9 Arkansas at 12 Virginia today on ESPN at noon CT

Good early season look for both

3 hours ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

9 Arkansas at 12 Virginia today on ESPN at noon CT

Good early season look for both

Virgina smacking Arky ... they are a lot like UF, very good to start due to retention.

Arky looks young... but outside of Wilkerson how well they shoot the three is going to be key, as well as offense threat inside. They have to answer those Q's this season

Texas is better than Arkansas they got destroyed by virginia which isnt as good as us imo

6 minutes ago, Bevohorns said:

Texas is better than Arkansas they got destroyed by virginia which isnt as good as us imo

Have to see what Texas looks like against Baylor, Georgetown, UCLA, Louisville, Miami, and Memphis, but you’re probably right. But even so, Cal’s teams have beaten Texas like a drum throughout his career at multiple stops, so I have to see it to believe it. It’s still early though.

Edited 11 hours ago11 hr by LonghornFan4Ever

8 minutes ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

Have to see what Texas looks like against Baylor, Georgetown, UCLA, Louisville, Miami, and Memphis, but you’re probably right. But even so, Cal’s teams have beaten Texas like a drum throughout his career at multiple stops, so I have to see it to believe it. It’s still early though.

Exactly

17 minutes ago, Bevohorns said:

Texas is better than Arkansas they got destroyed by virginia which isnt as good as us imo

Virginia is likely better than Texas to start the season at full strength, but especially without Lewis.

Texas is probably closer to Arkansas than UVA in terms of inexperience, and how much better they have to get

Gerry, do you think this team is better than the elite 8 team from a few years ago?

2 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Virginia is likely better than Texas to start the season at full strength, but especially without Lewis.

Texas is probably closer to Arkansas than UVA in terms inexperience, how much better they have to get

Arkansas doesn't have legitimate frontcourt play. Furthermore, Arkansas' best players are freshmen. Texas has a few important freshmen, but Texas has older players (Matas, Punch, Johnson, Lewis, Freeman, etc.) to carry the load in crunch time.

As I've noted before, Cal is more concerned with bolstering his draft ledger than winning. Virginia's the opposite with their 24-year-old, unathletic Euros. Texas should be reasonably better than both by tournament time.

22 minutes ago, Jack R said:

Gerry, do you think this team is better than the elite 8 team from a few years ago?

More Talented, this team. Better team, have to see how this team look in February

19 minutes ago, harveycmd said:

Arkansas doesn't have legitimate frontcourt play. Furthermore, Arkansas' best players are freshmen. Texas has a few important freshmen, but Texas has older players (Matas, Punch, Johnson, Lewis, Freeman, etc.) to carry the load in crunch time.

As I've noted before, Cal is more concerned with bolstering his draft ledger than winning. Virginia's the opposite with their 24-year-old, unathletic Euros. Texas should be reasonably better than both by tournament time.

I agree on frontcourt play - offensively. That is their issue long term, and three point shooting.

2 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

More Talented, this team. Better team, have to see how this team look in February

Yeah, that team returned everyone and added Rice, who was a ready made day one experienced contributor off a team that picked up a victory in the NCAAT. If this team has a two year shelf-life, we would be a wire to wire Top 5 team next year. To be honest I would take that right now over getting Beckham Black.

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by Neil Leininger

1 minute ago, Neil Leininger said:

Yeah, that team returned everyone and added Rice, who was a ready made day one experienced contributor off a team that picked up a victory in the NCAAT. If this team has a two shelf-life, we would be a wire to wire Top 5 team next year. To be honest I would that right now over getting Beckham Black.

I agree with that. My gut feeling is Punch goes pro after this season and Spears Jr. slides into that starting PF spot. Would you take a senior year of Vokietaitas or a freshman year of Kamagate?

With the portal you should always take the veteran experience over the unknown potential of freshmen.

22 minutes ago, Neil Leininger said:

With the portal you should always take the veteran experience over the unknown potential of freshmen.

Always is a pretty strong statement. I'm not sure I agree with you 100% with your police work there, Lou.

@Gerry Hamilton What kind of draft grade does Punch have currently? Watching him shoot makes me doubt the NBA is overly interested in him as this point. His lack of height diminishes his viability as a rim protector at the NBA level.

34 minutes ago, harveycmd said:

@Gerry Hamilton What kind of draft grade does Punch have currently? Watching him shoot makes me doubt the NBA is overly interested in him as this point. His lack of height diminishes his viability as a rim protector at the NBA level.

Late 2nd in 2027 from what I was told... NBA likes his versatility on D and ability to play at 24 shot clock pace as a role player potentially. I agree with you that he offensively limited as an NBA prospect

That would get him back for another year IMO

They did an interview with him after he got here. Essentially he said he is here for a year and then the NBA. Guys will go even if they should stay. He’s a small power forward with not much of a face up game. Unless he really improves on that his draft status won’t change if he stays two years. It does not mean he will though. Does Texas want to pay him the same amount next year considering Spears Jr backs him up now?

Grambling's Isaiah Miranda will be an interesting opponent. He's a 7'2" 230 athletic forward. He's a 4th year player who has bounced around a lot of small programs, but he's got some physical talent. He scored 29 points in Grambling's opener.

On 11/6/2026 at 2:28 AM, harveycmd said:

Forgot to add that Sterling has looked much better than I expected. Had doubts about the release point of his shot. Doesn't look like it's going to be an issue. Truthfully, he's been our third best offensive player after Matas and Isaiah Johnson. He can shoot the cover off the ball, and he's not bad defensively. Bring him off a pin down, put him in a split or staggered screen and he'll be able to score like gangbusters with that shot.

Sterling is an extraordinary shooter, but he is going to struggle defensively and with getting a shot off when the schedule presents a higher caliber of talent against him.

"Why did Iverson, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBrick James win MVP in 2001, 2002,2003, 2004 2005, 2006, 2007,2009, 2010" Kobe "Because the media votes on it."

Edited 27 minutes ago27 min by harveycmd

22 minutes ago, harveycmd said:

"Why did Iverson, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBrick James win MVP in 2001, 2002,2003, 2004 2005, 2006, 2007,2009, 2010" Kobe "Because the media votes on it."

Is this drunk harveycmd posting more crap about Bryant on the Texas basketball season thread? I thought we were over that.