The reason Texas should fire Barnes after this year

[utisdabomb12]

First, let me say Barnes has done wonders for Texas. IMO he's made basketball relevant against at Texas. A lot of teams would kill for what he's accomplished. The tournament 15/16 years, 1 final four, 2 elite eights, and 2 sweet 16s. This at a school that bleeds football and to be honest puts more emphasis on baseball. It's time for a change though. 

The reason a change needs to be made this year is because the roster is still talented. Strong was put at a major disadvantage because he was left with a roster that was severely mismanaged and lacked talent. Strong is in rebuild mode. While the new coach in basketball might have to make some roster adjustments, it would not be a rebuild mode. Next year Texas could have Yancy, Barnett, Taylor, Holland, Lammert, Ibeh, Ridley, Cleare, and Felix on the roster. With the possibility of two very talented freshman coming in (Roach and Davis). Maybe there would be a couple transfers, who knows. I've always been someone that thinks hiring/firing coaches at the right time is critical. That's why a move should be made after this year. 

 

[Epictetus]

As I recall, Butler puts and upper class team on the floor, almost all seniors one year I believe.

They consequently field a team of experience; age and otherwise.

I also view Barnes' style of play (not an expert, just my observation) that requires a lot of work to master, and would therefore benefit from transitions of 3-year and 4-year players carrying the team as the first and second-year guys develop.

A senior-laden team with blue-collar work ethic would work better for me.

Basketball is the one college sport I believe suffers greatly from early departures, and I'm fully against it.

I prefer the NFL rule of three years (isn't that so?) or like baseball, go pro out of high school or play three years.

I would love a college team to be... a college team. It's the one major sport I believe needs the student body to fall in love with it, be there in droves, love it all season long and relish a run in the NCAA. And it not be a one-and-done, or two years and done, revolving door constantly re-tooling.

Or be Kentucky and put 5 All-Americans on the floor and play UNLV style.

 

[coolhorn]

Coaches are like the milk you buy at the store...they have a shelf life, and when they hit that mark, it's time for them to go.  Rick Barnes has already exceeded his shelf life, and truthfully, it might be best for UT to part company with him before the end of the season.  The sooner the search for a new coach starts, the sooner a replacement for Barnes is found.

Make no mistake...I'm not posting this to bury Barnes.  On balance, he's been a good coach, and has done some good things for UT.  He was the right choice at the time he was hired, and for several years after that, but he's hit his glass ceiling.  He's not capable of taking this team any further than he has, and it appears that he's lost this team, which doesn't bode well for recruiting going forward.

Barnes may never admit it...he's a competitor, of course.  However, deep down, he has to know he can't do any more for UT's basketball team.  Whenever the decision is made to give him his walking papers, I doubt very much that it will surprise him.  It certainly won't surprise many of us.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Coaches are like the milk you buy at the store...they have a shelf life, and when they hit that mark, it's time for them to go.  Rick Barnes has already exceeded his shelf life, and truthfully, it might be best for UT to part company with him before the end of the season.  The sooner the search for a new coach starts, the sooner a replacement for Barnes is found.

Make no mistake...I'm not posting this to bury Barnes.  On balance, he's been a good coach, and has done some good things for UT.  He was the right choice at the time he was hired, and for several years after that, but he's hit his glass ceiling.  He's not capable of taking this team any further than he has, and it appears that he's lost this team, which doesn't bode well for recruiting going forward.

Barnes may never admit it...he's a competitor, of course.  However, deep down, he has to know he can't do any more for UT's basketball team.  Whenever the decision is made to give him his walking papers, I doubt very much that it will surprise him.  It certainly won't surprise many of us.

I agree, but I would let him finish the season. If he makes the tournament, I think you have to give him a chance to make a run .

If he was to make the NIT, I wouldn't mind a change before seasons end. 

 

[streettopeschel]

Based on preseason expectations and after having risen to #6 in the AP poll, this season has been a big disappointment for sure.

But the thing about college basketball is the only thing that really matters is the three weekends in March. IF UT somehow won two ncaa games, would he still get let go? Has a coach ever been let go after a sweet 16 finish?

I tend to think Rick has peaked but the sport has morphed into 'nothing matters but the tourney' so who knows?

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Disagree with your premise...

You only fire a coach if it's warranted. What kind of talent returns next season and how a new coach might mesh with that talent should have no bearing on the decision.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Disagree with your premise...

You only fire a coach if it's warranted. What kind of talent returns next season and how a new coach might mesh with that talent should have no bearing on the decision.

You fire a coach if it's warranted, sure. 

My point is if it's an "iffy call" you should look at other criteria. If Barnes wins a tournament game or two, I think there's an argument that can be made for keeping his job. It's always going to be an iffy call with someone like Barnes, because he's a pretty good coach that has an impressive resume. We were in the same situation with Mack. It was an iffy call for years whether we should have fired Mack, and that lead to severe problems on the current roster. 

I absolutely think other factors should play into the decision of firing a coach, particularly for a guy like Barnes. I'm not one of those guys that thinks Barnes should absolutely be fired, I've wobbled back and forth on the decision. That's why other factors matter, at least IMO. It's not clear, cut and dry whether Barnes should keep his job or be fired. That's why I tend to look at other factors such as the potential impact on future rosters. 

 

[GBT]

We are looking at a new venue in the coming years. We better put a quality product on the court. With Barnes, we are boring and suck against quality teams. It is time to let him go. Either at season's end or now, but it must be done this year before we fall into suckage we will have trouble getting out of; like our women's program and football.

 

[Growler]

Very little about this team says they will make the tournament. They may not win another game.

 

[betogonzalez]

Same old sh*t, different season.  I don't have any more confidence in Barnes leading this team.  Let's let him finish the season and cut him loose. 

 

[hoskins5]

I agree. Same kind of situation as Mack Brown. I'm happy that he took our program to a higher level, now we need someone who can take it even higher.

 

[gmcc]

I have become so disgusted with the current college bb rules that allow an offensive player to run over a defensive player (without any chance of getting an offensive foul called) that I have watched very little.  I personally have No faith or hope for our Horns with Barnes in charge.  I recently read some comment about how Barnes has "sucked the fun" out of his players-  I agree.

So who are some of the good "young" bb coaches that might be ready for the Texas job.  I don't want an old coach- I want to see the players enjoy the game again. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

Texas a 9 seed in Lunardi's bracket. 

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011