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There are 121 days left in 2022, meaning the year is 67% complete, with 18 weeks left. Texas football kicks in two days, and the basketball team tips in 67 days.
But as you already know, in my world, it's always basketball season.
***
Five non-conference games we have circled on our calendars
I've talked enough about in-conference basketball involving the Longhorns over the last few weeks – it's time to look at their schedule in out-of-conference games. Last year, people criticized Texas for their soft pre-conference slate, but that criticism doesn't hold when looking at the matchups the Longhorns have before Big 12 play starts.
Here are some of the big names on this list.
Texas vs. Gonzaga
Date: November 16; Location: Moody Center, Austin, TX
Coming in hot to the 2022 season, Texas again will take on an elite Gonzaga team, though the Bulldogs lost some players from last year, including no. 2 overall pick PF/C Chet Holmgren. However, they return serious talent as well as add talent in the transfer portal in the case of Malachi Smith of Chattanooga, a guard that averaged an eye-popping 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and three assists per game before transferring .
They also return Drew Timme, one of the best players in college basketball who has only improved in the offseason, adding some range to his repertoire in the NBA Draft Combine, where in his last game, he hit four threes. If you remember last year's game, you'll recall that Drew Timme absolutely dominated the Longhorns – 37 points on 15/19 from the field. As it was the same night of the Kansas loss in football, many Texas fans likely drowned their sorrows in booze and may not remember either game. Probably for the best.
With Timme and Smith, Gonzaga has two players who are nearly 20 PPG scorers. They also return G Julian Strawther (11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds) and G Rasir Bolton (11.2 points), giving them a top-five-caliber team this season. Though the loss of Holmgren will obviously affect the interior (and perimeter) defense, Gonzaga has reloaded, and will once again be near the top of the college basketball landscape.
Texas vs. Creighton
Date: December 1st; Location: Moody Center, Austin, TX
Creighton had its season partially derailed by untimely injuries, but still had a decent campaign last year, earning a nine-seed in the NCAA Tournament and beating eighth-seeded San Diego State in the first round. This offseason however, the Bluejays brought in one of the top transfers in the country in do-it-all wing Baylor Scheierman of South Dakota State.
Scheierman averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and does it all shooting over 50% from the field and and a blistering 45.6% from deep. There are however concerns about Scheierman's stats being empty because of the league he played in. He has also struggled against better defenses, but with proper coaching (Greg McDermott is one of the best in the business) and a better team around him, I think Scheierman will be a very impactful player.
Though Creighton loses one Ryan in F Ryan Hawkins (13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds), their leading scorer from last year, they do return the other two Ryans, G Nembhard (11.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists) and C Kalkbrenner (13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds). Another major contributor was freshman four-star recruit Arthur Kaluma (10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds), who is back for another season with the Bluejays. Overall, I would guess Creighton will probably be around 12th-15th in the nation when the season starts. Their success will heavily depend upon injury luck.
Texas vs. Illinois
Date: December 6th; Location: neutral site, Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
Illinois was on the receiving end of a couple of Big 12 transfers that should make an immediate impact: Texas Tech's F Terrence Shannon (10.4 points) and Baylor's F Matthew Mayer (9.8 points, five rebounds).
Losing all-American C Kofi Cockburn (pronounced co-burn) (17.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 59.6% FG) to the NBA (UDFA to the Utah Jazz) is obviously a major blow to the team's interior presence, as his size, physicality, and skill made for one of the toughest matchups in the country, but there is still hope in Champaign.
The Illini bring in a recruit in top-40 G Skyy Clark, who may have been even more highly rated had he not been injured in part of his senior campaign. He will likely start this season, along with Shannon and Mayer. The question is, who fills in the spot at C left behind by Cockburn? Likely it will be Coleman Hawkins (5.9 points), who has absolutely massive shoes to fill. He had some flashes last year, but Illinois fans should not expect the numbers Cockburn put up. Illinois will probably be a fringe top 25 team to start the year, but could improve before the game against Texas at MSG in NYC.
Texas vs. Stanford (Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge)
Date: December 18th; Location: neutral site, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Texas played Stanford last year at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, winning an ugly game, 60-53. At this point, ugly games should be nothing new to Texas fans. If you're not aware already, get used to it – this is the way that Chris Beard plays ball. Ranked 25th at the time, Texas struggled to shoot in the win against the Cardinal, going just 4/16 from three (the exact same mark as Stanford, strangely enough). Suffocating defense won the game for Texas, which is what won them nearly every game against a competitive team last year.
Despite the fact the Cardinal haven't made an NCAA Tournament since 2014, there is a budding rivalry between Stanford and Texas for the crown of "best overall athletic program in the country," which includes all sports. The award, known as the NACDA Director's Cup, belonged to Stanford every single year from 1993-2019, until Texas broke their streak, winning the last two (the award wasn't given in 2019-2020 due to COVID-19). While this isn't on the minds of the players or coaching staff, it's an interesting wrinkle to throw into the game.
Stanford returns five-star Harrison Ingram (10.4 points) of St. Mark's in Dallas, as well as top scorer Spencer Jones (12 points). They lost Jaiden Delaire to the transfer portal, their third leading scorer (10.1 points). No one else on the team scored more than 7.7 points per game last season.
Texas @ Tennessee (Big 12/SEC Challenge)
Date: January 28th, 2023; Location: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN
Last year's matchup between Texas and Tennessee at the Erwin Center in Austin was about as wild a game as you can get with a combined score of under 105. This game saw Texas blast Tennessee in the first 34ish minutes of the game, setting up Tennessee for an all-time great comeback that fell just short. Going on a 19-2 run over the last 6:38 of the game, the Vols tied it up at 51 with under 10 seconds left in the contest, before Josiah Jordan-James fouled Timmy Allen on a shot with six seconds left. Allen missed the first free throw, but hit the second, giving the 'Horns a 52-51 lead that they held on to.
This year, Tennessee lost G Kennedy Chandler to the NBA Draft, but added five-star Julian Philips and retained wing Josiah Jordan-James (10.3 points, six rebounds), G Zakai Zeigler (8.8 points, 2.7 assists), and their best remaining player, G Santiago Vescovi (13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists). Returning Vescovi is a big deal, as he was their most efficient player last season at 40.3% from deep.
Tennessee is a grind-it-out, smash-mouth kind of team, much like the Longhorns' basketball team, meaning the matchup we'll get in January will be another rock fight. This is always a fun game as well for the Longhorns as they face their former HC in Rick Barnes. This should be an important matchup given its timing in the season, right in the middle of conference play.
***
Album review: Comfort Eagle, CAKE (2001)
CAKE is an alternative rock band from Sacramento, California that is responsible for some huge songs in the late '90s and early 2000s, including The Distance, Short Skirt / Long Jacket, and Love You Madly. My favorite album by CAKE is their 2001 record, Comfort Eagle. The album runs 11 tracks long, and is an album I grew up on as a child. So here's my review.
1. The opening track Opera Singer starts off with a distorted riff, pounding drums, and a trumpet line that drops out when the vocals start initially. The lyrics discuss the life of an opera singer and how their music will last generations, evident in the line, "I will sing when you're all dead." It's an excellent opener to the album that sets the tone with upbeat instrumentation.
2. The next track, Meanwhile, Rick James, is about the lead singer's losing a woman to a new man, and the pain that he feels. He uses famous funk musician Rick James as the object of ire, a symbol representing the new man in his ex's life. The instrumentation makes sense in this case as it uses a synth and funky bass line to make the song feel almost like a new-age Rick James track.
3. Shadow Stabbing is the third song on Comfort Eagle, and is a complex song that could be interpreted several ways. CAKE is known for their symbolism and use of motifs in their music, as this song could, according to genius.com, be about prize fighter Hurricane Carter, who was arrested in 1966 for killing a man in a bar fight. Bob Dylan sings about this incident in his 1975 song Hurricane.
4. The fourth song on Comfort Eagle is their second-biggest hit listens-wise according to Spotify (behind The Distance, off of 1996's Fashion Nugget). Short Skirt / Long Jacket is a really fun jam with a memorable chorus: "I want a girl with a short skirt and a loooooong jacket," he sings over an iconic guitar riff. The use of percussion, like the cowbell, adds to the vibrant flavor of the song. The background vocals that come in during the second refrain are memorable as well. Overall, this is considered one of CAKE's greatest achievements.
5. Commissioning a Symphony in C is the next song on Comfort Eagle, a track that tells a story about an "Austrian nobleman" who commissions a symphony before he passes away. The melancholy song has the protagonist reflect on his life as his time on Earth is coming to an end.
6. Arco Arena is an instrumental jam that lasts just 91 seconds. There isn't much to break down here, but do yourself a favor and listen to the track. Better yet, listen to the whole album.
7. My favorite song on the album, and probably my favorite song by CAKE is the title track, Comfort Eagle. The lyrics are difficult to interpret, but in general refer to a highly charismatic and influential person who is trying to start a cult. "We are building a religion" is the primary repeated phrase throughout the song. The instrumental is menacing, matching the tone of the lyrics. It has a Middle-Eastern influence in the note choices. Overall, it's an absolutely impressive track that shows CAKE's versatility.
8. Long Line of Cars begins with a synth line, followed by the bass and drums, before the vocals come in. "There's no central destination," refers to the aimlessness of sitting in traffic. It is a metaphor for the way people live their lives with no goals in mind, just sitting in a long line of cars with no end. The trumpet and additional horns really add to the instrumental, giving it texture and depth.
9. My second favorite song on the record after the title track is Love You Madly. It's a simple love song with a super fun, upbeat instrumental. The chorus, "I want to love you madly / I want to love you now," is the crux of the song about his woman. The synth line weaves its way through the instrumental, giving it a funky flavor reminiscent of some of the '90s hip-hop records, like Dr. Dre's The Chronic 1993. It's a classic song from the early 2000s that will be found on any alternative rock playlist from that era.
10. Pretty Pink Ribbon is the penultimate song on Comfort Eagle, a track that talks about femininity and how it relates to relationships between men and women. Another song full of lyrical symbolism and imagery, Pretty Pink Ribbon literally refers to something a woman would wear, but from there, you can extrapolate his meaning in your own way.
11. The final track on Comfort Eagle is World of Two, a song in a 3/4 time signature, which is about being left behind, whether it's a relationship, or a friendship. "It's not that I don't like you / it's not that I don't love you / it's not that I don't think you are two of the most perfectly beautiful people in the world," expresses that his jealousy isn't out of spite, but that it's hard to be around them when they're together. It's a sad song with haunting lyrics that discusses how it feels to be left out.
***
There are 121 days left in 2022, meaning the year is 67% complete, with 18 weeks left. Texas football kicks in two days, and the basketball team tips in 67 days.
But as you already know, in my world, it's always basketball season.
***
Five non-conference games we have circled on our calendars
I've talked enough about in-conference basketball involving the Longhorns over the last few weeks – it's time to look at their schedule in out-of-conference games. Last year, people criticized Texas for their soft pre-conference slate, but that criticism doesn't hold when looking at the matchups the Longhorns have before Big 12 play starts.
Here are some of the big names on this list.
Texas vs. Gonzaga
Date: November 16; Location: Moody Center, Austin, TX
Coming in hot to the 2022 season, Texas again will take on an elite Gonzaga team, though the Bulldogs lost some players from last year, including no. 2 overall pick PF/C Chet Holmgren. However, they return serious talent as well as add talent in the transfer portal in the case of Malachi Smith of Chattanooga, a guard that averaged an eye-popping 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and three assists per game before transferring .
They also return Drew Timme, one of the best players in college basketball who has only improved in the offseason, adding some range to his repertoire in the NBA Draft Combine, where in his last game, he hit four threes. If you remember last year's game, you'll recall that Drew Timme absolutely dominated the Longhorns – 37 points on 15/19 from the field. As it was the same night of the Kansas loss in football, many Texas fans likely drowned their sorrows in booze and may not remember either game. Probably for the best.
With Timme and Smith, Gonzaga has two players who are nearly 20 PPG scorers. They also return G Julian Strawther (11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds) and G Rasir Bolton (11.2 points), giving them a top-five-caliber team this season. Though the loss of Holmgren will obviously affect the interior (and perimeter) defense, Gonzaga has reloaded, and will once again be near the top of the college basketball landscape.
Texas vs. Creighton
Date: December 1st; Location: Moody Center, Austin, TX
Creighton had its season partially derailed by untimely injuries, but still had a decent campaign last year, earning a nine-seed in the NCAA Tournament and beating eighth-seeded San Diego State in the first round. This offseason however, the Bluejays brought in one of the top transfers in the country in do-it-all wing Baylor Scheierman of South Dakota State.
Scheierman averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and does it all shooting over 50% from the field and and a blistering 45.6% from deep. There are however concerns about Scheierman's stats being empty because of the league he played in. He has also struggled against better defenses, but with proper coaching (Greg McDermott is one of the best in the business) and a better team around him, I think Scheierman will be a very impactful player.
Though Creighton loses one Ryan in F Ryan Hawkins (13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds), their leading scorer from last year, they do return the other two Ryans, G Nembhard (11.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists) and C Kalkbrenner (13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds). Another major contributor was freshman four-star recruit Arthur Kaluma (10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds), who is back for another season with the Bluejays. Overall, I would guess Creighton will probably be around 12th-15th in the nation when the season starts. Their success will heavily depend upon injury luck.
Texas vs. Illinois
Date: December 6th; Location: neutral site, Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
Illinois was on the receiving end of a couple of Big 12 transfers that should make an immediate impact: Texas Tech's F Terrence Shannon (10.4 points) and Baylor's F Matthew Mayer (9.8 points, five rebounds).
Losing all-American C Kofi Cockburn (pronounced co-burn) (17.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 59.6% FG) to the NBA (UDFA to the Utah Jazz) is obviously a major blow to the team's interior presence, as his size, physicality, and skill made for one of the toughest matchups in the country, but there is still hope in Champaign.
The Illini bring in a recruit in top-40 G Skyy Clark, who may have been even more highly rated had he not been injured in part of his senior campaign. He will likely start this season, along with Shannon and Mayer. The question is, who fills in the spot at C left behind by Cockburn? Likely it will be Coleman Hawkins (5.9 points), who has absolutely massive shoes to fill. He had some flashes last year, but Illinois fans should not expect the numbers Cockburn put up. Illinois will probably be a fringe top 25 team to start the year, but could improve before the game against Texas at MSG in NYC.
Texas vs. Stanford (Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge)
Date: December 18th; Location: neutral site, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Texas played Stanford last year at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, winning an ugly game, 60-53. At this point, ugly games should be nothing new to Texas fans. If you're not aware already, get used to it – this is the way that Chris Beard plays ball. Ranked 25th at the time, Texas struggled to shoot in the win against the Cardinal, going just 4/16 from three (the exact same mark as Stanford, strangely enough). Suffocating defense won the game for Texas, which is what won them nearly every game against a competitive team last year.
Despite the fact the Cardinal haven't made an NCAA Tournament since 2014, there is a budding rivalry between Stanford and Texas for the crown of "best overall athletic program in the country," which includes all sports. The award, known as the NACDA Director's Cup, belonged to Stanford every single year from 1993-2019, until Texas broke their streak, winning the last two (the award wasn't given in 2019-2020 due to COVID-19). While this isn't on the minds of the players or coaching staff, it's an interesting wrinkle to throw into the game.
Stanford returns five-star Harrison Ingram (10.4 points) of St. Mark's in Dallas, as well as top scorer Spencer Jones (12 points). They lost Jaiden Delaire to the transfer portal, their third leading scorer (10.1 points). No one else on the team scored more than 7.7 points per game last season.
Texas @ Tennessee (Big 12/SEC Challenge)
Date: January 28th, 2023; Location: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN
Last year's matchup between Texas and Tennessee at the Erwin Center in Austin was about as wild a game as you can get with a combined score of under 105. This game saw Texas blast Tennessee in the first 34ish minutes of the game, setting up Tennessee for an all-time great comeback that fell just short. Going on a 19-2 run over the last 6:38 of the game, the Vols tied it up at 51 with under 10 seconds left in the contest, before Josiah Jordan-James fouled Timmy Allen on a shot with six seconds left. Allen missed the first free throw, but hit the second, giving the 'Horns a 52-51 lead that they held on to.
This year, Tennessee lost G Kennedy Chandler to the NBA Draft, but added five-star Julian Philips and retained wing Josiah Jordan-James (10.3 points, six rebounds), G Zakai Zeigler (8.8 points, 2.7 assists), and their best remaining player, G Santiago Vescovi (13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists). Returning Vescovi is a big deal, as he was their most efficient player last season at 40.3% from deep.
Tennessee is a grind-it-out, smash-mouth kind of team, much like the Longhorns' basketball team, meaning the matchup we'll get in January will be another rock fight. This is always a fun game as well for the Longhorns as they face their former HC in Rick Barnes. This should be an important matchup given its timing in the season, right in the middle of conference play.
***
Album review: Comfort Eagle, CAKE (2001)
CAKE is an alternative rock band from Sacramento, California that is responsible for some huge songs in the late '90s and early 2000s, including The Distance, Short Skirt / Long Jacket, and Love You Madly. My favorite album by CAKE is their 2001 record, Comfort Eagle. The album runs 11 tracks long, and is an album I grew up on as a child. So here's my review.
1. The opening track Opera Singer starts off with a distorted riff, pounding drums, and a trumpet line that drops out when the vocals start initially. The lyrics discuss the life of an opera singer and how their music will last generations, evident in the line, "I will sing when you're all dead." It's an excellent opener to the album that sets the tone with upbeat instrumentation.
2. The next track, Meanwhile, Rick James, is about the lead singer's losing a woman to a new man, and the pain that he feels. He uses famous funk musician Rick James as the object of ire, a symbol representing the new man in his ex's life. The instrumentation makes sense in this case as it uses a synth and funky bass line to make the song feel almost like a new-age Rick James track.
3. Shadow Stabbing is the third song on Comfort Eagle, and is a complex song that could be interpreted several ways. CAKE is known for their symbolism and use of motifs in their music, as this song could, according to genius.com, be about prize fighter Hurricane Carter, who was arrested in 1966 for killing a man in a bar fight. Bob Dylan sings about this incident in his 1975 song Hurricane.
4. The fourth song on Comfort Eagle is their second-biggest hit listens-wise according to Spotify (behind The Distance, off of 1996's Fashion Nugget). Short Skirt / Long Jacket is a really fun jam with a memorable chorus: "I want a girl with a short skirt and a loooooong jacket," he sings over an iconic guitar riff. The use of percussion, like the cowbell, adds to the vibrant flavor of the song. The background vocals that come in during the second refrain are memorable as well. Overall, this is considered one of CAKE's greatest achievements.
5. Commissioning a Symphony in C is the next song on Comfort Eagle, a track that tells a story about an "Austrian nobleman" who commissions a symphony before he passes away. The melancholy song has the protagonist reflect on his life as his time on Earth is coming to an end.
6. Arco Arena is an instrumental jam that lasts just 91 seconds. There isn't much to break down here, but do yourself a favor and listen to the track. Better yet, listen to the whole album.
7. My favorite song on the album, and probably my favorite song by CAKE is the title track, Comfort Eagle. The lyrics are difficult to interpret, but in general refer to a highly charismatic and influential person who is trying to start a cult. "We are building a religion" is the primary repeated phrase throughout the song. The instrumental is menacing, matching the tone of the lyrics. It has a Middle-Eastern influence in the note choices. Overall, it's an absolutely impressive track that shows CAKE's versatility.
8. Long Line of Cars begins with a synth line, followed by the bass and drums, before the vocals come in. "There's no central destination," refers to the aimlessness of sitting in traffic. It is a metaphor for the way people live their lives with no goals in mind, just sitting in a long line of cars with no end. The trumpet and additional horns really add to the instrumental, giving it texture and depth.
9. My second favorite song on the record after the title track is Love You Madly. It's a simple love song with a super fun, upbeat instrumental. The chorus, "I want to love you madly / I want to love you now," is the crux of the song about his woman. The synth line weaves its way through the instrumental, giving it a funky flavor reminiscent of some of the '90s hip-hop records, like Dr. Dre's The Chronic 1993. It's a classic song from the early 2000s that will be found on any alternative rock playlist from that era.
10. Pretty Pink Ribbon is the penultimate song on Comfort Eagle, a track that talks about femininity and how it relates to relationships between men and women. Another song full of lyrical symbolism and imagery, Pretty Pink Ribbon literally refers to something a woman would wear, but from there, you can extrapolate his meaning in your own way.
11. The final track on Comfort Eagle is World of Two, a song in a 3/4 time signature, which is about being left behind, whether it's a relationship, or a friendship. "It's not that I don't like you / it's not that I don't love you / it's not that I don't think you are two of the most perfectly beautiful people in the world," expresses that his jealousy isn't out of spite, but that it's hard to be around them when they're together. It's a sad song with haunting lyrics that discusses how it feels to be left out.
***
