Just two games into Big 12 play, the vultures are circling the Texas men’s basketball team.
Following Monday’s abysmal 70-49 loss to Oklahoma, the constant topic of conversation centers on just how far the Longhorns’ fall despite preseason expectations that they would unseat Kansas and hoist the conference championship trophy in March.
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“Texas’ basketball loss to Oklahoma was a complete meltdown and has to rank among the worst five regular-season games in Rick Barnes’ 17 seasons,” wrote Kirk Bohls in Wednesday’s Austin American-Statesman.
The Longhorns never got into the game, missing its first six shots – several from point blank range. Texas shot just 20 percent in the first half and didn’t get to the foul line as the Sooners controlled every facet of the game while taking a 33-14 lead despite shooting just 38 percent themselves. Needing a burst to start the second half, Texas watched Oklahoma go on a 9-2 run to end what little suspense remained. Texas’ lone bright spot came from freshman Jordan Barnett, who hit two three-pointers in as many tries after hitting just 4 of 18 on the season to that point (1 of 15 if you discount the perfect 3-for-3 night against Lipscomb, the last time Texas scored more than 80 points in a game.
In its last four games, two wins and two losses, Texas hasn’t shot better than 44 percent from the floor and the offense has gotten progressively more stagnant. Brian Davis recounted some of Barnes’ frustrations following the OU debacle.
“’We can’t even remember the plays half the time,’” Davis quoted the Texas coach in Tuesday’s American-Statesman. “I’m serious.”
While Barnes could discount the Longhorns’ shooting woes – teams with Texas’ talent aren’t going to shoot 30 percent often – he can’t get past the fear that his team didn’t put up a fight against their bitter rivals from Norman. Had Texas played with, say, half the intensity it did when it faced top-ranked Kentucky last month, he’d have been apt to chalk the loss up to “one of those nights.” They happen. But that wasn’t the case, as Davis reported.
“We played the No. 1-ranked team in the country with passion, with focus, with energy and effort,” Barnes said. “Anybody can do that one time. But if we’re the team we want to be, that has to be every night. And we haven’t had it since…“So I told those guys, ‘Does that mean we’re a bunch of phony tough guys?’”
Texas has plenty of time to rediscover its intensity, pride and shooting touch so that it might live up to its own lofty expectations. After all, one ugly loss doesn’t have to destroy a season. Glance back at each of the most recent Final Fours and at least one team – if not the national champion – lost a game in similar fashion to the Longhorns.
Look at the last few Final Fours. On the eve of the post-season last year, Louisville drubbed Connecticut 81-48. The Huskies rebounded to win the national championship.
In 2013, Michigan dropped a 75-52 decision at Michigan State, but the Wolverines made it all the way to the national championship game before falling to Louisville.
During a 2012 season that saw them reach the Final Four, Louisville dropped a regular season game at Providence 90-59.
The 2011 season saw Cinderella Virginia Commonwealth reach the Final Four, but not before losing to George Mason 71-51 during the regular season. That same season saw Butler reach the Final Four (for the second straight year) despite a 76-52 defeat at Milwaukee.
Quality teams have overcome embarrassing losses in the past. With 16 conference regular season games still to play, Texas has plenty of time to get Monday night’s drubbing out of its system and potentially join the list. A Final Four is a long way off, but one thing’s for certain: Jan. 8 is way too early to write a season off.
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