Longhorns Update: Out Of The Phog

I, for one, really didn’t expect much from the Horns this season. After last season’s 17 – 0 start and 7 – 10 flame out, and a few key starters graduating, I really didn’t think that they would have much to work with this season. Sure, they had some highly-regarded recruits – which then became two freshman starters – and in many circles, that could be considered a recipe for disaster. Of course, that would never compare to the disaster that was last season.

Wow. Was I wrong. And I stand corrected now. This team is good. And deep. And, frankly, these kids can play.

But even with that said, it has been a pretty simple equation for the UT men against Kansas. Zero wins, nine losses. There have been some heartbreaking results over the years, and I have sat through all of them. There have been some games in which Texas was blown out, and others when they took Kansas to the final buzzer, only to register a loss in the end.

Now, it has all changed. The Phog that covered Texas has disappeared, once and for all. They have finally put up a win against the Jayhawks.

It was the way that it happened that was most stunning.

Take a look at the first 10 shots in the game for both teams. Kansas was 70%, Texas was 20%. It had all the makings of a blowout Jayhawk-style. Sure, the Horns started off a little rough in the first half. They were down by 12 points. But they stayed with the program. They kept whittling away at the deficit. With a 51 point second half, they put up a 74 – 63 win against the number two ranked team in the country.

They broke a nine loss streak against KU. Better yet, they broke the Jayhawks’ 69 game home win streak, longest in the nation.

This year’s team goes nine deep on the bench. That is a good thing when tournament time rolls around. They are getting great defense, which just keeps getting better and is much more of a Barnes-esque team than in recent years. They have chemistry together and are very unselfish with the ball. They get solid minutes from role players. And everyone seems to be stepping up, together, at the same time.

This team is fun. This team is exciting.

They have had some signature wins this year – Michigan State, North Carolina, and Kansas. They have a 2 point loss to Pittsburgh, and a 1 point loss (in OT) against Connecticut. The Horns currently stand at #7 in the country. A first place finish in the tough Big 12 would have to have them in the conversation for a #1 seed. That is something that I certainly hadn’t thought was possible after last year’s effort.

Maybe the Phog of last year has truly lifted once and for all.

Photo credits: abesselink