We're ranked in the Top 10, and tied for 2nd--one game behind the leader of the best conference in the land. So if we win the National Championship--but only by 2 pts, after being favored by 5 pts--do y'all want to fire Terry for underperforming...?
A) I don't think I've seen a single person suggest he get fired for anything. B) He isn't the head coach, he is the interim which means if he isn't promoted to head coach he would remain an assistant. It would be up to the new head coach to decide if he would retain RT as an assistant or not. C) If we make the final 4 under RT's leadership I would be absolutely shocked.
So Mark Adams coached Tech to a 12-6 conference record, made the Final in the conference tournament and lost to Duke in the Sweet Sixteen last season with a lot of Beard’s players. Those were pretty much the parameters I was thinking would keep Terry, but I’m now wondering if it’s a cautionary tale instead or is Tech’s current season just an aberration and he rights the ship? I’m glad I won’t be making the hiring decision is what I do know.
big 12 basketball standings - Google Search We're on top of the Big 12 (tied). So far, so good with Terry. Still lots of basketball to be played, and the Big Dance is the most important metric... Still, so far, so good.
Entering a brutal two week stretch. At #4 Tennessee, #17 Bailor at home, @ #5 KSU, @#9 KU. (AP rankings) Who would have thought that sitting at #10 you would play three higher ranked teams in a four-game stretch. And I don't think we match up particularly well with Bailor. Better bring your A game with lots of defensive intensity.
So can we make a fake, very public, faint towards Adams just to watch the outcry from Lubbock? (assuming they still like him...?)
After a huge road win today in Manhattan, the Horns sit at 19-4 and 8-2 in toughest conference in the land. Pretty dang good job by Terry holding this thing together. I dont know that Beard with absolutely none of the distractions has Texas at any better a record to this point and to have gotten there with all the distractions is quite impressive. Now that said I am not ready to anoint Terry until we see how the season plays out and most importantly what happens in March. If somehow Texas can win the Big XII regular season and make it to at least the sweet sixteen then there is no way he doesnt get the job.
Terry may be the guy going forward and there is going to be momentum to keep him especially if they stay the course and finish in the top three regular season and get to the sweet 16 or beyond (I think it all depends on matchups presented in the tournament). Even if they only win one game in the tournament, I think Terry will get the job unless they finish the regular season 2-6 or 1-7 which I don't see happening. Nevertheless, CdC must proceed with caution. For example, Shaka went to the final four in his first year with an experienced team that caught fire in the tourney. As I recall it started dropping off from there. Terry may be better suited to the UT job more than Shaka ever was (I'm sure Chop disagrees), having been here for a while as an assistant with Barnes first and then Beard, so he has an idea of the institutional crap that comes with the job.
My concern is the fact that basketball is fickle and forgetful year-to-year. Look at teams like UNC and Kentucky this year. Hell, Terry could take us to the Sweet 16, everyone will say "job well done," and he'll get a $5MM/year contract. But then we have to reload. Keeping Holland and Johnson happy is obviously priority #1, but what about the rest of the roster? Whoever is the HC for 2023-24 is going to have a hell of an offseason hitting the transfer portal. Mitchell (draft or G-League or overseas) Carr Rice Allen Bishop Disu Cunningham (Technically, Disu and Cunningham can still use a Covid year to come back) So, without ANY other movement, we bring back: Hunter Morris Anamekwe Brumbaugh This offseason is going to be friggin' nuts.
I’m not a Terry detractor and yes he’s doing a great job under very difficult circumstances, but he does have an older team full of seasoned veterans to work with. Mark Adams looked liked the 2nd coming after Beard at Tech last season and they’re now 1-9 and in the cellar this season. Remains a cautionary tale in my mind. I’d love for Terry to work out at Texas since this is not his first stint on the 40 Acres, but there’s a lot to evaluate here in order to make that decision. Keeping those recruits is definitely a biggie.
This is a valid concern. The only counterpoint I can offer is - what coaches out there never suffer down years (not necessarily as large a magnitude as Mark Adams this year)? And of the small handful of names that might legitimately be offered, are any of them truly candidates to leave their programs and come to Austin?
John Wooden could come back from the dead and coach Texas next year and it's still going to suck. A team with Hunter, Morris, Mitchell and a couple of freshmen, no matter how talented, is not going to be competing for the B12 championship. A couple of really good transfers could help, but remember this is the 2nd year at Texas for the key contributors this year. Except for Rice, who is only recently has become a difference maker.
Wait a minute... Are you saying that the administration and the alumni don't just pick and hire the coach, then let him do his job without interference??? Here at UT???
I agree. Only time will tell with Adams. Which of these two seasons is more of an indicator of what kind of HC he really is? Or is it just part of the ups & downs of today’s college basketball landscape? How long does Texas keep the coaching situation influx? And can we blame Terry if recruits abandon ship or is it because of the program being influx? Precarious situation at some point. As I keep saying, I wouldn’t want to be making these decisions. We all (myself included) think the Sweet Sixteen is the minimum to keep Terry as an option for HC. Is he a shoe in for an Elite Eight or FF appearance? I’m thinking probably so for FF and a really good chance with EE. Heck, with this years loaded Big 12, a regular season and conference tournament championship would be a hard accomplishment to overlook. Let’s see what the night holds in Lawrence for the Horns, but RT has done an admirable job thus far.
So you think the loss of Brock Cunningham next year is going to hurt us that much? J/K- I agree this team is losing a lot of talent next year with Carr, Bishop, Allen, Rice and Disu all gone but if we finish up strong and make a run in the dance, I think our NIL money could draw some top transfer talent in for next year.
One option if we have a good run in the Big Dance is a short term (2 year) contract for Terry. Absent a National Championship, I don't think other teams will be jumping to grab him, and offering him more $$$$.
No major conference HC would take an offer like that. These guys are built to get big paydays and live off the buyout if it doesn't work out. No security. We were fortunate that Smart saw the writing on the wall and said "gimme the 6 years" to Marquette.
In 2018, Terry signed a 3 year deal at UTEP for $725k annual base. He signed a 3 year extension in 2021 that included a 1 time $200k pay cut for Covid year but then he jumped ship and came to Texas as an assistant for $500k for 3 years. If he's the guy, he's the guy- we don't need to go cheap but I don't think he will cost us an arm and a leg. He is a Texas guy having grown up in Angleton and then coached around the state after graduating from St Eds. I know Texas roots isn't as important in Basketball as it is in Football.
UTEP isn't in a major conference, hence the shorter deal. If Texas offered him 3 years, it'd have to be in the $6-8MM/annually range for him to take it. All guaranteed. He'd be right there with the top 4 paid guys (Self, Calipari, Izzo, Wright). I just don't think his resume has earned that, nor would anyone else. "Hangin' in there" with Self tonight while playing 6 seniors against their 1 senior doesn't show me the money.
Your last sentence nailed it. Ku was ripe for the taking last night. All the turnovers we made looked like we were the underclassmen instead of ku. Horns were tight and confused.
The last 4 or 5 minutes of the first half when every trip down was a poorly executed 3 point attempt. That wasn't quite as apparent in the second half so credit Terry with making (demanding) that adjustment.
I agree that the second half was light years better. why didn’t Terry call timeout early in the first half when the horns were floundering? Horns were having serious problems with turnovers, shot selection, shot clock management, etc. Why wait till the Horns are down 14? I love the way the team fights, never gives up. But adjustments can be made earlier; use the time out to stop opponents’ momentum and make adjustments.
