Round Two: Horns vs Penn State

Note the commentators have been high on Texas all year despite the conference losses. Maybe these folks see the same traits, knowing that they translate into tourney wins.

 

https://www.si.com/college/texas/me...h-madness-rodney-terry-penn-state-round-of-32

 

If Disunami can pull the bigs out a few feet and feed cutters that would help too.

 

But...the further they go, the bigger the check has to be in order to ensure he is secured...

 

Salient.

 

I would think that Terry and CdC have already discussed terms, even if it hasn’t been disclosed, so I wouldn’t worry about the price going up at this point.

 

KD knows what he’s talking about. Disu is 6’9” and has a terrific shooters touch. He is so athletic; has multiple ways to get it in the hole. Can defeat taller defenders with his athleticism.

 

They may have discussed terms, but discussion does not dowse a potential bidding war. There are plenty of programs taking notice of an interim who makes a deep run...

 

There will not be a "bidding war" for RT. No major program will want to pay a coach who had a good run with someone else's team. Other programs cant afford to pay him a top 25 salary.

 

This is probably right. He would be less “hot” than Shaka was, for example, making a run with his own team, and while his age (and experience) actually makes me like him more, I think most programs would discount RT based on age. Which Big 12 teams would fire their coach and hire him?

I have a good feeling about RT working out at UT (and it seems obvious he is going to get at least another year or so, no matter what the terms or money are), but I think UT is his unique opportunity.

 

Yes, and I also believe he has been here for a long time and would love to have an opportunity to stay here to be the head coach and prove that he can be successful at a top program.

 

It would be pretty crazy if someone swooped in and signed him.

My feeling is this team had to make the Sweet 16 based upon the regular season results. We've been in the top ten most if not all the year and in my view, if the regular season means anything, an elite 8 appearance would be par for the course. Anything after that qualifies as an amazing year.

 

Probably all of the top 16 teams spent half the year in the top 8 at some point and consider themselves top-8. A 2-3 matchup like we have is the question: are you top 8 or only top 12? So, from the perspective of how Terry landed the plane, I think even a loss to 3 seed Xavier next weekend would not be much of a falloff from expectations compared to if Beard were still here, if at all.

I don’t feel, so far, lucky to be where we are—I think we will win another game based on how good we seem to be.

 

Yes, but Texas simply does not match up well against Xavier. I would rather be matched up against some of the #1 and #2 seeds. Unfortunately, that's just the luck of the draw and won't be disappointed with a loss. Under those conditions, I think it would be fair to offer Terry a contract.

 

It's true Texas has struggled hard against teams with a dominant big man. Xavier has senior Jack Nunge at 7' tall who averages 8 rebounds and 14 points per game and he seems fairly mobile but oddly for a seven footer he only averages one block per game. They actually have another 7' tall player freshman Dieonte Miles but he doesn't see much playing time.

Outside of that I feel like the rest of the team we match up pretty well. Shouldn't the staff be able to put together a plan with a week's time and focus to neutralize the big man? I wouldn't be ok with losing this game, but a 2 vs 3 seed matchup is tough.

 

Roll the ball out and get to work.