After winning on a buzzer beater in the 2nd round, the Texas Longhorns faced the 2 seed Michigan Wolverines on Saturday. The Longhorns tried to keep pace with the Wolverines but Michigan was the superior team, eventually winning, 79-65.
Turning Point of the game:
The game was tied at 6 early in the 1st half but Michigan raced ahead on a 16-4 run to give them a 12 point lead. In the 2nd half, the Longhorns whittled down the lead to 8 points but Michigan early cushion was too much to overcome.
Player of the game:
Isaiah Taylor
Taylor was easily the best player for Texas tonight scoring 22 points and adding 5 assists. Honorable mention goes to Martez Walker who scored 14 points off the bench.
Stat of the game:
14, as in Michigan made 14 3-point shots. That’s an NCAA tournament record.
Epilogue:
The Wolverines scorched the Horns from 3 point range. Depending on perspective, some of Michigan’s success was talent and scheme; or it was Texas doing a poor job of switches off screens and releasing those shooters to knock those shots down. Michigan saw weakness and exploited it. Certainly Texas understood their assignment from watching film on Michigan, regardless of how well they executed said assignment. On offense, the Longhorns inability to exploit their advantage in the post was their downfall in the game. Michigan proved too experienced and too talented to not win this game.
Now that the season is over, it’s accurate to say that it far exceeded expectations. Obviously, Rick Barnes is going to be the lightning rod for Texas fans. Should he stay or should he be terminated? After having a successful season, coupled with the fact that most of the team returns and super-recruit Myles Turner is really high on the Longhorns, it is tough to make a logical case to fire Barnes.
That doesn’t mean Barnes deserves a raise and a contract extension. Without doubt, fans will expect a Sweet 16 in 2015. Without that, a the Big 12 regular season crown, or a conference tournament title, the fan pressure will be through the roof. That’s the nature of coaching.
Great season for the Texas Longhorns but now the expectations are high for next year.
