Great game. Syracuse has the makings of a very solid team, especially if Warrick and Anthony decide to stay. I think they're the difference makers that UT doesn't have right now. UT needs an athletic swingman who can score in alot of ways. Maybe Mouton will be that guy. Once again, a great year, but we'll have to wait till next year again.
I had no clue that Syracuse team was that good. If Anthony stays another year, they should be a favorite to return to the Final Four. I hope to see Roy Williams win it this year, mainly because I feel him winning in Kansas will help make it easier on him to go to UNC...
Congratulations on a great year.....a Final 4 appearance is nothing to be sad about. I look forward to some more great games in the future with UT, as both programs are definitely on the rise.
I have said this before but I will say it again... That Buckman character from Texas HAS to be related to Chad Pennington somehow because he looks just like the Jets QB with blonde hair. Also, I noticed that Kirk Henrich (sp?) looks just like Kenny Dorsey but a little more homelier.
Anything can happen in the tourney, but next year could be the year for Texas. Ivery and Thomas's class are seniors and they only lose Ross, Ogden and Erskin. But, they could catch a hot shooting team in the second round and that'll be it. UT is missing that one guy who can score on his own. Collison or a Wade type player would've been nice.
Anthony didn't have any flaws in his game last night. He's still a freaking freshman too. That was amazing. I think he's going pro, but damn, he's ready. Did he do anything wrong last night? He proved that Packer was right. The kid is well schooled in the fundamentals.
The idiots at cnnsi.com initially claimed it was defense that won the game. I fail to see how that's the case when both teams score over 80 points. Syracuse had hot shooting all night, luck of the draw kind of.
Syracuse especially Anthony treated Texas like a b****. We had no answer. I cringed every time Thomas went to the line. Rest of the team was not much better. When we cut it to 85-81 with a minute left I thought we still had a chance. It just was not meant to be.
What prevented UT from going further is having a guy who can shoot off the dribble. UT has decent shooters from outside, it's just that they are strictly spot-up shooters. The only thing that TJ Ford really needs to improve upon, is his ability to shoot off the dribble. If he can hit a healthy amount of shots off the dribble, then he will truly be unstoppable. I really like UT's stable of big men, which is easily the deepest in the nation. This allows each of the big men to play their balls off, and not have to worry about fouls as much as other big men. If UT had done a better job of recruiting this year, then they would easily be my odds-on favorite. Landing Ndudi Ebi or Cartier Martin would have helped UT trememdously, especially Ebi.
Points are never an indication of good offense. Point totals can be skewed by the fact that the tempo is high or low. UT didn't get as many open shots as they are accustomed to, against man-to-man defenses that have no prayer against TJ. Cuse's zone made UT throw up some bad shots, that UT rarely shoots.
There is something intangibly wrong about this team. Well, actually, it can be measured. No go-to-guy. I cringe everytime TJ shoots. Lots of sloppy TOs also and McNamara was lights out. Free throws bailed us out the last 3 games, but didn't do it this time. Barnes whiffed on Ebi, but I think it had something to do with his AAU coach. Hopefully he lands Aldridge next year.
Body-wise, they are similar. Hoewver, I think Anthony is better at creating shots than Big Dog. Anthony probably isn't the shooter that Big Dog is, but he can drive to the hoop better. Big Dog gets a lot/most of his point running around screens and hitting open jumpers. Anthony is more of a "hands on" scorer.
