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Post by rc on Mar 15, 2021 18:56:52 GMT -6
Like I thought, this game has far more pressure on Texas. Shaka's seat is still a bit shaky but Joe's seat is getting plusher no matter. Texas has the intimidating big man and overall inside height and they have pro level guards, but we have a team that can get hot and rise to the occasion. A decent game that shows our tough defense and incredible teamwork will be a great statement of the legacy Joe is building and we all want to see continue. I love the idea we are being called the Cinderella team possibility.
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Post by jCat on Mar 16, 2021 4:46:41 GMT -6
ACU will need a great day from all their bigs on the glass and that group will have to get to their spots and create some baskets against that strong Texas frontline. Though Kohl will obviously have chances to go one-on-one against Jericho Sims, I'm more interested in what Pleasant, Simmons, and Gayman can (or can't) create. Plenty of Big 12 teams have had good fortune catching at the free-throw line, driving, and getting into post moves (with fakes)
While one might expect the Longhorns to extend fullcourt pressure and expect the Wildcats to come unraveled, I think they could ask SFA or Nicholls if that approach really worked. Teams continue to try and extend perimeter defense and expect turnovers. That hasn't proven to be a winning formula.
ACU will look to keep Texas from having easy lobs and transition baskets. I'm interested to see the team approach they take on the Longhorn's base pick-and-roll play. Sims has fantastic hands and few teams have been able to disrupt their straight-line entry passes into Sims after he sets a pick at the 3-point line. The results are usually: catch in the restricted area, pivot, and dunk. The other option for the guard is a catch and shoot 3 on the wing. It's pretty hard to cover both.
If the game is close, I can definitely see Texas becoming anxious. Another first-round loss would almost assuredly end Shaka Smart's tenure. Even if they beat ACU and lose in the second round, some fans will be calling for a change.
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Post by PurpleHaze on Mar 16, 2021 5:17:01 GMT -6
ACU will need a great day from all their bigs on the glass and that group will have to get to their spots and create some baskets against that strong Texas frontline. Though Kohl will obviously have chances to go one-on-one against Jericho Sims, I'm more interested in what Pleasant, Simmons, and Gayman can (or can't) create. Plenty of Big 12 teams have had good fortune catching at the free-throw line, driving, and getting into post moves (with fakes) While one might expect the Longhorns to extend fullcourt pressure and expect the Wildcats to come unraveled, I think they could ask SFA or Nicholls if that approach really worked. Teams continue to try and extend perimeter defense and expect turnovers. That hasn't proven to be a winning formula. ACU will look to keep Texas from having easy lobs and transition baskets. I'm interested to see the team approach they take on the Longhorn's base pick-and-roll play. Sims has fantastic hands and few teams have been able to disrupt their straight-line entry passes into Sims after he sets a pick at the 3-point line. The results are usually: catch in the restricted area, pivot, and dunk. The other option for the guard is a catch and shoot 3 on the wing. It's pretty hard to cover both. If the game is close, I can definitely see Texas becoming anxious. Another first-round loss would almost assuredly end Shaka Smart's tenure. Even if they beat ACU and lose in the second round, some fans will be calling for a change. I think you're spot on. As someone else mentioned, the pressure is on Texas as the 3 seed but also because of Smart's job security. From reading/hearing about their program, a close win over ACU will raise eyebrows so it might take very convincing first and second round wins to save his job. Maybe ACU can take advantage of that The line opened at 8.5, very quickly went to 9, and is back to 8.5 this morning. We were 23-point dogs against Kentucky. Progress. Speaking of progress, this is the trajectory (the last five years) we all hoped to see with the football program.
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Post by Cat_A_holic on Mar 16, 2021 6:07:52 GMT -6
Is there any way (and anyone with time?) to chart our end-of-the-season KenPom rank over the past several years? I'd love to see the trajectory of that.
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Post by CrazyPurpleCat on Mar 16, 2021 10:27:58 GMT -6
Is there any way (and anyone with time?) to chart our end-of-the-season KenPom rank over the past several years? I'd love to see the trajectory of that. 13/14: 348 14/15: 342 15/16: 317 16/17: 298 17/18: 262 18/19: 152 19/20: 184 20/21: 86
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Post by texas48 on Mar 16, 2021 10:34:19 GMT -6
As has been said, excellent analysis and spot on, too! Let's go 'Cats!
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Post by Cat_A_holic on Mar 16, 2021 12:47:54 GMT -6
Is there any way (and anyone with time?) to chart our end-of-the-season KenPom rank over the past several years? I'd love to see the trajectory of that. 13/14: 348 14/15: 342 15/16: 317 16/17: 298 17/18: 262 18/19: 152 19/20: 184 20/21: 86 I knew someone could do this. Thanks, JMS. I'd say just by looking at those rankings that we are on a pretty solid trajectory.
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Post by rc on Mar 16, 2021 18:57:49 GMT -6
Imagine the benefits to the school if both basketball and football got on such strong upward trends, especially entering the WAC. That would clearly merit more national attention. I like all ACU sports, even ones I know little about, but to me it is about the student athletes. When there is excitement and pride in their teams and events, the students and the student athletes obviously feel the excitement. And ex's and backers of the school do as well. I hope things continue the dramatic rise we are in today, both with academic things like the nationally important NEXT Lab and our student athletes. I get emotional just thinking about what Reggie Miller said about family and how we are different from everyone else. What a tribute.
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Post by nacluth on Mar 16, 2021 22:35:12 GMT -6
I wonder what happened last time Shaka met a Southland school in the tournament?
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Post by rc on Mar 16, 2021 23:28:00 GMT -6
Let me guess... was it when a 12th seeded SFA played VCU?
Pulling off a comeback for the ages, feisty Stephen F. Austin became the latest No. 12 seed to pull off an upset, tying the game on Desmond Haymon's did-that-just-happen four-point play with 3.6 seconds left, and then holding on in overtime for a 77-75 win over Virginia Commonwealth on Friday night.
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Post by texas48 on Mar 16, 2021 23:57:45 GMT -6
Interesting article that ranks all the tournament coaches as players... He ranks Joe at No. 38: “ 38. Joe Golding, Abilene Christian Wildcats -- Golding was a four-year point guard at Abilene Christian (1994-98), averaging 4.3 points and 4.2 assists per game over his career for a program that was then at the Division II level.”
And the No. 1 coach as a player: Patrick Ewing (Georgetown)
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Post by PurpleHaze on Mar 17, 2021 6:45:18 GMT -6
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Post by Outsider on Mar 17, 2021 7:36:59 GMT -6
Hmmm, the Duke of the Big Country....
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Post by texas48 on Mar 17, 2021 9:38:26 GMT -6
From ESPN today: Don't know why it posted so small (you can click on it to make it big, but if you don't want to...it says):
No. 14 Abilene Christian Wildcats vs. No. 3 Texas Longhorns Upset chance: 13%
The Wildcats are perhaps one of the strongest teams the Southland has produced since the Brad Underwood-era Stephen F. Austin teams with Thomas Walkup. That strength on the part of Abilene Christin explains why a pairing against a Big 12 tournament champion shows up here as "not completely ridiculous," instead of "stay away." Perhaps a 13% chance is still pretty slim, but if nothing else, Kolton Kohl will have the attention of the Longhorns. The 7-foot senior draws fouls almost as often as Kofi Cockburn, but in stark contrast to the Illinois Star, he shoots 72% at the line.
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Post by texas48 on Mar 17, 2021 9:40:32 GMT -6
Also saw this:
Largest disparity between athletic budgets among two first round opponents: Abilene Christian ($20 million) and Texas ($200 million)
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