How Texas overcame Durant loss
Posted: Thursday March 27, 2008 07:38AM ET
No Kevin Durant, no problem. Rather than lament Durant's departure, Texas coach Rick Barnes told his team exactly how it was going to get better. After last season, he told guards D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams they'd have to develop a mid-range game. After being shut down on the perimeter by USC's lengthy guards in last year's NCAA Tournament, Augustin and Abrams spent all summer adding floaters and mid-range jumpers. Barnes kept telling 6-10 redshirt junior forward Connor Atchley to think of himself as a better player because he had invested enough time and effort into his game. He told guard Justin Mason to lose weight. Barnes continued to play one of the toughest schedules in the country -- going to New Jersey to face New Mexico State and Tennessee, going to Detroit to face Michigan State, playing Wisconsin in Austin and also facing NCAA Tournament teams Oral Roberts and St. Mary's.
Rick Barnes, AP
Comments (5)
Not that I am thinking about my pool, but I hope Tennessee can beat them in the finals. Hummm, thats what I have in my pool
ICanDieNow | 03/27/08, 08:45 AM
Report Offensive CommentUmmm... let's not forget that they beat KANSAS, and UCLA (IN LOS ANGELES).
Eblanton2 | 03/27/08, 11:57 AM
Report Offensive CommentTexas coaches are notoriously whiny and annoying, but this basketball team is playing pretty well after depending so much upon Durant last year. Augustin is a little over-hyped by ESPN and other sports analysts -- he's good, but he's not the best guard in college ball right now.
silverblack23 | 03/27/08, 03:08 PM
Report Offensive CommentSurprising to seeee them come this far,its seems like a distant memory since durant played there
Ny | 03/27/08, 10:28 PM
Report Offensive CommentYeah, they beat Kansas, but Kansas beat them in the Big 12 Champ. Game and KU is in the Final Four. Rick Barnes is at the Barton Creek Golf Course right now working on his swing!!! Sure would've been nice to have Durant and all 165 lbs of him...haha
Riddy | 04/01/08, 12:23 AM
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