Tag: three

Three Reasons Texas Can Still Make the NCAA Tournament

Despite a frustrating season, UT still has the chance to make the postseason. Here are three reasons they can still make the NCAA Tournament.

It has been a frustrating season for Texas, suffering some brutal losses throughout the year. Despite that, there is still a small glimmer of hope that Shaka Smart can lead the Longhorns to the postseason for the third time in his tenure in Austin.

Many times it has seemed like the chances at making the tournament were over, but somehow Texas still remains. After picking up wins against TCU and Kansas State, the Longhorns are just a win or two away from being back on the bubble.

Needing to win out and more than likely needing some help throughout the way, there is still a path to postseason basketball for Texas. Here are three reasons the Longhorns can still make the NCAA Tournament:

Upcoming Opportunities

The final four games for Texas has three NCAA Tournament teams on the schedule with West Virginia, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. With the latter two being played on the road, the Longhorns will have the chance to pick up three quadrant one victories in a row.

Already playing those three opponents, Texas is currently 0-3 against them. The West Virginia and Oklahoma games were double-digit losses, while the Longhorns only lost by five to Texas Tech. Revenge should be on their mind as Texas does not want to be getting swept in their season series against conference rivals.

Even winning two out of these three games would be big for the Longhorns as they just need a little bit of a boost to get their name back in the pool. With the crazy season it has been in college basketball, no team should ever be considered out of the fight, especially with quality opponents left like Texas has.

Wide-open Big 12 tournament

Baylor and Kansas are undoubtedly the two best teams in the Big 12 this season, both ranked within the top five of the AP poll. Looking past those two heavyweights, the rest of the conference is wide open. Besides Baylor and KU, only Texas Tech has a winning record in Big 12 play, with West Virginia at 7-7 and everyone else below .500.

If the tournament started today, Texas would be facing off against West Virginia in the four seed vs five seed matchup. They would then get an opportunity at the one seed, having the chance to get a vital win towards getting an NCAA tournament.

If the conference season has proven anything, it is that it is a fairly competitive league. Even if Baylor and Kansas only have one conference loss each, they remain beatable as they have played competitive games all year. Texas will compete with the best and have the chance to get a win to springboard them into the madness.

Star Guards Have Begun to Step Up on Offense

Throughout the entire season, inconsistency has been the downfall of the Longhorns, with star players playing well one night and then having issues the next night. In the last two games against TCU and Kansas State, Shaka Smart’s squad has been consistently good, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Scoring 70 points in both of their last two games, the source of points have been coming from the guards, with Matt Coleman, Courtney Ramey, and Andrew Jones all stepping up big time. Ramey and Jones were in double figures in both games, while Coleman dropped a career-high 26 against Kansas State after missing out against TCU with an injury.

Role players like Will Baker, Kamaka Hepa, and Royce Hamm Jr. have been solid in the two wins, but the road to success rolls through the Texas backcourt. When the Longhorns have struggled, it has been due to offensive struggles. When Coleman, Jones, and Ramey are shooting the ball to their full potential, Texas is able to compete with anybody in the Big 12.

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Texas Basketball: Three Takeaways From The Baylor Loss

The Texas Longhorns fell once again to the Baylor Bears, three reasons for their latest loss in their current three-game skid.

The Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team is amidst a three-game losing streak after dropping their last game to Baylor, completing a season sweep for the Bears. During the broadcast ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla mentioned the amount of talent that the Longhorns have secured over the Shaka Smart tenure.

No Go To Scorer

The main cause for the losses as of late is development under Smart. With 11 top 100 players signed to play basketball, the Longhorns have yet to display the fruits of their labor on the hardwood. Against the Bears, Texas struggled to score consistently enough to keep up with their defense against a number one team. Texas fell to 0-11 against top ranked teams in their history.

Against the Bears, Longhorns’ guard Matt Coleman III led all scorers along with Baylor’s MaCio Teague with 11 points. That falls below is 12.6 points per game during Big 12 play. While Coleman has been the best for the team, Texas lacks that go to option when the going gets tough.

Shooting

During Monday’s game the Longhorns made one more basket that Baylor but lost by seven to the nation’s top ranked team. Over the three-game skid the Longhorns have been especially poor from behind the line. Shooting just 20.3 percent from behind the arc on 64 attempts. The average 4.3 makes on 21.3 attempts per game.

Arguably their best three point shooter missing in Jase Febres didn’t help matters but they have really struggled from distance. Overall their shooting hasn’t been there either. The Longhorns need to get more quality shots on the offensive side. Or attempt to get to the free throw line.

Over the last three games Texas has shot just 34.6 percent from the field with 63 makes on 182 attempts. Against the Bears they shot the lowest of that stretch with 30.5 percent. Despite a strong defensive effort, it is increasingly difficult to beat anyone when you miss that many shots. Texas is dead last in the conference at 64.6 points per game.

Rebounding

Despite having a big man like Jericho Sims who snagged 14 rebounds against Baylor, Texas has really struggled on the glass. They average the least amount of offensive rebounds per game which would give them more opportunities to score. Which could help counteract their porous shooting performances.

In total rebounds, the Longhorns average just 32.9 rebounds per game while allowing 35.8 per game. Their rebounding margin (-2.92) per game is the worst of the conference. Texas needs to make a more concerted effort to dominate the glass if they expect to compete with the top teams in the conference despite a disadvantage in shooting on a nightly basis.

 

 

Texas Loses Third Straight Game, Falls to No. 1 Baylor

Going into the game against BU, UT had lost back to back games. The Bears made it three in a row as they came into Austin and beat UT, 52-45.

Going into Monday night’s game against Baylor, the Longhorns had lost back to back games against Kansas and Texas Tech, nearly shutting the door on their NCAA Tournament hopes. The Bears completely shut that door closed, as they came into Austin and beat Texas, 52-45.

As usual, three-pointers are what killed the Longhorns’ chances of winning. Texas shot 3-17 from behind the arc, their second time shooting below 20% from three in two games. Both Courtney Ramey and Kamaka Heps were 0-4, struggling all night for the Longhorns.

Another common theme of the season has been the lack of free throws and it continued on Monday night. Texas was right on their season average, getting to the foul line 11 times. Making just over half of them with six, the Longhorns continue to struggle with free throws.

Andrew Jones and Matt Coleman were the only Texas players in double figures with 10 and 11 points respectively but shot a combined 8-24 from the field and 3-8 from the three-point line. The Longhorn offense struggled, killing their chances of an upset.

Baylor was not much better on offense than Texas, scoring their lowest amount of the entire season. The Bears were held to 34% shooting from the field and shot better from deep, making 37% of their threes. They remain unbeaten in Big 12 play, having a 1.5 game lead over Kansas in the Big 12.

Going forward for Texas, the opportunity to make the NCAA Tournament is more than likely over. They will have two chances to get big wins at home against West Virginia and on the road to Texas Tech but even then, it may not be enough.

All focus should be on the Big 12 tournament and how far the Longhorns can make it in Kansas City. With the mountain already a little too steep to climb up, it will be the last chance Shaka Smart has to prove himself as the head coach worthy of leading this program.

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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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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.

 

Texas Longhorns Make Top Five For 2021 Offensive Guard

The Texas Longhorns were listed among the top five schools for Katy offensive guard Bryce Foster who is ranked second in the state.

The 2021 recruiting is in full swing with the 2020 cycle now but behind us. For the Texas Longhorns, they will need to continue rebuilding their offensive line to open holes for the running game and protecting the eventual heir to Sam Ehlinger. One of the top offensive lineman released his top five schools on Monday.

Bryce Foster is listed as the second rated offensive guard in the country according to his 247 profile. The four-star rated recruit is also listed as the 11th ranked Texas product and 68th nationally. Foster is yet to take a visit with the Longhorns and crystal ball projections have him linked to Texas A&M where his brother attended.

The Longhorns would be well on their way to another top tier class if they could secure his commitment. He is a physical mauler in the middle of an offensive line. Foster’s recruitment is one to keep an eye on over the next several months leading up to the early signing period for the Texas.

Three 2021 Recruits to Look Out For

After another top 10 recruiting class in the 2020 cycle, all eyes are now focused on the 2021 class. Here are three recruits to look out for

After another top 10 recruiting class in the 2020 cycle, all eyes are now focused on the 2021 class. Already having seven commitments, the Longhorns are currently ranked fifth in the overall rankings. The best 2021 class to date in the Big 12, Oklahoma at No. 18 is the closest team in the conference to Texas.

This year, all but one of the Longhorns’ commitments were from the state of Texas. 2021 will be more of the same, as Texas continues to dominate in the state. Some of the best players according to 247Sports are instate and the Longhorns are already favorites to sign them. Not only competing with other Big 12 schools, but the SEC will also be competition for UT.

Here are three recruits from the 2021 class to look out for:

OT – Tommy Brockermeyer

Already listed as a five-star recruit, Brockermeyer is currently the fourth-ranked prospect in the 247Sports Composite. Coming out of All Saints Episcopal in Fort Worth, TX, he has a family history of playing football for Texas. His father Blake and brothers Luke and James all played in Austin, two as offensive lineman and one as a linebacker.

Listed at 6 feet 6.5 inches and 283 pounds, Brockermeyer has NFL caliber size. Having offers from every big-time college football program, it will be a heated battle for the Longhorns between some of the best schools in the country. With so much potential, he would be a huge pick up for Texas, making it the fourth year in a row a five-star prospect committed.

WR – Quaydarius Davis

The 6-foot wide receiver out of Skyline High School is one of 23 wide receivers that have been offered in the 2021 class. Davis is one of the best players in Texas, being ranked 13th in the state. Overall, he is a four-star recruit ranking inside of the top 100 at 73rd. If Davis were to commit, he would be the latest prospect to join the ‘Dallas to Austin’ movement.

Within the Big 12, the Longhorns will be competing with Kansas and Oklahoma State for his signature. SEC schools have also offered Davis, as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas A&M have all given him offers. If he were to come to Austin, Davis would be playing with a brand new quarterback, starting a new offensive era on the 40 acres.

S – JD Coffey

Beginning his varsity career as a freshman, Coffey has played and improved each season. While his interception numbers dropped from six to two in 2019, he had 30 more tackles and five more tackles for loss. A quick player with good hands for a defensive back, Coffey has the ability to be a ball-hawking defensive back for the Longhorns.

Ranked fourth at his position, the four-star prospect is currently 100% leaning towards Texas according to 247Sport’s Crystal Ball. Since Jan 2020, Coffey has received eight offers, including one from Big 12 rival Baylor. A prospect that is on the rise, if Texas can secure Coffey’s commitment early, he will continue to rise in the rankings.

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Three ways Texas can win the Big 12 in 2020

Texas is expected to play in the Big 12 championship in 2020. Once in the game, winning it would be a plus too. Here is how they can do it.

The expectations for 2020 are simple for the Texas Longhorns. Make the Big 12 Championship game. Even with the poor 7-5 season, Texas was still in the race for an appearance in the final quarter of the season. All it will take it some improvements on the offensive and defensive side of the ball and the Longhorns will have a great chance at achieving their goal.

Taking it one level further, once in the game, winning it would be an even better prize. It would be the first conference championship for Texas since 2009 and its fourth Big 12 title in program history.

The quarterback play from Sam Ehlinger needs to take another level up in order for the Longhorns to truly improve. Once you get past him, it is an elite level defense that is missing from this team. The defense can not only take the pressure off the offense and what they are doing, but it can create opportunities for Ehlinger to truly survive.

If all of that comes together, beating some of the top teams in the conference will be crucial. In 2018, it was a hump the Longhorns could overcome, losing to third-place West Virginia and fourth place Iowa State, but the Big 12 has gotten better and a couple losses may be the end of your season. Winning against top-level competition will be the key determinant of who plays in the Big 12 Championship game next season.

Here are three ways Texas can win the Big 12 in 2020:

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Three reasons Texas will win the Alamo Bowl

Seen as underdogs, Texas is going to need a lot to go their way to win the Alamo Bowl. Here are three reasons Texas will win against Utah.

Wrapping up the third season under Head Coach Tom Herman, the Longhorns are in their third consecutive bowl game. While it is not exactly where Texas wants to be, after not even going to a bowl game for the final two years of Charlie Strong, it can be seen as an accomplishment.

Seen as the underdogs in the Alamo Bowl against Utah, the Longhorns are going to need a lot to go their way to win this game. Things have gone their way before the game has even kicked off, as they should have the home field advantage and star wide receiver Collin Johnson is expected to return for the game.

Here are three reasons Texas will win the Alamo Bowl against Utah:

Home field advantage

Whenever you play a bowl game in your home state, a huge crowd in your favor is expected. That is especially true when the venue you are playing in is around an hour and a half drive. The Longhorns should have a huge crowd in attendance for Tuesday’s Alamo Bowl against Utah. The Utes should have a decent-sized crowd themselves but will be hard to outnumber the following Texas will have.

In a similar situation early in the year, Texas played a “neutral site” game against Rice at NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans. While Rice is located in Houston, the support was mainly for Texas fans. Utah has a bigger undergrad population and more likely more alumni, it will not be able to balance out Texas fans. Having a virtual home game will keep the Longhorns competitive throughout the game.

Collin Johnson is back

For most of the season, Texas has been without star wide receiver Collin Johnson. After deciding to skip the NFL and come back for his senior season, Johnson has only played in six games this season. He has been effective in those six games, having at least five receptions in four games. He last played against Kansas State in November, where he had seven catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Even if he does not make an impact with the ball in his hand, he is something Utah will have to think about. His presence in the lineup takes the pressure off other receivers like Devin Duvernay. Johnson may not be 100% but as this will be his final ever time to play in a Longhorn’s uniform, expect him to make a significant impact.

Recent bowl success

Under Tom Herman, the Longhorns are 2-0 in bowl games. The last Texas coach to win their first two bowl games with the program was Blair Cherry back in 1947 and 1948. Playing in the 2017 Texas Bowl, the Longhorns took care of old Big 12 opponent Missouri, 33-16. Last season, Texas got a huge win in the Sugar Bowl against sixth-ranked Georgia, 28-21. Herman has gotten the team to play well for the big occasion.

With this being the 11th Power 5 opponent (12th if you count BYU) they have faced this year, they are not stranger to tough competition. However, this will be the most prestigious bowl game the Utes have played in since defeating Alabama in the 2008 Sugar Bowl. The Longhorns have been on a big stage before and will be ready to play. Having that advantage over Utah will give Texas the ability to compete with the Utes.

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Three defensive keys against Utah

Texas and Utah are going to be energized as they will be playing on prime time television on NYE. Here are three defensive keys for Texas.

Going into this year’s Alamo Bowl, Texas and Utah have two different outlooks. Texas is happy to be in such a good bowl game after a disappointing 7-5 season, while Utah was one game away from the College Football Playoff. Despite this, both teams are going to be energized as they will be playing on prime time television on New Year’s Eve.

Losing the Pac 12 championship to Oregon, if the Utes had won that game they would of been playing in a more important game. Most of that was due to their offense success and the threatening duo of Tyler Huntley and Zach Moss. If Texas wants any chance of slowing Utah down, they need to make those two uncomfortable.

Here are three defensive keys for the Longhorns against the Utes:

Containing Zach Moss

Texas has faced some great running backs this season in Chubba Hubbard, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Pooka Williams. Utah’s running back Zach Moss may be the best of the bunch. Rushing for 1,329 yards in the Pac 12 this season, Moss led the conference in yards this season. He also led in rushing touchdowns, having 15.

Running backs have had big games against the Longhorns this season, with Oklahoma State’s Chubba Hubbard having 121 rushing yards and Kansas’ Pooka Williams having 190. If Texas is going to have someone beat them, it needs to be anyone but Moss. He has the ability to run all over defenses and the Longhorns cannot let that happen.

Force Tyler Huntley to throw an interceptions

In the Pac 12 championship against Oregon, Utah’s quarterback Tyler Huntley really struggled after having a solid season for the Utes. Only completing 58.6% of this throws, his lowest of the season. He also threw two interceptions against the Ducks, the same amount he had in the previous 12 games.

Utah is 0-4 in games that Huntley throws multiple interceptions. Texas forced multiple interceptions against Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia this season, going 3-0 in those games. It may sound simple, but if the Longhorns can make Tyler Huntley uncomfortable and throw a couple interceptions, Texas has a great chance of winning on New Year’s Eve.

Get pressure on Tyler Huntley

The way you make Huntley uncomfortable is by getting constant pressure against a solid Utah offensive line. The Utes only gave up 21 sacks this season, the second-fewest in the Pac 12. On the flip side, the Longhorns only had 22 sacks this season, the third-fewest in the Big 12. It would be an excellent time for Texas to start pressuring the quarterback well.

If they do get pressure, they must also contain Huntley, as he can easily make plays with his feet. Contain him inside the pocket, get some sacks, or force him into throws he is uncomfortable making. That would force quick, short drives by the Utah offense and let the Longhorns’ offense be as explosive as everyone knows it can be.

Texas will face Utah on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.

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