Augustin Bids Farewell, Abrams Too?

To the surprise of not many, DJ Augustin declared for the NBA draft today. While he has not hired an agent, it was done more on the precaution of injury, not for the possibility of choosing to return. While Augustin did not come as a surprise, it was the declaration of AJ Abrams that caused some concern for fans on the Forty Acres.

Abrams, too, did not hire an agent, and is a much safer bet to return to school for his senior season. Even Abrams admitted that he is using his free pass during his junior season, to test the process, and see where he ranks. While Abrams is a great shooter, his size and lack of all around game will hurt his draft status. It would be quite surprising if Abrams is not back in a Longhorn uniform for his senior season. However, it is not a forgone conclusion. Only a few short years ago, most thought that LaMarcus Aldridge would be drafted, and Daniel Gibson would return for his junior season, only to surprise everyone with his agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But, I will also say that Daniel Gibson was bigger and a more well rounded player than AJ Abrams at that point in time.

If Abrams does not return for his senior season it would be a huge blow to the Longhorns. Abrams will be relied on to be a perimeter scorer for the Longhorns, as well as someone who is expected to share ballhandling duties with Justin Mason and Dogus Balbay. Abrams early departure would cause all kinds of problems for the Longhorn backcourt and press Balbay and J'Covan Brown into larger roles than they currently would be expected to fill.

While I don't think that Augustin is completely ready for the NBA, I can't fault the decision to turn pro. Most think we will be a lottery pick, and many pundits have him falling at #11 to the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers would be a good fit, as it is an organization in transition, and if Augustin shows to a capable point guard, he will certainly get his chance to replace the off-court headache that is Jamaal Tinsley. The only drawback to going to Indiana for Augustin would certainly be the players around him. They certainly are in transition and are missing a few pieces. Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavey are the most quality pieces they have, with Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster as solid compliments. Jermaine O'Neal has been a disaster for the past three seasons and Jamaal Tinsley isn't far behind him. Augustin would probably get his opportunity to play and has a chance to become a successful pro, if he does stay in the draft. That's a lot of money, and a solid opportunity to grow in the Eastern Conference. That's why you can't fault DJ for leaving early and turning pro.

The two most intriguing questions to follow from here on out is whether AJ Abrams stays in the draft and what the Longhorns will do with DJ Augustin's scholarship. With the extra scholarship and a large opening at point guard and points, the Longhorns will be a player on the recruiting trail to fill the void with the pieces that are still available in the 2008 class. At the top of Barnes' wish list certainly has to be Devin Ebanks from Connecticut. At 6'8" and 185 pounds, he is a long, athletic, swingman that would fit nicely at Texas. He could play two or three, and ranks #11 on Rivals.com Top 150 list. Texas is competing with Memphis, Rutgers, and West Virginia for the small forward's services. If the Longhorns could land him it would be a huge sign for Barnes and give him another valuable offensive weapon for 2009. If Ebanks does decide to go elsewhere, the Longhorns would definitely turn their attention to Wesley Witherspoon, another 6'8", 185 pound point forward out of Georgia. Witherspoon, #34 on Rivals.com's list, is choosing between Colorado, Memphis, Virginia, and the Longhorns. Another player that may come into play with the open scholarship is SF Jeff Taylor (6'7"/197), out of New Mexico, who was interested in Texas before recently giving a soft verbal to Vanderbilt. If Texas can bring in one of these players, it will cushion the blow of losing Augustin and allow Texas to remain a player in 2009.

But if Texas loses AJ Abrams as well, it will cripple the Longhorns' title hopes in 2009. DJ Augustin was a great Longhorn and will be sorely missed, but it is the right time for him to move on. We'll have more later this week on his legacy at the Forty Acres. But here's to hoping AJ Abrams makes the right decision and comes back to lead the Texas Longhorns in 2009.

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining, Right?

I feel like it only deserves one paragraph, so that's all I'm going to give it. I could go into it more, but it would only be a waste of time. Memphis was quicker, more athletic, longer, bigger, and played with infinitely more confidence. I think it was the first time I've seen anyone be quicker and more athletic than us, and it makes a world of difference when those quicker, more athletic people also happen to be freakishly long. There might have been some ways that we could have won that game, but I can't think of any other than Memphis playing much worse than that. It was a good season, the ending was kind of disappointing, but there's no reason to disect it and say if we had done this and this it would have been different, because I don't believe that to be true. We got taken behind the shed.

Instead I prefer to look to what this offseason spells for the Longhorns. With JD Lewis and Ian Mooney as the only graduating seniors on the roster, the future looks bright for the Horns. While Damion James had a breakout season and showed why he was so highly touted coming out of high school, he didn't have the kind of tournament and late season impact that he would have needed to elevate his draft status. Unless he's hoping to catch on somewhere in the 2nd round, he should be back next season.

The big question will be the status of DJ Augustin. Early in the season he looked like he was fighting for the top point guard in the draft status. Clearly, with a less than stellar tournament (14.25 ppg/6.5 apg/3.25 rpg/1.75 spg/2.5 TOpg/35% FG/39% 3P), he has lost that battle. What he gained in his outstanding Stanford game, he lost with his struggles in the Memphis game. He's behind Derrick Rose (Memphis) and Jerryd Bayliss (Arizona), and is still jockeying for position with Darren Collison, Russell Westbrook, and Ty Lawson, all of whom have improved their status with their tournament play. Most "experts" (people who have a website) have DJ as a late lottery selection to a mid-first rounder. It will be interesting to see how that changes as we get closer to the draft. But one thing his tournament performance did, was put his draft stock into question.

While most comparisons are to Steve Nash, and that's who DJ likens his game to the most, another player he always seems to remind me of is Deron Williams. And Williams used all for of his years at Illinois to become the player he is today. DJ could benefit from one or two more years in school to continue to learn the position and get to a point where he is in constant control on the floor. I wouldn't fault him or disagree if he decides to turn pro, but if he did decide to wait one more year he could encounter a weaker draft class and also set himself up for a better draft position.

Regardless of DJ's decision, Texas will have plenty of hope going into next season. A look at each position and their status for next year ('09 class in parenthesis):

Point Guard - Obviously, if DJ (Jr) returns, we're in great shape. But if he does go, look for Justin Mason (Jr) and AJ Abrams (Sr) to split time here. I would love to see AJ embrace this role and use his quickness as a scorer and a passer. There is no one that can stay in front of him if he's trying to get in the lane. Also, Justin Mason loses some of his effectiveness as a rebounder/all around hustler if he is burdened with the disciplined responsibilities of the point guard position. Dogus Balbay (Fr) will contend to be a backup at the point guard position, coming off an ACL injury this year. He's said to be extremely quick and a pass first point guard from Turkey. Also Harrison Smith (Jr) is a darkhorse candidate to contribute, but attitude and desire have kept him out of the rotation his first two years in the program.

Shooting Guard - AJ Abrams and Justin Mason will both be back with another year under their belts. Mason had a breakout last half of the season as he plays larger than his 6'2" height, and is the defensive stallwort of this team. He also is amazing on the boards and the confidence of what is a decent outside shot returned. He plays under control and is aggressive and smart in the lane. He underwent a transformation the last half of the season and it was a pleasure to watch. Also, incoming freshman J'Covan Brown is a highly touted scorer and will certainly get some minutes in his first season.

Small Forward - If DJ returns, Justin Mason will continue to see time in the three guard lineup. But if DJ moves on, look for Damion James (Jr) to return to his more natural position at small forward. It would give Texas a more traditional look and improve the rebounding and toughness immeadiately. James is about the only small forward we have on the roster as Gary Johnson (So) is more ably suited for power forward, but he could see some time there to allow the Longhorns to go very big inside.

Power Forward - This is where the Longhorns of 2009 will begin to look different. All the big men played well in the tournament and with their freshman campaign under their belts, they will be more involved offensively in 2009. Gary Johnson could start the season off as the starter, but if Dexter Pittman's tournament play was a sign of things to come, Connor Atchley (Sr) could slide into his more natural power forward position. Alexis Wangmene (So), Matt Hill who will return from injury (So), and Clint Chapman (So) will also be heavily involved in what will be an incredibly deep front line. Whoever makes the biggest strides during the offseason will likely move to the front of the line in the rotation. But every post will get his chance to prove himself.

Center - Connor Atchley will most likely start his senior campaign as the center, but Dexter Pittman (Jr) closed with an outstanding tournament and he could show up next season ready to be the anchor for this team offensively and defensively. Either way the front court will be in great shape as Clint Chapman and Matt Hill have the length to play center as well. Texas has the potential to dominate inside and be one of the most physical teams in the country next season.

This season was a great one as the Longhorns matured and improved throughout the year. The team was a little bit one-dimensional due to the youth of the front line forcing Damion and Connor to play out of position. But next season the Longhorns look primed to be a different team, that looks a little bit more like those teams that featured Brad Buckman, Brian Boddicker, James Thomas, and Jason Klotz, and a whole lot of physical play. If the Longhorns can incorporate their post game and allow Damion and Connor to play their more natural positions, DJ Augustin will either be running one of the deepest and most complete teams in the country, or AJ Abrams and Justin Mason will step in to run a team that could have a completely overhauled offensive strategy. Either way, it was an enjoyable experience to watch this team learn, grow, and succeed.

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.

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.

The Underdogs are Back

Last night was a great game between two outstanding teams playing basketball at a high level. It was an exciting back and forth game to watch, and after watching the Longhorns in their previous five games, it was like seeing a different team out on the floor.

Lost in all of the post game write ups from the different outlets, is that the Longhorns got back to one thing that they thrived on early in the season; being the underdog. In their wins against Tennessee and #1 UCLA early in the season, Texas was the underdog. They thrived in that role, outhustling their opponents, playing intense defense, and attacking on offense.

After a 13-0 start, the nation started to take notice and all of a sudden, Texas became the favorite. They got outworked against Michigan State, Wisconsin, Missouri, A&M, several conference games they should not have won. But coming off several lackluster performances, DJ Augustin's game on a temporary leave of absence, and the Texas front line continuing to make opposing big men look like NBA first rounders, Texas was expected to get run out of the gym by a deep and talented Kansas team. And apparently that was what the Longhorns needed.

Texas executed an excellent game plan, played suffocating defense, and outhustled the Jayhawks in the second half to earn the victory. Connor Atchley's four blocks and post defense was by far his best performance of the season. AJ Abrams hounded Brandon Rush all night long holding him to 10 points and just three shot attempts in the second half. DJ Augustin, despite another horrendous shooting night, managed to hold Russell Robinson and Sharron Collins to a 2 of 12 shooting night and 4 points, making the point guard battle a draw. Gary Johnson, Justin Mason, and Damion James were everywhere the entire second half, hustling to every rebound, every lose ball, and playing outstanding defense and dominating the paint on offense. It was the second good performance for Johnson who looks like he is starting to get it. Mason continues to thrive as the utility man and has found his niche on offense and defense. And Damion James was the X-factor in the second half, creating all kinds of problems and out working every player on the floor.

Of all the things Texas did right last night, the biggest difference between this game and previous poor performances was Texas' attitude. They played this ball game like they were not the better team. They played like they needed to earn a victory and out play their opponents. They came in with a sense of urgency that allowed them to overcome the slow start that had plagued them the last few games, and they turned it up even more in the second half. Kansas is a phenominal team, that is deep and talented around the rim, but Texas wanted it more, and Texas went out there and outplayed them for it.

This is the Texas team that we saw go 13-0, and it was the whispers of Final Four that derailed that hunger. It was the realization of how could they could be that caused Texas to go out and play with an attitude that they were better than their opponents and could win by just going out and playing. But for one night, Texas got back to being the underdog, and the results were just the same as the 19 point rout of Tennessee and the road upset #1 UCLA. But it remains to be seen if they can carry that underdog attitude with them, when they are clearly not the underdog.

Texas Survives the Griffin Brothers

The Texas Longhorns survived the Griffin brothers, Blake, Taylor, and Eddie, and held on to win 64-54 in Norman last night. Blake and Taylor combined for 41 points and 24 rebounds as Eddie chipped in with several jokes and all-around bad acting.

The Longhorns once again let their opponent jump out to an early lead, as Tony Crocker hit three, three pointers early as Oklahoma had an early 10 point lead. The Longhorns were able to battle back behind the play of their guards. And when I say guards, I mean all of them as AJ Abrams led the way with 22 points, DJ Augustin had 19, and Justin Mason had 11 points! Oklahoma's game plan of leaving Justin Mason wide open for shots, backfired for the first time in the history of Justin Mason being left wide open for shots, as he hit all 3 of his attempted 3 pointers, 2 of which came late in the second half.

While Texas had no answer inside for the Griffin brothers inside, they were spared the trouble of dealing with Longar-Longar who was a surprise scratch due to an injury. No word on whether he was injured while accepting a ride from Eddie Griffin to the stadium. It was a good thing Longar-Longar did not play as the Griffin's were enough for the overmatched Texas front line. Damion James, Gary Johnson, and Connor Atchley combined for 12 points and 12 fouls in doing pretty much nothing to stop the Griffins.

It was a great game plan for the Longhorns as Coach Rick Barnes decided the best way to catch the Sooners off guard was to become "pretty intimate" with Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops. Hey, whatever works. It also probably helped that only four of the Sooners' 8 players scored points in the game. Has there ever been a game before where no one scores in single digits?

While it was a disappointing performance for the Texas front line, the Longhorns played great defense and shot the basketball well. The Longhorns improve to 5-2 in conference, and will head to Iowa State this Saturday to face another team that is strong on the interior. After the difficult test against the Griffin brothers, the Longhorns are confident that they will be able to handle all future challenges including their scheduled bout against the Hanson brothers.

A Win, is a Win, is a Win

It will be interesting to see if Texas can recapture that early season play of good defense, with an explosive transition game, and balanced offensive scoring and hot shooting. If they can't, then you should get used to this kind of result and this kind of game. The Longhorns won on the road at hostile Gallagher-Iba Arena Monday night by two over an Oklahoma State team experiencing a down year.

Texas played well in the first half with DJ Augustin, Damion James, and Connor Atchley sharing the scoring load as Justin Mason again played well on the defensive end. Oklahoma State, to their credit, made adjustments and erased the 10 point Longhorn lead early in the second half. From there, it became a hard fought slugfest that was typical conference Big XII basketball. It wasn't so much pretty as it was physical.

In a close game, Texas went into what might very well be their late game offense for much of the Big XII season. They set up plays for DJ Augustin, whether he was at the point, or curling off of screens while Mason ran the point, Texas got the ball to DJ and gave him space. From there it was up to DJ to run the shot clock, create his shot, or get fouled. This is why DJ should be a front runner for Player of the Year, because no player does more for his team. There were a few times where Augustin used poor judgement, but considering the ball was in his hands every possession the final 7 minutes of the game, he was unbelievable.

Texas made it clear that they will be turning things over to DJ Augustin late in games, and we will attempt to sit on leads, eek out close games, and that we don't trust anyone else with the basketball. This may work against a majority of the conference, but it won't work against Kansas, and it won't work in the NCAA Tournament. Texas killed their momentum by slowing down the game and made their offense predictable and stagnant.

Texas needs to continue to search for the offense that was winning games early in the year. An offense with Damion James and Connor Atchley getting involved and AJ Abrams attacking inside the three point arc and outside. There's nothing wrong with having the ball in DJ's hands at the end of games, but he needs to be doing it to get the team involved.

It's nice to know that we have a weapon in DJ Augustin that we can give the ball to and he can deliver the win, but with 7 minutes left in the Oklahoma State game, we made the decision that we were going to try and win 63-61, as opposed to trying to win 85-70. With a player like DJ Augustin, that is a strategy that will win you a majority of your games. But in the NCAA Tournament, winning a majority of games isn't a luxury that you have. It's a game like the USC loss last year, where down the stretch, they moved the basketball, attacked from all sides and kept scoring, while feeding the ball to Kevin Durant and letting him score didn't work. Because if you let inferior basketball teams hang around for too long, it will come back to haunt you.

Searching for the Positives

It's easy to see the negatives in Texas' 69-67 home win over lowly Colorado on Saturday night. The first half defense and intensity was again atrocious. The offense was out of sync and couldn't hit anything. Gary Johnson played even worse, and less than in the Missouri game. The bench produced 4 points on 10 shots and missed both free throws they attempted. And up 10 with 4 and a half minutes to play, Texas packed it in, not scoring again as Colorado ended the game on an 8-0 run coming within two of sending it to overtime. Given all of the negatives, there are a few positives that stick out, that may be signs of Texas turning the corner on these mid-season doldrums that have seen us go 3-3 over our last 6 games.

Most importantly, regardless of how it looked, a win, is a win, is a win. 0-2 against the likes of Missouri and Colorado would have been a disastrous start to conference play. The win puts us in 5th in the Big XII looking up at three teams (Iowa State, Kansas State, Baylor) that are catchable in the conference race. (On that note, I will only refer to our chances at 2nd in the Big XII, because Kansas is scary good. I have conceded the title to them. We are playing for second. I'm fine with that. They'll still lose in the 2nd or 3rd round of the tournament anyway.)

The second half of the Colorado (or the first 15:30 of the second half) is something that we've been waiting to see. Texas outscored the Buffaloes 41-22 over that stretch including a 23-2 run early in the second half. Texas played with fire and intensity, and most importantly they played defense. Texas was aggressive on the defensive end and forced turnovers and ran. It is the type of defense they played early in the season to jump out to their 13-0 start.

What triggered this defensive resurgence? The play of Justin Mason, who was left for dead on the Texas bench over the last few games. Mason's play combined with the lack there of from Gary Johnson, allowed him to log 36 minutes, and while he was 1-5 shooting, he recorded 6 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals, and 2 assists and played great defense on Richard Roby. His play has earned him the starting job against Oklahoma State tonight, and if he can make his presence felt defensively, he gives this Texas team a defensive identity that has been sorely lacking over the past few games.

The struggling play of Gary Johnson also seemed to allow Connor Atchley to rediscover his place in the offense. He once again provided the Longhorns with an efficient scoring threat as he logged 15 points on 6 of 7 shooting. He also contributed 5 rebounds and a block. Gary Johnson is a great player and will be great to have once he figures everything out, but his presence seemed to throw off the cohesiveness of the offense and it made Connor Atchley disappear from the offensive end. He is a reliable scoring threat that can get his points without a lot of touches, which is a nice thing to have with guards that can sometimes throw up some shots.

While the overall result and game as a whole is nothing to hang your hat on. The play of Justin Mason and Connor Atchley, along with the second half intensity is just the kind of performance that Texas has been missing over the last few games. They head into Stillwater tonight on short rest to take on a weaker than usual Oklahoma State game. But Iba-Gallagher Arena is still one of the toughest places to play in the country, and Oklahoma State will make this game close. With James Anderson at less than 100%, the Cowboys will once again rely on Terrel Harris and Marcus Dove to lead the way. Texas will have to defend on the perimeter as Byron Eaton and Obi Muonelo both provide back court scoring off the bench. When Texas' defense has been lacking this season, it has been on the perimeter. Oklahoma State can shoot the three, and likes to drive. They need to cut off penetration and cover the three point shot. But if Texas comes out and plays with some intensity and outworks OSU on the defensive end, then they should be able to win this game without too much trouble.

Two Games In, Johnson's Impact Being Felt

In his second game back from his undisclosed heart condition, that caused him to be a liability to play on December 29th and completely healthy on January 2nd, Gary Johnson looked like the player that we had been hoping for for much of the season. With Johnson's impact, Texas looked a lot like the team that we can expect the rest of the season.

Defensively, the impact of Gary Johnson is immeasurable. It allows Texas to more adequately matchup against teams with size and allows Damion James to play at the more suitable small forward position. His impact is also seen on the offensive and defensive boards where his size and energy have given Texas the rebounding and interior boost that they needed. His defense and rebounding will only improve as he becomes more comfortable with the nuances of the college game.

Offensively, it finally gives Texas the balance it so desperately needed. It gives Texas an offensive post up threat which does several things. It takes some pressure off the guards to produce everything for the offense. It allows Damion James to be a more versatile offensive threat, attacking defenses from inside and out. This change in role has benefitted James the most of any Longhorn as was evident by his 29 points and 14 rebounds against TCU and his 15 and 8 against St. Mary's. It also takes the pressure off of Connor Atchley to score night in and night out, and allows our young front court players in Wangmene, Pittman, and Chapman to develop at their own pace and not demand consistent contributions.

However, the place that Gary Johnson has affected this team the most is on the bench. The flexibility that Johnson allows Coach Barnes with his lineups is what could possibly save the season and Barnes' sanity. The Michigan State and Wisconsin games showed some weaknesses offensively and defensively. Mainly, that Justin Mason had once again suffered his offensive disappearence just in time for conference season and the lack of a reliable offensive and defensive threat forced Damion James to play out of position and put undo pressure on the offense. Johnson's move into the starting lineup allows for Justin Mason to move to the bench, a role that he should be able to thrive in as a defensive specialist. Whether it is a coincidence or not Alexis Wangmene has played a lot better since the return of Johnson. Either way, Gary's presence gives Barnes many more options and allows the players that we have to better fit into the roles they are capable of filling.

Texas heads into conference play this Saturday at Missouri. It will be their toughest test of what should be a very winnable first four games for the Longhorns. A fast start could give the Longhorns the confidence they need to battle Texas A&M and Kansas for the Big XII title. With Gary Johnson in the mix, this Longhorns team becomes a definite contender in the conference as well as the NCAA tournament.