Tag: Big 12

Three Ways Texas Can Upset No. 1 Baylor

Suffering a loss on Saturday to TTU, UT now faces another challenge against No. 1 Baylor. Here are three ways Texas can pull off the upset.

Suffering a possible NCAA Tournament hopes ending loss on Saturday, Texas has a quick turnaround for a Big Monday showdown against Baylor. Currently ranked the No. 1 team in the country, the Bears have not lost in conference play so far this season and their only loss of the season came against Washington in November.

Already playing once this season in Waco, the Bears stomped the Longhorns 59-44. Now, Baylor comes to Austin, a place they have won three out of their last four. In their last two games against Kansas State and Oklahoma State, the Bears have only won by single digits, seeming to be more and more vulnerable. Texas must take advantage of that, trying to squeeze their way back into the Big 12.

Here are three ways Texas can pull off an upset against No. 1 Baylor:

Andrew Jones plays like he did in the first half against Texas Tech

The Longhorns played really well in the first half against the Red Raiders and that was partially thanks to Andrew Jones and his scoring. Jones had 16 points on 5/8 shooting in the first 20 minutes, being the main reason Texas went into halftime with a 12 point lead. After the break, he struggled, only scoring two points and finishing the afternoon 6/14 from the field. If Jones can replicate his first half against Texas Tech and do it over both halves against Baylor, the Longhorns could have a chance to split the season series with the Bears.

Get to the free-throw line

Out of 353 eligible Division 1 NCAA teams, no team has attempted fewer free throws than Texas. Only getting to the line an average of 11 times per game, the Longhorns are not drawing enough fouls. Once they finally do get to the line, the ball is not exactly going through the hoop. Shooting 66.5% from the free-throw line is going to kill you, no matter how many or few shots are attempted. In the Big 12 opener against Baylor back in January, Texas got to the charity strike 15 times, more than their current season average. That was ruined though because the Longhorns only made five of them, shooting 33%. Getting to the line has been a struggle all season for Texas and they must turn it around to beat Baylor.

Knockdown three-pointers

Texas is the ultimate example of the phrase ‘live and die by the three-ball’. In their last three wins against Oklahoma State, TCU, and Iowa State, the Longhorns have shot 47.8% from behind the arc, going 33/69. In the last two losses against Kansas and Texas Tech, they shot 10/47, making 21.2% of their attempts. It will be a difficult task against Baylor, as opponents in the Big 12 are only hitting 30% of their three-pointers against them. Matt Coleman, Andrew Jones, and Jase Febres are the main shooters from deep for Texas and they must knock down their shots.

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Oklahoma is no longer on the bubble in latest bracketology

The whimsical science that is bracketology has Oklahoma looking good as the Sooners head into the toughest part of their schedule.

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The whimsical science that is bracketology has Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) trending up as the Sooners head into the toughest part of their schedule.

Oklahoma is currently No. 48 in the NET ranking, placing them in both Quadrant 1 and Quadrant 2 depending on whether the Sooners are at home or on the road.

Oklahoma’s best win came this past weekend, beating then-ranked No. 13 West Virginia 69-59. The Mountaineers are currently No. 9 in the NET ranking and No. 14 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, making them a Quadrant 1 team.

When it comes down to NCAA Tournament seeding, the Sooners are currently in as a nine-seed, per USA TODAY. Oklahoma is averaging a 10.18 seed on Bracket Matrix, who averages over 100 bracketologists brackets to give a more thorough and in-depth look as to who makes the Tournament and where.

Oklahoma has regular-season matchups remaining against projected No. 1 seeds Baylor and Kansas as well as Quadrant 1 games against Texas Tech and West Virginia, all of which are ranked inside the Top 25. Pulling off an upset in one or more of those games as well as taking care of Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas, and TCU to close out the Big 12 regular season, the Sooners would be a virtual lock for the Big Dance.

Oklahoma and Iowa State duke it out on Wednesday at 8p.m. CT on ESPN2.

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Texas Longhorns’ Sam Ehlinger Among The Best Quarterbacks in 2020

247 analyst Brad Crawford lists the 10 best quarterbacks in 2020, Sam Ehlinger checks in as the highest rated signal caller in the Big 12.

When it comes to any football team there isn’t any more important position than the quarterback. For the Texas Longhorns in 2020, their success begins and ends with the quarterback and Sam Ehlinger. Brad Crawford of 247 has ranked the top 10 quarterbacks to take the field in 2020. There are two quarterbacks on the list with Texas ties.

Coming in at number 10 is former teammate of Ehlinger, Shane Buechele of Southern Methodist University.

Why he’s in the Top 10: Forward-thinking a bit here, but Buechele’s senior-season numbers at SMU could dwarf 2019’s stats — and those were awfully impressive (3,929 yards passing, 34 TDs). The language won’t change and Buechele will have full grasp of Sonny Dykes’ power spread as a Year 2 starter, even with the arrival of new OC Garrett Riley. The former Texas transfer gets all of his offensive linemen back and the arrival of two weapons at wideout will soften the blow of James Proche’s exit. SMU floundered late this fall, but the Mustangs could very much be a Top 25 mainstay once again in 2020 under Buechele’s guidance.

The highest rated quarterback on the list from the Big 12 and the state of Texas is Sam Ehlinger.

Why he’s in the Top 10: We’re watching one of the top quarterbacks in program history star for the Longhorns, but he still feels underappreciated nationally. He’ll back back for his final season in 2020 with one last opportunity to get Texas back to the forefront as a national title contender. Ehlinger’s best has come in spotlight opportunities against nationally-ranked competition, the mark of a true competitor. The guy has accounted for 80 touchdowns over his last 27 games, the second-most in college football during that stretch (Joe Burrow, 88).

Not only has Ehlinger been a huge factor in bowl game upsets against Georgia and Utah but he is setting himself up to become one of the two best quarterbacks in Texas history, statistically. The Austin Westlake product is already second in passing yards but how close can he get to Colt McCoy’s record?

Ehlinger is already top-ten in rushing for the Longhorns, with another big season running the ball could pass Marty Atkins for second all-time in rushing yards for a Texas quarterback only trailing Vince Young. Young’s record is virtually untouchable at this point for Ehlinger but being second to Young isn’t anything to feel bad about.

Best recruits in Texas for 2021; Longhorns offer several top players

Dallas Morning News recently released a list of the Top 50 high school prospects from the state of Texas.

Head coach Tom Herman has made it a priority to recruit the best athletes out of the state of Texas.

According to Dallas Morning News’ recent list of the Top 50 prospects from Texas for the 2021 class, the Longhorns have already received commitments from two of the Top 10.

Versatile athlete Ja’Tavion Sanders out of Denton Ryan High School is ranked as the No. 2 player on this list. The four-star prospect verbally announced his commitment to Texas shortly after the Texas vs. LSU game last September. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Sanders is the No. 46 overall rated player in the 2021 recruiting class, according to 247Sports Composite.

Sitting at No. 6 on Dallas Morning News’ list, Billy Bowman Jr. has also verbally announced his decision to continue his playing career at Texas. Bowman is teammates with Sanders at Denton Ryan, the four-star wide receiver chose Texas over offers from Alabama, Oregon, and Florida State.

Including Sanders, the Longhorns have sent offers to the top four players on the list.

No. 1 – Tommy Brockermeyer

  • Offensive lineman
  • FW All Saints Episcopal School
  • 6-foot-6, 283 pounds
  • Offers from Auburn, Texas, Clemson, LSU, others

No. 2 – Ja’Tavion Sanders

  • Committed to Texas

No. 3 – Camar Wheaton

  • Running back
  • Garland Lakeview Centennial High School
  • 5-foot-11, 190 pounds
  • Offers from Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, others

No. 4 – Savion Byrd

  • Offensive lineman
  • Duncanville High School
  • 6-foot-5, 265 pounds
  • Offers from LSU, Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, others

 

 

WATCH: ESPN Discusses if it will all click for Texas in 2020

ESPN college football analysts Cole Cubelic and Mike Golic Jr discuss whether or not 2020 will be the year of the Texas Longhorns.

The annual question that seems to be near the forefront of everyone’s mind always is “Texas back”? ESPN college football analysts Cole Cubelic and Mike Golic Jr make their case on if in fact, this is the year it all clicks for the Texas Longhorns and head coach Tom Herman.

Both Golic and Cubelic made valid points on the Texas Longhorns in 2020. Outside of the wide receivers, the team has plenty of talent returning in 2020.  Sam Ehlinger is poised to have the best season of his collegiate career with some uncertainty at wide receiver. The team has leading-rusher Keaontay Ingram coming back with Roschon Johnson, Jordan Whittington and freshman Bijan Robinson.

For the defense they welcome back Joseph Ossai, Caden Sterns, B.J. Johnson and D’shawn Jamison. The incoming freshman duo of Prince Dorbah and Alfred Collins look to make some noise in their first year on campus. Golic is obviously a bit jaded because we have all heard it before but could this be a different Texas team?

With an influx of talent and new coaches in play for the Longhorns, it just might be. They will find out relatively early just where they stand with a visit to Death Valley in a matchup with the defending National Champions. As Cubelic stated, it might be the year that Texas finally takes back over the Big 12 and gets on the national stage in pursuit of a college football playoff appearance.

Only time will tell but this team has all the makings to get it done. It will be put up or shut up time come the fall of 2020.

 

Trae Young joins LeBron James, Kevin Durant in NBA history with 40-point games

Trae Young continues to make NBA history and find his name next to some of the best to play the game.

Trae Young continues to make NBA history and find his name next to some of the best to play the game.

Young became the third player in NBA history to drop 40-points in ten games before turning 22, joining LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Young has had nine such games this season with his latest 40+ point performance coming last night against the New York Knicks, dropping 48 points. One point shy of tying his career-high of 49, which he has hit twice, Young was efficient, shooting 13-of-30 and 6-of-13 from behind the arc.

Accompanying his high scoring rate were 13 assists for his fifth-best passing performance of the season. Over the past nine games, Young has been sharing the rock at a high clip averaging 12 assists a game.

Young has had a fantastic sophomore season, being named an All-Star starter after being drafted by Team Giannis. Young will also compete against fellow Sooner Buddy Hield in the 3-point contest on All-Star weekend.

All-Star festivities are set for this weekend and all events will be broadcasted on TNT.

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USA Today Sports Bracketology: Where Is Texas Basketball Ranked?

A tough season for the Texas Longhorns basketball might get worse down the stretch but do they have a shot at the tournament?

USA Today Sports writers Shelby Mast and Scott Gleeson have come out with their latest bracketology as they predict just who will get invited to the dance. March Madness is one of the most hectic and enjoyable sports moments of the college season but just how realistic is it that Texas could get an invite?

The Big 12 Schools

  • The number one seeds: Kansas, Baylor
  • 3rd seed: West Virginia
  • 7th seed: Texas Tech
  • 9th seed: Oklahoma
  • Considered for at-large bid: Texas Christian, Texas

The Big 12 Conference is predicted to have five slots for at large bids. For the Texas Longhorns to find a way into the tournament they would need to get ahead of both TCU and Oklahoma or win the Big 12 Tournament. According to the NET rankings which is a team-ranking metric used by the selection committee has Texas at 66. TCU comes in at 80 and Oklahoma is 49th. This ranking metric replaced the rating percentage index or RPI (Texas at 50) for criteria used by the selection committee.

The Longhorns aren’t necessarily eliminated from a potential spot in the dance but their chances to get in are very minor. A strong showing against Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and Texas Tech in the coming weeks will be huge for the program and the future of head coach Shaka Smart.

2020 Texas Longhorns Profile: Brayden Liebrock

The Texas Longhorns have a very athletic tight end buried on the depth chart. Could the 2020 season be one where Brayden Liebrock shines?

Athletic tight ends are all the rage in both today’s college game and in the NFL. Players such as Evan Engram, Noah Fant, George Kittle and Travis Kelce can be real game changers for offense. They can take advantage of smaller defenders and when they start getting involved it can open up the entire offense, not to mention the fact that they are usually a quarterback’s best friend.

The Texas Longhorns have one of those tight ends waiting in the wings for his opportunity. Cade Brewer, Malcolm Epps, Reese Leitao are atop the projected depth chart but don’t forget about Brayden Liebrock. The Chandler, Arizona product and four-star prospect from the 2019 class was highly touted. He ranked fifth among tight ends according to 247 composite rankings.

In two seasons of varsity football, Liebrock hauled in 104 passes for 1,384 yards and 16 touchdowns. Not to mention his 13.3 yards per reception average. He can be a real threat as he gets more reps in the Texas system. The position hasn’t been one that historically the Longhorns have used to their advantage but one could argue they haven’t had an athlete like Liebrock.

He needs to fill out his frame a bit more but that will come with time in a college strength program. He isn’t the best blocker but that will come with technique and gaining strength. What he does do very well is catch the football. He is a big target in the redzone and with soft hands, Liebrock catches almost anything near him.

The best part of his game is his quickness, linebackers who often draw the assignment of covering tight ends will have trouble keeping up with him. Very good route runner and can be a big yards after the catch threat. He might not see significant playing time this upcoming season but with a full offseason in the program, that might come to a change in the spring.

Liebrock is a name to remember and a player to watch.

2020 Texas Longhorns Spring Battles: The Tight Ends

Cade Brewer will lead the 2020 Texas Longhorns at tight end heading into the spring but who could be on the horizon?

The tight end position hasn’t been one that has been used much in Austin over the past several years but his year under Mike Yurcich could be different. In the past, Yurcich has used them on offense to help spread out a defense. For the Longhorns there are several to keep an eye on this spring as they battle it out for playing time.

Previous Spring Battle Articles

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Cade Brewer:

Brewer comes into 2020 as the incumbent starter, he required ankle surgery during the 2019 campaign. Brewer would appear in seven games with 11 receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown. With so much uncertainty surrounding the wide receiver position in 2020, Brewer could be in for a big senior campaign in 2020.

Malcolm Epps:

For the Longhorns, Epps could make an impact in multiple spots on offense. Epps was recruited as a tight end but made the switch to wide receiver last season. With Yurcich’s affinity for multiple tight end usage on offense he could find himself back at his original position in some capacity for the Longhorns.

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Reese Leitao:

Leitao found his way into two games during the 2019 season, mostly due to the injury to Brewer. Much like Epps, Leitao could work his way onto the field in 2020. Brewer will be a season in 2020 and the Longhorns need to have some development into the next tight end in Austin.

Jared Wiley:

Wiley is a young tight end who signed as part of the 2019 recruiting class as an early signee. The 6’6″ tight end caught one pass against Texas Tech in 2019 for 15 yards. He will likely battle it out with Leitao and Brayden Liebrock for backup duties to Brewer in 2020.

Brayden Liebrock:

Liebrock should be the dark horse of the entire group. He has all the makings of a great tight end at the University of Texas. The four-star prospect was named to the USA Today All-American second team and participated in the Under Armour All-American game. He appeared in the Rice and Texas Tech games but did not register a reception. Liebrock is the one player outside of Epps who could really give opposing defenses fits in coverage and the tight end to watch this spring.

 

2020 Texas Longhorns Spring Battles: The Wide Receivers

The Texas Longhorns spring battles among the wide receivers will be an interesting one to watch. Jake Smith and Brennan Eagles are two keys.

In the ongoing series for the upcoming spring battles, the wide receivers take center stage. The Longhorns will be looking to replace the production they lost with Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay graduating and heading to the NFL in 2020. Our series started with the quarterbacks and the running backs.

Jake Smith

Smith is coming off a solid freshman season. In his first season on the Forty Acres, Smith appeared in nine games and hauled in 25 passes. Of those 25, six were for touchdowns. Smith tied Eagles for the second-most receiving touchdowns in 2019 just behind Duvernay who hauled in nine. Smith is likely first up to take over the slot receiver role left vacated by Duv. The receiver that quarterback Sam Ehlinger called “freaky fast” should be a big weapon in 2020. Smith’s 274 yards receiver was fourth-most on the team.

Brennan Eagles

Much like Smith, Eagles made an impact on the passing game with his six touchdowns. He was forced into the starting lineup due to the injury to Johnson that cost him six games overall in 2019. Brennan finished third on the team with 552 yards receiving but his 16.3 yards per reception was best on the team. Eagles is likely going to be the outside receiver in 2020.

Joshua Moore

Moore seems to be the forgotten man in Austin among the wide receivers group. After serving an indefinite suspension for a gun charge, Moore will be looking to get back into the good graces of Tom Herman and the offensive staff this spring. Moore played in six games as a freshman in 2018 before an injury shortened his season. He caught seven passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Malcolm Epps

After registering just one catch as a freshman, Epps had a much larger role at wide receiver in 2019. Epps finished with 20 receptions, 232 yards and two touchdowns. Epps could be playing tight end in 2020 and used as a red zone weapon at times. Until others get acclimated, don’t forget about Epps outside. He can use that 6’5″ frame to his advantage.

Jordan Whittington

Whittington could be fit into a lot of roles in 2020. He appeared in one game before he was shutdown due to injury with two receptions for 17 yards. Jordan could play running back but with the loaded running back room and Bijan Robinson coming in the fall, Whittington might be better suiting to play wide receiver. The Longhorns could use more weapons outside and Whittington is a candidate to make his impact there.

Marcus Washington

Washington appeared in just four games this past season. According to sports-reference.com he is credited with three catches for 33 yards. Washington should be in the mix during the spring as the Longhorns try to figure out who will be catching passes from Ehlinger this fall.

As far as the incoming class, Troy Omeire will be part of the spring camp. He enrolled early after signing with Texas. The four-star wide receiver accounted for 2,452 yards and 31 receiving touchdowns in high school. The Longhorns also added Kelvontay Dixon will join in the fall after signing with Texas. Dixon accounted for 1,223 yards and 20 touchdowns this past season with Carthage (TX).