Texas vs. N. Texas - Non-game observations

Discussion in 'Women’s Basketball' started by texexted, Nov 29, 2020.

  1. texexted

    texexted 500+ Posts

    Before the game, the PA announcer welcomed Jamie Carey back to the FEC and she seemed to have no response - not even a wave.
    Then Vic Schaefer before the game walked to mid-court and waved at the North Texas bench (since handshakes aren’t possible) but none of the coaches responded. Maybe they didn’t see him - but I doubt it.
    After the game Schaefer again attempted to wave and say good game to the North Texas coaches but got no response. Ignoring him a second time seemed a bit rude.
    As Carey was leaving the court, Chris Plonsky approached her smiling and seemed to say something pleasant but Carey didn’t acknowledge her and kept walking. Sure she could have said something under her mask but it didn’t seem like a greeting.
    It made me wonder if she had hoped to be retained on the Texas staff but wasn’t. I like Carey - and it all just seemed a bit uncomfortable.
    However I loved how after the game Schaefer instructed the team to go around the court and wave and thank the tiny crowd - including the Texas Cheer and Texas Pom. Then he did the same.
    His coaching speaks for itself and you can already see a difference in the product on the court. But the little things he’s doing off the court are impressive.
    By the way the entire team appeared to sing The Eyes, which was also interesting considering the past six or so months and the way the football team has handled it.
     
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  2. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    Yeah, I agree. When they said Jamie's name out loud and showed her on the screen, it was just a dead look on her face. I thought, "Man, either she's mad at Texas or not wanting the attention." Notice they didn't highlight Kelby Jones as well as Jalie Mitchell with their past Texas connections. Anyway, AWKWARD.
     
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  3. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    I certainly liked Carey as a player. Not so much as a coach. Her face/body language was always expressionless on the bench. Admittedly an assistant coach is typically not supposed to be outwardly expressive too much. I also saw on TV the end of game wave by Schaefer and it seemed awkward. Mitchell and Carey were Aston supporters so perhaps that’s part of it. I think Schaefer is going to take the high road on this, but would love for a reporter to ask about this. However, just realize it happened, remember, and move on.
     
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  4. BBV_Horn

    BBV_Horn 1,000+ Posts

    Isn’t it kinda hard to see reactions with a mask on? She may have responded...
    But I do think they should have mentioned Jaylie and Kelby...:rolleyes1:
     
  5. brnkj

    brnkj 2,500+ Posts

    Not hard to see some type of wave of acknowledgement... but apparently there was none??? Oh well, glad everyone is doing well and even more glad we have this new staff in place.

    The difference in the team and the program, already apparent in such a short COVID-restricted time frame, is like night and day.

    Loving it.
     
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  6. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    I smiled all through this game. Consciously thought several times how fortunate we are to be watching this transformation. You get what you pay for. Schaefer is worth every penny CDC gives him.
     
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  7. texexted

    texexted 500+ Posts

    Yes - did you see what I wrote regarding the mask?
     
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  8. MajesticII

    MajesticII 1,000+ Posts

    Unfortunately #25 and Johnson didn't put their horns up....Its one thing not to sing the song, ( fine don't sing ) but not putting your horns up is ********.
     
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  9. loyallonghorn

    loyallonghorn 500+ Posts

    Yes, I saw Chevalier stand there, albeit respectfully, with her hands behind her back. For many, especially since she's from California, they didn't grow up to be a Longhorn like Shay Holle.
     
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  10. WCBBNUT

    WCBBNUT 2,500+ Posts

    I support their right to do whatever they want during that song. They could take a knee and I would still be supportive. We can’t rewrite history, but we can certainly self-correct when an error is brought to our attention. It’s not going to just go away.
     
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  11. Jacob Johnson

    Jacob Johnson 2,500+ Posts

    Please don't start this. These athletes are going to do what they want and I personally support them 1000%. Nothing we say in here is going to change what they do so no point in bringing negativity to a team that is winning and playing very impressive. The only that should be said is constructive criticism about the games because nobody wants to hear the extra going on about things that are not going to be changed anytime soon. Just turn the TV off when that happens and that way, you won't see it and the positivity and good energy can keep going with women's basketball :hookem::hookem:
     
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  12. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    I wonder if the UNT staff was pissed at Texas staff for continuing to scrap for the ball and shooting a 3 with 2 minutes left in the game. For us, it's proof that the new coaching staff has us in a positive direction. But let's say if it were Baylor still scratching away at us with a 35+ lead, how hacked off would we be?
     
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  13. utfannforlife

    utfannforlife 1,000+ Posts

    This is a new program that has lost about 10 weeks of practice and wasn’t able to have any closed scrimmages or exhibition games. If opposing staffs are taking anything personal right now, that’s more of a reflection of them and their egos than our team. We need the reps PERIOD.

    I do think Vic was reasonably classy taking Charlie out, because I probably wouldn’t have. I am a fan of letting kids chase history.
     
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  14. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    Asking that poster to not be negative is akin to asking the sun to stop being so warm.
     
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  15. brnkj

    brnkj 2,500+ Posts

    Right!
    Plus, you don't put your end-of-bench and freshmen players in and tell them not to play hard.
     
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  16. cnb

    cnb 5,000+ Posts

    Dude, seriously. It's getting old.
     
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  17. MajesticII

    MajesticII 1,000+ Posts

    Nope... A coach knows when you are trying to change the "culture" and mindset of a team you have to play hard and run your offense and defense to prepare for Baylor.
     
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  18. MajesticII

    MajesticII 1,000+ Posts

    Nothing pisses me off more than to see back ups go in and NOT run the offense, etc...especially in football. What good does it do for a passing attack when you put in 2nd string QBs and merely hand the ball off. Same goes for basketball. RUN YOUR SCHEMES !!!!!!!
     
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  19. loyallonghorn

    loyallonghorn 500+ Posts

    (s)He's just sharing his observation because (s)he was at the game. Thanks Texexted.
     
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  20. cnb

    cnb 5,000+ Posts

    Not a one time occurrence. I wouldn't have said anything otherwise.
     
  21. texexted

    texexted 500+ Posts

    Thanks - but I don’t think the poster is referring to me based on the quote they responded to. But if so, don’t care.
    You are correct - I’m sharing what I saw from the stands. Read it - or don’t. :)
     
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  22. zztx1

    zztx1 100+ Posts

    We have many WBB friends from going to the games for decades. There is a feeling among Aston supporters that the school treated a successful coach poorly compared to a male coach (MBB) with a less impressive record and that the accomplishments of the last five years are not properly acknowledged. Coach Vic is a bystander in that debate, but he does not need to buy into the narrative that Texas under Aston was terrible. The vast majority of schools would find Aston's record to be terrific, especially at her pay level. Top 25, winning most games you are expected to win, but stealing a win here and there and coming close in competition from the teams above you. This is not the Goestenkors record at $1 million a year. Aston did a terrific job in recruiting and a solid job at team coaching, with the exception of Baylor. The team had a mental block against Mulkey coached teams and there was nothing that the coaches did to address that. I liked Aston, but we knew she had weaknesses. I love Vic but Texas needs to change the narrative. Coach Aston took WBB to a higher level and she left the program in better shape than she found it. We are looking to move into the next level and Coach Vic from LaGrange and Texas makes that move more comfortable. But we acknowledge and appreciate the work and dedication of Aston in leading this team in the right direction. Texas and CDC are better than that -- they do not need to throw Aston under Bevo's trailer. She is a high quality talented person with many friends and you never know when you need some help with a recruit asking someone for advice. Why make it difficult for Aston to get another job? UT has acted in a classless way here and I am sure the UNT coaches decided we did not deserve their respect.
     
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  23. WCBBNUT

    WCBBNUT 2,500+ Posts

    I agree that Karen’s performance was better compared to Smart. I assumed it was a both or neither and was surprised when it was just Karen that was let go. I would imagine it wasn’t about her record vs his but rather her contract expired and his had not.

    Karen was an amazing recruiter but her recruiting classes under performed. Not just a little bit. With no conference or tournament championships, her departure was warranted - in my opinion. Unless Smart’s contract gets renewed without his record improving, I don’t think this was a him vs. her situation.

    Curious as to what you mean by making it difficult for Karen to get another job?
     
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  24. brnkj

    brnkj 2,500+ Posts

    Yes, all of that.

    I believe that if Karen's contract had not been up, she would most likely still be coaching. Conversely, if Smart's contract had been up he would definitely be gone, as his record is definitely inferior to Karen's. It wasn't a him vs her thing, it's about business and timing. That said, Smart's exit is inevitable and so is Herman's.

    Aston did indeed leave the program better than she found it. As much as I wanted both Aston and Smart to succeed, no doubt both programs have underachieved the past several years.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 1, 2020
  25. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    This is purely a rumor I heard and I can’t verify the validity but: Karen has had interest from mid-majors but declined, deciding she would take some time off to spend with her family. If true, no one can begrudge her that.
     
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  26. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    In my fair and biased opinion, Aston vs Smart is not a good or constructive process. Smart has a dynamite team this year....3-0 and just demolished Indiana this afternoon. Let’s see how his season ends up. There are LOTS of differences in their programs. I for one would love to move forward....and I think the majority of WBB fans have. Without the North Texas game and the things posters have mentioned about acknowledgements, I believe it is kinda over. Time will heal....I hope. And for all.
     
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  27. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    Shaka received an extension early on, and then his guaranteed contract (buyout) became way too large for CDC to fire him after the 2018-19 season.

    Not sure if Karen had an agent, but they made a huge blunder not demanding another extension after she was down to 2-3 years remaining on her previously-extended contract; that would have been the time to do it as she still reported to the AD who hired her in Chris Plonsky. That's when most coaches start putting out feelers and looking for employment elsewhere.

    When she got down to only one season remaining on her contract, and CDC having become her new boss instead of Plonsky, and not agreeing to provide an extension shortly after he was hired (as he did with soccer head coach, Angela Kelly), it should have been obvious where things stood unless she won at a high level; losing to Kansas showed CDC all he needed to see late in the season.

    If anything, one can argue that Karen wasn't treated fairly compared to Angela Kelly as that is a more comparable situation.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 1, 2020
  28. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    When the best your outgoing assistant coaches can do is land assistant jobs at Kansas, North Texas, and head coach at a high school, that speaks volumes as to the level of job interest for the outgoing head coach.
     
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  29. loyallonghorn

    loyallonghorn 500+ Posts

    Well written and well thought out zztx1. I agree with a majority of what you wrote. Aston absolutely left the program better than she got there. She recruited gang busters (with the exception of her last 2 years when the writing was on the wall). With all the McDonald's All-Americans, it became tiring, losing to all the middling programs that Texas had no business losing to with the talent on her rosters, like TCU, Kansas State, Iowa State, West Virginia, and inexplicably to Kansas. She was being out-coached.

    I recognize it's not a perfect comparison, last year Texas defeated North Texas 63-57. North Texas went onto a 12-19 record, 6-12 in conference.

    This year, with a less talented team without Joyner and Sug in the WNBA, and a bench full of underclassmen, Texas defeats North Texas 106-69.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 1, 2020
  30. loyallonghorn

    loyallonghorn 500+ Posts

    As I write, Karen Aston's situation is similar to Tom Herman's.

    Herman's Texas football program is better than he found it following the firing of Coach Strong.

    Herman recruited really well, 3 straight top-10 recruiting classes, similar to Aston's gang-buster recruiting. This current football recruiting class is stuggling much like Aston's last class.

    Sure, Aston kept losing to Baylor (won 1), Herman also keeps losing to Oklahoma (won 1).

    But it's not just losing to Baylor or Oklahoma for Aston and Herman, respectively, it's losing to middling programs without the talent that Texas has. Herman keeps losing to TCU, Kansas State, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Iowa State in any given year, teams Texas football have no business losing to. If it's not the talent, then it's the coaching.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 1, 2020

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