How Texas overcame Durant loss

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07:38 AM ET 03.27
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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.

Dallas Morning News

Rick Barnes, AP

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March 27, 2008 08:45 AM ET

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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

Pepperell , MA

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March 27, 2008 11:57 AM ET

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Ummm... let's not forget that they beat KANSAS, and UCLA (IN LOS ANGELES).

Eblanton2

Austin, TX

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March 27, 2008 03:08 PM ET

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Texas 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

Dunsmuir , CA

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March 27, 2008 10:28 PM ET

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Surprising to seeee them come this far,its seems like a distant memory since durant played there

Seaside Park, NJ

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April 1, 2008 12:23 AM ET

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Yeah, 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