hardwood in a Texas uniform.
I’m not betting against him, and what a moment it would be.
15) Retaining Chris Paul was a much-needed move by the Rockets, but losing both Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute is a big blow. Sure, the latter was awful in the playoffs as he worked his way back from injury, but he provides a substantial defensive impact with his defending ability, intelligence, and length. Plus, he can shoot it a little from deep.
Suddenly, the Rockets lack a defensive presence at the wing position. P.J. Tucker fits that some, but he’s probably best suited as a “big” in a smaller lineup. Rookie De’anthony Melton is known for being a defender, but he’s not ready.
What happens from here? I think the Rockets will find a way to sign at least one wing that fits the three and defense mold, and will resign Clint Capela because he’s a restricted free agent and there isn’t a lot of money around in the NBA for another team to sign him to a max offer sheet. Michael Carter Williams was a smart, cheap signing because of the defensive versatility he adds and potential ballhandling presence.
The Rockets will probably sign Carmelo Anthony, but the fit isn’t ideal. Sure, Anthony would add some scoring punch in the playoffs as he’d slide into a lot of the shots Ariza had. That’s an improvement. Anthony would be in the best offensive fit – both in style and personnel – of his NBA career. But he’s a liability defensively, 34-years-old, and wins haven’t followed him throughout the NBA. The funny thing would be Anthony choosing an opportunity to be featured and more money to go play for the Heat, who have no chance of winning the NBA Finals. That would be a very Melo move.
How did Houston, without Paul, come one game away from the NBA Finals? By being a standout team defensively and frustrating the Warriors into playing the Rockets’ style. Anthony doesn’t make that a reality again. The wildcard in all this is Ryan Anderson’s contract. He’s on the books for two more seasons at around $21 million. If Houston adds Anthony, Anderson becomes almost irrelevant unless you enjoy second-team fours that can’t defend and make a ton of money.
Whatever happens, I can’t see Houston building the type of team capable of beating Golden State. If Houston was in the East, it would be a different story.
16) While the American League could have a team with 100 wins or more in a Wild Card game, is there a legitimate contender in the National League? Sure, there must be one by default. But look at the standings and tell me who the clear best team is, and then stack it up against the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees. Big difference.
And that’s why the contenders – like the Diamondbacks, Braves, Phillies, and Brewers – should swing for the fences at the trade deadline. The National League is there for the taking, and all those teams, some more surprising than others, find themselves either leading their division or in the Wild Card game if the season ended today. The Brewers need a good starting pitcher to bolster its bullpen and offense. Arizona and Manny Machado makes sense. The Phillies could use a starter and a veteran bat. Atlanta has arguably the most loaded farm system in baseball and simply needs to decide whether it is going for it or not.
The American League race looks pretty much decided. But the National League? It’s going to get real weird down the stretch, which should be a lot of fun.
17) After watching the first episode, I consider myself intrigued by HBO’s 'Sharp Objects.' It definitely appears like it’s heading on a very dark path, but Amy Adams’s character is worth following through the journey. What I’m most looking forward to is the return of HBO’s 'The Deuce,' which reminds me of 'The Wire.'
18) I’m not the biggest fan of IPAs so I’m constantly on the lookout for some new lagers and ales to add to the rotation. Karbach’s Tasty Waves, themed after Jeff Spicoli, is an enjoyable, light, easy-drinking ale with a hint of grapefruit. It’s more on the stronger side in terms of flavor and is a little bit of a heavier ale, but Austin Beerworks’s Flavor Country gets two thumbs up.
19) I’m still at a loss for words after the news of @meroney04's death. Christian was my age, and lived in an area just about five minutes from my old place. The OB community is a tight one, and it’s hurting right now, but I can't even begin to imagine the pain his family and friends are enduring. I wish I had some words for his family and friends, but I don’t even know what to say other than Orangebloods.com will greatly miss him.
Say something nice to someone today, and every day.
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