Tag: Big 12

Texas Basketball: Three Reasons They Fell to Texas Tech

The Texas Longhorns fell to the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday afternoon. Three reasons why the Horns were unable to hold the lead.

The Texas Longhorns have started out back to back games with impressive first halves that ended with leads over Kansas and Texas Tech. In both games they couldn’t hold the lead. For Texas, those losses could ultimately what leads to a new coach in 2020-2021.

Scoring Droughts

Too often in the game against the Red Raiders, Texas would go long stretches especially in the second half without scoring. This allowed them to get right back in the game after being down by 16 at one point.

From the 14:53 mark of the second until the 10:27 mark, Texas failed to score and the Red Raiders went on a 9-0 run to tie the game. This was a huge reason that it was close for most of the second half.

Forcing Turnovers

When Texas built the lead early on in the game it was a combination of Andrew Jones shooting and forcing turnovers by Texas Tech. In the first half alone the Longhorns forced 11 turnovers that allowed them build their lead.

In the second half it was quite the opposite as they only forced two. The Longhorns weren’t able to force many but in fact turned it over nine times in the second half. Matt Coleman had three while Jericho Sims and Jones added two more apiece.

Taking Low Percentage Shots

In the first half it felt as if Jones couldn’t miss a shot but as the game wore on, he didn’t have that same magic for the Longhorns. As a whole Texas took too many ill-advised three pointers. They shot 23 three pointers with only six finding the net for 26.1 percent from the floor.

The combination of A1J and Coleman shot a combine 14-33 from the floor (42.2 percent). They combined for 35 of the Longhorns 57 points. Their poor shooting throughout the second is a big reason why Tech was able to outscore them 43-26 and steal the game on the road.

The Longhorns now set their sights on the number one ranked Baylor Bears on Big Monday. With just eight games remaining on the schedule and a 14-9 (4-6) record, time is running out on Shaka Smart and the Longhorns.

Watch: Texas Longhorns Commit Billy Bowman Jr Highlight Reel

Texas Longhorns’ 2021 commit Billy Bowman Jr has posted his highlight reel from his junior season at Denton Ryan.

The Texas Longhorns 2021 Commit Billy Bowman Jr posted his highlights from his junior year for Denton Ryan. Bowman is the seventh ranked athlete in the nation and the 15th ranked prospect in the state of Texas according to the 247 composite rankings.

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Bowman committed to the Longhorns back in July to join teammate Ja’Tavion Sanders as Texas commits ahead of their junior seasons.

Another Second Half Meltdown Dooms Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns built a 16-point lead in the first half but their second half allowed Texas Tech to steal one on the road.

In the first matchup of Texas Tech and Texas, after a quick layup by Jahmi’us Ramsey, the Red Raiders took the quick lead. The Longhorns had a hard time hitting a shot as the teams struggled to score in the first three minutes of the game. A block by Kai Jones got Texas into transition and found Matt Coleman III all alone for the three.

It was stifling defense and Andrew Jones early on for the Longhorns. Jones was able to get 11 of the first 18 points for Texas. On defense he was getting steals, blocking shots to provide all the energy for Texas. Texas forced 10 turnovers by Tech in the first 12 minutes of the first half. That led Texas to a 14-0 run to extend the lead to 22-8 with under eight minutes to go in the half.

After falling down by 16 late in the first half, Tech went on an 8-0 to cut the lead in half. It was up to Jones to build the lead back to double digits after drawing a foul to get him to the line. In the fist half A1J was responsible for 16 of the Longhorns 31 first half points as they led at the break 31-19.

It was Texas Tech in the first half with the sloppy play that led to 11 first half turnovers. The Longhorns returned the favor early on in the second half with three quick turnovers that allowed Tech to close within seven after a Davide Moretti three-pointer, 37-30 with 16:00 to go.

Royce Hamm Jr built the lead back up to nine following an assist from A. Jones. The Longhorns would score on a Donovan Williams layup to go up 41-32 before Texas would go on a four plus minute scoring drought that let Texas Tech right back in the game. They would tie it up at 41 with over 10 minutes left. Hamm would stop the drought with an offensive rebound and slam to retake the lead after Kamaka Hepa misses a layup.

After back and forth between the two teams, it became the Matt Coleman show as they headed to a finish. Coleman scored six of his 17 points in a three minute stretch to retake the lead at 54-52. Coleman would drive into the lane before he found Courtney Ramey all alone for a three-point shot to jump back in front of Tech, 57-56.

The final 2:06 was less than memorable for the Longhorns, especially the final 31 seconds. In an attempt to retake the lead, Coleman attempted three layups and was blocked all three times by Tech forward T.J. Holyfield. The Longhorns would fall at home 62-57 after four consecutive Moretti free throws sealed the deal.  Andrew Jones led the Longhorns with 18.

Three reason why Oklahoma beat West Virginia 69-59

Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) and West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) played a physical game against each other with the Sooners coming out on top 69-59.

Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) and West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) played a physical game against each other with the Sooners coming out on top 69-59. For Oklahoma, the win takes them back to five-hundred in Big 12 play.

Here is how it happened.

PERIMETER DEFENSE

The Sooners put together one of their best defensive performances of the season, holding the Mountaineers to just 24-for-76 (31.6%) from the floor, and even more impressively, 6-for-15 (40%) from three. Only five West Virginia players recorded 3-pointers.

KRISTIAN DOOLITTLE

Doolittle did it all against WVU, leading all players with 27 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and tacking on two steals. He shot 9-for-15 from the floor. Against Bedlam last week, Doolittle joined the 1,000-point club with the Sooners.

HARMON OFF THE BENCH

After shooting just 1-for-5 in the loss against Texas Tech, freshman De’Vion Harmon took full advantage in his minutes off the bench against the Mountaineers. He scored eight points on three-for-four shooting, contributing to 16 total bench points for the Sooners. The former four-star is averaging just 7.6 in 27.8 minutes per game. He has struggled to find his role with Lon Kruger’s squad but could thrive in a sixth-man role for the Sooners.

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Texas offers 2022 Defensive Back

Bryan Allen Jr. out of Aledo, TX is the latest player to receiving an offer from UT. Playing for Aledo, Allen will continue to get looks.

Bryan Allen Jr. out of Aledo, TX is the latest player to receiving an offer from the Longhorns. The 5 feet 11-inch safety is the third player Texas has offered at the position, all from within the state.

Currently unranked on 247Sports, Allen is starting to rack up offers from a few Big 12 schools. Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State have given offers to him, while non-Power 5 schools Houston and Illinois State have also reached out.

Allen had an outstanding sophomore season, totaling 112 tackles. When he was not bringing down offensive players, Allen was forcing turnovers. Having three interceptions of the season, he also forced two fumbles. If he was not forcing them, he was recovering fumbles, having three recoveries, two for touchdowns.

Playing for one of the best high school teams in the state with Aledo, Allen will continue to get looks as the 2022 recruiting rankings start to pour in.

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Oklahoma turns the corner against No. 13 West Virginia

On the back of Kristian Doolittle, Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) finally climbed over the proverbial hump.

Finally.

On the back of Kristian Doolittle, Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) finally climbed over the proverbial hump. His 27 points and 12 rebounds gave him his sixth career double-double and the Sooners their tenth home win of the season.

The Sooners have had close calls against No. 3 Kansas, No. 1 Baylor, and had a tough loss to Texas Tech in the week that was accompanied by a 10-hour bus ride home from Lubbock, Texas. Welcoming No. 13 ranked West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) to Norman, Okla., it felt like the Sooners had their backs against the wall, needing to claw their way to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Oklahoma did just that.

Doolittle willed the Sooners to a seven-point halftime lead, thanks to his 14 points. Both he and Brady Manek combined for the first 17 points from Oklahoma.

“Whenever we can get them going, that’s good for our team,” Jamal Bienimey said postgame. “I think that led the way throughout the rest of the game and carried us, helped us today.”

Doolittle continued to be a catalyst on both ends of the floor in the closing 20-minutes. Alongside his points and rebounds, Doolittle dished out an assist, a block, and grabbed two steals. While opening an 18-point lead, Doolittle and De’Vion Harmon were always leading the way on fast breaks.

Causing the fast breaks was Oklahoma’s incredible defense, something Bob Huggins saw more of a flaw on the Mountaineers’ end rather than the Sooners’ abilities.

“We missed 22 shots within two feet of the basket. Seems impossible, but we missed 22 shots within two feet of the basket,” Huggins said postgame.

The Sooners forced West Virginia to shoot just under 32% despite the fact that the Mountaineers outshot Oklahoma 76-49.

Oklahoma finally proved that they can compete with teams bigger and better than them, all they need is one good outing. The performance bodes well for the Sooners as the NCAA Tournament creeps ever closer. Projected as a 10-seed earlier today, Oklahoma’s win over projected two-seed West Virginia can only better their chances come March.

All the cards are face-up from here on out for the Sooners as they host Iowa State on Wednesday at 8p.m. on ESPN.

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Texas offers top 2022 player from Kansas

Texas has offered four-star ATH Dasan McCullough. Ranked a four-star prospect, he is the top-rated player in the class to come out of Kansas.

The Longhorns have offered 2022 athlete Dasan McCullough out of Leawood, Kansas. Ranked a four-star prospect by 247Sports, he is the top-rated player in the class to come out of the state of Kansas. Coming in at 6 feet 4 inches and 205 pounds, McCullough’s main position at Blue Valley North High School is safety.

If McCullough were to sign with the Longhorns, he would be the highest-rated recruit from the state of Kansas to ever play at Texas. Linebacker Gary Johnson who played two seasons in 2017 and 2018 was recruited from Dodge City Community College in Kansas but was originally from Birmingham, AL.

Kansas and Oklahoma are the only other two Big 12 schools to offer McCullough. Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and LSU from the SEC have also reached out, while other big-time programs like Florida State, Michigan, and Oregon have also offered him.

Over the next two recruiting cycles, the Longhorns have already offered six other safeties. If McCullough were to stay at the position, he would just add to the possible depth for Texas.

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Three takeaways from Oklahoma’s 69-59 win over No. 13 West Virginia

Hosting the No. 13 team in the country, Oklahoma played their most complete team game of the season

Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) and West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) battled hard all afternoon with the Sooners coming out on top 69-59.  Hosting the No. 13 team in the country, Oklahoma played their most complete team game of the season.

DOOLITTLE DOES A LOT

Kristian Doolittle had arguably the best game of his career Saturday afternoon. The lone Sooner senior had 27 points, 12 rebounds, a block, two steals, and an assist in the win over the Mountaineers. Being stagnant offensively over the past handful of games, Doolittle exploded to will Oklahoma over West Virginia. His fingerprints were all over the game as he led fastbreak after fastbreak alongside De’Vion Harmon.

IS THIS THE CORNER THAT NEEDED TO BE TURNED?

The Sooners have been all over the place in the rollercoaster that is the 2019-20 season. With close calls against No. 3 Kansas at home and No. 1 Baylor on the road, a win over No. 13 West Virginia may be exactly what they needed to turn the corner this season. Coming into the game, West Virginia was projected as a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament and Oklahoma a 10-seed. Today’s game is a reminder that March Madness often begins in February.

COFFEE’S FOR CLOSERS

Despite getting the win, the Sooners failed to close out the game in a proper fashion. Nearly falling victim to West Virginia’s patented press defense Oklahoma saw their 18-point lead dwindle down to five over the final six minutes. Oklahoma had their flaws down the stretch but came through when it mattered most.

Oklahoma is back in action Wednesday when they host Iowa State at 8p.m.

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Bleacher Report’s Top 25 2021 Recruits: Texas Targets

Bleacher Report has come out with their top 25 recruits of the 2021 class. The Texas Longhorns have six targets among the list.

Bleacher Report college football writer Tyler Brooke has come out with his list of the top 25 recruits in the 2021 class. There are more than a few names on the list that have offers from Texas.

24. Atiye Hall, Wide Receiver, IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)

MG Academy produces elite athletes across a number of different sports, and Agiye Hall is no different. At 6’3″ and 190 pounds, Hall is listed as the No. 1 receiver in the country with 43 FBS offers already on the table. His commitment is scheduled for March 14. Alabama, Arizona State, Clemson and LSU are among those in on him.

Hall has an offer from the University of Texas but teams listed in the post have the inside track on his commitment in 2021.

21. Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver, Menlo-Atherton (Menlo Park, CA)

An explosive playmaker that plays in all three phases of the game, Troy Franklin will be a big-time wide receiver in college. His wiry 6’2″, 170-pound frame still has plenty of room left to grow into, and his potential is through the roof. Alabama’s Jeff Banks and Oregon’s Jim Mastro are already hard at work trying to lure Franklin to their respective programs.

While Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah are among his top offers, the Texas Longhorns are right there in the mix for the five-star wide receiver who is ranked the number one receiver of the class. Composite rankings have him as number two receiver in the country and 23rd overall.

13. Landon Jackson, Weakside Defensive End, Pleasant Grove (TX)

At 6’6″ and 240 pounds, it’s not surprising to anyone that Landon Jackson already has 27 FBS offers. The Texas native is such a prized recruit that even Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has been personally involved in his recruitment. Jackson is putting up video-game numbers in high school, and there’s a whole season left for him to generate even more buzz

The Texas product has a wealth of offers on the table including from the Longhorns. 247 has him at 67 percent to the Aggies. It would be a great get for Texas if they can flip him to Austin. Jackson has yet to commit to a program early on in the cycle, but his 36.5 sacks in three seasons shows the level of disruption that he can create. He is rated the number one WDE in the nation.

10. Savion Byrd, Offensive Tackle, Duncanville (TX)

As 6’5″ and 265 pounds, Texas’ Savion Byrd has plenty of room to grow and already looks like one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country. He hasn’t committed anywhere yet, but in-state schools like Texas and SMU have a strong chance to bring him in.

The defending National Champions in LSU are among the top teams in pursuit of the state’s second-best offensive tackle recruit. Byrd was tasked with protecting Texas’ signee Ja’Quinden Jackson and he could be doing that in the future. He is projected to sign with the Longhorns in 2021.

8. Tony Grimes, Cornerback, Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, VA)

Is there a chance an in-state school can snag the No. 1 recruit in Virginia? Top-ranked cornerback Tony Grimes is already drawing interest from the likes of Alabama, Clemson and Georgia thanks to his lengthy frame and smooth play at cornerback. It’ll be tough for Virginia or Virginia Tech to pull it off, but it would be a huge win for either program.

Grimes has received an offer from the Texas Longhorns but it seems like the number one rated cornerback in the country might be out of reach. He is likely to sign with Virginia Tech with the Aggies also in the running.

2. Tommy Brockermeyer, Offensive Tackle, All Saints Episcopal (Ft Worth, TX)

Being the top offensive tackle in the country is a huge honor for any recruit. For Brockermeyer, that’s the expectation given his family. Tommy’s father, Blake Brockermeyer, was an offensive tackle in the NFL and for the Texas Longhorns. His brother Luke is a linebacker with the Longhorns. It’s no guarantee that Brockermeyer follows his family’s footsteps because he’ll have a lot of top-tier schools heavily recruiting him over the coming year.

While the Longhorns do have the inside track on Brockermeyer, it doesn’t feel like it is a foregone conclusion. However with his broker Luke already in Austin, that could bode well. Another note is that Tommy’s twin brother James is the third-rated center in the country and is likely to join Luke in Austin.

 

Three keys for Oklahoma basketball against No. 13 West Virginia

Oklahoma (14-8, 4-5) and No. 13 West Virginia (18-4, 6-3) face off in a crucial Big 12 matchup.

Oklahoma (14-8, 4-5) and No. 13 West Virginia (18-4, 6-3) face off in a crucial Big 12 matchup.

The Sooners last won exactly one week ago, laying the wood against Oklahoma State 82-69 in the first Bedlam matchup of the season. On Tuesday, Oklahoma fought for 35-minutes, coming up short in the final five minutes of the game against Texas Tech on the road.

To get back on track, here is what the Sooners have to do.

FIND DOO

Once again Kristian Doolittle is M.I.A. offensively. Averaging nearly 18 points a game a month ago, Doolittle has slipped down to just 14.1 points per game. Granted, Brady Manek has been a walking heat check and the emergence of Alondes Williams has led to fewer shots for Doolittle, but still, Doo has to be a  part of the offense for Oklahoma to have a chance against ranked opponents.

STAY HOT

Not so much in their game against Texas Tech, but the Sooners showed they can shoot against Oklahoma State. If they want to keep the Mountaineers sweating for all 40 minutes, Oklahoma needs to get hot early and stay consistent from the field throughout the game. Having lulls not only kills momentum but it has shown it can affect the Sooners’ defensive efforts as well.

CHANGE UP

Defensively, Oklahoma has done a relatively good job with a few exceptions. West Virginia is going to test the Sooners’ defense as head coach Bob Huggins loves to give different looks throughout the game. Lon Kruger is going to have to be just as creative in changing from man to zone frequently to try and slow down the Mountaineers’ attack.

Oklahoma and West Virginia are set to tip-off at 1p.m. CT on ESPNU. For more broadcast details, click here.