Texas Men's Basketball Program

[Coach_B]

Is this Rick Barnes best coaching job in all his time here at Texas? If you listen to the national media, they will say yes. In my opinion, I think he has sold this basketball program down a path that I don't think he will be able to bring back. I think Barnes is married to the idea of bringing in "super-star" talen that are 1 and done players just as Kentucky is doing. The problem I see with that philosophy is that Barnes is far from being a Calipari.

Texas was much better when they had the 1 step below super-star type players along with solid role players. They won consistently and made deeper runs in the tournament.

 

[bbdude]

Coach, I think Barnes has done well but not excellent in his tenure at Texas. This year with the talent level being high but experience being low (lot of young players) I think he has done an ok job. Not stellar by any means but ok. I feel with the talent level Texas is able to bring in each year through recruiting, the Longhorn basketball program SHOULD have at least one National Championship in his 14 seasons at UT.

Barnes receives a ton of scrutiny - as he should, but if he were fired could we replace his services with a "bigger and better?" I do not know the answer to that but I think it is worth Texas thinking about.

 

[Coach_B]

bbdude, great points. To answer your question, Yes, if Barnes were fired this year, UT could/would have someone better who can take this program to the next level. That coach's name is Buzz Williams of Marquette.

 

[bbdude]

Excellent Coach at Marquette but big enough name to bring to the 40 Acres? Man he was horrific when he coached at UNO but who does have success anywhere in Louisiana unless that school has the initials L.S.U...

 

[colonelhorn]

Get rid of Barnes. Until the folks at Texas realize this we will always be an above average team that is never excellent.

 

[Coach_B]

Great avatar colonelhorn!!! The question I have for folks, is basketball a Texas a priority? Its Texas, which means first and foremost, FOOTBALL!!! Do they need to get rid of Barnes and Coach G? The womens program is grossly under-performing as well.

 

[colonelhorn]

Texas is in a position to where they HAVE TO make basketball a priority. Teetering on the edge of greatness during the Rick Barnes era is not enough. If the basketball program were to decline us Longhorn fans would get crazy!

 

[DC3]

Under performing?? Do you guys not remember the days BEFORE Barnes? UT's basketball program was NON EXISTENT! Yeah, Penders had ONE good team that he parlayed into a couple of good runs, but other than that, UT stunk. Barnes has basically created this program from the ground floor. Last time I checked, we have gone to 14 straight tournaments and won 20 games 13 years in a row. Yes he's had a rough couple of years, but I'm pretty sure that can be said about just about every other UT program at the moment.

 

[bbdude]

Football will always be king at Texas but UT is well-rounded in the 3 major sports. The basketball team is the missing piece. Baseball is excellent most years (and storied), football = ditto, but basketball? Listen, I will take Barnes over this guy any day:

 

[Coach_B]

DC3, is the current standard good enough for the UT faithful? Has Barnes hit his ceiling and is it time for someone new to take it to that next level?

 

[colonelhorn]

DC3, is the current standard good enough for the UT faithful? Has Barnes hit his ceiling and is it time for someone new to take it to that next level?

I think it is - for now. Barnes really needs to get more from his players though. With year-in and year-out talent there is no excuse for the voids in the team like we have seen this year.

 

[lakeman74]

Everyone deserves a down year, if you can call this a down year. The tournament performance will tell.

 

[bbdude]

Under performing?? Do you guys not remember the days BEFORE Barnes? UT's basketball program was NON EXISTENT! Yeah, Penders had ONE good team that he parlayed into a couple of good runs, but other than that, UT stunk. Barnes has basically created this program from the ground floor. Last time I checked, we have gone to 14 straight tournaments and won 20 games 13 years in a row. Yes he's had a rough couple of years, but I'm pretty sure that can be said about just about every other UT program at the moment.

I think it is the lack of a basketball national championship that irks UT fans.

 

[Coach_B]

What happens if Texas goes out after Game 1? Is Barnes safe?

 

[lakeman74]

Texas has only won 1 outright Big 12 basketball championship which was followed by Kansas winning the conference tournament which was in 1999. We know NO TEAM from Texas has ever won the conference tournament and those things irk me! Barnes is a good coach and the potential for getting worse increases if we let him go.

 

[bbdude]

What happens if Texas goes out after Game 1? Is Barnes safe?

He will be under the spotlight next season, that's for sure but still safe.

 

[lindylonghorn]

Can you imagine a Pitino or Calipari coaching at Texas with the talent we typically have?

 

[Coach_B]

Could you imagine Billy Clyde coaching at Texas? His and Garrido on the coaching staff, 6th street wouldn't stand a chance.

 

[DC3]

Lakeman, I couldn't agree with you more. Yes, I hate it that we haven't broken through yet. It seems like we've taken a u-turn ever since we got that number 1 ranking 2 years ago. But just like Mack, I think Barnes might have missed on a couple of recruits. And how could he count on losing THREE players in the first round last year. I think with the this years frosh and next years incoming group we'll soon find out if it's time to start the search. He at least has earned that much!