The No. 2 Texas Longhorns destroyed Texas-Pan American, 104-42, in a game that was exactly as close as the score indicates. The ‘Horns improved to 9-0 and look to be rolling as the competition increases with North Carolina and Michigan State on the schedule over the next seven days.
This one was over before it started. The Longhorns increased an early 21-11 lead to 33-11 as they held the Broncos scoreless for over six minutes in the first half. Texas led 45-19 at the break and by more than 60 for the latter part of the game.
I don't want anyone to get too excited about this one. Texas-Pan Am was grossly outmatched, way undersized (346th in effective height, Ken Pom), and would have trouble beating decent high school teams. The Broncs should be the worst team that the ‘Horns face all season, save maybe Gardner Webb. That said, there were some high points worth mentioning.
For a game that was out of hand early, the Longhorns were intense throughout. The full-court pressure and half court traps frustrated the smaller and slower Broncs all game. The ‘Horns forced 21 turnovers and could have easily forced more.
The blowout and the absences of J'Covan Brown (injury), Shawn Williams (injury), and Jai Lucas (stupid NCAA rule) forced Rick Barnes to play with different lineups. For the most part, Texas went big. Lineups included frontcourts of Damion James, Clint Chapman, and Matt Hill or James, Hill, and Dexter Pittman. At one point in the second half, I think James was at the two guard and Gary Johnson at the small forward spot. The bigger lineups met the challenges of guarding smaller perimeter players well. Texas held Texas Pan-Am to just 24% from the floor and 14% from behind the arc.
In addition to the experimental bigger lineups, Avery Bradley got some work at the point for the first time all season. Not surprisingly, he excelled with the ball in his hands as much as he does as the off guard. Bradley led the team with 18 points (8-of-15) and distributed five assists.
A few other brief points after the jump, before chalking up this for the mismatch that it was:
Like I said at the top, Texas-Pan American is really bad and not worth talking about anymore.
NEXT GAME: vs. North Carolina (8-2) in Arlington Saturday 12/19 1 PM ESPN
0 recs | 31 comments
No way balbay made a 3!
Could it have been an underthrown alleyoop?
jimmer - December 15, 2009 via mobile
Thanks
Good recpap, Wiggy. Thanks for throwing me the Balbay bone. You know you want to love him like I do.
UNC Saturday. Now we find out what these guys are up for…
Peter Bean - December 15, 2009
I'm really interested in how Barnes is going to integrate Lucas
goingforthecorner - December 15, 2009
Another beatdown
Avery Bradley looked great. Everyone was shooting threes well. Barnes toyed with lineup and had them practicing a lot of full court press.
I hope Pittman doesn’t find himself in foul trouble so quickly against the good teams. He seems a little block happy, and when he’s successful, of course, it’s great. However, even weak teams have exposed this tendency a bit by finding Pittman’s man open near the basket or by inducing fouls.
Kool Hand - December 15, 2009
This is something Ive seen as well
Not only leaving his man open, but it also puts him in bad position to box out the shooter on rebounds, which cost him at least one board this game (and us 2 points). Not something Im too worried about, as its easily coached up, but I think hes gotten a little block happy after his 7 block game.
BoddickerIsClutch - December 16, 2009
i wonder if that BON poster...
… who’s signature line is: “Dogus Balbay made a 3-pointer. Never Forget. [Insert Date]” (or something like that) is going to update his signature…
Heart of a Muschampion - December 15, 2009
LMAO that was one of the things I was thinking about after Dogus made his 3. i THINK its greenspointexas, not sure
MJY6087 - December 15, 2009
I think his is...
“we’ll be baaaaaaacckk” or something of that nature.
kriess - December 16, 2009
That would be...
… burrito
patienthornsfan - December 16, 2009
My attentioned strayed and I noticed
Pittman will receive a pass on the block, bring the ball down to gather himself to jump and the go for the shot. When he brings the ball down there is a huge slap fight and he loses the ball a fair amount.
He has to learn not the bring the ball below his chest ever in the post. A lot of teams are sagging their defense which put some pesky little guys near the block and they are really the arm slapping bunch.
You also so James and Wangamene drop the ball on post moves and then lose it. Not as much as Pittman and handful per game. Gary Johnson does it less and doesn’t fumble away the ball as much down low.
Xerxes - December 16, 2009
Gardener-Webb
Who the hell are these guys? They just played UNC and tonight they have a game with Duke.
Caradoc - December 16, 2009
Small school in North Carolina
Rick Barnes either played there or coached there or both. Texas plays them almost every year.
Kool Hand - December 16, 2009
Big lineup
Did you notice that Hamilton was at the 2 spot in most of the jumbo lineups? Seems to me he was more comfortable there, matching up well on defense and making better passes from the outside. More and more, he is looking like AJ in the body he should have had. Let’s see him run AJ’s patented baseline move.
Caradoc - December 16, 2009
I predict
what will happen below this post will be pure gold
kriess - December 16, 2009
Did I read it right that Mason got 10?
Darklust - December 16, 2009
yes.
billyzane - December 16, 2009
Did I read it right that Mason got 10?
Darklust - December 16, 2009
yup.
billyzane - December 16, 2009
Did I read it right that Mason got 10?
Darklust - December 16, 2009
uh-huh.
billyzane - December 16, 2009
Did I read it right that Mason got 10?
Darklust - December 16, 2009
10-4.
billyzane - December 16, 2009
Did I read it right that Mason got 10?
Darklust - December 16, 2009
right-o.
billyzane - December 16, 2009
FT's: 16-29
Great win, biggest blowout I think I’ve ever seen Texas pull off. That said, is anyone else a little concerned that free throw shooting is going to sink us in a few of our big games this season unless they can get a whole lot better real quick?
RMHorn - December 16, 2009
UT-PA has a really good FT defense
SelimSivad - December 16, 2009
I fully understand this site's policy of not calling out individual players...
But, I’m going to any way.
I’m so pissed off at Justin Mason. He fooled me. I thought he could play and I thought he was more than a guy that would take charges. I hear “glue guy” and i think of the soul of the team, the guy that makes sure all the little things are taken care of, now I just think he is Harrison Smith, Andrew Dick, and Dean Melchionni, no better than a walk on who gets more PT.
Let’s be realistic. Most of the top 5 & 4A High Schools would beat UTPA by 15. Not a good collegiate team by any stretch of the imagination. Dogus slices and dices his way through the defense, Avery shooting 53% against them, Dex gets 12 minutes and scores 14. You get the point. Enter Justin Mason with 9:49 to play and up 50. His job is to run this offense make sure clock is eaten, make sure fundamentals are consistent on defense, and for the student body and walk-ons, make sure Melchionni & Dick get some shots.
Mason comes in and within a minute has a turnover. He misses free throws, he misses a jumpshot. He adds another turnover bringing his totals to 24 minutes 2 assists and 3 turnovers. Sure he gets 10 points but 6 of them are from FTs because he shoots 2 of 7 from the field. But, we are told he is the “glue guy”, the guy that gets 2 rebounds in 24 minutes! Dick and Melchionni both had 2 rebounds in 7 minutes. Are you freaking kidding me? The guy that did this against Notre Dame last year can’t get more than 2 rebounds and 2 assists against a B grade high school team?
In conclusion, if we have to have a glue guy, give me Alexis Wangmene or Gary Johnson. I’m through with Mason.
run Bevo run - December 16, 2009
It is hard to argue your logic
IUTex - December 16, 2009
What a great time to be a Longhorn.
Hook em!
Infield Elephant - December 16, 2009
Lexi Concerns Me A Bit...
I just wish he would take better care of the ball. He’s dropped a boat load of great passes that could have easily been converted into easy points for us. I don’t know if he’s not paying attention or he just has lousy hands. It’s keeping me up at night though! lol!
As far as Mason goes, I didn’t watch UT bball last year so I don’t know how he performed but I do think he’s got some great qualities about him. Barnes just doesn’t have time to help him put it all together this season…not enough time and too many other talented players to choose from.
I agree Dex has got to be more careful in the post. These top 20 school we’re about to play will take full advantage of him bringing the ball down too low and will get steal after steal! Other than that, HE’S THE MAN!
After watching these past nine games it seems to me most of the mistakes we’re making as a team are from us still being in “gel mode”. We’re still trying to figure out who we are as a team and which players fit best together. It may take us until mid January to get completely comfortable with the level of talent we bring to the table.
Is Mid-January too risky?? Are we really playing like the #2 team in the nation? I mean, have we earned that ranking yet? Seriously…
Misante Owens - December 16, 2009
Dex
Good point on Pittman needing to protect the ball. Also, let’s remember that he has yet to face a competent big man so far this year. He’s been exploiting smaller, less skilled players. That is about to change.
Caradoc - December 17, 2009
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