Key to Stanford Game...

DAMIEN ANDERSON!! At least according the the "experts"


Damien Anderson

I am thinking Damion needs a new PR guy seeing as Sportscenter constantly calls him "Damion Jones" and Dick Vital has already called him "Damon Jones" in the Tournament.

Nice dunk, Mr. Jones

Picture of the Night

I am still not exactly sure what that is. But it very well could be my favorite mascot. Is it a guy or a girl? We shall call it, Pat.

You keep doing what you do Pat. Don't let the man bring you down. You big, red.....thing.

16 to 1: Ranking the Sweet Sixteen

16. Western Kentucky – So after I brag a tad bit about having WKU in my Sweet Sixteen, I’ll return to reality and hear the clock striking midnight on the Hilltopper’s ball. NBA prospect Courtney Lee and his WKU teammates will run into a dominant UCLA team and will have to leave their glass slippers at the door. This year’s George Mason has had their moments, Ty Rogers 3 at the buzzer and Tyrone Brazelton’s 33 point effort against Drake to name a couple, but the Bruins will just overpower and outman the Hilltoppers tomorrow night in Phoenix.

15. Villanova – Normally an expected player in the national picture, Nova had a frustrating regular season going just 9-9 in the Big East. No one expected a Sweet Sixteen run from this bunch, but this is why we play the games. Jay Wright and his star point guard Scottie Reynolds have the 12-seed Cats playing their best basketball of the season. Coming back from a 16 point deficit against Clemson illustrates both their strong defensive presence and their giant hearts. Nova will need a flawless appearance against red-hot Kansas, but will come up a bit shy of an Elite Eight berth.

14. Tennessee – You may think you are reading this wrong and that I clearly skipped over a couple of teams, but no one has played sloppier and less deserving in this tournament than the Volunteers. Bruce Pearl’s team let 15-seed American stick around until nearly 2 minutes left in the game and needed an overtime period and the hand of God to get by Butler. Factor in Lofton’s sketchy injury and the fact the Louisville has yet to face a challenge in this tournament and Tennessee will be in offseason by 10pm central time on Thursday.

13. Davidson - Stephen Curry may just be the best player in the country. Yes, I said it. Part of me is so confident in this kid that I want to pull out the upset card and match them up with North Carolina in the Elite Eight. However, the way he waits until the second half to play, may be too late for the strengths of Wisconsin’s guard play and steady defense. Bob McKillop will have his team more ready to play on Friday night than any other team and if Andrew Lovedale can play his biggest and best game, I think Davidson has a chance to do the unthinkable, but Wisconsin’s guards should get Lovedale in foul trouble early and just outmatch the talented Wildcats.

12. Washington State – Ol’ Wazzu has looked just as good as any team in the first two rounds and they’re doing it through that good old fashioned, bust your balls defense. Tony Bennett is becoming one of the premiere coaches in America (Indiana, pay attention) and with his duo of Kyle Weaver and Derrick Weaver; the Cougars have a chance to do something special. The way the Cougars shut down the Irish’s Luke Harangody give them some positive confidence this week against Tyler Hansbrough, but facing a team that is averaging over 100 points a game in the tournament may be the end of their winning by defense.

11. Stanford – Trent Johnson’s ejection from last weekend’s game against Marquette said one thing loudly if nothing else; the Cardinals aren’t playing around. The Lopez twins (Brooke and Robin), give Stanford the best two man post combination left in the tournament. Against a number of other matchups, I may say that the Cardinals have a shot, but they are a completely opposite team than Texas. Stanford does not have the speed to match Texas’ guards and will be run out of the “home” gym in Houston. Look for calls to go against them in Houston and we may see Johnson tossed again.

10. West Virginia – Bob Huggin’s team has been a pleasant surprise in this tournament and has played almost flawlessly in big wins over Arizona and that extremely overrated Duke team. I mean they simply devoured Duke and introduced the country to big man Joe Alexander. Alexander has shown NBA scouts his worthiness but its been his supporting cast (Joe Mazzulla, Darris Nichols, Da’sean Butler) that have the Mountaineers this far. Honestly I can’t believe that this team hasn’t been this dominant all year and I’ll admit that I’ve stupidly overlooked them all year. Not anymore. I think Xavier’s guard play is too good and the Musketeers are too fast for the Mountaineers, but watch out for Huggins on the recruiting trail.

9. Michigan State – I strongly considered ranking Michigan State ahead of Memphis because: 1. I believe the Tigers are heavily overrated and 2. There may be no better tournament coach than Tom Izzo. However, Memphis is undoubtedly faster and far more talented than the Spartans. This will be one of the closest matchups in the Sweet Sixteen and if Drew Neitzel and Raymar Morgan can keep the Spartans in the game until the end, free throw shooting may be the difference. Also, watch out for Kalin Lucas; he has played lights out toward the end of the year.

8. Xavier – After a first round near miss against red-hot Georgia, the Musketeers are back to the second weekend. The Musketeers will matchup well with West Virginia, a lot like the matched up against Purdue. Point Guard Drew Lavender is one of the hardest guards in America to guard and I think that may mean early foul trouble for the Mountaineers. If the Musketeers can keep the tempo to their liking, they will probably advance to the Elite Eight, only to hit a road block and against a more half court savvy UCLA.

7. Memphis – You may feel this is too low for the one-loss Conference USA champion, but as I said previously, the Tigers may be the most overrated team this season. The talent level is there. The record looks sexy. They have the names, players, and coaches to win a few games. The defense isn’t always there though and their free throw shooting is horrendous. They hadn’t truly been battle tested before last week since their loss to Tennessee. When these late round games are on the line, I don’t trust the Tigers. They’ll slip by MSU, but the guard play of Texas will not favor John Calipari’s squad.

6. Wisconsin – The Badgers are slowly becoming one of those elite teams in college basketball, improving year in and year out. Bo Ryan made sure that these Badgers remember the early exits they suffered in the last two tournament appearances. I think that this Wisconsin team may be the most overlooked team in the country and is one of the most balanced teams in the field. The Badgers play great defense and slowly extend leads on their opponent until they can slam the door on them. Look for Michael Flowers to put the clamps on the dynamic Stephen Curry and get the Badgers to the Elite Eight before being out manned by Kansas.

5. Kansas – Well you have to give the Jayhawks some credit; they got through the first two rounds without getting upset by a Bucknell or Bradley or some other B-college. Coach Bill Self has gotten over one hump, but he still has a large monkey on his back. These Jayhawks need to get into the Final Four to justify all that talent and depth. Kansas look to be able to out run and out gun any team left in their regional and may have the easiest road to San Antonio.

4. Texas – Is it finally Texas’ time in round ball? After quality years in all other major sports, its time for Rick Barnes and company to show that basketball isn’t a second tier sport in the Lone Star state. D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams combine for one of the best guard duos in the country. The key to Texas’ success is from behind the arc. The Horns have knocked down 23 three pointers in only two tournament games.With basically home court advantage the rest of the way, its Final Four time for the Horns.

3. Louisville – This is the only team in my final four rankings that will miss the actual Final Four. However, after seeing the Cardinals first two games, they are far more deserving of a two-seed than Georgetown and Duke and as we will see this weekend, Tennessee as well. Coach Rick Pitino is a heck of a tournament coach and knows how to get it done when everything is on the line. If the Cardinals can continue their stingy defense and make their free throws they may give North Carolina a run at it. The problem is those are hard things to do against North Carolina, especially so close to Chapel Hill.

2. UCLA – Such a close game against Texas A&M is a little deceiving because the Aggies matched-up so well with the Bruins. Such matchup problems may not be an issue again until the national championship game. Kevin Love is a force down low and Darren Collison adds the perfect compliment for an inside outside game. I’d say the Bruins are the most complete team from top to bottom as far as role players go. Reminds me a lot of last year’s Florida team.

1. North Carolina –Although I picked UCLA to win it al, there is no argument that North Carolina is the best team in the tournament to this point. The Tar Heels have scored more than 100 points in back to back tournament games and that’s after running through the ACC tournament as well. They are the hottest team in America. They are deep. They are balanced. They have experience. They have a great coach. They are battle tested. What more can you ask for in a run for a National Title. Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough give the Heels a dominant one-two punch that will be in San Antonio next week. I’ll be rooting for the Bruins, but expecting the Tar Heels.

Youtube Tuesday (On Wednesday).... On Thursday

Well, I knew it. The minute I made "Youtube Tuesdays" into "Youtube Tuesdays (on Wednesday)" I would start posting them on Thursday. And I was right. I know myself entirely too well.

I will try and make up for it.

What to Make of the Cardinal

What is so scary about one little red bird? Well if you look closer, Cardinal also means of prime importance, chief; principal. That sounds a little fiercer. But what happens when you double it and make them both 7 feet tall? Then you have an incredibly formidable Sweet 16 opponent.

In only a short time at Palo Alto, Trent Johnson has returned the Cardinal to the status it had achieved under Mike Montgomery before he foolishly tried to resurrect the Golden State Warriors. Despite what his regrettable ejection will tell you about Trent Johnson, the man will be considered a top coach before his time is said and done. He built a Nevada program and managed to bring in top talent with Nick Fazekas, and now has done the same at Stanford, with the likes of the Lopez Twins. He is a good coach and Stanford plays a disciplined, physical style of basketball. They don't turn the ball over and pound it inside, and they don't force the turnover, but play a suffocating defense built from the inside out that focuses on forcing a one and done for their opponents.

I suppose we should start where CBS will start, by fawning over Babbling Brook Lopez. What can you say? He's 7 feet tall, big and strong, great technique and understanding for the game, and a mean streak inside. Put all of those together and despite such a pretty name, you have an NBA Lottery pick. He's averaging 19 ppg, 8.1 rpg/ 2.1 bpg and shoots an excellent 78% from the charity stripe. What is more, is the poise and creativity he showed with his game winning shot against Marquette. He is the focal point of Stanford's offense. They get him the ball and he knows what to do with it.

However, we musn't forget that Babbling Brook has a twin, lord knows CBS won't. "MY GOD, THERE'S TWO OF THEM. AND THEY'RE TALL. OH MY. F-YOU, I"M BILLY PACKER!" Yes, we musn't forget Red-Breasted Robin Lopez. While he plays second fiddle to his brother, he is the wild card in every sense of the word. His play has been impressive over the past two months and he is more firery and more of a douche bag than his brother, as he showed in the Marquette game with his constant trash talking. But he has averaged 12.4 ppg over the past 2 months and he averages 5.7 rpg and 2.4 bpg. He also is the focal point on defense as he takes the harder assignments to cover for his brother. He shoots a respectable 65% from the free throw line and is an equally firery competitor, though not as polished as his brother. He will likely be a lottery pick if he decides to return to school for his junior season.

The X-Factor for the Cardinal is definitely Anthony Goods. The 6'3 junior is the perimeter scoring threat that has kept teams honest all season long. He averaged 10.3 ppg this season, shooting 35% from three and a respectable 70% from the free throw line. However, it is worth noting that he has shot 29% from three in the month of March averaging 7.1 ppg and is 29% from the field in the tournament. If the Longhorns can keep Goods from getting on track, then it makes this Stanford team much more one-dimensional.

A player that shouldn't hurt the Longhorns but very well could is the steady hand of point guard Mitch Johnson. The junior does a little bit of everything for the Cardinal averaging 6.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 5.1 apg. While he doesn't get involved offensively much he had an unbelievable 16 assists in the Marquette game burning the Eagles with 3 of 3 shooting from three point range. A 40% shooter from downtown he can hurt us if given the opportunity. The only apparent weakness for Johnson is his 66% clip from the free throw line which could come into play late in the game.

The rest of the Cardinal is an experienced, solid role playing group that rounds out this team with smart, solid play and good defense. 6'5 senior, Fred Washington (4.5 ppg/4.1 rpg/2.3 apg, 53% FT) rounds out the starting rotation. He's there for rebounding, passing, and defense as he didn't attempt a shot in the Marquette game, but has filled up the stat sheet in every other possible way.

The first man off the bench as of late has been Taj Finger. The 6'8 senior has made the most of his swan song with 17 points, 13 rebounds on 8 of 11 shooting in his two games. He will come in to spell the Lopez twins and has been deadly for the Cardinal off the bench. He is a smart saavy post player that will cause problems for our inexperienced bigs.

The face you'll see in the backcourt off the bench will be that of Southlake native Kenny Brown. The 6'1" junior is returning home and is a threat from deep shooting 38% from downtown. He is 6 of 8 in two games from deep in the tournament. If he is given time he can hurt the Horns from deep.

The man who has seen his playing time dwindle over the past month is athletic 6'8 junior swingman Lawerence Hill. He's averaged 8.7 ppg/4.9 rpg and shoots 37% from deep and 75% from the line. But with the emergence of Taj Finger his minutes have fallen off a bit in the past month. But he is obviously talented enough to cause damage from inside and out.

The Cardinal is a pretty straight forward team. They get consistent point guard play, attack inside and play great defense. It is a formula for success in the tournament. This is a junior and senior laden team that understands its support role for the Lopez twins. In the absence of Anthony Goods, the rest of the team has stepped up in a big way, getting this team to where they are now.

It is an interesting matchup for the Longhorns. While we will struggle inside against the Lopez twins, we have the bodies (Connor, Damo, Gary, Dex, Wangmene, Chapman) to bang inside with the Lopez's. We will need our young bench to play over their heads and big games on the defensive end from Gary, Dex and Alexis would be huge for our chances. But Texas has been an underrated team defensively all season. The biggest test will be keeping the bigs out of foul trouble and keeping Connor on the floor. It will also be imperative for the Longhorns to rebound the basketball and limit the second chance points for the Cardinal. We will also need to keep Anthony Goods from getting on track and limiting the role players from hurting us. Damion James will need to dominate inside as he is the most athletic player inside and Texas has the edge with their quickness on the perimeter and inside.

The more intreaguing matchup is how the Cardinal will defend Texas. After watching the Marquette game, the perimeter defense of Stanford lacks athleticism. (Well, the entire Stanford team lacks athleticism. They are not a team to get out and run. Texas can steal some points if they can attack in transition.) But, the Texas guards will cause all kinds of problems for the Standford backcourt. Jerel McNeal, Marquette's slashing two guard, scored 30 points and got into the lane at will. DJ Augustin's mid range game will be essential against the Cardinal as getting to the rack is not the best decision against the interior presence of the twins. If DJ can get on fire with his mid range jumpers and fade aways, he can easily score 20 and control the game. Justin Mason will also be important in driving to the lane, drawing the big men over and dishing for baskets. This will get our bigs involved offensively and will also get the Lopez twins out of position and into foul trouble. Texas will get in trouble if they try to go right at the Lopez's but can be effective off the drive and dish.

The biggest weakness that the Stanford defense showed in the Marquette game was their defense on the pick and roll, a staple of the Texas offense. Neither Babbling Brook or Red-Breasted Robin looked comfortable or willing to jump out to cut off the guard. Both seemed to stay closer to the basket and just wave at the guard coming over the pick. If they do this against Texas, AJ Abrams will continue to put up his 26 points that he did in the first two rounds of the tournament. DJ Augustin will also recognize the problems it causes the twins and wreak havoc using the pick and roll. It should also give Damion James and Connor Atchley ample opportunity to get open looks from long range. Expect Stanford to employ the zone a lot which will give AJ Abrams and company several opporunities to get open looks as well as break down the zone with the dribble.

I think Texas will have all kinds of problems with the Lopez twins, but I also think Stanford will have an equally difficult if not more difficult time defending the perimeter players of Texas. It will be a true test of execution and coaching. I'm nervous about this game, but I think if Texas comes out and shoots well they can win this game. Foul trouble will play a crucial role and if the refs call it tight that will only favor Stanford.

I don't like making predictions, but I like our chances in front of a home crowd. Well a semi-home crowd. More on that later.

Two Down..Four to Go...

Well the good ol’ Orange and White are back where they belong, the Sweet Sixteen. The Horns will face off against the Stanford Cardinal in what may as well be a home game in Houston this Friday. A matchup of big guards vs. big men, both teams enter Friday’s game playing some of their best basketball. Before they lock “horns” this weekend, let’s look at how Texas got past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.

Austin Who?

Only four times in the history of the NCAA tournament has a 15-seed upset a 2-seed in the first round. The Horns never gave the Austin Peay Governors that chance to put their hand on tournament history. Texas came out of the gate firing as usual hopping out to an early 9-0 lead and pushed the gap to 34-14 with a little less than 3 minutes to go in the half. The Governors could never really recover from a 15 point halftime deficit and the Ohio Valley Champs were sent home with a 74-54 big-boy conference lesson.

Junior A.J. Abrams let the UT assault with 26 points including 18 from a 6-10 shooting day from behind the arc. Joining Abrams in double figures was Damion James, Connor Atchley, and Dexter Pittman. “Sexy” Dexy was the pleasant surprise of the first round win recording a double-double in only 16 minutes of play. Pittman shot 50% and grabbed 10 boards, but more importantly gave Texas a little more definition on the inside. With Gary Johnson being very questionable, this inside presence may pay dividends in up coming matchups with Stanford and a possible date with UCLA.

Weathering the Storm

A.J. Abrams is making quite a name for himself on the Forty Acres. And in Arkansas and Miami for that matter. After a 26 point performance on Friday, Abrams decided to continue the trend and drop in 26 again on Easter Sunday afternoon. Dropping another six 3-pointers, Abrams led a shooting barrage of 13 three’s and 44% shooting throughout the game. D.J. Augustin’s shooting touch was still nonexistent, but he rebounded from a sub-par six-point performance in the first round. Damion James and Conner Atchley joined Abrams and Augustin in double figures with 16 and 15 respectively.

Although Texas escaped with a 75-72 victory, the Miami Hurricanes made sure that it was anything but easy. Texas held a convincing lead for the first 35 minutes of play and with a 16-point lead with 4:15 left to play, the storm finally set in. The Canes cut the lead all the way down to two on the shoulders of four treys by Jack McClinton and Raymond Hicks. The game looked like it was in the bag when Abrams knocked down both free throws with 9 seconds to play, but Hicks hit a trey with 2 seconds to play and Miami sent D.J. to the line. The drama ensued when Augustin missed the front end, but Texas escaped with the victory after D.J. laid in the second one. In a game that was far less close than it seems, Miami may have delivered a blessing in disguise to the Horns, preparing them for future late game battles.

All in all, Texas had a typical first round weekend. The blowout. The near miss. The drama. The ticket to the Sweet Sixteen. Overall, Texas shot extremely well, cleaned up on the glass, and converted in the clutch. Expect big things in Houston this weekend when the Lopez twins meet the battle-tested Horns.

Sweet 16: East Region Preview

Not a lot of surprises in the East Region, other than how easily UNC manhandled their opponents. Tennessee was brought to the brink by both American and Drake, but in the end all 4 top seeds have advanced to the Regional semi-finals.

#1 North Carolina v. #4 Washington State

As mentioned, the Tarheels just ran over their first 2 opponents, averaging 110 points and winning by an average of 40 points. While a Washington State upset may not be very likely, look for the Cougars to put up a much better fight than anyone UNC has faced yet. The Cougars pride themselves on the defensive end and they will have their hands full with Tyler Hansbrough and crew.
Washington State does bring in an experienced team as they start 3 seniors and 2 juniors.They have only given up a total of 81 points in their first two Tourney games and held a dangerous Notre Dame offense to only 41 points. This game is going to be close, but in the end North Carolina's athleticism will be able to outmatch the tough defense brought by Washington State. Just don't expect UNC to score over 90 points in this win.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 82, Washington State 74



#2 Tennessee v. #3 Louisville

This may be the most anticipated matchup of the Sweet 16. Louisville has been a streaking team ever since they returned David Padgett and Edgar Sosa from injury. Tennessee, on the other hand, is an explosive team that has seemed to be misfiring so far in the NCAAs. They were taken to the wire against both Drake and American while Louisville cruised over Boise State and Oklahoma.
Tennessee likes to run and gun on offense while setting up a suffocating defensive press. However, Louisville has solid guard play in Andre McGee and Jerry Smith. The Vols will need for Chris Lofton to be on from down town while Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism will have to keep the Cardinal's David Padgett and Earl Clark off the boards.
Both teams run out very athletic teams and both are lead by flashy, flamboyant coaches in Rick Patino and Bruce Pearl. I trust Rick Patino more than I do Pearl, and Louisville has been on the rise while Tennessee as not put together a great game in the Tourney. In the end Padgett, will be pivotal in the middle and Louisville will be able to keep the Volunteer 3-point shooters down just enough to pull out the win.

PREDICTION: Lousiville 88, Tennessee 84

Sweet 16: West Region Preview

This years West Region has been filled with upsets and almost upsets. The highest seed no longer alive is #2 Duke. The Blue Devils survived a one point win over 15 seed Belmont only to lose to West Virginia in the 2nd round. Even top seed UCLA had to stop (or foul) a driving Donald Sloan in the last seconds to move on to the round of 16. But Western Kentucky and San Diego pulled off the biggest upsets of the bracket as the 12 & 13 seed both advanced to face each other in the 2nd round. In a bracket full of upsets, UCLA could get down to the Final Four without facing any higher than a #7 seed. That must be nice.

#1 UCLA v. #12 Western Kentucky

While this may not be as big a marquee matchup as if UCLA were facing UCONN, but Western Kentucky certainly comes into this matchup having already provided some huge drama in their first round game against the Drake Bulldogs. Ty Rogers hit a 30 foot jumper as the clock expired to lift the Hilltoppers to a 1 point win over the higher seeded Bulldogs.
UCLA comes in with an obvious talent advantage, but W. Kentucky's Courtney Lee is a bonafide NBA draft pick and Tyrone Brazelton dropped 33 points against Drake. This guard combo might give UCLA some troubles on the perimeter. But in this game, UCLA's superior talent is going to win out in the end. Even though A&M brought them down to the wire, the Bruin's defense was still present as they held the Aggies to 49 points. UCLA has big time scorers in Kevin Love, Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook. With UCLA's strong defense it just doesn't seem as if the Hilltoppers are going to be able to score enough points to beat the Bruins. Add the fact that the game is being played to a "home" crowd in Phoenix, AZ and you have all the makings of a UCLA trip to the Elite 8.

Predicition: UCLA 78, Western Kentucky 68



#3 Xavier v. #7 West Virginia

The West Virginia Mountaineers were able to beat a Duke team that had little perimeter defense and struggled to shoot the ball from the outside. Quite honestly, most would not even call that win much of an upset, as many thought Duke came into the Tourney with a lot of weaknesses. Xavier on the other hand was able to hold of strong pushes by both Georgia and Purdue to advance to face the Mountaineers.
Xavier is a pretty balanced team as they get great perimeter play from Drew Lavender, Stanley Burrell and C.J. Anderson. Josh Duncan and Derrick Brown provide a strong inside presence. But the Musketeers make their living on the defensive end as they are one of the strongest and most athletic teams on the defensive end. They are led by Burrell who is one of the best all around defenders in the nation. They are going to need all of their defensive efforts as Joe Alexander and Alex Ruoff are big time scorers for the Mountaineers. Alexander has come out of almost no where this year to become a top scoring threat in the nation. But since Bob Huggins has taken over, there has been more focus on the defensive end to complement West Virginia's potent offensive threats. Look for Xavier to be just a little too athletic on the perimeter and too strong on the defensive end for West Virginia to handle. This will be a close game, but in the end the Musketeers will make the plays to get them into the Elite 8.

Predicition: Xavier 82, West Virginia 74

Tournament Notes

Thoughts and observations from the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament...

East Region:

North Carolina - Teams don't get 100 put on them in the second round. The Tar Heels ran Arkansas out of the gym. They are defending and their offense looks unstoppable. For the first time all year the most talented team in the country is focused. Everyone should be very very scared. What's more is the way Lawson has looked and the fact that Hansbrough has only had to score 21 and 17 in the first two games. Can't wait to see if they run Washington State, a team that hangs their hat on defense, out of the gym.

Washington State - Speaking of the Cougars, a great under the radar performance. Coming off a year where they lost early with high expectations, they have played great defense and dominated two straight games, only no one noticed. 40 points and 41 points given up in a 31 point and 20 point win. This senior laden team is playing great basketball and has no expectations going into a game against the tournament favorites.

Louisville - Another team that went about their business this weekend. I think they will beat Tennessee handily. They handled Oklahoma like a second teir team. Well, Oklahoma is a second teir team, and great teams handle teams that shouldn't play with them. They play a great team game, and have one of the best coaches in the game on the bench.

Butler - They probably should have won that game, as Tennessee is a team just waiting for someone to beat them. I was disappointed with point guard Mike Green. I was expecting more from him and he seemed to play out of control and get himself into trouble driving to the basket all night long. AJ Graves played as advertised, but everytime Butler had a chance to make their move it seemed Green would get to the rack, draw three defenders and throw the ball up looking for the foul that never came.

Tennessee - They look about the same as the first time they were a #2 seed. A team waiting for someone to beat them. They struggled with American and they struggled against Butler. They rely on playing games at a frantic pace and good teams will slow them down and force them to play a half court game. In the half court game, you'll find a team that has no consistency out of the point guard position, has to be shooting well, and can't defend. Anything further than the Sweet 16 will be overachieving for this team.

Midwest Region:

Kansas - They have looked impressive and have handled all the challenges that have been thrown at them. They play good defense, and they get scoring from everyone on their roster. But all season they have played an easy schedule and struggled in close games (outside of the Big XII Championship game). The games are about to get serious and what will Kansas, a team that is notorious for collapsing, going to do in a close game with a lot on the line. Who gets the ball?

Villanova - This team continues to overachieve. They hung around in a tough conference and snuck into the tournament. Once they got there, they reminded everyone that you win with good defense and point guard play. Scottie Reynolds has been great in the tournament, and the Wildcats play with a physical intensity despite the fact that they're not great inside.

Wisconsin - I've seen the Badgers on TV a few times, and once in person against the Longhorns, and I will say two things. I have yet to be impressed by them, and I've yet to see them lose. This team plays ugly Big Ten basketball to perfection and Bo Ryan is one of the most unsung coaches in America. Which I guess its fitting at one of the most unsung schools in college basketball. They will beat Davidson and Stephen Curry will struggle. They play disciplined, physical, boring basketball. And they have a chance to knock of Kansas to get to the Final Four.

Georgetown - This is a team that didn't look impressive at any point this season. They played with teams they shouldn't have but they kept winning. Well they some how managed to blow an 18 point lead to a less talented team, and their season is over. Roy Hibbert was extremely disappointing for the second tournament in a row. He should have turned pro last season because I think is stock peaked last year.

West Region:

Duke - We should have seen it coming. They play high pressure defense and can't defend. They have no interior presence and rely on three pointers. Yet it's still weird to see Coach K teams lose early in the tournament. What was more disturbing is to see Coach K's expressions throughout the tournament. I know he had been sick, but he looked tired and understanding of his team's fate. Is the program suffering from the marketization and his team USA commitments?

Drake - It should be a rule that every mid-major should get screwed with 9 and 10 seeds for one or two years before we give them a five seed. It seems like mid-majors need tournament experience before they can handle something other than being the underdog. Everyone got our hopes up with this Drake team, and we were all let down.

Texas A&M - It was a underachieving and sometimes painful to watch season for the Aggies. Then the tournament roles around and they turn into a solid shooting team that has a great inside presence and plays tough defense. If they didn't choke from 10 minutes left until 4 minutes left in the UCLA game, they are thinking about the Final Four after pulling off the upset of the tournament. Even with that let down, they still got hosed. But after seeing that and the two Pac-10 tainted wins, I'm convinced John Wooden is working over the refs telepathically.

UCLA - I have not been impressed with this team the last two weeks. They got huge breaks in the Pac-10 Tournament and haven't looked that impressive in the Dance. They should have lost to A&M, but Collison and Love made insane plays down the stretch. The A&M game will either be their turning point that wakes them up and gets them to the Finals, or it will be the beginning of the end in a region that should be a cake walk. Shipp has fallen off the face of the earth and may be hurt now, and Mbah a' Moute isn't himself. I don't see how they can play with a North Carolina or Kansas.

South Region:

Memphis - Much like Tennessee, I dont' think they play the type of basketball that is condusive to winning the title. They rely on creating a hectic pace and getting out in transition. If you pack in defensively and force them to shoot and take care of the basketball I think they will crumble. They are more talented than Tennessee and have a better coach, but I still don't think they play the kind of basketball it takes to win championships. They will get their chance to prove me wrong as Michigan State will do all of those things and give Memphis their first test since the Tennessee game.

Michigan State - You have to give Tom Izzo credit. He has them focused for the right part of the season. They have played two good games in a row for the first time in a long time and they have the talent to play with Memphis. If Izzo can pull off the upset it will be one of his most impressive coaching jobs. If they do hang with Memphis it will be a physical game and Neitzel will torch Memphis from deep.

Pittsburgh - Pitt had a good point guard in Levance Fields, talent inside in Blair and Young, and a deep, physical team. It was a team that was primed to make a deep run in the tournament. Only they ran into a team with a better coach that had more experience in playing that grinding tough March style of basketball. An unlucky draw and an off night sent them home early.

Stanford - Trent Johnson is an idiot. To get tossed in the first half of an NCAA tournament game with a lead? Idiotic. Inexcusable. Especially when your assistant coach that takes over is going to bench your best two players for 5 minutes in the second half. I understand what he was doing. Both Lopez twins had 3 fouls, and he had an 8 point lead. Rest them from 11 minutes until the 8 minute timeout and then you have them fresh and not in grave foul trouble the rest of the way. Only when it went to 6:45 before he called a timeout and had watched the lead completely disappear did it become a horrible idea. They let Marquette back in the game and when you let a team back in the game that late, they're going to stay in it the rest of the way. Stanford should feel fortunate. And if Trent Johnson says he wouldnt' change a thing after that incident, then he's an even bigger idiot. Because no matter how good a coach Trent Johnson is, he doesn't help his team if he's not on the court. And no point made halfway through the first half is going to benefit your team over the 25 minutes that you're not going to be there.

Huston, We Have a Problem....

What a way to start the season! With the sounds of Western Kentucky buzzer beaters and the sights of Stephan Curry dominance, you were probably way too distracted to realize that Major League baseball got under way this morning. The defending champion Boston Red Sox and the up and coming Oakland A’s got up a wee bit early to commence America’s favorite pastime on international soil.

One person who could care less about his bracket pool performance now is Oakland closer and University of Texas Alum Huston Street. The former college All-American and American League Rookie of the Year got a wake up call this morning in the form of a Brandon Moss 9th-inning, game-tying alarm clock bomb (although it may not be as bad as the wake-up call that fans had to endure with the game starting at 6:10 am eastern time). Moss, a rookie outfielder playing in the stead of a sore J.D. Drew, landed a shot over the right field wall on a 2-2 count to tie the game at 6 and send the game into extra innings where Street would further self-destruct.

In the 10th, manager Bob Geren stuck with Street and chose to intentionally walk “Big Papi” David Ortiz to get to the equally intimidating but cold Manny Ramirez. Boy did that backfire! With two runners on, Ramirez lifted a shot clear into centerfield that was so strong that Ramirez became statuesque at the plate believing he hit the 3-run shot. The ball was a few feet short and caromed off the centerfield wall, but it served the purpose as two runs came in to score and give the Sox a two run lead. Street was immediately pulled and although the Athletics gave the rowdy stadium one last hoorah in the bottom, the two run shot stood strong and gave the defending champs the 6-5 win.

Not quite the start that Oakland wanted out of their closer. Street will return to the states not only with his first blown save, but also his first full-out loss of the season. He finished with an abysmal 16.20 ERA on 3 hits, 3 earned runs, and 1 walk in only 1.2 innings pitched. Not quite the numbers you expect from a former rookie of the year. Not quite the numbers you expect from a guy who suffered only 5 blown saves all of last year, who was dealt only two losses, and who kept a respectable 2.28 ERA.

Don’t get me wrong, going against the Boston Red Sox (who looked like they win it all again) in the Tokyo Dome on March 25th to open the season is no easy task and I have no doubt that Huston Street will brush himself off and have another terrific season, but my high school coach used to tell me, “We want to start the race how we intend to finish it.”

Well here’s to hoping UT legend Huston Street will finish a lot better than he started….

Notes from the beach...

Don't go to law school.

They'll make you take a 3-hr test on a Friday during March Madness that encompasses the entire Texas-Stanford game. The dv-r is set. If anyone even dares to attempt to ruin this for me, they will suffer. Long and drawn out suffering.

Personally, and I might be biased, but I think that if Texas can get by the match-up problems with the Lopez twins, they can get by anyone.

Also, let's all hope that the brown suit Rick Barnes pulled out during the Big XII championship game is locked up somewhere. I don't know what he was thinking and I really did not approve.

I'm really glad Gary Johnson is back in the game. His energy and play is crucial to a deep run in the tournament.

Can anyone else comprehend the ESPN poll about the NCAA tournament where 45.6% of respondents think Michigan State will win the championship? Now as a former pollster, I know there are a plethora of scientific issues with this free for all internet poll, but really? With 16 teams left in this tournament 45.6% think MSU will win? I wonder if the state of Michigan is just on a voting kick leftover from the presidential primaries... Do they realize that this time their votes don't actually count? Really, my mind is blown here.

Securing Home Court

The Longhorns did what was expected of them in the first two rounds, making their way through Little Rock and securing home court advantage for as long as they stay in the tournament. Texas defeated #15 Austin Peay on Friday and #7 Miami (FL) on Sunday.

In both games the Longhorns came out of the gates very quickly and seized control of the game, jumping out to early leads and shooting well. The defensive pressure was intense in both games, and they were focused early. This was a great sign as most teams pick up the confidence to hang around and pull upsets in the first 10 minutes.

In both games, AJ Abrams led the way scoring, getting free and knocking down open looks. It almost seems like both Austin Peay and Miami (FL) didn't exactly understand that you can give Abrams any space. And with his quick release, any free space he will get off a clean shot. It will be interesting to see if Stanford makes the adjustment, because with the amount of time Abrams got in the first two rounds he will continue to put up spectacular shooting numbers.

Damion James and Connor Atchley also had great games in the first two rounds. Damion has been active on the boards and been aggressive around the rim. Connor's play was a breathe of fresh air as he got back on track shooting from three point range and played some solid defense, though he got in foul trouble in both games. Damion's performance against Miami was especially impressive as he pulled down 16 rebounds and added 16 points to the cause.

Justin Mason continued his spectacular play over the last month as he played great on the offensive and defensive end. He limited McClinton of Miami, who had 38 in round 1, much of the game, and in the process disrupted much of Miami's offense. Offensively he continued to drive and dish, slicing the defense and creating easy baskets for the Texas bigs. But most of all he once again is setting the tone for Texas' intensity, flying around the court and out hustling every other player on the court.

The other pleasant surprise was the play of Dexter Pittman who added solid minutes off the bench. In the Austin Peay game it helped that he was 5 inches and 50 pounds bigger than everyone else, but he continued his solid play in the Miami game. If Dex or any of the other big men continue to contribute it takes a ton of pressure off the starting lineup to stay out of foul trouble and carry the load. It was also a welcome sight to see Gary Johnson return to the floor after missing the last week with a strained calf muscle. Getting Johnson back into the rotation will become more and more important in the upcoming games.

For as well as Texas played, a few concerns came up after the first two games. For as well as the Longhorns came out and seized the momentum of the game in each of the first two games, they didn't put their opponents away. Against Austin Peay, they took the Governors out of their game, quickly erasing any hope of their upset. But after jumping out to a 15 point lead, it stayed there for much of the game, leaving Austin Peay at striking distance throughout. The same thing happened against Miami, as the Hurricanes stayed within about 13 points for most of the second half. Then our worst fears came true as Miami went on a run, seized momentum and almost stole a game they had no business being in.

The frantic comeback attempt made by Miami brought to light a concern that hadn't really reared its ugly head in the past month, but it apparently was still there. Texas' free throw shooting down the stretch was pretty much atrocious and will be a major concern from here on out. Atchley, James, and Augustin were all exposed at the line late in the game, and Mason missed 3 of 4 earlier in the game. Probably from here on out, Texas is going to find itself in close games, and free throw shooting down the stretch will be essential. And right now, AJ Abrams is the only one that anyone feels comfortable with on the line.

The interior defense was also a bit of a concern against Miami. The perimeter defense was solid, but early on, Miami's big men were able to score inside and cause problems for the Texas defense. It got a little bit better as the game went on, but with Stanford's twin towers on the horizon, Texas' interior defense will need to be nothing short of spectacular if Texas hopes to advance against the Cardinal. Connor Atchley desperately needs to stay out of foul trouble and Gary Johnson, Wangmene, Pittman, and Chapman need to play solid, consistent defense. Brook Lopez shoot free throws extremely well and if he gets too deep he will score. But if you can get him 8 or more feet from the basket he becomes a decidely less effective player. Texas players will need to out work him in the post.

I'm not sure if this last one is a concern, but with the play of Abrams and James in the first two games, DJ Augustin hasn't needed to do much. But it also makes me a little bit weary that he hasn't shot well, has made some poor decisions, and hasn't been extremely effective. He has played well, but I think that DJ will need to give even more to the Longhorns if they hope to advance. Especially with Stanford's size inside, DJ needs to be more judicious in when he goes to the basket and when he relies on his mid range game. DJ Augustin hasn't played like an All-American yet, and we need him to be an All-American if we hope to continue the march to San Antonio. And it would help if he didn't air ball any free throws.

All in all, Texas looked impressive in the opening weekend, except for five minutes against Miami. So let's say that things are looking good, and that was a pre-arranged agreement between Rick Barnes and his old friend Frank Haith.

Bring on the Cardinal.

Any Advice From Duke?

Duke pulled their latest magic trick last night, angering a majority of the nation, as they escaped the 15 seed Belmont 71-70, with a last second layup. Duke shouldn't have won that game, and it's a shame that Belmont couldn't PICK UP THE MAN WITH THE BALL ON THE FAST BREAK!!!! It's only the first thing they teach you when defending the fast break, man! But that's another gripe for another day.

The bigger question is what we can learn from the Blue Devils after their run in with Belmont. I think they would tell you that you must watch out for a small conference, small school, with a bunch of white guys from Middle Tennessee, that just shoot threes. Oh well good, fortunately, what are the odds that we're going to run into another #15 seed with those credentials. Oh wait, where's Austin Peay from? Oh damn.

The Governors hail from somewhere in Middle Tennessee. I suppose I should know this since I now reside in Tennessee, but I was too lazy to look it up. Hopefully the Longhorns will not be too lazy to do their homework against Austin Peay. Hey! It's in Clarksville, TN. See Longhorns, we must not overlook any detail!

But when the Longhorns lineup today they will be looking across at a lineup that for once makes theirs look big. With a front line that stands 6'5", 6'5", and 6'4" you would think Texas has the ability to dominate inside. However, Drake Reed and Fernandez Lockett (Yes, I'm aware he has two last names) are physical and play above their small stature inside. Combined they're averaging 25.5 ppg and 12.5 rpg. Since Texas traditionally doesn't attack inside, they should be spared somewhat. But Texas needs to attack the lane and DJ Augustin has to take advantage of a lack of height inside to contest his drives. Also, Damion James should have a field day on the offensive and defensive boards, and Connor Atchley should be able to cause some problems defensively with his length inside.

So you are probably thinking, finally Texas can match up well with somebody. Well, that would be the case until you realize that outside of their 5'9" point guard Derek Wright (11.7 ppg/4.8 apg/41 % 3P) they have 6'5 guard Todd Babington, 6'5" swingman Kyle Duncan, and 6'3" gaurd Wes Channels coming off the bench. This could mean that AJ Abrams will be drawing an assignment against a taller guard, which fortunately he has only been dealing with that since the 2nd grade.

However, I have yet to address the number one concern with Austin Peay. They shoot threes. Alot of them. And they happen to make a lot of them too. Derek Wright and Todd Babington are the leading culprits shooting 41% and 38%, with Babington coming off a 9 of 14 3-point performance in the OVC championship game (The Ohio Valley Conference, fyi). But don't count out Kyle Duncan who will also shoot some threes at a rediculous 57% (42 of 71) and Channels also shoots a healthy 36% from three. If Texas leaves them open looks, lets them gain confidence, and get on a roll, this game could be close the entire way. And the longer the Horns do that, the longer Austin Peay will look an awful lot like Belmont.

Texas will probably have to rely on DJ Augustin, Damion James, and AJ Abrams for much of the game. Though any continued support from Justin Mason who has been amazing over the last ten games, offensively, defensively, and intangiably would be greatly appreciated. It would be nice to see Gary Johnson back and healthy and contributing after a lower leg injury sidelined him for all of the Big XII Touranment. But most importantly it would be nice to see a shread of confidence return to the shooting stroke of Connor Atchley. Unfortunately, unlike AJ Abrams, he won't keep jacking it if it isn't falling. Connor is a great weapon inside and out and it takes away an offensive weapon when his shot isn't falling.

What we need from the rest of the kids, is solid defense, hustle, and rebounding from Wangmene, Pittman, and Chapman. But as a whole, Texas needs to come focused, with intensity and put this game away before it even gets started. I wasn't really concerned about this game, until I watched the Duke game. I don't know if I should thank Duke for the wake up call, or hate Duke for making me nervous as hell for a 2 v 15 matchup.

I know.

I hate you Duke, you should have lost.

And it Begins.....

The greatest 2 days of the year are upon us; the first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. 32 games in a pair of days. To get it going hear are 2 classic "One Shining Moment" videos from 1989 and 1990.

1989
This year had Michigan beating Seton Hall in the Finals 80-79. Duke and Illinois rounded out the Final Four.



1990
This year UNLV slaughtered Duke 103-73 in the finals, while Arkansas and Georgia Tech were in the Final Four. Texas lost to Arkansas in the Elite 8 that year. One cool thing about this clip was the shot of Bo Kimble shooting the left-hand free throw in honor of Hank Gathers.

Youtube Tuesday (On Wednesday)

I am starting to think this is going to be a theme. At the same time, if I make having Youtube Tuesdays a Wednesday thing, I am afraid i will forget and start putting it up on Thursday.

I need something to make me me fee better about the Rocket's loss last night...

If You Are Going to Own Someone, Make it a Top 10 Team

This season has been nothing short of a roller coaster for the Lady Longhorns basketball program. In their first season under Gail Goestenkors, the Lady Longhorns spent much of the year hovering right around #25 in the country. Much of this ranking probably had to do with the reputation of the former Duke women's coach, as opposed to the talent on the floor for the Horns. This became more apparent as the Longhorns stumbled to a 7-9 conference mark, rebounding late in the season to even achieve that.

The only bright spot in conference play was probably a one point loss to the top-10 Baylor Bears in Waco, followed by a 10 point win over them in the return matchup in Austin. Well the domination of the Bears has continued as the Lady Longhorns throttled the Bears 76-61 in the quarterfinals of the Big XII Tournament last night, erasing a 16 point second half deficit. Baylor must have played the second half shorthanded or something as Texas outscored the Lady Bears 52-21 in the second half.

The victory makes things interesting for the Lady Longhorns. The Horns had some work to do to keep alive any hope of the NCAA tournament, but now at 21-11 with two victories over Baylor this season, and their continued run in the Big XII Tournament, the Horns may have played themselves safely into the field of 64. Things also are shaping up for them favorably for the rest of the tournament. The #1 and #2 seeds are both gone from the tournament, and the Longhorns facing #18 Oklahoma State, who they split the season series with tonight.

The Horns have now won 5 straight games, and their late push is securing a tournament resume. But any more wins they can find along the way will only improve their seeding in the tournament. They face Oklahoma State tonight, with the winner going on to face the winner of Iowa State (Tournament #8 seed) vs. #11 Texas A&M (Tournament #4 seed).

Youtube Tuesday (On Wednesday....Again)

Glad that Tuesday thing isn't a hard deadline... I decided that this is going to be a Rocket Wednesday (I feel like if I come up with another day related theme, I am going to officially have to move to Bristol, Conn)

One of those NBA "Where [ ] Happens" commercials



This clip combines what Houstonians love the most: H-town Rap and the Rockets.



Let's all make fun of Dikembe Moutumbo!

YOU MAKE THE CALL!: Pre-Season Baseball Edition

In today's edition of "You Make the Call!" we look at a couple of preseason injuries to Felix Pie of the Chicago Cubs and Kaz Matsui of the Houston Astros. Baseball has had it's share of "interesting injuries; from Sammy Sosa's sneeze to Clint Barmes and his deer meat, but these two latest may rank up there as most painful. It seems Kaz Matsui has come down with a case of the "Anal Fissures" while Felix Pie somehow managed to be sidelined with a "Testicular Torsion" (aka- twisted testicle). Let's now take a "deeper" look into Matsui's anus...

Anal Fissures: "An unnatural crack or tear in the anus skin. As a fissure, these tiny tears may show as bright red rectal bleeding and cause severe periodic pain after defecation.The tear usually extends from the anal opening and located posteriorly in the midline. This location is probably because of the relatively unsupported nature of the anal wall in that location."

Umm... In non-medical speak, I believe the term is "OH MY FUCKING GOD! THAT IS PAINFUL"


















Testicular Torsion: "The spermatic chord that provides the blood supply to a testicle is twisted, cutting off the blood supply, often causing orchalgia. Prolonged testicular torsion will result in the death of the testicle and surrounding tissues."

Pretty sure they just mentioned "dead balls."

So whats the call? Wow. How do you even pick which one is worse, when both seem to be about as painful as they come. On one hand, Pie may lose a ball. But who really wants to tell people they have cracks in their ass that make them bleed? When Kaz buys his tampons will he use a cardboard applicator? Will Pie have to explain to baseball groupie why his doesn't look the same as, say, every other Cub the woman has slept with?

If I had to choose, i say Kaz wins. Look, losing a nut is no fun, but in the end you can get a prosthetic ball and no one is the wiser. It all still will work down there. But can you imagine the pain Matusi must feel when he sits down. Not to mention trying to take a dump. He'll have to carry around a dough nut seat in the locker room and on the bench. And who really wants to be the guy that bleeds out his ass? There is no honor in that and you can't even find girls that will get with you cause they feel bad for you.

NCAA Bubble Watch: 3/5/08

Texas A&M (21-8, 7-7) v. Baylor (20-8, 8-6): This is easily the biggest game in the Big 12 this week. A&M has played themselves onto the bubble as they have lost 4 of their last 5. The Aggies RPI is 48 and only have a 74 strength of schedule rank. A&M finishes with Kansas, which makes this game a MUST win against the Bear. If Baylor can win tonight they will add a huge notch to what already is a pretty solid tournament resume.

(4) Tennessee (26-3, 12-2) v. Florida (21-8, 8-6): While Florida has won 21 games, the reigning back-to-back champs have a strength of schedule of 104 and are 60 in the RPI. The SEC is not as strong a conference as it usually is. Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi and Arkansas are all looking good for the tournament. It seems unlikely that the SEC will get 5 or more teams in the NCAAs. They really only have one solid win, over Vanderbilt. Florida may have to knock off Tennessee and Kentucky in their last two games to ensure a tournament bid.

Oklahoma (19-10, 7-7) v. Oklahoma State (16-12, 7-7): OU is looking good for the tournament right now. But it would be really nice to have a win over a solid OSU team to pad the resume. The COwboys have been hot of late as they are making a very late run at the post season. A win against the Sooner may put this marginal team near the front of the bubble teams. OSU really needs to win their last 2 games and maybe 1 or 2 in the Big 12 tournament, but a win over the Sooners will be a nice step forward.

South Florida (12-17, 3-13) v. Villanova (17-11, 7-9): Nova needs to finish 9-9 in the Big East and win some in the Big East tournament to make the Dance. That means a win over S. Florida and Providence are a must. Nova is definitely on the outside looking in. They are going to have to win tonight and hope for a great showing in the conference tournament to make it to March.

Central Florida (16-12, 9-5) v. Houston (21-7, 10-4): The Cougars are a very controversial team on the bubble. They have a great record but play in a really weak Conference USA. Their SOS is a unflattering 152 and a 60 RPI. Tom Penders and the Cougs beat Kentucky earlier in the year but lost to a hapless East Carolina team last game. UH is right on the cusp of the tournament, but need to finish really strong to get a look. With Memphis a lock and UAB looking okay, it is unlikely that CUSA will get 3 teams in the tournament.

Boston College (13-14, 4-10) v. Miami (FL) (20-8, 7-7): Right now the Hurricanes and former Texas assistant, Frank Haith, are looking really good for a NCAA bid. They got a big win over Virginia and have wins over Clemson, Georgia Tech, Duke and Maryland. Unless Miami losses to both BC and Florida State to close the year, look for them to be in the Big Dance.

Syracuse (17-12, 7-9) v. Seton Hall (17-12, 7-9): Both of these teams are in serious trouble of missing the NCAAs. In fact, they most likely will not get in. The loser of this game is absolutely eliminated from consideration. Both have to win and and then have A LOT of work to in the Big East tournament. This game will go further in eliminating a candidate than it will in getting someone in the tournament.

Kentucky (16-11, 10-4) v. South Carolina (13-15, 5-9): It has been a tale of two seasons for Billie Clyde and the Wildcats. They have made up for a horrendous early schedule with a great conference record. Kentucky is most likely not getting in, especially with top player Patrick Patterson out for the season. If Kentucky has any hope they will have to win tonight and against Florida to end the season. A 18-11, 12-4 Wildcat team will have to get a long look from the NCAA selection committee. The fact that they are Kentucky won't hurt either.

Youtube Tuesday (On Wednesday)

This is an oldie, but REALLY goodie. This was 1998. Texas' last year before the Rick Barnes Era, when Tom Penders was still at the helm of the "Runnin' Horns." This was also the last year that Texas did not make the NCAA Tournament. Ivan Wagner was a 6'1'' PG who was also known for his NCAA Championship in the high jump. As you can see, those track skills DO translate on to the basketball court.



Try not to look at the score. It was ugly. This clips also underscores the strides that Texas basketball have made under Rick Barnes.

Searching for the Winning Formula

The baseball season is a very long road. Many teams end up playing over 60 games. So it is with that notion that Texas fans shouldn't be too worried from the poor showing in the Houston College Classic this past weekend. Augie Garrido has a massive freshman class coupled with several transfers and it is only a matter of time until he finds the right pieces.

Texas lost 5-4 to an unranked Tennessee Volunteers team, followed by a 10-4 beatdown loss handed to them by the non-conference rival #15 Rice Owls, and then escaped with a 8-7 (10 inn.) win against an equally mediocre Houston Cougars squad. All in all, it wasn't the showing you were hoping from, from a contender.

But looking at this year's squad, there is plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Sophomore transfer, 1B Brandon Belt has played as advertised hitting .405/1 HR/10 RBI early in the season. The big surprise is definitely freshman catcher Cameron Rupp, who has forced his way into the starting lineup, hitting .458/0/10 early in the season. His play has caused him to split time with junior Preston Clark, with one playing catcher and the other at DH. Also freshman Kevin Keyes (.429/0/1) has played well in his chances in LF. Other freshman have done well with their chances and could continue to get more opportunities, like Tant Shepherd, who was 4-5 and 2 doubles against the Islanders last night. These young players will be crucial to filling out the lineup.

Augie Garrido is also using this early season to sort through all his pitching options. While it seems Austin Wood, Cole Green, and Kenn Kasparek are his starters for now, freshman Brandon Workman and Chance Ruffin, and Sophomore Riley Boening have all gotten a weekday start. In all Augie has used 14 pitchers in 9 games this season. Out of the pen, Marcus Tackett (So; 5.1 IP/0.00 ERA), Stayton Thomas (Fr; 4.1/0.00), Casey Whitmer (So; 5.1/1.42), Workman (8.0/2.25), and Ruffin (5.2/0.00) have been the most impressive.

Also, Texas has been getting less than expected early on from some bats that were expected to carry the team this season. Jordan Danks (Jr; .257/1/6), Kyle Russell (Jr; .300/1/7), Preston Clark (Jr; .318/0/6), and Russell Moldenhauer (So; .273/0/7) have all started slowly, which shouldn't be the case for most of the season.

The two issues that should worry Augie the most are the top of the lineup and the starting pitching. Travis Tucker (Jr; .214/0/5) and transfer Michael Torres (Jr; .194/0/8) have struggled. Augie ball relies on the top of the lineup getting on base and making things happen. Despite the low average, Tucker does have an .489 on-base percentage and 7 stolen bases, but you would like to see a better average from both players. There are enough bats in this lineup that can drive runs in, if Texas can find consistent hitters at the top of the lineup.

The other issue is definitely the starting pitching. Texas has plenty of quality arms, but top of the line pitchers win come the postseason. Neither Austin Wood (Jr; 1-1/3.00), Cole Green (Fr; 0-0/4.22), and Kenn Kasparek (Jr; 1-1/5.40) have been overly impressive so far this season. Texas will face quality hitters in conference play and the postseason and Texas will need to find a #1 and #2 that is consistent and good. There are plenty of arms in the pen, but Augie will have his hands full trying to find the right roles for all the pitchers in his staff. There is a good chance that these three starters will not be the starters come season end.

Texas should continue to be inconsistent early in the season, but I would give them at least halfway through conference play before the inconsistent play should really signal any alarms. This team has the makings of a team that could gel late in the season and make their run at the right time. It wouldn't be the first time.

Post Game Points: Texas v. Nebraska

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT... If you've watched this Texas team most of the year, you realize their winning and losing depends on on thing: Effort. When they come out to play, they win. When the effort is not there and the intensity is missing, they lose. Simple as that. Last night, Texas came out with medium effort and almost let a far inferior Cornhusker team fight back for a victory. This makes two games in a row Texas did not come out with a passion to win. Its a little worrisome given the high stakes of games the rest of the year. Texas is going to have to stop playing up or down to its competition. 40 mins of effort last night would have resulted in a 20 point win, not one that came down to a last minute 3 pointer and free throws.

BONEHEAD MOVE OF THE YEAR... Goes to Connor Atchley on his ill advised lob to Justin Mason at the end of the game. Texas had an inbounds pass with 12 seconds left and instead of handing the ball to AJ Abrams, Connor decided to loft a lame duck that fell 10 feet short of Justin Mason and right into the arms of Aleks Maric. If it were not for a great hustle play by Mason to knock the ball from Maric and then get fouled on the scramble, Nebraska would have had a last shot to win or tie the game. It was a horrible decision and even worse of a pass. It is not clear what was going through Connor's head, but i promise Barnes will not let that happen again.

CONNOR'S POST DEFENSE... Was not good. Granted, Maric has an inch and 50 pounds on him, but Connor gave up tons of position and basically let Maric score at will. If Nebraska had gone to him all night, he might have finished with 30 points. While Atchley has improved on the defensive end, his lack of strength has allowed many posts to get great position in the low post. Many times Connor has been able to recover with a great shot block, but when a player as big as Maric gets that kind of position, he is not going to be stopped. Next season Connor needs to show up 20 pounds heavier. Until then, Texas may have to employ more zone (as they did last night) when facing a dominant post presence.

GAME MVP... Was Justin Mason. That guy is seeming to really get his role on the team and is starting to excel in it. Mason is here for tough defense, hustle plays and hitting open threes. His stat line last night was 7 points (2-2 from the field), 7 rebounds, 4 assists and the two free throws that iced the game for Texas. He is starting to become what Royal Ivey was to the Longhorn teams a few years ago. A do everything player, who doesn't fill up the stat sheet, but contributes in big ways to the team. His take away from Maric with 12 seconds left isn't going to show up in the stats, but it saved Connor's ass and secured the win for Texas. Mason may be the key to a long post season run for Texas.

Longhorn Basketball 2008 vs. 2003: Who Would You Take?

The 2008 Longhorns have a very short bench, and they are young and inexperienced at that. However, they were called on early in the season to fill the glaring hole in this Longhorns' starting lineup, and that was the front court.

After being exposed in the front court by Michigan State and Wisconsin, Texas needed production from their three bench bigs, Dexter Pittman (So.), Alexis Wangmene (Fr.), and Clint Chapman (Fr.). Needless to say, things didn't look too bright for the Horns. What has been impressive though, is how these three have continued to improve and have taken turns showing flashes of brilliance and come through in big spots for the Longhorns.

Dexter Pittman has continued to improve as the 300 lb, mass in the middle. He has shown the most comfort of any of the three offensively, and has played exceptionally well against Texas A&M, 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 20 minutes over two games against the Aggies. He also provides Texas its largest body inside, taking up space and clogging the lane.

Alexis Wangmene has probably made the largest strides of anyone on the Texas bench. The Cameroonian averages 2.4 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 10.4 mpg. He has played well of late scoring 5 pts, 7 reb, 2 blks in 16 minutes against Oklahoma and 5 pts, 5 reb, 2 blks in 21 minutes against Kansas State. He provides toughness and defensive awareness in the middle and continues to improve every time he's on the floor.

Clint Chapman, while not the heart throb Matt Hill is, probably due to the high socks, he is another solid big man off the Texas bench. He is solid defensively and attacks the boards hard. He hasn't quite made his mark like Pittman or Wangmene, but that's because he looks too much like Connor for his own good. Maybe he wears his socks high, so Barnes can remember who it is.

The last man off the bench that Barnes uses is JD Lewis. The junior college transfer is one of two seniors on the club and has provided the Longhorns with a decent ball handling option that hustles and is solid on the defensive end. He has been used to spell AJ and Mace, but mostly he is a nice three point option off the bench. He's shooting 50% from three this season and helps to open up driving lanes when he's out there.

Because of the heavy minutes logged by the Texas starters, the opportunities for the Longhorn bench have been limited this season. But in the opportunities that have been afforded them, they have stepped up and showed great promise. They have been sent in with the mission of not screwing things up, and they've managed to do that successfully. While they're not as diversified as the 2003 bench, they fill a major need of this team and have continued to improve all season long.

You know watching the first half of the season, watching us go 13-0, you knew there were holes inside. Those holes got exposed by Michigan State and Wisconsin, and it looked like it would limit our season. But you watch this team now, and you don't hide your head when you see Rick Barnes turning to his bench, and it's the depth they have provided that improves our chances come March.

Longhorn Basketball: 2003 v. 2008. Who Would You Take?

Drinking the Forty is introducing you to a new series of posts that will lead us up to the Big 12 tournament. Recently (Petrucelli's Kid) and I (Royal With Cheese) began discussing which of the Texas Basketball teams was our favorite: The 2003 final four team, or the current 2008 version of the Longhorns. We have decided to break down the teams and discuss their strengths and weakness, finally arriving at which Longhorn team was the best (at least according to us). We will first discuss the bench players for the respective teams, then the 6th men and finally an individual comparison of each team's starters. By the way, it was pointed out by a friend of mine about how much a despise when ESPN does "Greatest Teams" comparisons leading up to various championship games. I spent a good 15 mins explaining why this is different and I was not being hypocritical. Whatever. I could explain it again, but I am not going to. Let's just take my word that this is totally different and in no way represents everything i hate about popular sports media. With that disclaimer, lets proceed to discuss the 2003 Texas Longhorn Bench.

THE BENCH

First, lets take a look at each player on Texas bench (excluding Boddicker as the 6th man) and their season statistics.

Deginald Erskin (Sr) 11.6 mpg/3.8 ppg/1.8 rpg/65% FT
Jason Klotz (So) 12.9 mpg/4.3 ppg/3.0 rpg/0.6 bpg/61 FT%
Terrell Ross (Sr) 9.9 mpg/1.5 ppg/1.2 apg/64% FT/22% 3P
Sydmill Harris (So) 16 mpg/6.2 ppg/77% FT/36% 3P

The biggest contributor off the bench was was shooting guard Sydmill Harris (If you hadn't already heard, his dad is a famous singer in The Netherlands. Just an FYI). Harris was a long ranger shooter, that could, at times, take his man to the basket. But Sydmill's role on this team was as an outside marksman. He hit over 35% from beyond the arc and was solid from the foul line. While Harris was not know for his shut down defense, he was 6'6'' and able to do a respectable job on the defensive end, when spelling Brandon Mouton and Royal Ivey.

In 2003, Jason Klotz was a big body for the Horns that was still coming into his own in the college basketball game. As a Junior and Senior, Klotz was a big part of what Texas did. But as a sophomore, Klotz was used to give James Thomas and freshman Brad Buckman a rest. While Klotz was not considered a liability, Barnes and Co would be glad not to have a big drop off in play while he patrolled the lane. Klotz's biggest contribution was his size on the defensive end. He was not much of a threat to score and rarely was involved in bog plays, but he did just enough in the paint to justify his 13 minutes a game. Looking at his stats, it would appear that Jason did not have a large impact on games, but most of his contributions didn't show up in the box score, as they were hustle plays and high energy.

Deginald Erksin and Terrell Ross were the lone two seniors on this Texas team and, ironically, had the least impact. That is not to be construed as me saying they were unimportant to the team. Deg Erksin was your ultimate "dirt guy" as he would come in to provide some high energy defense and a little inside offensive presence. Erksin could always be counted on to come up with a game altering hustle play or a key rebound. Erkin was a great player to have. He didn't make a lot of mistakes and was an ultimate team player. When getting to Final Four, you can't underestimate the roles of guys like Erksin.

Terrell Ross got maybe the least playing time of any sub, and was forgotten by many Texas fans. Ross looked a little like Brandon Mouton (and wore #23 while Mouton wore #3) , and I had a running joke with a friend that Barnes was always "accidentally" putting in Ross when he really meant for Mouton to get out on the floor. According to us, Ross would fold over his jersey so Barnes would only see the #3 and, with out realizing it, sub him in. Once Rick saw who was out there, Mouton would immediately be back into the game. This story may be lost in time and translation, but it provided us with a lot of personal entertainment during the year. We joked alot, but Ross provided some much needed rest for Mouton and Ivey. He was a solid defender, but not much on the offensive end.

Every team that advances far in the Tourney has great players, but it was Texas' solid bench contributions that enabled them to pull off close victories and big wins. While they may not have filled up the stat line, Each bench player filled a much needed role for Rick Barnes and the Texas team. I would stack these guys up against a lot of benches in 2003 and up until today.