Senior Night started about as badly as it could for the Texas Longhorns. Â They couldn’t seem to make a shot and Oklahoma couldn’t seem to miss. Â The Sooners were led by the sweet shooting of Romero Osby and Steven Pledger, who started the game a combined 8-8 with 17 points. Â Like they’ve done all season long, Texas hung around long enough to get hot and take the lead. Â It looked as if it would never happen though. Â Every time Texas got within 4 or 5, Oklahoma would make a play or 2 to stretch the lead out to 7 or 8. Â The Sooners did enough to keep the Longhorns at arm’s length until midway through the 2nd half. Â The Longhorns’ inability to make shots helped the Sooners’ cause as well. Â Texas didn’t make a field goal the for the game’s first 5 minutes. Â It wasn’t until Freshmen guards Sterling Gibbs and Sheldon McClellan got going that Texas got going. Â Gibbs and McClellan’s play was nothing short of spectacular. Â Gibbs, who had been relegated to the bench for much of the Big 12 schedule has played very well lately. Â He scored 6 points off the bench at Oklahoma State a couple of weeks ago, and then scored 8 points last night in only 13 minutes of play. Â I firmly believe that Gibbs can give the Longhorns good minutes off the bench, if given the chance.
The 2nd half started much like the 1st, with Oklahoma taking control. Â But this half, the Longhorns were prepared to play. Â Freshmen forwards Jaylen Bond and Jonathan Holmes started snatching rebounds instead of just ball watching, Sheldon McClellan continued to hit shots, and J’Covan Brown finally jointed the party. Â The talented Junior guard got going with a step back 3 pointer from the left corner. Â He then hit another 3 pointer from the same spot with 2 Sooner defenders in his face. Â After that, it was all Texas. Â The Longhorns had seized the momentum. Â Momentum they would ride all the way to the finish line. Â The win puts Texas at 19-11 on the season, and allows them to keep dreaming of the NCAA tournament.
What Lies Ahead For Texas:
A trip to Lawrence to take on the Big 12 Champions, the Kansas Jayhawks. Â Kansas doesn’t lose very often in Lawrence, but the Longhorns beat them there last year . Â A win against Kansas on Saturday, and Texas can start making plans for the NCAA tournament.
Keys to Success for Texas:
– Contain Tyshawn Taylor: Taylor makes the Jayhawks go. Â Texas let him shoot too many open shots last game. Â The Longhorns will need to limit Taylor.
– Make shots: Let’s face it. Â Texas has not shot the ball well all season long. Â Despite the win last night, they were 6-24 from 3 point range and made only 67% of their free throw attempts. Â That is not winning basketball. Â The Longhorn big men need to make easy baskets. Â Holmes, Bond, Chapman and Wangmene miss a disturbing amount of easy layups. Â The guards also need to start making more shots. Â They miss way too much open shots.
– Rebound: Kansas has a lot of size. Â Texas will need to control the glass to have a chance to beat Kansas.
– Be fired up: A trip to the NCAA tournament is on the line. Â The whole season is on the line. Â If the Longhorns aren’t fired up for this game, they don’t deserve to dance.
Game Notes:
– Sheldon McClellan led Texas in scoring with 24 points. Â He also had tied his career high with 3 steals
– J’Covan Brown added 22 points, pulled down 6 rebounds and handed out 5 assists
– Jaylen Bond led Texas in rebounding with 8 rebounds in only 13 minutes of play
– Myck Kabongo handed out 9 assists
– Jonathan Holmes played a strong game, scoring 6 points and pulling down 7 rebounds.
– Sterling Gibbs played a great game off the bench. Â He scored 8 points in only 17 minutes