State Of The Nation: Basketball In Texas

[Objective Aggie]

Just thinking what a great year for basketball in Texas.

North Texas: 20 wins and NCAA bid. Plays #2 seed very well.

TAMU/Corpus: gets into NCAAs, plays Wisconsin well

Texas Tech: Knight becomes winninest coach in history this year. up and down year, but includes THREE wins over top 10 teams. Tourney bid and played respectable against a hot-shooting BC team.

Texas: total rebuilding year, yet has player of th year and finishes third in Big 12. Finishes in top 20 starting all fresh and sophomores. Wins game in NCAA tourney

Baylor: not there yet, but has talent

SMU: played one good game against Memphis and got blown out by 75 against them. That is all I know

TCU: Was 13-17. Won a game in Mtn West tourney. Beyond that I know nothing.

UTEP: been raided on their coach twice in last four years so they have an uphill battle. Lost 10 of last twelve. Did make national news indirectly on infamous quote from Tim Hardaway, so that has to be worth something.

A&M: Best season in history. Sweeps OU and OSU. Beats Kansas in Lawrence, first Big 12 South team ever to do that. In top 5 in defense. Beats Penn and Louisville to make Sweet 16.

So almost everyone exceeded expectations in the state. Pretty cool.

[greenminer]

Good stuff, but ESPN has SMU's two games w/Memphis as an 88-52 loss and then 64-61.

How do you mean 75 point blowout?

[flyeater]

Just thinking what a great year for basketball in Texas.

North Texas: 20 wins and NCAA bid. Plays #2 seed very well.

TAMU/Corpus: gets into NCAAs, plays Wisconsin well

Texas Tech: Knight becomes winninest coach in history this year. up and down year, but includes THREE wins over top 10 teams. Tourney bid and played respectable against a hot-shooting BC team.

Texas: total rebuilding year, yet has player of th year and finishes third in Big 12. Finishes in top 20 starting all fresh and sophomores. Wins game in NCAA tourney

Baylor: not there yet, but has talent

SMU: played one good game against Memphis and got blown out by 75 against them. That is all I know

TCU: Was 13-17. Won a game in Mtn West tourney. Beyond that I know nothing.

UTEP: been raided on their coach twice in last four years so they have an uphill battle. Lost 10 of last twelve. Did make national news indirectly on infamous quote from Tim Hardaway, so that has to be worth something.

A&M: Best season in history. Sweeps OU and OSU. Beats Kansas in Lawrence, first Big 12 South team ever to do that. In top 5 in defense. Beats Penn and Louisville to make Sweet 16.

So almost everyone exceeded expectations in the state. Pretty cool.

I think the world pretty much rotates backwards when any team from Prairie View A&M (women) makes an NCAA Tournament. Man, but that UNC game...ugly.

Edited March 19, 2007 by flyeater

[Objective Aggie]

Good stuff, but ESPN has SMU's two games w/Memphis as an 88-52 loss and then 64-61.

How do you mean 75 point blowout?

A bit of an exaggeration. But it was on tv and I saw part of it, and they looked MASSIVELY over-matched. I was proud to see them come back and play Memphis well, but the first game could have been 75 point differntial if Memphis wanted to.

[Objective Aggie]

Miner-

How was UTEP' s year versus expectations? How is next year looking? Who is coaching now?

[Objective Aggie]

oh yeah, Rice and UH.

Rice 15-15. Had one of nations leading scorers.

Houston. Coached by Tom Penders which means thay had more ill advised 3's per game than an entire Hoop it Up tournament.

[flyeater]

A bit of an exaggeration. But it was on tv and I saw part of it, and they looked MASSIVELY over-matched. I was proud to see them come back and play Memphis well, but the first game could have been 75 point differntial if Memphis wanted to.

Whutz with the wholly inappropriate handle if you can't acknowledge a 3-point game?

[Quoner]

Whutz with the wholly inappropriate handle if you can't acknowledge a 3-point game?

He did.

[flyeater]

He did.

Not until Miner pointed it out. Little more than an exaggeration. More like a grotesque disregard for the facts. I'm no SMUt lover, but c'mon.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

---Hey..!!! We are talking about SMU ..who has been known to "cheat" a little and talk about others with total disrespect and distort a lot of facts about us and others to the press.

--- They won't mind.... after all they must believe: "Do unto others as YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.. After all it is a private Christian school.

[Objective Aggie]

Dear Defenders of the Pony Express:

Here is my original quote

SMU: played one good game against Memphis and got blown out by 75 against them. That is all I know

I reference two games played. One close (that would be the 3 point contest). The second was the slaughtering. I apologize for using satire or exaggeration. It was 83-45 at one point. So that is 39 points, but you get the point.

But at least the thread did not get offtrack or anything.

[greenminer]

What a weird state of being when a few gomeangreen-ers are being addressed as "Defenders of the Pony Express".

Upon his first reply, I understood the exaggeration immediately.

He's fragile, man! He's very fragile!

Well, it's water under the bridge. And we do enter the next round-robin, am I wrong?

Edited March 19, 2007 by greenminer

[flyeater]

What a weird state of being when a few gomeangreen-ers are being addressed as "Defenders of the Pony Express".

Upon his first reply, I understood the exaggeration immediately.

He's fragile, man! He's very fragile!

Well, it's water under the bridge. And we do enter the next round-robin, am I wrong?

Fragile my arse. You're the one who brought it up, so cut the condescending garbage and move on.

[UNTLifer]

Not until Miner pointed it out. Little more than an exaggeration. More like a grotesque disregard for the facts. I'm no SMUt lover, but c'mon.

flyeater: Fragile my arse. You're the one who brought it up, so cut the condescending garbage and move on.

May I suggest a little more fiber to start out your day?

[greenminer]

Fragile my arse. You're the one who brought it up, so cut the condescending garbage and move on.

Obviously, you're not a golfer.

[gksmith]

I hope basketball in Texas is turning around. Texas and Texas Tech are no longer the only big time BB schools in the state. 5 Texas teams made the tourny and not all of them Big 12.

I look forward to more competition in the state for basketball.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

---The National Junior College Champion this year is: MIDLAND COLLEGE of Midland, Texas. They won this weekend by defeating a 33-2 team from Florida.. They made the final 16 last year and three of the 64 NCAA teams this year had a player that has played at MC---- UT, Weber State, and Washington State. Last year one of Gonzaga's players played JuCo (Junior College) basketball at MC also one of Houston's. UNT should take a lot of some of the Juco for players as well... many good D-I programs do. When Oklahoma played Kansas in the NCAA Finals severals years ago... three of the starters that night had played Juco ball at MC. Two for Oklahoma and one for Kansas. Both OU players made the NBA (Mookie Blaylock, and Rickie Grace.) two years before them was Spud Webb ( who later went to North Carolina State, defending NCAA champions at the time) and UNLV won the NCAA tournament with Larry Johnson who had played JuCo ball at Odessa College.

--- In the case of Larry Johnson he had failed to make the SAT min (10 points short I think) but in the case of Spud and I think Mookie, they were just overlooked while in high school...... but later made the NBA after first playing JuCo ball.

--- When recruiting UNT should not overlook JuCo players... the best have had two years of playing time (unlike many D-I bench players) and trust me, the best JuCo teams could defeat a lot of D-I programs. I think Colin County JC had a couple of good ones last year. We had several good ones including a player from Lithuania.

--I think the TAMU-CC coach was once the coach at San Jacinto JC and won a lot there as well. They made the NCAA this year and led for 3/4 of their first game as a 14 seed.

Edited March 26, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[foutsrouts]

And since we're talking JC, let us not forget that North Texas' own North Lake College made the NJCAA D3 final four this year after winning it all in '06.

[Green Mean]

Texas is a huge state with a ton of people....so finding talent for all sports is really not that hard anymore. People at Texas just love our sports. In about 10-15 years dont be surprised if one of the major universities starts a hockey program and we start getting some hockey talent from Texas. I believe there are about 25 or 30 high schools that have hockey as one of their UIL sports.

[risinggreen]

---The National Junior College Champion this year is: MIDLAND COLLEGE of Midland, Texas. They won this weekend by defeating a 33-2 team from Florida.. They made the final 16 last year and three of the 64 NCAA teams this year had a player that has played at MC---- UT, Weber State, and Washington State. Last year one of Gonzaga's players played JuCo (Junior College) basketball at MC also one of Houston's. UNT should take a lot of some of the Juco for players as well... many good D-I programs do. When Oklahoma played Kansas in the NCAA Finals severals years ago... three of the starters that night had played Juco ball at MC. Two for Oklahoma and one for Kansas. Both OU players made the NBA (Mookie Blaylock, and Rickie Grace.) two years before them was Spud Webb ( who later went to North Carolina State, defending NCAA champions at the time) and UNLV won the NCAA tournament with Larry Johnson who had played JuCo ball at Odessa College.

--- In the case of Larry Johnson he had failed to make the SAT min (10 points short I think) but in the case of Spud and I think Mookie, they were just overlooked while in high school...... but later made the NBA after first playing JuCo ball.

--- When recruiting UNT should not overlook JuCo players... the best have had two years of playing time (unlike many D-I bench players) and trust me, the best JuCo teams could defeat a lot of D-I programs. I think Colin County JC had a couple of good ones last year. We had several good ones including a player from Lithuania.

--I think the TAMU-CC coach was once the coach at San Jacinto JC and won a lot there as well. They made the NCAA this year and led for 3/4 of their first game as a 14 seed.

Spudd Webb was less overlooked in high school than he was by North Texas. Some people on this board like to trash Trilli, but he was the Dean Smith of college basketball compared to Tommy Newman. Newman was the worst hire we ever made in any sport in my opinion. I would of rather hired the Newman from Seinfeld.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Spudd Webb was less overlooked in high school than he was by North Texas. Some people on this board like to trash Trilli, but he was the Dean Smith of college basketball compared to Tommy Newman. Newman was the worst hire we ever made in any sport in my opinion. I would of rather hired the Newman from Seinfeld.

--Spud in High school was not really noticed by anyone (according to him to Midland paper) except North Texas. The NT coach told him to go to a JuCo and he would talk to him next year. He was on the National JuCo champ team here in Midland and actually signed at UNT thinking the Midland Coach was leaving because he was a finalist at a 4-yr college... He did not leave so Spud decided to come back to MC and did not go to NT (that was legal) The next year Valvano who had just upset Houston (Phi-Slamma Jamma team) in finals came calling and Spud went to NCSU and then to the NBA where he played for Atlanta and even won the slam dunk contest. UNT screwed up but it may have been good for Spud.

--The first time I saw Spud he stole as ball when an opponent tried a jump shot (way over his head)in my first minute to watch him and then Spud went down and dunked.. He was only 5'6' but had several dunks that night and even one goal-tending call. He was amazing.

---I also though UNT messed up by not hiring Stone (Coach) who had won the Juco title and later produced Mookie Blaylock and Rick Grace. He applied at some point.

Edited March 26, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[GreenBat]

---I also though UNT messed up by not hiring Stone (Coach) who had won the Juco title and later produced Mookie Blaylock and Rick Grace. He applied at some point.

Jerry Stone went on to coach at UTA, a failed bit. He then went to some NAIA school in Oklahoma, before he resurfaced at Rockwall High School for a few years. Made the regional finals two years at Rockwall.

Got to know him when he was at Rockwall. He was a great coach. Reminded me of Bobby Knight, but not as big of an Ass.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Jerry Stone went on to coach at UTA, a failed bit. He then went to some NAIA school in Oklahoma, before he resurfaced at Rockwall High School for a few years. Made the regional finals two years at Rockwall.

Got to know him when he was at Rockwall. He was a great coach. Reminded me of Bobby Knight, but not as big of an Ass.

I thought it was UTA that he went to and I realized he did not have great success where he went next . Other than that I had lost track of him. He appeared here in Midland last year but I have forgotten why, may have been a reunion of his National Championship team. He had a lot of good years here and the MC program declined somewhat after he left. I think he may have had some connections with D-I coaches that were sending players his way to get experience. A lot of players went to OU where Tubbs was coach and having great success. Tubbs had been an assistant under Blakely at UNT.

Edited March 26, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[GoMeanGreen1999]

Just thinking what a great year for basketball in Texas.

A&M: Best season in history. Sweeps OU and OSU. Beats Kansas in Lawrence, first Big 12 South team ever to do that. In top 5 in defense. Beats Penn and Louisville to make Sweet 16.

Objective - who you guys going to get to replace BG if he leaves? I would love for my Hogs to get BG, but I am not too sure they should pay him 2.4 million as is being reported.

Edited March 28, 2007 by GoMeanGreen1999