Texas basketball turnaround

[jsto60]

Not just a solid turnaround from the last regime, but the team did not look so good in the opening game in China. Relegated in that game to standing around and watching Taylor dribble drive. And the defense and rebounding was atrocious. The only thing that was worse was Bill Waltons commentary.

Fast forward. The team has gelled. They run a nice motion offense. And with the length we have on D, they are playing pretty ferocious half court D. Not the normal havoc full court, but that is because Smart has tailored the sets to the teams strengths.

A couple of very nice wins. Vs North Carolina which is arguably the best team in the nation. And a nice road win vs Stanford. The Pac12 has the 2nd best win% in the nation..........behind the BigXII which is first. So we are going to need to continue the growth in to conf play.

 

[swVAHorn]

Not just a solid turnaround from the last regime, but the team did not look so good in the opening game in China. Relegated in that game to standing around and watching Taylor dribble drive. And the defense and rebounding was atrocious. The only thing that was worse was Bill Waltons commentary.

Fast forward. The team has gelled. They run a nice motion offense. And with the length we have on D, they are playing pretty ferocious half court D. Not the normal havoc full court, but that is because Smart has tailored the sets to the teams strengths.

A couple of very nice wins. Vs North Carolina which is arguably the best team in the nation. And a nice road win vs Stanford. The Pac12 has the 2nd best win% in the nation..........behind the BigXII which is first. So we are going to need to continue the growth in to conf play.

I actually HAD to turn off Waltons commentary in the game played in China. You would have thought he was working for the Chinese the way he pumped that country up. The team has made leaps and bounds since that game, I agree. It was just dead and standing around on offense and not crashing the boards and blocking out.......basic basketball 101. Never have a reason NOT to hustle. I am very excited about the future of Texas Basketball.

 

[Dogged Horn]

I actually HAD to turn off Waltons commentary in the game played in China. You would have thought he was working for the Chinese the way he pumped that country up. The team has made leaps and bounds since that game, I agree. It was just dead and standing around on offense and not crashing the boards and blocking out.......basic basketball 101. Never have a reason NOT to hustle. I am very excited about the future of Texas Basketball.

Me, too. Turned him off almost immediately. So unbearable to listen to. Am likewise excited about our team and the future under Smart.

 

[DrinkToIt]

You guys are HOORRRRRRRIBLLLLLE!

 

[BringBackRoyal]

Some of the team was obviously jet-lagged or something in China. F***ing a**hole Patterson. That performance was clearly anomalous as far as effort goes.

I love what I'm seeing. The only thing I don't love is this team's work at the FT line. It's hard to believe it's this bad, and it's going to cost the team some games if it doesn't improve.

 

[swVAHorn]

Some of the team was obviously jet-lagged or something in China. F***ing a**hole Patterson. That performance was clearly anomalous as far as effort goes.

I love what I'm seeing. The only thing I don't love is this team's work at the FT line. It's hard to believe it's this bad, and it's going to cost the team some games if it doesn't improve.

Yes BRB....what is it with Texas Basketball and Free Throws? I have never seen worse than the last few years at Texas.

 

[BringBackRoyal]

Yes BRB....what is it with Texas Basketball and Free Throws? I have never seen worse than the last few years at Texas.

I don't get it. And I really don't get this year. Taylor has already missed more FTs this year than he did all of last season. Granted, he's shooting a lot more FTs per game now, which is good, but he has still fallen from shooting 84% at the line last season to 76% this season. And Ridley. Good God. His transformation has been incredible in every other facet of the game, but he shot an acceptable (for a big man) 61% from the line last season; he's shooting an atrocious 39% this season. What the hell, guys?

 

[bschroed21]

Smart showed a little havoc early against Stanford with a full-court press and it was probably the difference in the game. It got us the lead early which pretty much dissolved by the end. This team showing flashes of being really tough to handle, but still has stretches of stumbling around and being too loose with the basketball. Overall, I like the direction we're headed. Ball movement on offense and movement off of the ball are so refreshing.

 

[cwillfromdatx]

The team will be alright but next year will be telling with the lose of Conner, Ibeh, Cam, Holland, Felix and a possible Taylor. The starting 5 would look something like this: Cleare, Roach, Davis, Mack and Yancy. That's a very small rotation. The need now is to recruit a couple of Bigs and a couple of Guards. Ideally, we need at least 3 bigs and 3 guards in this recruiting class. If we don't, we will struggle against bigger teams next year. Also, Cleare will be a senior next year and the only big on the roster

 

[swVAHorn]

The team will be alright but next year will be telling with the lose of Conner, Ibeh, Cam, Holland, Felix and a possible Taylor. The starting 5 would look something like this: Cleare, Roach, Davis, Mack and Yancy. That's a very small rotation. The need now is to recruit a couple of Bigs and a couple of Guards. Ideally, we need at least 3 bigs and 3 guards in this recruiting class. If we don't, we will struggle against bigger teams next year. Also, Cleare will be a senior next year and the only big on the roster

How many ships does Smart have this year?

 

[RoboCocks21]

We are recruiting bigs we have 3 stud recruits coming in next year! One is a C that is 6'10 from Indiana ranked 85 in Rivals. Has tons and tons of offers.

 

[CAHorn47]

Jarrett Allen. That is all.

 

[cwillfromdatx]

Jarrett Allen. That is all.

He is the number 1 player at this moment and it's not even close with the others.

How many ships does Smart have this year?

It should be 5 but just have to see if anyone leaves early. Hopefully Taylor doesn't but i can understand about the money of the NBA. I don't see him leaving early though. Cam is the one that have seen his stock shoot through the roof.

 

[swVAHorn]

He is the number 1 player at this moment and it's not even close with the others.

It should be 5 but just have to see if anyone leaves early. Hopefully Taylor doesn't but i can understand about the money of the NBA. I don't see him leaving early though. Cam is the one that have seen his stock shoot through the roof.

I don't see Taylor being a pro. No jump shot at all. Ball skills are good but not great.

 

[cwillfromdatx]

I don't see Taylor being a pro. No jump shot at all. Ball skills are good but not great.

I agree with this. I do think he is shooting the 3 ball better this year compared to the other years.

 

[cwillfromdatx]

Need to get Roach a free shooting coach. He can't shoot one to save his life.

 

[CAHorn47]

Need to get Roach a free shooting coach. He can't shoot one to save his life.

 

[cwillfromdatx]

Looks like he needs to take a dump

 

[ryan_sublett]

Taylor is not an NBA guard. At least not right now. Gotta be able to shoot. If you can't your passing/ball handling better be once in a generation. Taylor doesn't have that. However that hasn't stopped kids from leaving school. Look at the Harrison twins from UK last year.

Ridley and Felix are better NBA prospects I think.

 

[CAHorn47]

Taylor is not an NBA guard. At least not right now. Gotta be able to shoot. If you can't your passing/ball handling better be once in a generation. Taylor doesn't have that. However that hasn't stopped kids from leaving school. Look at the Harrison twins from UK last year.

Ridley and Felix are better NBA prospects I think.

You honestly think the Amish Fire Hydrant is an NBA prospect?

 

[CAHorn47]

Looks like he needs to take a dump

Hall of Famer who ranks 4th all time in FT%

 

[ryan_sublett]

You honestly think the Amish Fire Hydrant is an NBA prospect?

Probably fringe but better than Taylor just on shooting ability.

 

[BringBackRoyal]

Probably fringe but better than Taylor just on shooting ability.

Felix has absolutely zero chance of being drafted or playing in the NBA. That's not the case with Taylor.

 

[ryan_sublett]

Felix has absolutely zero chance of being drafted or playing in the NBA. That's not the case with Taylor.

Taylor isn't an NBA player either.

 

[BringBackRoyal]

He may not be, but unlike Felix, he still has a non-zero chance of being drafted.

 

[jsto60]

Taylor is not an NBA guard. At least not right now. Gotta be able to shoot. If you can't your passing/ball handling better be once in a generation. Taylor doesn't have that. However that hasn't stopped kids from leaving school. Look at the Harrison twins from UK last year.

Ridley and Felix are better NBA prospects I think.

Sorry but Felix isn't even a D league prospect.

And Taylor has something you can't teach and teams covet.....ELITE speed and quickness with the ball that leads to play making possibilities. You can learn to shoot. Hell Jason Kidd couldn't buy a bucket till about 2/3rds of the way thru his career.

Similarly Ridley has something you can't teach...SIZE. But the NBA is transitioning away from the post and going more with stretch bigs. And at 6'9" he is big for NCAA, but not that big for NBA. Reminds me of Dexter Pittman. Fun to watch him trim down and grow as a big man in the NCAA. Remember Pittman actually dominated quite a bit in the post his last yr at Texas. And flopped around the NBA.

Best of luck to them all in the NBA. I'm looking forward to watching them continue in the NCAA for now.