Basketball Recruiting rivals 150

Discussion in 'Men’s Basketball' started by caryhorn, Mar 28, 2015.

  1. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    The 2015 recruiting so far regarding Rivals top 150 players: There are 12 Texas kids ranked in the top 150. UT has none committed. atm has 4; BU has 1; OK has 1; Ok st has 1; Ohio St has 2; mich st has 1; VCU has 1; Vandy has 1.

    Texas schools with top 150 recruits from out of state: UT has 1; SMU has 2

    I heard somewhere that Rick has the 26th rated recruiting class coming in for next fall. I don't know who all they are. But, I think the new coach will match Rick's recruiting prowess. Texas is making a statement hiring a new coach that will bring energy to Re- energize the BB program. That should help get kids here.
     
  2. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    I don't think getting kids here has been the problem. I think it's getting kids who already have basketball smarts and scoring ability without needing them to be "coached up."
     
  3. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    BB smarts is very important, for sure. Getting talented scorers is no doubt a priority. And having a coach who can scheme creatively to put them in the best position to score is also important. I think we will get someone who can do all three.
     
  4. hornarama

    hornarama 100+ Posts

    Recruiting can be a chicken and egg kind of thing correlated with coaching. Barnes reputation has been on the defensive side of the ball and I can bring up a number of points about the style and results of our basketball games that support the thesis of Barnes as a weak offensive coach. The combination of that reputation coupled with unexciting results for the last 7 years (1 top 25 finish, no more than one tourney game in year), has probably handicapped the recruiting of outstanding offensive players. Watching Texas games with Barnes constant criticism, lack of a cohesive offensive scheme, and no sign of positive exuberance, I question whether many (offensive minded) recruits that have options would want to come here.

    A new coach with some charisma will certainly at least have a chance to generate some positive excitement and different attitude with the program (maybe some sense that players can have fun and win at the same time?!). There is a deep pool of talent within Texas especially localized in the Houston and DFW metros. As the flagship university in the state, with the right coach, we will be in the mix for them.

    Then that is where the chicken and the egg come in. The new coach will need to probably overachieve a bit initially with a little bit less talent to jump start the process of generating top flight recruiting classes. (Although with a truly exciting hire, he may immediately upgrade recruiting). I look back at Tom Penders and I think he did that as well as set the stage for someone like Barnes to come in and take a step up. Penders had a problem with defense and Barnes (unfortunately) has had a problem with offense. Penders showed it was possible for Texas to be a top 25 team, and Barnes demonstrated (if not an elite basketball team) certainly a second tier team that is solidly in the top 25 at Texas (for a his first decade).

    Those barriers no longer need to be broken and I believe all we need is the right coach and the rest will follow. This is where I do agree with HTown, that there will be high uncertainty to get the kind of coach UT will want to stay with for the long haul. However, where I depart of HTown is that I think the chances of getting better by trying something new are greater than staying with what we had.

    After watching our offense struggle for years, one of my requirements for the new coach is to simply recognize the importance of the 3 point shot in basketball. You've got to spread the floor and make a decent percentage from multiple players that are legitimate 3 point threats to be a top 25 team (with the possible exception of a team like Kentucky, but even they need to make some 3's). In order to achieve that I believe you need to recruit some natural sharpshooters which Barnes has failed to do for some time.

    Barnes achieved a great deal at Texas with class and a clean program and deserves our praise for his achievements. No one should/would expect him to have continued the performance of his first decade, but the last 7 years finally overstretched the grace period his first decade earned him. I just don't see that we should be afraid to enter a new period when the fact is Tom Penders years out performed Barnes last 7. Also, WE ARE TEXAS, which I still believe means something(yes even in basketball) in this state of 20 million.

    I will agree with HTown that we are not a rabid basketball culture like some other areas of the country, but I don't agree that that translates into nearly as limited of possibilities as he seems to think. I've referenced other programs and eras whereby a single coach transitioned a non-basketball school into a winning basketball culture (e.g. UCLA,Arizona, Florida) and our last 2 coaches have both demonstrated possibilities at Texas. I believe the talent pool in Texas runs deep and the right coach at Texas will be able to tap that talent.
     
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  5. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    Actually, I agree here with hornarama for the most part.

    I absolutely agree with this. Barnes used to have players that could hit 3s (Brian Boddicker). The death of our 3 point shooting seemed to correlate with the death of our offense under Barnes. I wonder if Barnes thought that turner would have a better 3 shot and greatly miscalculated (whatever potential Turner has, I do not think his future is the 3 point shot). One interesting thing is that we have seen all offense with Penders and all defense with Barnes. All defense worked better, but we need a coach that provides both good offense and good defense if we want to get to the next level! Hopefully we will find that person.

    My only objection on this thread is with caryhorn. We have no idea how this Barnes recruiting class was going to turn out. Last year, Myles Turner did not commit until APRIL 30TH!!!!!! I doubt the lack of job security helped with recruiting these past couple of months. Let's not all act like Barnes could not recruit. That was not the problem with Barnes. I do not know if the new coach will recruit or not. It depends on who we hire. I do not think it is safe to assume just anyone will come in and recruit.

    I do agree I hope he can get the best talent in this state as well as some good out of state players like Barnes would pick up.

    Also, the new coach should have a lot of players that made the NCAA tournament the previous two seasons. I would not expect a big season year one, but I would like to think the new guy will and should make the tournament year one even if just barely. Again, he should inherit a lot of veteran players. Getting 20 wins and making the tournament should be enough of an initial boost to start recruiting off well.
     
  6. SAMMCHornfan

    SAMMCHornfan 250+ Posts

    When Barnes had a couple of sharpshooter, their defense drove him crazy...ie, J Brown and J Hamilton,
     
  7. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    Brown and Hamilton were expected to do a lot more than shoot threes. And they did. It's guys like Sydmill Harris (did you hear that he could speak multiple languages?) and the aforementioned Boddicker who gave opponents fits. I think Barnes/Lanier were hoping that they could entice some more of those types of guys to Texas after the 2013 disaster/exodus, but there either wasn't enough time, or the ones they DID get to hopefully fulfill that role either beat up girls or knocked up girls.

    But the sentiment that good, starting players should be able to hit the occasional three-pointer doesn't go unnoticed. It's just not right that we're praying for a shooting guard to hit 30 percent from beyond the arc. It's sorry, and shows what has happened not just to this program, but to all of college basketball over the last 5-10 years.
     
  8. txlandagent

    txlandagent 500+ Posts

    "Did you know his dad was a famous jazz vocalist in Hoofdorpf:?"
     
  9. Walking Boss

    Walking Boss 2,500+ Posts

    Quick question. Does anyone know whether the recruits that Barnes signed are contemplating going elsewhere/asking for a release from the letter of intent. It may be to early as they may be waiting to see who is hired.
     
  10. txlandagent

    txlandagent 500+ Posts

    I've read that Eric Davis is publicly wavering (via the #TweetDeck) for what that's worth...citing uncertainty with the coaching change. Although, Smart may be able to calm his fears if we get him. Or Rick can take him to TU. Patterson definitely needs to wrap this process up quick though. IMO.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2015
  11. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    Have we signed anyone?
     
  12. txlandagent

    txlandagent 500+ Posts

    Actually no. Just verbals. NLI day April 15, 2015.
     
  13. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    Well we better hire Smart or Marshall ASAP.
     
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