Chris Flanagan’s game notes and thoughts
1st Half: UConn 34-33‘”
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[*]Tevin Mack is going to be one of those great college basketball players that stays for 4 years. He was just amazing in the 1st half.
[*]Inside the paint was a struggle at times for the Longhorns. When you expect a potential All-American (Cam Ridley) to be a force in the paint but lose him to injury two days earlier, these things happen.
[*]It was a relatively quiet 1st half for Isaiah Taylor. He had a few moments of greatness, but nothing compared to what he did in Palo Alto.
[*]Prince Ibeh had a big slam to start the half and went quiet after that. He did pick up 2 fouls which with little front-court depth.
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2nd half‘”
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[*]If you have a heart condition that can’t stand high levels of anxiety, this game is not for you.
[*]Any time Texas gets close, UConn hits a shot and pulls just enough away. Not good for the Longhorns.
[*]Ibeh with his 4th foul with 8:54 to go in the game. Again, not good for Texas. If the Longhorns are going to survive Big 12 play, Ibeh must control himself. With Ridley out Texas needs him to play smart.
[*]Poor Shooting judgment from the Longhorns late just shooting up three pointers. One by Tevin Mack. I get the urgency but take your time.
[*]UConn just went up 63-55. Time is ticking for Texas – just under 4 minutes to play.
[*]A decent run gets the Longhorns within 3 points.
[*]UConn is pulling away, up 6 and then Felix hits a 3 makes it a 1 possession game.
[*]Sterling Gibbs to the line. Knocks down both. UConn simply stiff-armed the Longhorns the latter part of the 2nd half.
[*]40 points in the paint for the Huskies. That had everything to do with Cam Ridley’s absence.
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Final: UConn 71 Texas 66
*Epilogue*
There were a few runs in the game by both teams but when the Longhorns led 53-52, UConn went on a 10-2 run that ended with 3:22 left in the game. The Longhorns never recovered. UConn is a good team, likely a mid-tier Big 12 team this year (I would compare them to West Virginia this season). 40 points in the paint for the Huskies should signal to any observer that Cam Ridley was horribly missed. However, Shaka Smart will have tape on this game and know how to move forward with this reality. I think Shaq Cleare is going to push Ibeh for the starting center role. Ibeh is the more athletic center, but Cleare plays better defense. Prince Ibeh is best off the bench.
While the Texas Longhorns sit at the bottom of the Big 12 standings, finishing 8-4 in non-conference play, they will likely get off to a 4-1 or 3-2 start when conference play starts. 2-3 is possible if Kansas State manifests themselves as a better team than they were last year. If Texas starts 4-1 with the only loss to Iowa State, it will put the Longhorns in a better position for the tournament. For now, Shaka Smart will need to find ways to shore up the paint defense so that they can win in the Big 12.
