2017-2018 Longhorn Basketball

[derek303]

With Mo Bamba, Jerico Sims and point guard Coleman all big time Freshman coming in along with that big brut that had to sit out from transferring in I see a NCAA touney invite this year. We aren't in pre season top 25 but think we will be in it quickly. Am I a homer and dreaming?

[Congratulations]

Homer.

Maybe 5/10 in the big 12.

[tadpole39]

Homer wearing Burnt Orange glasses. All men's programs are so far behind the women's programs both on and off fields/courts.

[SpeedRacerXXX]

I am not at all a UT fan (wife is) but I was very impressed with the team in their opening game. Yes, the opposition wasn't exactly stellar but the team showed promise. Bamba is the best player to come to Texas since Durant. Unfortunately for UT he won't be around next year. Coleman fills a need that was sorely lacking last year -- a true point guard. Osetkowski, the transfer from Tulane, was the player who impressed me the most considering I had not heard of him very much. Tough kid around the inside and can shoot the 3. Andrew Jones returning rather than trying to go pro is also a positive.

The team did not shoot well from the 3-point line (30%) and shot under 65% from the FT line. Not good. Only 5 turnovers which is very good, especially at this time of the year.

I am bullish on the team. If they can hit from the outside they will make the big dance in March.

[Congratulations]

They won like 11 games last year.

[SpeedRacerXXX]

Originally Posted by Congratulations

They won like 11 games last year.

Totally different team. 3 new high quality starters. My prediction is around 20 wins and a trip to the NCAA tournament. If this team can get some consistent outside scoring, it will be VERY dangerous. Of course, my opinion may change after tonight's game. Hard to really judge a team based on a single game against a mediocre opponent. The tournament out in Portland, Oregon starting next week will be a better indicator of the potential of this team.

[Congratulations]

Even if they win your 20 games are they going to do anything different than what Barnes did while he was a coach? I would wait until after league play has started until you make a true judgement. At this point for me, it’s not worth waisting a few hours of my day watching them.

[derek303]

Good win against Butler. They slow the game down to a defensive battle. Mo Bamba looked like shit on offense but is a huge factor on D. Good to see Eric Davis hitting 3's when open. Coleman is playing like a JR or SR. Really like this kid. Butler is a good team but tonight we play # 1 Duke. Lets see if we can pull an upset or Tom Herman moral victory and lose close.

[SpeedRacerXXX]

I did not watch the Butler game but I heard it described as "ugly". Better to win ugly than to lose ugly. Favored by 2 and won by 13. I don't expect a victory today against Duke but you never know. A close loss against the #1 team would not be bad.

I still say, as a non-Texas fan, that this team has the potential to make the tournament, which after the season they had last year would be a huge step forward.

FWIW, I wish the NCAA would change the rule for those kids like Bamba who will be at Texas only one year before going pro. I like the baseball rule -- you can go pro directly out of HS but if you decide to go to college you must stay a minimum of 3 years.

[derek303]

I was traveling and only got updates from people so I didn't get to watch. We were up by 18 and lost. That really sucks. Yeah, it's great we took # 1 Duke to OT but I'll stop short of calling that a moral victory due to loosing an almost 20 point lead. WTF happened?

[SpeedRacerXXX]

Originally Posted by derek303

I was traveling and only got updates from people so I didn't get to watch. We were up by 18 and lost. That really sucks. Yeah, it's great we took # 1 Duke to OT but I'll stop short of calling that a moral victory due to loosing an almost 20 point lead. WTF happened?

Well, it was a great game for UT fans -- until about the last 5 minutes of regulation. Poor shot selection -- Bamba shooting a 3-pointer? And Coleman had a terrible shooting game. 1-12. Missed 3 huge FTs. And only 2 assists. Once Bamba and Sims fouled out in OT the game was over.

Duke had absolutely no rim protection. Roach was 7-9 with some incredible dunks. Osetkowski looked good. I hope the team does not get too down on itself and comes back strong tomorrow, although playing Gonzaga certainly won't be easy.

I still say this team certainly has the potential to make the NCAA tournament. And I still say outside shooting will make or break this team -- 17.4% from beyond the arc.

[derek303]

I heard that Freshman big man dropped 35 points on us. I saw a tape where Roach was guarding him low? With Bamba and Sims in foul trouble or out, where was Banks? He's good on D, or was decent last year. Looks like Osterkowski and Sims has him out of the rotation.

[Congratulations]

I was talking to a guy about the score and he was like don’t count duke out. They were down by double digits last game and won.

[SpeedRacerXXX]

Originally Posted by Congratulations

I was talking to a guy about the score and he was like don’t count duke out. They were down by double digits last game and won.

Duke is a loaded team so they should never be counted out of a game. Grayson Allen is a potential All-American. The Freshman class has 4 of the top 8 ranked players coming out of HS, including the #1 player Marvin Bagley who dropped 35 on Texas. To be beaten by Duke is not a disgrace. Texas very easily could have won the game but they didn't.

[derek303]

Another OT game we couldn't close out. UGH....