How Legitimate is Texas in the Big Dance

The key here, imo, is who picks up their game when someone else is slumping. In this last game against NE, Justin Mason made key FT and rebounds to seal the win against a pesky NE defense.

I won't lie, the streakyness of Texas' shooting worries me. However, Texas' defense has been quite stifling when they are focused.

I have been most impressed with the winning streaks of Texas this year. 11 games and then 8 games straight.  All that being said, one game a time, bud. One game at a time.

Hook Em Horns!!!

They just want to flirt with those naughty &sexy biker models there?

They just want to flirt with those naughty &sexy biker models there?

First off, I strongly suggest EVERYONE who posts here WARN THE CRAP OUT OF this "biker" d-bag. If that crap starts pervading these boards, they will be miserable...

As for the topic of discussion...I like the post. A good issue to discuss.

Texas beat Kansas in Texas for several reasons, not the least of which was Abrams' and Augustine's defense. They shot 14 more (and made 9 more) free throws than KU, first of all. I'm not suggesting the refs called the game in Texas' favor, but you can't count on that sort of discrepancy repeating itself. Also, Rush was in foul trouble in the second half -- he had 3 as of the beginning of the half. This no doubt affected HIS ability to defend, and that's trouble, as he is one of the best defender's in the country. Furthermore, Chalmers, Kahn, and Arthur all had foul trouble. For all these reasons, I fully don't expect this result to occur again, especially on a neutral floor.

I agree with the original poster -- Texas is a phenomenal team. It fully deserves at least a #2 seed. However, it has had definite stretches of weakness (for example, when it lost to Mizzou -- I don't care where the game is, Mizzou is not a team Texas should lose to). Also, Abrams and Augustine have been ridiculously streaky shooters of late. The KU win was a definite anomaly -- Texas will lose most games against top teams when those two guys shoot that badly.

I think, overall, Augustine and Abrams are good, gritty defenders, worthy of a matchup with a player like Rush. I also think a player like Rush could get the better of that matchup on a given night.

Conclusion -- I don't think Texas will get any further than the Elite 8. 

With what we know about Texas, I'd say they have as good a shot at making it to the Final Four as any team in the country.  They can get on a streak and beat any five or six quality, tournament teams in the country.  They have the wins that suggest that, the defense that supports it and the coaching that's done it before.  They can be streaky as a shooting team, but they have a deep bench and a solid group of post players that can pick up the scoring slack when they need it. (see the Kansas/Texas game) All of the teams in the top 10 right now can make that same argument.  The trick this year, like every other year is for a team to get hot IN the tournament not leading up to the tournament.  Rarely in the past 10 years or so has there been a clear cut favorite to win the tournament that's actually won it all. 

Not to mention, ok, I am mentioning it. If Texas and KU win their last game, Texas gets the top seed in the Big 12 tournament because of their victory over KU. Not that the top seed means anything. It should be one hell of a tournament.

Any chance of getting the Big 12 Tournament out of Kansas in the near future. The kansas teams have an advantage being in their home state. Not far!! LOL

Hook Em Horns!!!

One game at a time.

WOOOOOOAH, OUHATER--

If an MU lovefest for KU ever included me, let alone existed, I would ascend Allen Fieldhouse and jump ass-first onto a crowbar standing on end. This is not a lovefest. Its more of a combination of hatred and unavoidable respect. KU is a great team. Mizzou has seen that firsthand this year, twice. (KU played like excrement and still beat us by 6 at our place.)

All we've seen from Texas, in person, was a team that was summarily outplayed from start to finish. Now I'm not saying that's the Texas team that shows up most of the time -- we obviously caught them at their worst. But that game, combined with two pretty easy KU wins against us, has given us reason to believe KU is somewhat of a stronger team.

Please be careful to whom you say MU has a lovefest for KU. I am a reasonable man -- the next guy might shoot you...(kidding of course).

I stand by my pick -- no further than the Elite 8 for this team. (The good news for Texas is that in the last 5 years, I have been without a doubt the worse bracket-completer EVER.)

I don't think any top 10 team will want to play Texas.  We have shown more than maybe any team in the country that we are capable of taking down a top 10 team anytime, anywhere.  UCLA at home for crying out loud.  They were like 39-0 there before that game.  I was there and that place was as loud as any road place in the country. 

The problem with Texas is they do not have the hunger to crush teams they should crush.  Their apathetic play leads to stupid mistakes leaving subpar teams in the game and every once in awhile letting them actually win.  Kansas is better than Texas because they finish teams that don't belong.  We lose to Texas Tech and Kansas destroys them by 50. 

I hope Texas finds its hunger in the big dance and if so, they will make the elite 8 and depending on matchups could contend for the championship.  If they continue to play without the hunger and passion needed to win it all then they will be bounced by the sweet 16. 

War Longhorns! 

It must be the water in Austin, because the major programs at UT men's and women's alike seem to play to their competition. Up for the big games and slow and sloppy for the teams they should beat. Just look at last years team (with Durant) how many games were single digit and OT or mulitple OT wins.

They definitely don't have the killer instinct but they do have the talent and surprising depth this year to play with any team, anywhere.

Hell, you might even see the burnt orange in the Final Four.

Hook'em