Rick Barnes

[Pancho Negro]

Listen he is doing something he hasnt done since KD. He is working with the Asst well and he really has formed a bond with this team. I stated this question at the start of the season... If he get this young team in the NCAA tourney should he get another year. I believe he should. Not that he will but that he should.
He is having fun this year and from what I heard its because he knew he was gone, so lets go have fun, work hard and see what happens. I really wish he had this mindset the past 6 years or so. Could have been a special run

So are you implying that he knows his time is up or that he's fighting to save his job? Really appreciate your insight.

 

[NLeininger]

Brown didn't inherit Texas Football. We were in very poor shape when Mack showed up.

He most certainly did. Texas was a power before he came here(was one year removed from a Big 12 championship though Mackovic was not a great overall program coach), and will be a power after he leaves. Texas basketball was nothing like it is now before Barnes created it.

I do agree that Barnes has a chance to save his job, but how can one exceed expectations when there were none to begin with. Most people thought Texas would finish the season with their current win number.

 

[BevoBlake]

I do agree that Barnes has a chance to save his job, but how can one exceed expectations when there were none to begin with. Most people thought Texas would finish the season with their current win number.

Honestly, if he could get Texas into the 3rd Round this year, I'd be happy giving him another year. If he couldn't get us into the Sweet Sixteen next year, I'd say you start evaluating your options. Not necessarily giving into the idea of letting Barnes go...but you evaluate your options.

With that said, if Patterson decides to make a splash with Izzo or Donovan, I'd be pleased no matter when it happened.

 

[NLeininger]

Honestly, if he could get Texas into the 3rd Round this year, I'd be happy giving him another year. If he couldn't get us into the Sweet Sixteen next year, I'd say you start evaluating your options. Not necessarily giving into the idea of letting Barnes go...but you evaluate your options.
With that said, if Patterson decides to make a splash with Izzo or Donovan, I'd be pleased no matter when it happened.

Yeah this team is very similar to how Izzo builds them.

 

[Shaunsters]

IZZO loves Texas. But he wont leave Mich St

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Not a big tOSU nor UF fan, but what is their model to consistently having a top 10 football and basketball team every year? Looking forward to getting back to those standards soon!

 

[Mulligan30]

He has to win at least one NCAA tourney game. If not, then you gotta get rid of him. That would be 1 tourney win in last 6 seasons if he can do it this year.

 

[HornSolo]

Pleasantly.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Listen he is doing something he hasnt done since KD. He is working with the Asst well and he really has formed a bond with this team. I stated this question at the start of the season... If he get this young team in the NCAA tourney should he get another year. I believe he should. Not that he will but that he should.
He is having fun this year and from what I heard its because he knew he was gone, so lets go have fun, work hard and see what happens. I really wish he had this mindset the past 6 years or so. Could have been a special run

 

[ATX89]

It's certainly been surprising but I'm not going to get excited yet. I feel like this is the Mack Brown situation all over again. Exceeding expectations until it's time to show up for a Championship.

I've been ready to replace Barnes for the last 2 years, but I'd have to disagree with your assessment. Mack started off 2013 horribly with a 1-2 record and with 19 returning starters and grand delusions of Big 12 championships and BCS bowls. Barnes started off 2013 replacing multiple departures/transfers from arguably the bulk of our offensive production last season and has gone 10-1 with a win against a ranked North Carolina team in Chappell Hill. I'm not predicting final 4 much less sweet 16 for this team or even conference contention, but what Barnes has done with a team that many of us thought wouldn't win 10 games all year is pretty amazing in my opinion. Now if they could only shoot free throws!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pancho Negro]

Someone asked what our expectations should be in basketball.

I'm really sick and tired of the t-shirt fans/"football only" fans in our fanbase. I can't even believe we have people who think the only sport we should field is football. I've said before, I might even like UT basketball more than UT football at times.

I really, really, really, really want this program to succeed. (Hell I really want Barnes to succeed.) UT has all the resources to be a national power year in and year out in college basketball. When you consider resources, money, and recruiting base, there really isn't a reason why we shouldn't be a Top 10-15 team every year. And that's what our expectation should be. We need to stop marginalizing all sports not football and place expectations on ALL of our teams, considering our HUGE advantage in every sport in comparison to schools within the Big 12 and nationally. We should expect more out of our coaches too, considering how much we pay them and how (relatively) easy it should be to recruit to Texas and to the city of Austin.

Our men's basketball team should have Top 15 expectations.

I've said it before on this site and others. In speaking with an SEC assistant coach several years ago, he told me that Texas is a top 5 job overall. He said not in terms of the "bluebloods of basketball" but in terms of where every major HC and assistant would like to coach. I asked him why and he said because of recruiting, resources, and no pressure.

Here are a few articles that mention how Texas is a top basketball job:

Ranking the nation's top 10 college basketball coaching jobs - ESPN

The top 25 coaching jobs in college basketball. | SportsonEarth.com : Will Leitch Article

Ranking the Top 25 coaching jobs in college basketball

College Basketball: Top 15 Coaching Jobs in the Country | Bleacher Report

The best college basketball coaching jobs? Start with UNC - NCAA Basketball - Sporting News

Those are just the first few...there are a lot more. I've even heard ESPN personalities say that Texas is a top 5 basketball job. The problem is we aren't getting top 5 results. Dodds didn't demand it, but it's time that we do.

/rant over

 

[Dude65]

Coaching for his job. Very shocked considering the youth on the team, Achilles heel as always has been with Rick Barnes coached teams is the Free Throw shooting or lack thereof

 

[Chitownhorn]

Listen he is doing something he hasnt done since KD. He is working with the Asst well and he really has formed a bond with this team. I stated this question at the start of the season... If he get this young team in the NCAA tourney should he get another year. I believe he should. Not that he will but that he should.
He is having fun this year and from what I heard its because he knew he was gone, so lets go have fun, work hard and see what happens. I really wish he had this mindset the past 6 years or so. Could have been a special run

I agree with your take on Barnes. i've noticed a more relaxed coach on the side lines, he seems to be letting the team play and not yanking players at the first mistake. They say you can't teach old dogs new tricks but is it possible that Rick has taught himself a new trick? I think we need more than one year to find out.

 

[orangeflow]

We have seen Barnes reach certain goals in his career at Texas. I guess my question to those with a lot more knowlege than me about basketball. Does Barnes have it in him to go all the way and win a National Championship. Is this another situation where you reach a certain level year after year but no further. At which point does an AD say we are going another direction. I don't know the answer. Can anyone give me an answer where we are going because I personally like Barnes.

 

[Thiggystyle]

Someone asked what our expectations should be in basketball.
I'm really sick and tired of the t-shirt fans/"football only" fans in our fanbase. I can't even believe we have people who think the only sport we should field is football. I've said before, I might even like UT basketball more than UT football at times.

I really, really, really, really want this program to succeed. (Hell I really want Barnes to succeed.) UT has all the resources to be a national power year in and year out in college basketball. When you consider resources, money, and recruiting base, there really isn't a reason why we shouldn't be a Top 10-15 team every year. And that's what our expectation should be. We need to stop marginalizing all sports not football and place expectations on ALL of our teams, considering our HUGE advantage in every sport in comparison to schools within the Big 12 and nationally. We should expect more out of our coaches too, considering how much we pay them and how (relatively) easy it should be to recruit to Texas and to the city of Austin.

Our men's basketball team should have Top 15 expectations.

I've said it before on this site and others. In speaking with an SEC assistant coach several years ago, he told me that Texas is a top 5 job overall. He said not in terms of the "bluebloods of basketball" but in terms of where every major HC and assistant would like to coach. I asked him why and he said because of recruiting, resources, and no pressure.

Here are a few articles that mention how Texas is a top basketball job:

Ranking the nation's top 10 college basketball coaching jobs - ESPN

The top 25 coaching jobs in college basketball. | SportsonEarth.com : Will Leitch Article

Ranking the Top 25 coaching jobs in college basketball

College Basketball: Top 15 Coaching Jobs in the Country | Bleacher Report

The best college basketball coaching jobs? Start with UNC - NCAA Basketball - Sporting News

Those are just the first few...there are a lot more. I've even heard ESPN personalities say that Texas is a top 5 basketball job. The problem is we aren't getting top 5 results. Dodds didn't demand it, but it's time that we do.

/rant over

Thanks for the response. I hope you didn't interpret my fishing question as one of ignorance. I certainly believe we should be a top 10 basketball program with expectations to be there every year. I get that the parody in basketball is greater than just about any other sport but to your point we should be recruiting much better than we do. My question about expectations was somewhat of a rhetorical one to drive this conversation. I guess I just don't understand, and this may the sticking point in your rant, why we would "give Barnes another year" if we just make the tournament. I mean there were people who were ready to quit UT football if Mack came back last year and he won us a national championship. Why the double standard? We should win the Capital One college cup every year.

 

[POCKEY]

You gotta believe Patterson is chomping at the bit to dig his teeth into the Basketball Program. He's a BB guy. He'll get it done and it wouldn't surprise m if he decided to get it done with Barnes.

 

[BBQ]

Barnes is back to doing what he does best. He is coaching kids that want to be coached. He is great at teaching effort, rebounding, defense, and team work. The problem the last several years is that he had kids that didn't want to be coached. They wanted to do their thing and not work on other aspects of their game. Barnes does not give in to his players and does not adapt to his players. Instead, he demands that they adhere to his system. That is fine but he has to recruit the right kids for his style of coaching. He got caught up in recruiting guys with talent but without the desire to be coached his way. That is on him for not recruiting kids that fit his system. For instance, ask anyone that really knows and they will tell you it was obvious Sheldon was talented but a terrible fit for Barnes. Hopefully, he has figured out where he went wrong, wins enough this year to keep his job, gets Myles, we have a great year next year, and we go on a great run for many years. I don't know whether that will happen but I hope so. I can tell you this, some of his very best former players absolutely love him and give him credit for helping them develop and become the players they are/were. Not me guessing, I know some of them well and they have told me. Take it for what it is worth.

 

[Pancho Negro]

I can tell you this, some of his very best former players absolutely love him and give him credit for helping them develop and become the players they are/were. Not me guessing, I know some of them well and they have told me. Take it for what it is worth.

I don't think anyone here is saying that or disagrees. It's pretty well known that all of his players like him. I've met him a few times and he was my favorite coach at UT, even nicer than Mack. Mack is a politician. Barnes is the guy you can go have a beer with. He's pretty funny too.

Where Barnes misses the mark, though, is x and o coaching. (Sound familiar?)

 

[PDX Horn]

Barnes shouldn't have been the coach to start this year if Dodds was doing his job.

The Big 12 is going to be a grind and currently UT has 1 win (what I would call great) win (UNC) against a very good opponent.

Much funner team to watch than last years abomination. If he makes a tourney run (i.e. wins a couple of games) I think he deserves to come back.

 

[NLeininger]

Barnes shouldn't have been the coach to start this year if Dodds was doing his job.
The Big 12 is going to be a grind and currently UT has 1 win (UNC) against a team that is projected to make the tournament.

Much funner team to watch than last years abomination. If he makes a tourney run (i.e. wins a couple of games) I think he deserves to come back.

Texas has 3 wins against teams currently projected to be in the tournament.