I have been waiting for the main column post all day to no avail.

At least OU didn't come back from FL with the MNC or it would have been even more painful last night at the Noble Center.  Every time the horns pulled within a couple buckets OU would go on a run to get it back to 10.  When we got it to 4 points (54-50), I thought it was going to be a game - WRONG.

I saw some good things happening last night. 

1. Dogus was really good last night, finally showing off the complete package for a game.  He played hard nosed defense and was even diving out of bounds with 45 seconds left in the game and the horns down 10+.  His athleticism was in full view as he skyed for boards and attacked the rim like it was his.  He also managed to dish 6 assists and make a jump shot outside of 10 feet.

2. Dexter looked really good defending the best player in the country, obviously frustrating Griffin (what a whining baby) when he was in the game.  He has all kinds of opportunities around the rim which he should get better at converting.  You had to expect him to foul out of this one.

I saw some bad things happening last night.

1. Damion James was inexplicably benched for 14 minutes in the first half.  14 minutes!!  I understand that Rick was pissed and trying to make a point, but christ, doesn't 10 minutes offer the same lesson?  With 4 minutes left in the half and the Horns trying to cut into the lead you want your best players on the floor.  Not Harrison Smith.

2. Connor looks weak.  I thought there were some flashes of good defense, but overall he has been so soft.  I am putting it off to the injuries for now, but it needs to stop ASAP.  He has had his chin busted twice, 20+ stitches in the toungue, and I think an ankle roll so far this year.  Give him a couple pain free games and hopefully he will get back on track.

3. AJ Abrams.  What a terrible line to look at.  3-for-15 from three.  The sad thing is I think he started the game 2-for-3 from behind the arc and he also had some wide open looks that he absofuckinglutely HAS to make.

4. - 12. Fill in the blank, a lot of shit went wrong.

I am thinking that Dogus gets a start at point guard replacing Mason.  I know what happens when AJ isn't on the floor, but I am officially in favor of him playing less than 34 minutes a game.  If Dogus, Mason and Ward can get penetration then who cares.

Just my thoughts, I am interested to hear what everyone else took away.  Tough loss, but not unexpected.

Hook 'em

Oral Roberts took it to the Cowboys of Oklahoma State last night in Stillwater.  Sean Sutton was embarassed by his younger brother Scott as Eddie watched from the stands.

Oral Roberts won 74-59 after being up by 21 at one point in the second half.  The outcome was never in doubt.

It should make Texas fans feel better about the close game on Tuesday, or make Oklahoma State fans extremely depressed.  Oral Roberts is a good team and should be in the Madness come March, but the Cowboys should not be losing at home to a shitty conference school. Pathetic.

The Big XII is down 1-2 in the Hardwood series that kicked off Sunday with KU vs. 'Zona.  Last night KState and OU played.

Kansas State couldn't find Beasley as much as they should have and missed 3 strait 1and1s down the stretch.

I saw the first part of the OU game and they were shooting the ball terribly. USC has some  athletes and OJ Mayo.

Kansas 76, Arizona 72 (OT)
Oregon 80, Kansas State 77 (OT)  
USC 66, Oklahoma 55

The LA Times has a story about the series and specifically DJ.

"He's real quiet," Augustin said. "He's a great player, he has good vision and gets his teammates involved. He can score when he needs to, is a good leader and plays great defense."

DJ is talking about Darren Collison, UCLA point guard, who he roomed with this summer at the Steve Nash camp. Sounds like these two already have some history, hopefully DJ laid some intimidating ground work this summer.  This is a great game for the Horns and will be awesome to have UCLA come to the Erwin Center next year. Hopefully both point guards play in both games.

LA Times

Hook 'em

U.S. Open Championship

Wow...insanely bad golf on this father's day.  

Phil blew my mind with his decision making on the 18th, though he stuck to that philosophy all day and it had been working.  Double the 18th to lose by 1?  Yes please.

I think he might have hit driver off the 18th tee.

Monte also doubled the 18th, but didn't have the advantage of knowing what he was up against.  He did make a 5 from 160ish.  Nerves.

Australian, Geoff Ogilvy takes the trophy at +5.

Who choked hardest?

On 5/17/80, I was approaching my third month on earth, meanwhile one of the wackiest romeos to live on volcano was finally given permission to impregnate his true love, Saint Helen.

This crazy s'um bitch and his furry companions went by the name Truman, that's right Harry S. Truman.  Well, maybe just Harry Truman*.  The S in this case is Stupid or Seriously-stupid.

On 5/24/85, almost five years to the day a minor mudflow in the crater of Mount St. Helens yielded one carefully incubated and constructed specimen.  With cat like reflexes, but only 16 fingers and toes, conjuring fire from his belly, and lacking all possible thresholds of fear, the man-child that you know as the undrafted free agent...yeah, scottie ware.

NFL teams; WARNING: hire, or beware.

*must read

Joey's mere mention of 'the bull' today forced this on me, sorry.

goddamit, duke is going to win!

I am sorry to say that I've now picked Duke to cut down the nets in two of four ESPN brackets. I will probably do it again on the fifth.  

That McRoberts kid is going to go nuts in the tourney. JJ is a senior. Uglyman is ugly.  They are just too good.

I don't think they are even gonna have to play UConn.

Since I picked TX in the other two, I guess the champ is coming from Atlanta.

What do I know?

There has been a lot of talk lately about Dgib's play this season.  I have been unimpressed with daniel's play myself.

I looked at the 3-pt. shooting in our four losses, and then looked at specifically Tenn. loss at home.

3-pt.FG       Dgib      Team          
Four losses  5-25 20%  23-73 31.5%
TENN           0-0   0%  10-22 45.5%   22 TO

DGib:
So he really doesn't show up for the big games?  I always forget, he is supposed to be THE 3 pt. shooter.  He is below the team average for the year also(37.6%- 38.9%).

Looking back I remembered Tenn. game, he was injured early.  Concussion.  

Still a little timid from that Gib?  That might explain not going strong to the basket.  He is constantly jump stopping away from the hoop, instead of going strong for a lay in or possible concussion.  I think it is simply he is scared.

I don't blame him, I wouldn't want to go charging into the middle of ogers.  Of course, I am not starting PG for texas.  Neither is Dan now that I think about it.

Tenn.:
Look at their game line, how can you beat that?

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-32 50.0%   2nd Half: 13-26 50.0%   Game: 50.0%
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  7-14 50.0%   2nd Half:  5-10 50.0%   Game: 50.0%
F Throw % 1st Half:  9-10 90.0%   2nd Half: 16-18 88.9%   Game: 89.3%

They only had 10 TO so... 12 extra possesions?

In summary, Dgib has sucked in the three losses he really played in.  4-14 at OU, WTF!  Jacking threes.  Not saying it was Gibson's fault we lost the games, just looking at his performance.

We are obviously not inVinceable, in fact, if we shoot poorly you can destroy us.

How is it that our 4 losses are all double digits?  What happens?

Lack of team confidence would be my opinion.  We get down, and we give up.  

Maybe, no team leader/captain to refocus our attention?

It would be PJ, but he may be too selfish to lead.  It should be DGib, but he is underachieving.  It could be Paulino or Buckman, the veterans, but they haven't stepped up.

We need a VY, someone to lead the team.

Since we don't have one.  How many more games will we lose, and where will that put us for the madness?  oh, the madness.

No, it was not my first game, but it was the first game with a real fan presence since Texas began regular season play.  The 12th home game of the regular season brought out the horns fans against Villanova.  It took bringing in the #3 ranked 'NOVA team to get Austinites excited.  Non sequitor, I hate the frickin 'NOVA that they pretend is their "Brand".  Whatever.

For the first time all season I was relegated to my actual season ticket seat in the mezzanine's Section 77.  Previously, I have been enjoying the seats of Mr. Underhill in Section 33, whose family have been at the Colorado ski getaway ever since snow fell.  They even made it to this one.

I think without the home court advantage playing as it should, the horns might not have squeaked this one out.  It is nice to see the Erwin Center at capacity.  Barnes has brought talent to Texas on a consistent basis since his arrival and we are only getting better.  It is time that Texas basketball get the support that this team and future teams warrant.

I know the saying that basketball doesn't start until football is over, but it isn't that way everywhere.  Is it going to take a championship to pack the house every night, or is that just impossible, Texas being what it is?  The reigning national champion in NCAA football.