I was glad. I had UT - 3.5 points in a bet on the internet. I won...which offset my loss in the Butler OU game where i had both teams combined to go over 119.5 points.... I won the UT game by 1/2 a point and lost the Butler game by 1/2 a point...unbelievable. And one OU player missed a freethrow with like 20 seconds left...GRRRRR DD
I got into San Antonio at about 2 pm yesterday, and had a blast. I first got my tickets at Will Call and it didn't take long at all. Then I ate at a great Mexican restaurant, Casa Rio, on the Riverwalk, and after that I proceeded to walk around the Rivercenter to kill time, and about 4 pm or so, I ate a huge Marble Slab cone of Keylime icecream. Yummy. About 5:30 I made it into the Dome, and I sat and watched warmups. For awhile not many were in the seats, but it was the traffic Baqui mentioned. The crowd was ready, when Texas huddled up to go into their pregame talk it got deafening. Then at 6:30 ish, it all got started. UConn started off good, but UT never flinched, and JT was the man in the first half. Nothing against Brandon, who was fabulous, but JT made Emeka a non factor until the last 5 minutes of the game. Now to Brandon, the man bounced back. And barnes is right, this isn't TJ and the scrubs. We go 12 deep for a reason. Also, major props to Deginald Erskin, or Deg as most call him. He has had a horrible year, with an ankle injury and the death of his mother, but just like last year he is money in the big dance. He did his job very well in limited minutes yesterday. Also give it up for the most improved longhorn, Jason Klotz. He came through with huge buckets as an answer to Emeka late in the game. His confidence is through the roof right now. Credit UConn though, after getting down 14, 62-48, a lot of teams wouldn't have clawed their way back. But I must say, watching Jim Calhoun get T-eed up, was quite funny. And now to my big finish. I was about to jump out of my seat in the 300 level and maul those refs when they gave boddicker his 4th on the free throw line That was the momentum changer UConn needed, and it almost worked. Then where was Emeka's 4th on the charge late in the 2nd half. If you give TJ his 4th, you don't bite the whistle there. Furthermore, Ben Gordon is the next UConn star going to be big in the NBA. He is so smooth it isn't funny. I think Thomas, Ford, and Ivey can make it for Texas. And I saw nothing that changed my mind on Emeka Okafor. He finally played a team with decent post players and he was a non factor until the last 5 minutes of the game. He had a very quiet 21 and 17. He's good no doubt, but he is overhyped as I said, because he plays in the Big East, home of the East Coast media bias. Finally, The crowd was out-freakin-standing, 90% orange by far. Texas is a sleeping giant about to Erupt in College Basketball. Also my last words for now: To everyone in the media(which I will be a part of in a few years) keep disrespecting Texas, and this is for you: Give em Hell', Make Em' eat Sh*t. Oh, and HOOK EM'. I'll be back in San Antone sunday to watch my boys make school history.
Okafor had 21 points, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks. That is called a dominating performance. I know you horns are just now starting to follow and understand basketball since TJ Ford has made you a good team, but let's at least give Okafor the props he deserves. He's a class act and an awesome player.
BigTexx, I was in attendance, and I know basketball. I'm not some stupid UT homer that you seem to think. Okafor was a non factor most of the game. Sure he got his numbers, but in no way did he "dominate." Sorry, just because I don't go to Rice, doesn't mean I have no clue about what I am talking about. He picked it up with about 5 minutes to go, and started to dominate, but Thomas did in fact make him quiet the entire first half, and early on in the 2nd. It wasn't until TJ picked up his 4th, as did Boddicker and Klotz had 3, that Emeka started to assert himself, and that was midway through the second half. He had a good game, but for all his "hype" as the best big man in the land or neck and neck with collison, he was held in check by UT. I won't deny UT didn't go in for many layups so he was a factor defensively, but overall, his offensive performance(which UConn needed to have a chance) wasn't there until late in the 2nd half. We couldn't see blocks counted, so I apologize for not knowing them. He is a fine player, but my point is Texas shut him down as well as anyone in the country could have, and he was pretty much taken out of his rhythm Friday night, no doubt about it. And for your information, I followed UT basketball when penders was around. I remember Kris Clack, Gabe Mueneke, Chris Mihm, Reggie Kelly, among others. I remember UT going to the elite 8 and losing to Syracuse I believe. So like I said, I do have a pretty good idea what I am talking about, and stats also can lie. Look at Emmitt Smith, he is the NFL's all time leader in rushing yards, but in no way is he the best running back of all time. Not over Jim Brown, Barry Sanders or Walter Payton.
A couple of factual things...it was darren kelly, although I caught myself saying reggie accidentally at least once this weekend. Also, Texas lost to Arkansas by 3 pts. in the Elite 8 in 1990. Third loss to Arkansas that year. I was at the game, and actually had a similar schedule. My friend Eric and I went to eat at Casa Rio, wasted time at the mall, then got over to the Alamodome about 5:30. Crowd took a little bit to get into it , but by the end of the game, their effect was huge. LOTS of noise. I feel like Omeka was a factor in a good part of the second half, and actually didn't do much the last two or three minutes of the game. His defensive presence can NOT be dismissed. He may have only had 6 blocks, but he changed a hell of a lot more shots. Also, 17 rebounds is big no matter how you count it. Part of the problem early in the game is they weren't looking to him at all. I was shocked, frankly, and kept mentioning that to my friends. He only had 4 first half points, and not many looks at all. They went to him quite a lot in the second half, and although texas played him well, there were moments when Texas looked like they'd be in trouble. Luckily, TJ comes back from foul trouble, and Mouton played his butt off. My point? Omeka doesn't strike me as overrated, but give him another year before he is the best center in the NCAA as well. I came away from that game not only EXHAUSTED, but impressed by him. Also, I don't fear Michigan St. at all. Not being cocky, just matter of fact about a solid team on a roll that won't match up too well with Texas, in my opinion. Oh well, I'll see what happens in San Antonio as well. To all those who are also going, drive safely, and Hook 'Em.
Junglerules, You are right on Darren not Reggie, and I think why I said Syracuse was wasn't that played in the Meadowlands or something, I was like 6 or 7 years old. I'll agree defensvely he was a force(It wasnt easy to see who did what on blocks from the upper deck), but UConn needed his points, and until midway in the 2nd half, he wasn't getting any. That was my main point. Also, you have to understand I have been irritated this entire tournament by the fact very few media "experts" believe in Texas. Okafor is good, but he did not "dominate" like Collison did to Duke. However, we have post talent, and Duke didn't really. If they did it was young, undeveloped and inexperienced.
Thanks to Marquette for eliminating Kentucky (the only team I believe that could kick Texas' ass). Now if KU can beat AZ and OU over Syracuse and of course TX over MSU, we could have a Big 12 + Marquette Final Four. That would be sweet! I'd rather not play OU though.
I was there, I love Texas and Okafor kicked our ass up and down the court. He should have fouled out earlier though, he got too many reputation as a shot blocker no-calls early in the game. He's gonna be a fine player for a long time. Fun to watch and my hats off.
Now I want Kansas in the finals. I can think of no better way to win it all than to beat two recent ncaa champs, the big 12 champ of the tourney, then a team that beat us at their house by a couple of points. Don't forget sports fans The Eyes of Texas are upon YOU(Mich State first)
When Ford leaves for the draft next year (or even this year,) will you still think highly of UT basketball? I think they better do some more heavy recruiting. I could see them being a middle of the pack in the big 12 in two years. Not exactly Baylor, but more like mizzou. Pretty damn good, but not quite contenders.
When Ford leaves for the draft next year (or even this year,) will you still think highly of UT basketball? I think they better do some more heavy recruiting. I could see them being a middle of the pack in the big 12 in two years. Not exactly Baylor, but more like mizzou. Pretty damn good, but not quite contenders. UT should be fine in the long-run. They already have one of the top point guards in the country committed in Daniel Gibson and are now grabbing one McDonald's AA player every year. That said, two years from now will be a tough year. Next year, UT will lose Ford, Thomas, Boddicker, Ivey, and Mouton.
I've read about Gibson. He's implying that he wants T.J. to leave for the draft so he can run the show at Austin.
I believe Gibson's only a junior so he won't be here next year. I seriously doubt TJ will be here from two years from now, so he'd presumably be able to take the starting spot as soon as he gets here.
T.J. Ford is going to ride on the shoulders of James Thomas all the way to the National Championship, baby.. Go Texas!!
Screw this future stuff, its all about making school history tommorrow. Plus, don't pencil TJ to walk next year either. He has repeatedly said he loved the feeling this years seniors had at senior night. He truly loves college. As far as recruiting goes, Barnes is kicking major butt there too. Buckman is a future All American, Gibson, and, of course, TJ. The reason we haven't recruited more is we have had very few scholarships because we are a junior laden team. And I really don't think Gibson would mind playing next to TJ his freshman year, do you .
If OU ends UTs season after UT has beaten them twice, I seriously might prescribe some Paxil. That, absolutely, positively, undeniably CANNOT happen! It would be the biggest downer of my sports fan career. Remember when the Bulls won 72 games in 1996, then started a campaign saying "72: Don't mean a thing WITHOUT THE RING?" Well, UT's 2 victories over OU don't mean a thing, unless they BEAT OU when it truly counts, the FINAL FOUR. That redneck school in Norman has only provided heartbreak during my college tenure at UT. I do not care how hard it is to beat a good team three times in a season. UT better suck it UP! If it does happen, then OU once again beats TX in the biggest of games (in the only two sports in college that matter) UT better beat Michigan State first, huh.
I camped out for every game during the 1999 season and most of 2000. We started out in 99' at 0-8 or something close to that. I don't think TJ has made UT basketball for me, just made basketball better at UT. I will and always will be a stout fan of UT athletics.
If JBII would like to actually come back to earth, we would welcome it. Dude, OU is no sure thing for the final four, so why on god's green earth are you so freakin worried about them. Neither is UT, but geez, be optimistic not pessimistic for a change. All that we need to be thinking about is beating MSU tommorrow and getting to our first final four in school history. OU can do whatever it pleases as far as I'm concerned, if we must we will deal with Price and company later, but take a chill pill, get back in touch with reality and enjoy tommorrow's 4 pm game, ok. I will be there cheering and wearing burnt orange, and enjoying the heck out of myself. You need to stop worrying about Oklahoma and do the same.
