MarkInAustin

Jordan Pope is not a defensive threat against most of the guys he must cover in the SEC. In fact, he is a liability. He physically cannot defend the three point line because he must be in the face of the shooter to defend it, which guarantees a foul. He is better off leaving his man open for three and crashing the boards - it is that bad. I write this as someone who had the same problem defending guys three inches taller than I on the perimeter. Might as well race to the boards as the shooter committed. [That was in City League, I never played in school]. There are some good man defenders on the team. What I find disappointing are team lapses - open lanes, open baselines, allowing a man to get behind the entire team at the basket... . Two of the best man defenders are the engines of the offense, Swain and Mark. They may suffer fatigue in grueling games, which shows on defense first. I think Matas is quicker than you think he is, Jordan, but I think he simply hasn't mastered the game yet as he is still relying on his height and strength, rather than his positioning. I believe he is often guilty of [fortunately for Texas uncalled] three second violations, btw.

So Ohio State football players rely on tutors and do not necessarily attend classes? I could not play the media.

lamar has been very sloppy even when the bobbles were not scored as errors. switching over to hoops.

That would have been a broken bat but for aluminum

Have you ever seen a shift against a right handed hitter?

What a powerful shot

Rifle shot.

Newman over Chatman? Is Chatman not yet recovered?

These salaries are of enhanced value compared with most competitors because Texas has no state income tax. Explain Professional Services Payments, please. Aside from his job description, what services are to be rendered? If this is simply additional salary for the same job description why is it separately denominated? Is it contingent upon some additional service being rendered? Is the source of the funding other than the Athletic Department?

What would you think of using Pope situationally as a sub rather than as a starter?

We don't know the nature of Seymour's incapacity in 2023 so we don't know anything about what the NCAA might do. We can infer that he had to be more incapacitated than Trinidad to be successful. We can also infer that a decision from the NCAA is on the near horizon, just in time for litigation.

That is a rational view, yet I have slightly more hope. First, Mark has become a consistent high level defender, when he was not early in the season. Second, Matas shows signs of playing smarter now, and more improvement for him is probably an expectation. On the other hand...Wilcher is regressing on offense and defense. The Wilcher disappointment puts Pope or Mark in the lead guard position too often, when both are better offensive threats off the ball. My thoughts on the downside for the season center around lack of depth. Codie is effectively already gone, apparently checked out. Heide is starting by necessity when he was slated to have been a role playing sub. Weaver is starter quality, of course. Traore is limited, but does give decent minutes on D and as a rebounder. Seven guys. Could be eight if Wilcher were as advertised, but now only seven. Duru has not shown anything yet, so I don't count him.

The Rams use JWhitt sparingly and it seems to me they use him like a TE. He sometimes comes off the wide position and bursts into the line to hit a LB. I have never seen a WR used like that.

My back deck, looking over Walnut Creek and the pocket park beyond it, in northwest Austin, at 8 AM. No limbs down!

Stay warm, dry, and safe y'all.