Tweets from Andy Katz re: last Saturday's scrimmag

Here are a few interesting tweets:
Texas has a backup at every position. The Longhorns love the scrimmages. Next up: vs. Gonzaga in Denver Saturday.22 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Avery Bradley is Texas' starting two guard with Justin Mason and Damion James on the wings and Dexter Pittman a lock inside.23 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Barnes has a host of options at PG with Ward (a top defender), Jai Lucas (in mid-December) and Dogus Balbay.24 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Texas coach Rick Barnes is high on Varez Ward, so much that he was the lead point against Davidson in last Saturday's scrimmage.
The Link

 

yes, Yes, YES! Now, to play as a team of unselfish, ballhawking defenders who can score.

 

So how did we look at that scrimmage? I realize they're unofficial, but any inside word on how the new players fared or how the veterans might have improved?

I'm salivating in anticipation of this season, damnit!

 

Is Mason really starting...wow.

 

a tweet from Fran Frasch..

Rick Barnes and Mark Few are very close. Hence, the scrimmage in Denver. Typically, they could go with a morning and afternoon session.

 

We have too much talent for Mason and Ward to be starting. I don't care if it's early there is absolutely no reason for them to be starting when everyone is healthy.

 

Only 11 days, 13 hours and 50 minutes until they take the court!!

 

Review of our team in the scrimmage from the Davidson coach.
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Expectations have come a long way now that we can ***** about a reported starting lineup in a scrimmage. Arguing about who is starting now is ridiculous. If nothing else, history shows that Barnes is willing to throw out any number of starting lineups.

 

Lefty isn't at Davidson any more?

 

I'm not underestimating experience at all. You are underestimating talent. Just because Mason is a Senior doesn't mean that he doesn't make mistakes. Hell no one guards him so if he turns it over once it's too much. Ward isn't much more experienced than the freshmen. He only played a lot at the end of the year.

I don't mind one of the two starting but not both. I'd rather a talented freshmen play a majority of the minutes and make some mistakes while also making plays, than an experienced, average player that WON'T make plays because he plays too timid on offense. I'd rather start 5 guys that the defense has to guard instead of 4. Call me crazy, but I think our chances of scoring increases when the defense has to guard all 5 guys.

 

All valid points 3ball. But like I said, I am sure the freshman will get plenty of playing time, and they will have the opportunity to earn more minutes, and then eventually starting roles. Maybe Barnes doesn't think they are in the top 5 players on the team right now, so that's why they aren't starting. Maybe he wants to give the seniors the honor of starting at least early in the season, but will end up giving the freshman more minutes. I am sure he has a valid reason for his decision, if that's what it ends up being. I don't think that starting 5 is set in stone, its just what Katz saw, heard, or thinks.

But I would also venture to guess that Mason is the leader, or one the leaders, of the team. That can be a big factor in deciding who to have out on the floor. I also hope Mason has worked hard on his shooting so that defenses at least have to respect him, and then we won't have 4 guarding 5 problem you were referring to.

 

I agree that Barnes will make the right decision on this. He has seen the guys play more than we have, blah, blah, blah. The ONLY reason Mason is starting is because he is a 3 year starter that Barnes loves because of his work ethic. And while I understand that, I hope that it doesn't last.

I know everyone will play and I know everyone will earn their minutes. And I know that Barnes will play those that deserve to play. I will just be very disappointed in everyone if Mason is starting in December. You don't have a season long shooting slump. That's trying to sugarcoat the fact that he can't shoot. Maybe a week long slump, but not a year long slump.

I really don't care how good his defense is supposed to be either. He doesn't score much more than he gives up, and that's all that really matters. If Hamilton can score 15 but gives up 8, he's a plus 7. Mason scores 8 and gives up at least 4-5. How much does that really help? Not only that but when he's out there it makes it harder for everyone else to score, so now that I think about it, it washes out whatever defensive abilities he has.

But in the end, you are right....Barnes will make the right decision eventually.

 

I wish I knew as much about basketball as 3ball.

 

People are making way too much out of who's starting. I remember Buckman starting his freshmen or sophmore year, yet getting only about 10 minutes a game. Same with Deginald Erkskin. Total minutes played is all that matters.
I certainly didn't like what I heard about our freethrow shooting in that AAS article. That's easily going to be our biggest issue this year.

 

I admit my sarcasm was probably uncalled for.

I get that this is a discussion board and I know people have opinions. I just get a little tired of fans talking with authority about a team that only the coaches have seen.

Every team is different and every year is different. Nobody has seen Ward and Mason play this year except the coaches. Nobody has seen the freshmen play with the team except the coaches.

We get 3 lines of tweeting about a scrimmage and have someone talking as though they know anything about what is going on with our team.

Another thing that tends to bother me, probably more than it should, is fans making declarative statements about Longhorn players as though they are some sort of basketball scouting authority.

Rick Barnes is not perfect, but he gets paid a **** load of money to win basketball games. It's his only job and he's been doing it at the highest level for 20+ years. He's not going to start or play players who aren't capable of, and more likely critical to, the success of his team and his paycheck.

I'd be willing to bet that if you polled D1 basketball coaches around the country, most of them would sing the praises of Justin Mason until you got sick of hearing it. This isn't the NBA. Guys like Mason are what makes college basketball great.

I realize we are all fans and we have various levels of knowledge and I'm sure 3ball didn't intend any disrespect to Mason and Ward and I apologize for my sarcasm.

I've done a little coaching and officiating in my day and I think it gives me a little different perspective on the value of certain types of players. The game isn't always about who can jump the highest, handle the ball the best or shoot. Some players bring lots of value despite their apparent lack of what most perceive as "talent".

Anyway, sorry for my sarcasm and it's nice to hear some basketball discussion.

 

Nothing against Mason and Ward, but I'm for surrounding Pittman with as many 3-point shooters as possible. Spread things out, and let Damian work inside/out.

When Pittman's on the bench (which I hope ain't much), there will be more opportunity to let Mason and Ward slash.

 

Sgt. Longhorn,

your sarcasm is clearly a sign that you care about our basketball program enough to have a strong opinion. thanks for contributing to the discussion about this year's team. i can think of nothing better than passionate discussion (and disagreements) about our basketball program being the norm from here on out.

 

Totally agree with Sgt. Like when you see comments like:

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That part about nobody seeing those guys pass vs. NCAA competition is true. But...we have plenty of evidence, for example, of Mason's inability to shoot against NCAA competition. At the very least, it should be acknowledged that the starting 5 of Ward, Bradley, Mason, James, and Pittman lacks in any credible outside threat (esp. since we can't count Bradley as a threat yet, given the fact that none of us has seen him do it vs. NCAA competition).

 

Some of y'all act like it's impossible that Ward and Mason (especially Ward) got better over the summer?

 

Thank you, WJC, for saying so succinctly what I failed to convey in my long *** post.

Each team and each season is different even when some of the players remain the same.

I won't dispute that Mason didn't have a great year last year especially offensively. I will say that he wasn't the horrific liability that some perceive him to be.