http://www.bevoball.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Rick-Barnes-219×300.jpgAfter yesterday’s loss to Cincinnati, I have come to the realization it is time for a change in Austin. Rick Barnes is a good coach who has done some great things for the Longhorns Basketball program. Working and living in a football crazed state; winning at basketball is not seen as a priority. However, during his tenure with Texas, Rick Barnes had some teams who could have won it all.
Then came the group of the infamous “one and done†players that Barnes insisted on recruiting. Yes, it was great for the program to have players like Kevin Durant and piggy back success off his dominance. But once you get into the “Big Dance†it takes more than one dominant player to win every game. This year, we have seen how some of his single purpose recruiting has turned against him.
I will give you the fact this year’s Longhorn team was young and struggled at times. Unfortunately this is something that goes deeper than just this season. It seems almost every year Texas has one of the more talented teams in the conference, and look to nearly always be a player in the NCAA tournament. But every year they get ousted early and have to go back to the drawing board.
Mind you,Texas is not a basketball power house, and never will be. In looking back you can easily see Texas could have enjoyed more “Final Four†appearances and possibly a national championship had Rick Barnes recruited to the team instead of the player. His misguided recruiting tactics are why I am going to say it is now time to end the Rick Barnes regime in Austin.
This team needs a new voice, a new direction and a new attitude. As long as Rick Barnes is still coaching this team, it will continue to fall short of what most of the fan base could see is a program that can compete with the upper echelon in college basketball.
Thank you for everything Rick. You took this team to unprecedented heights never before achieved, but you have hit your ceiling and it is time for a change of philosophy.
