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    Bobby Burton

    Saturday: Champions...

    By Bobby Burton, in Articles,

    Champions are made in the off-season.
    The off-season doesn't grab many headlines, and it's not always pretty. A lot of hard work, early morning workouts, increased and improved attention to detail, growth (physically and mentally), tinkering with the personnel and schemes, self-scouting and opponent scouting, it's all part of the process.
    The right emphasis placed on the off-season pays untold dividends when the season comes.
    I feel like Steve Sarkisian and his staff nailed last year's off-season; there's no doubt in my mind that the seeds of the 2023 Big 12 championship were planted last winter, during this very same time period we're in now.
    I spoke with Bryan Erwin about the topic for this morning's Saturday Conversation, and I think it's something all folks will want to listen to who care about the ins and outs of what's going on not only for the players but also for the coaches.
    **
    True freshman receiver Ryan Wingo, edge Colin Simmons and safety Xavier FIlsaime continue to be singled out behind the scenes for their really strong work. Wingo has been cut from different cloth. And that is coming from multiple sources.
    Mentioning Wingo like this will undoubtedly mean fans think he should be ready to roll this spring. But we all have to remember, no matter how talented they are and what these young players are showing right now, they all have to acclimate to college football once the pads come on and the speed of the overall game changes.
    That being said, Wingo, Simmons and Filsaime are showing some ability and pluck early.
    **
    I also heard another name recently that seems to be impressing -- tight end Jordan Washington. Washington's skill set is much different than the other young tight ends - Spencer Shannon and Will Randle - so that admittedly could be part of it.
    It's something that bears watching. It was the first time his name has come up this off-season.
    **
    I am told that two of the younged offensive lineman have made strong pushes so far this off-season - Trevor Goosby and Jayden Chatman.
    **
    Another class of 2023 member that continues to gain notoriety behind the scenes is Warren Roberson. The cornerback has been highly regarded for his athleticism almost since he arrived in Austin a year ago. But we didn't see him much at all last season.
    Yet folks still hold him in very high regard. This could be the year where we see him break through.
     
     
     
    Gerry Hamilton
    What does Texas have to do to make the NCAA Tournament? 
    The Texas Longhorns will travel to Houston today to take on the No. 3 Cougars at noon Saturday on CBS. 
    Texas (16-8, 5-6) has a strong NCAA Resume currently, but still has work in front of them to punch the ticket. 
    OnTexasFootball takes a look ahead, and the scenarios for Texas to be comfortably in the tourney.
    Texas’ Remaining Schedule
    2/17 @ No. 3 Houston
    2/19 Kansas State
    2/24 @ No. 6 Kansas 
    2/27 @ Texas Tech
    3/2 Oklahoma State 
    3/4 @ No. 12 Baylor 
    3/9 No. 25 Oklahoma 
    NCAA Men’s Basketball NET Rankings (Feb. 15)
    Texas is No. 31 in NCAA NET headed into Saturday’s games. 
    The Longhorns are 4-6 in Quad 1 games, 1-1 vs. Quad 2, 3-1 vs. Quad 3 and 8-0 vs. Quad 4. 
    Quad 1 games remaining for the Longhorns:
    No. 1 @ Houston
    No. 17 @ Kansas
    No. 26 @ Texas Tech 
    No. 12 @ Baylor 
    Quad 2 game remaining:
    No. 33 Oklahoma 
    Quad 3 games remaining:
    No. 77 Kansas State
    No. 137 Oklahoma State 
    T-Rank 
    Texas is No. 22 in Bart Torvik’s rankings headed into Saturday. 
    2024 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings
    Texas checks in at No. 25 headed into college games this weekend. 
    What it means for Texas
    The Longhorns are comfortably in the NCAA Tournament headed into the weekend. That resume is aided by Quad 1 wins at Oklahoma, and over Baylor and TCU in Big 12 play. 
    While Strength of Schedule as a whole may not carry as much weight as it used to, the Longhorns have played a top 30 ranked schedule and will likely end up with a scheduled ranked from 20-30 area. 
    Most years, a sub .500 conference record would not get you into the Field of 68. With the monster level Big 12 Conference in 2023-24, Texas would get in at 8-10. 
    Sitting at 5-6 with four Quad 1 road games remaining, 8-10 may be the best case scenario. 
    Texas and seeding:
    Scenario 1: 19-12, 8-10 is likely a 9-10 seed headed into Big 12 Tournament
    Scenario 2: 20-11, 9-9 would likely be a 7 seed headed into Big 12 Tournament 
    Scenario 3: 18-13, 7-11 would likely send the Horns to the NIT without a run in the Big 12 Tournament. 
    Right now, I do not see a scenario where Texas is 21-10, 10-8 to finish the regular season. That would mean winning five of last seven vs. a very difficult closing stretch of the schedule.  Texas has not shown that consistent type of stretch this season over talent neutralized stretches.
    CJ Vogel
    We currently sit 32 days away from the beginning of spring football at The University of Texas. As our Gerry Hamilton has continued to say, this spring session will be one of the most anticipated spring football periods in decades.
    As another week of practice concludes, I wanted to share some notes on a couple of early enrollees on the offensive side of the ball as the group gets one week deeper into their college careers.
    ***
    The Texas offseason conditioning course changes throughout the week to provide different looks for each workout, but for the most part, there is a consistent approach in the following set-up: Mat Drills, Stations and gassers or 110's to round things up at the conclusion of the day.
    Torre Becton's staff has thrown in a number of agility drills set to improve change of direction speed, as well as focusing on acceleration out of breaks. This has remained a constant this offseason for anyone wondering.
    ***
    Starting on offense, we have continued to pound the drum for WR Ryan Wingo over the past few weeks, but man, I continue to hear very encouraging tidbits on the former five-star. He has all of the tools to get on the field right away.
    A surprise to me has been WR Freddie Dubose. I expected there to be a slow curve in development, though Dubose bought into the weight room immediately and is now sitting north of 185 pounds. Another steady riser.
    Speaking of newcomers that adopted the college weight room lifestyle – Jerrick Gibson is another name that deserves mentioning. No surprise obviously, but Gibson might be the most physically filled out back in the room at the moment.
    For QB Trey Owens, he is going the opposite in terms of weight to guys like Colin Simmons and Freddie Dubose. Owens weighed in at 238 pounds San Antonio for the All American Bowl at the beginning of January. When the spring roster is announced and released, it would not surprise me to see Owens sub-230.
    This might not come off as a big surprise, but Daniel Cruz has been a rabid animal in these workouts. He attacks each workout session very aggressively and has been mentioned as someone who brings the most out of his group when in team settings. Encouraging.
    The hope is to add another 10+ pounds to Brandon Baker's frame by the beginning of the season. Baker came to campus sitting right around 290 pounds, and word is the staff would prefer him north of 305 before kickoff this fall.
     
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