The University of Texas is a football school– few would argue this fact.
Fourteen-year head basketball coach Rick Barnes has done a great job to begin to change this culture, and make the Texas Longhorns a respected program and brand on the hardwood as well.
As this year’s team struggles, however, the question begs to be answered: Has he done enough? Is it time for a change?
The answer to this question has to do with expectations, and also whom who ask. The Texas athletic administration– in spite of the positive spin they may put on basketball– is concerned first-and-foremost with the football program. The football program is the lifeblood of the University’s substantial athletic budget, and therefore is the object of concern.
If the basketball program maintains a modicum of success, making the post-season more often than not, most everyone is pleased. The fans will go to games if there is an NBA talent or two in the mix, and the income which basketball brings to the University is a nice supplement to the athletic department’s coffers.
Rick Barnes has taken the Longhorns to the post-season with consistency during his tenure on the Forty Acres, however, this is not enough for some. Other than a 2002-2003 Final Four appearance, the Longhorns have most often been eliminated in the second round or the Sweet Sixteen since.
For the first time in some time in Austin, the Longhorns may miss out on the post-season all together this year. At 17-10 overall (7-7 in Big XII play), Texas could very well be on the outside looking in when the National Selection Show for March Madness takes place on Sunday, March 11th.
Texas must win out in Big XII play– which would include a win at home against the Baylor Bears and in Lawrence against the Kansas Jayhawks– as well as make a deep run in the conference tournament to solidify a tournament bid. After a 90-79 loss to sub .500 Oklahoma State yesterday afternoon, these wins become even more essential.
Sure, this is a young Texas team that plays six freshmen substantial minutes and is dependent on J’Covan Brown to carry the team on offense, but will a miss on tournament play raise the haunches of DeLoss Dodds and Texas athletic brass? Texas isn’t accustomed to playing in the NIT.
The Longhorns have a strong class of recruits headed to Austin next season, a class that could again bring the program to national prominence. One has to figure that this class will either be Rick Barnes’ saving grace or the final straw that broke the camel’s back for his career, forcing Texas to move in another direction.
Success isn’t a preference on the Forty Acres, it is a demand. Up to now, Rick Barnes has done enough to keep the rumblings at low decibels.
Things could be very different this time next year– only time will tell.
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Barnes is too good of a recruiter to let go, unless we see a series of subpar years on the court. Unless you have a Coach K, Calipari, Pitino, Self, Izzo, Boeheim, or Roy to bring to Austin, then Barnes is as good as it gets. Perhaps, like Mack Brown did after a losing season, some assistant coach heads need to roll. Since Barnes is the recruiting braintrust, then maybe he needs some quality assistants to train up this high star talent he brings in. Head coaching in bball is different than football though. Head coaches in football are more like CEO’s who let the assistants do the grunt work. In bball, the best coaches are right there day in and day out, teaching, training, and guiding their teams. It may not cure the Longhorns woes, but start with assistants before Barnes, and see where they go.
Thanks for the comment Cygnus.
I agree that Rick Barnes is a great recruiter, but wouldn’t you agree that Austin and all the trappings that come along with being an athlete at Texas are just as much a part of the draw of playing on the Forty Acres?
It’s interesting that the coaches who trained under Barnes have had some success at other programs: Haith at Mizzou, Hamilton at Miami etc. I don’t necessarily disagree that the assistants could be placed under a closer microscope in the off-season if this team does poorly in the post-season, or doesn’t make it there at all.
Barnes has probably bought himself at least next season. After all, football and basketball expectations are two very different things around Texas.