Dear Gary (on Texas being like last year's WFU)
Posted on: February 9, 2010 12:09 pm
Edited on: February 9, 2010 12:11 pm
AUSTIN, Texas -- Here's Tuesday's Dear Gary ...
Dear Gary: This Texas team reminds me a lot of last year's Wake Forest squad. Both made it to mid/late January without a loss and were ranked No. 1. Both had a player that was being talked up for Player of the Year (Jeff Teague/Damion James), and both went through a rough stretch in early February. Wake Forest righted the ship at the end of last regular season to win six out of seven. But then the Demon Deacons flamed out early in the ACC tournament and didn't put up a fight against Cleveland State. What does Texas need to do to avoid a similar fate?
-- Sean
That's a nice comparison.
I'll add to your details that Wake Forest had the necessary number of pros (Jeff Teague, James Johnson, Al-Farouq Aminu) to be great that I always take about, and Texas has a similar number now (Avery Bradley, Damion James, Dexter Pittman). So I think you nailed it, Sean.
What does Texas need to do to avoid a similar fate?
Even though I wasn't blown away by J'Covan Brown's performance (it was mostly just a lot of points in a lopsided game), going with him over Dogus Balbay is a step in the right direction. I like Balbay; he's an awesome guy and good defender. But opposing teams don't even guard him, and you can't play four-on-five on the offensive end. Getting Justin Mason out of the rotation is wise, too. So Barnes is correct to move away from two upperclassmen and more toward his most talented players. But there are still issues, and lots of them.
What's happened to Dexter Pittman?
Why can't Jordan Hamilton play smarter?
Is J'Covan Brown careful enough with the ball to be the primary ball-handler?
These are things that must be addressed, and soon. Otherwise, I can absolutely see this Texas team going the way of last season's Wake Forest team, and that would be too bad because this is a nice collection of talent that doesn't need to be wasted.
Comments Add a Comment
cavsfan5640
Since: May 19, 2007 |
Posted on: February 9, 2010 2:19 pm
Coach NovemberIf Mack Brown had the nickname Coach February (which he's earned the right not to be called anymore considering he has two national championship appearances in the last 5 years and one ring), Rick Barnes should be called for now on Coach November until he proves he can do some damage in March with the talent he has. I'm not a Texas fan, but in my opinion one final four appearances during his Texas tenure isn't good enough for the advantages that Texas has in terms of its university as a whole (academics, being in Austin, weather, etc.), facilities, brand-name and talent base within the state of Texas.
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districtfan
Since: Sep 4, 2006 |
Posted on: February 9, 2010 1:36 pm
Dear Gary (on Texas being like last year's WFU)Barnes is terrible at the coaching part of coaching. Amazing recruiter. Top notch recruiter. But he's bad at the whole coaching players thing. How do you only have 1 final 4 with the collection of talent he's had over the years: Kevin durant, T.J ford, D.J Augistin, Chris Mihm, LaMarcus Aldridge, P.J. Tucker, Daniel Gibson, Damion James, maurice evans, royal ivey, chris owens, James Thomas all these guys played or will play in the NBA at some point.
He has ridiculous amounts of talent and still can't do much with it. |
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