Texas basketball loses to UTA

[tejasrulz]

for the first time ever, 72-61. UTA took Texas to OT last year but this was still a very bad loss.

Stat of the game? Texas went 3-23 from the 3pt line. That's 13%. Texas had a big lead early but just fell apart.

The good news? None of the freshmen will be 1 & done. They also will improve. At one point they had 3 true freshmen and 2 sophs on the court playing for Texas.

If Texas doesn't improve drastically on their 3pt'ers, it could be a very long season for the Horns.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Texas needs to get a new basketball arena built fast.

That's my drop for the night.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Can't shoot 3s, can't shoot free throws, can't shoot period.

It's gonna be a loooooong season, Texas Hoops fans. Get ready for some embarrassing Big 12 losses.

 

[DMAC]

WTH?   We have become the University of Hype but very little substance.  

Ashton is really the only one bucking that trend?

 

[dillohorn]

Was this another bad coach hire? It' not looking very good right now.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Was this another bad coach hire? It' not looking very good right now.

IMO, a greater percentage of UT fans and Exes liked the Shaka Smart hire than Strong's.

Sometimes, things just don't work out but we should give him the requisite 3 seasons to see what he can do too. That'll give him this season and next. We really  gotta shoot better...

 

[tejasrulz]

Was this another bad coach hire? It' not looking very good right now.

Too early based on all the starters he lost from last year's team. We have some good players going through the sophomore slump right now. They don't pull out of it, it will be a long season. Friday vs Bama should be interesting.

 

[BudreauReye]

Was this another bad coach hire? It' not looking very good right now.

Shaka Smart was a great hire ... maybe the best hire Texas could have made.  Furthermore, no other basketball venue in the country could have helped the cause in last night's travesty of a game.  Other than the band, cheerleaders, and Texas Pom, I think that there might have been maybe a dozen other students there.  Good Lord!  Twenty UTA fans were louder than Texas' 200 or so corpses of record ... but I digress ...

Despite our being ranked earlier this season, which was a result of "We Are Texas and we got Shaka Smart hype",  Shaka has a bunch of players who are good potential players for future years, but for now, they are missing a few critical parts that this recruiting season should bring into the fold.  Not to mention that 6'-9" Mariek Isom should be available soon, and 6'-9", 250 lb transfer Dylan Osetkowski, who some considered the best player on the team in early practices through the intra-squad scrimmage, will be available next season with this year's recruits. 

Remember that, unlike football, a basketball team's fortunes can turn on one recruiting class, and this year's senior HS class is supposedly the best in Texas in many a year.  As has been mentioned, it is doubtful that either Jarrett Allen or Andrew Jones are one and done players.

All that being said, I have been watching Longhorn basketball since Leon Black was coach, and last night's game against UTA was the worst game that I have ever seen.  Something tells me that our first and second year players have had pretty high opinions of themselves as individuals and as a team.  Something also tells me that last night's beat down by UTA will serve to focus their attention on what Shaka has to teach them ... if not, we may see three walkons start against Alabama Friday night. 

And please!  If I read one comment that we really should have hired Avery Johnson, I think that I shall have to puke in the general direction of the perpetrator of said comment.

 

[83Dee]

I have watched this basketball team several times this year; and the only time they looked good was when they scrimmaged themselves. 

Amongst all of the football euphoria, what has escaped forum headlines is that this team is really, really bad.  Listen closely, this team is really, really, bad.  They don't seem to have any scoring options what-so-ever.  They don't seem to have a true point guard.  Did I mention they are bad? 

Please don't jump on me and say they are young (I am ever-so-tired of hearing this as a UT fan).  And, don't jump on me telling me that its not Shaka's fault.... sure he's a good coach, and he may turn this thing around and show improvement.  But as of right now, UTA beats them 9 out of 10 times.... they are B A D.  Allow me to summarize:

This team looks really bad.

Every college basketball team is young and you can win with a young team.

Texas, when they build a new arena, needs to make it capacity of about 9,000.  The shots of the stands make me blush. 

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

....no other basketball venue in the country could have helped the cause in last night's travesty of a game.  Other than the band, cheerleaders, and Texas Pom, I think that there might have been maybe a dozen other students there.  Good Lord!  Twenty UTA fans were louder than Texas' 200 or so corpses of record

So now it's Texas fans' fault the Horns laid an egg at home against a supposedly inferior opponent? Okay...

What are the excuses for B2B losses in Brooklyn?

 

[83Dee]

Shaka Smart was a great hire ... maybe the best hire Texas could have made.  Furthermore, no other basketball venue in the country could have helped the cause in last night's travesty of a game.  Other than the band, cheerleaders, and Texas Pom, I think that there might have been maybe a dozen other students there.  Good Lord!  Twenty UTA fans were louder than Texas' 200 or so corpses of record ... but I digress ...

BudreauReye,

I just read your post.... GOOD STUFF!  Allow me to comment piece by piece:

Let's face it, as basketball fans, we (UT) stink.  I agree with what you said above, but this is not an anomaly for a pre-conference game against an opponent like UTA, it's the norm .  What makes it worse is the Frank Irwin Center (Is that what it's still called?) 

I was serious when I said above (slight hyperbole) that they should build a 9000 seat arena.  In all honesty they should only be thinking about downsizing.  The only thing worse than a comatose crowd is one that is seated in one out of every 10 seats! 

Here is another idea that has been discussed and I think it is time to actually do something drastic about it.  Before I say this, let me say that by this sentiment's standards, I am old.  I am 49 years old and qualify for what I am about to say..... STOP selling so many season tickets right down by the court to people with thick wallets (usually "old" people).  They sit there, don't cheer, work on their computers during the game and half the time don't show up!  If you want to have an exciting atmosphere and recruit good players... then GIVE half of those tickets to students who might not whine if they have to stand for awhile, and know that cheering is something more than polite golf course clapping!!  Out.

 

[83Dee]

Despite our being ranked earlier this season, which was a result of "We Are Texas and we got Shaka Smart hype",  Shaka has a bunch of players who are good potential players for future years, but for now, they are missing a few critical parts that this recruiting season should bring into the fold.  Not to mention that 6'-9" Mariek Isom should be available soon, and 6'-9", 250 lb transfer Dylan Osetkowski, who some considered the best player on the team in early practices through the intra-squad scrimmage, will be available next season with this year's recruits. 

Remember that, unlike football, a basketball team's fortunes can turn on one recruiting class, and this year's senior HS class is supposedly the best in Texas in many a year.  As has been mentioned, it is doubtful that either Jarrett Allen or Andrew Jones are one and done players.

I will go you one better, it is quite possible to compete at a very high level with one recruiting class.  I know the one Shaka just brought in were four stars, I think even a five star, and maybe a three thrown in there.... but at this point, I would say they are highly over-rated.  They may very well have been that good in high school, but it is not translating.  They look to me (right now) like a bunch of guys who may be solid role players some day, but I don't see anyone who really wants the ball. 

This is not an overreaction to one game either.  I have watched this team, I don't see where the offense is going to come from this year. 

 

[longhorn_mig]

No PG, we can't make shots, and Eric's shooting slump is killing us. Gotta get out of this funk. Plain and simple.

 

[Earl Nobis Jefferson]

Jesssss, can't we have at least ONE or our big sports programs be half way decent at minimum!?!?! I really don't want to walk around chest out with pride because of our Crew Team or the Quidich "program" (all do respect). To DMACs point, I don't want to see one damn hipe video about baseball this season.

 

[Bear19]

Many teams around the country could beat UTA with nothing but freshman and sophomore's. I don't like what I'm seeing.

 

[longhorn_mig]

Many teams around the country could beat UTA with nothing but freshman and sophomore's. I don't like what I'm saying.

True, as long as they make shots...which we can't do right now.

 

[Chitownhorn]

Shaka Smart was a great hire ... maybe the best hire Texas could have made.  Furthermore, no other basketball venue in the country could have helped the cause in last night's travesty of a game.  Other than the band, cheerleaders, and Texas Pom, I think that there might have been maybe a dozen other students there.  Good Lord!  Twenty UTA fans were louder than Texas' 200 or so corpses of record ... but I digress ...

Despite our being ranked earlier this season, which was a result of "We Are Texas and we got Shaka Smart hype",  Shaka has a bunch of players who are good potential players for future years, but for now, they are missing a few critical parts that this recruiting season should bring into the fold.  Not to mention that 6'-9" Mariek Isom should be available soon, and 6'-9", 250 lb transfer Dylan Osetkowski, who some considered the best player on the team in early practices through the intra-squad scrimmage, will be available next season with this year's recruits. 

Remember that, unlike football, a basketball team's fortunes can turn on one recruiting class, and this year's senior HS class is supposedly the best in Texas in many a year.  As has been mentioned, it is doubtful that either Jarrett Allen or Andrew Jones are one and done players.

All that being said, I have been watching Longhorn basketball since Leon Black was coach, and last night's game against UTA was the worst game that I have ever seen.  Something tells me that our first and second year players have had pretty high opinions of themselves as individuals and as a team.  Something also tells me that last night's beat down by UTA will serve to focus their attention on what Shaka has to teach them ... if not, we may see three walkons start against Alabama Friday night. 

And please!  If I read one comment that we really should have hired Avery Johnson, I think that I shall have to puke in the general direction of the perpetrator of said comment.

I agree. Last night's game was very bad.

IMO the overriding issue with this team is the lack of a true point guard or someone that understands how to distribute the basketball within the offensive framework.

College basketball is a PG dominated game and the best teams have that PG or individual that can distribute the ball and run the offense. This might be the hardest and most demanding position on the court and you can't ask players who have never been that true PG learn on the fly at this level.

The lack of a PG on this year's team is on Smart for not recruiting one and this team will continue to struggle all year unless someone miraculously steps up to take that role.

That being said, I do believe Smart was a good hire and will have a PG or two in next years class, so I think we will have to be a little patient with this process.

 

[Bear19]

I agree. Last night's game was very bad.

IMO the overriding issue with this team is the lack of a true point guard or someone that understands how to distribute the basketball within the offensive framework.

College basketball is a PG dominated game and the best teams have that PG or individual that can distribute the ball and run the offense. This might be the hardest and most demanding position on the court and you can't ask players who have never been that true PG learn on the fly at this level.

The lack of a PG on this year's team is on Smart for not recruiting one and this team will continue to struggle all year unless someone miraculously steps up to take that role.

That being said, I do believe Smart was a good hire and will have a PG or two in next years class, so I think we will have to be a little patient with this process.

Begs the question why did he not recruit a point guard in this year's class.

 

[tejasrulz]

Begs the question why did he not recruit a point guard in this year's class.

Maybe he did but didn't get the one(s) he wanted and he didn't want to waste a schollie on someone he didn't believe in?