Yes, they beat the Longhorns. The same Longhorn team that has lost 4 of its last 6 5 of its last 7. And yes, they played one helluva half of basketball against Texas. But that aside, this team still isn’t any good. And its getting harder and harder not to place the blame on the coach of this struggling ball club.
Talent is not an issue whatsoever. Willie Warren was a player-of-the-year candidate six months ago. TMG is playing like a first-team all-conference guard. Cade Davis has figured something out. So has Ryan Wright. Tiny Gallon was a McDonald’s All-American and the 9th-ranked player in the country coming out of high school. Andrew Fitzgerald was a top-70 player in high school.
Even when we win, we don’t look good. And good God, when we lose, we look pathetic (see Nebraska’s only conference win this season). We have to lead the country in shots not hitting the rim. Tiny Gallon can’t hit the ass side of Beyonce from 16 inches right now. Davis shoots entirely too many threes. As does Tony Crocker. As does Willie Warren. As does the entire fucking team. We are like the Arkansas teams of the mid-’90s minus the championships and defense and field goal percentage.
One of the major gripes I had against Kalvin was his offensive game plan,
which consisted of holding the ball at mid court and jacking up a bad shot with 3 left on the shot clock. I am certain I hated that offense.
But I am not certain I don’t hate this offense more. Stand around the arc and put up the first open three, whether you shoot over 20 percent from there or not. It’s been said we look like an AAU team. Our offense looks like it was put together by an AAU coach if that’s what people mean.
*rant over*
All the above being said, if Capel can get one guy to figure it out, this team can do something next year.
It’s not TMG, who looks like an All-American in the making, and who has improved ten fold the past month.
It’s not Cade Davis, who has become a 6-5 small forward that loves to rebound, take the ball to the rim (finally), and can’t miss free throws. And who finally has a defined role on the team.
It’s not Willie Warren because his ass will be in the NBA D-League this time next year.
It’s not Pledger or Fitzgerald, because all those two fucking morons need is more practice and floor time and less time stealing shit from Dillard’s.
The answer is Tiny Gallon.
He has to live up to at least a portion of his hype. He has 401K’d his way on the bench. He plays no defense. He is not aggressive on the boards or posting up. He is content with playing on the perimeter, and he’s not very good at that. He is 6-9, 290 pounds and he plays like Tim Heskett. Maybe he just needs time. Because if Capel can develop this kid into a 15-point, 9-board guy … this team will compete as soon as next year.
If not, that will make 3 out of 5 years without an NCAA tournament birth (all without Blake), and the grumblings will get loud.
9 Comments Received
February 9th, 2010 @8:21 am
I hate to say I told you so….
http://www.reddirtkings.com/2009/10/back-in-action-ou-starts-hoops-season.html#comment-4747
This team is loaded with talent. So what’s left? I hate this word but it defines the problem, synergy. It seems to me he has recruited well, but not recruited well for his own system, whatever that is. I’m pretty sure Capel ball is not 4 guys feeding next year’s number one NBA draft pick. If it is, it is time to panic.
I can’t remember who jumped all over me, I think it was my father-in-law, anyway, but I said Tiny was slow and unmotivated. What a sheet-storm that created. And now look at him, he’s got a bad case of Georgia Pine in his gluteus maximus.
I’m bummed, that’s for sure.
Well done GT.
February 9th, 2010 @8:23 am
I didn’t expect Tiny to score a lot of points this year, but I did expect him to dominate the glass against most teams. BG didn’t have a 10th of the hype of Tiny, yet he came in and was a huge force from day one.
February 9th, 2010 @9:05 am
No question this team has unilaterally underperformed, but before we start waterhosing the program, let’s remember the dramatic improvement Blake Griffin had from year one to year two. Dramatic. Good basketball player as a freshman, #1 pick as a sophomore.
I think this team’s biggest problem is that a significant majority of its talent is young, and the supposed “leaders” are an inconsistent senior and a sophomore in the midst of a terrible year on the court, when he can get on it.
TMG will be a star, and his rapid progress will help Tiny out in the long run. If they can’t progress together, would rather have the guy with the ball on a faster pace, and let him catch Tiny up.
Capel is building a great program, with another solid recruiting class coming in. When he came, the cupboard was bare and he luckily got Blake to carry them the first two years.
We’ll be back.
February 9th, 2010 @9:29 am
IMO, It has nothing to do with us jackin up threes, Willie Warren underperforming, or the team not rebounding (Tiny has led the team in boards 13 times). The problem is we cant play D. Way too many uncontested shots at the rim or wide open jumpers. When we play D, we look good. When we dont, well………
February 9th, 2010 @10:52 am
Tiny Gallon has become the “Bobby Joe Evans” of this decade….”Gatorade player of the year” my ass.
February 9th, 2010 @11:25 am
C’mon, he’s a freshman guys. And remember, this kid was jackin’ up threes left and right in highschool and Capel’s wanting him to play much more inside. It’s an adjustment. Yes he hasn’t lived up to the hype, but it’s a little early to be throwin the kid under the bus and labeling him a failure already.
February 9th, 2010 @11:40 am
Bobby Joe Evans started his 2nd season with some great games. But his problem was his body. He was hurt constantly and eventually had to give the game up. I am convinved BJE could have been a great player but for the injuries.
I am giving Tiny time to develop. But he has digressed dramatically this winter.
February 9th, 2010 @1:08 pm
I don’t want anyone to think I’m throwing a student athlete under a bus. The student athlete is only as good as the system and coach he plays for.
I figured this ‘transition’ would take a few years. We all grew spoiled with BG. And I for one was caught in the classic blunder, expecting that level of play from other players.
February 9th, 2010 @9:42 pm
Okay, now that I look closely, the rebounds aren’t that off from Blake’s FR year (8.1 to Blake’s 9.1), with an average of 5 less minutes for Tiny. Something seems different though. It’s rare that I notice him doing anything on the floor.
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