Gerry Hamilton

Keyon Hemphill-Woods ... really athletic IOL

Tremendous kid More pressure on kids from Louisiana to stay home than any other state I have covered

Whoever the next guy is has to be a three-point threat for me. I don't want a 6-3 better athlete that shoots 30% from three. If opponents don't have to respect on the perimeter, and can play under every ball screen... That's the opposite of appealing for me. For me, the two things I want from that position are have to be guarded out to 23-24 feet No. 1, and ability to get to 10-12 feet and make the correct play/read. I've said that if Texas could find a Cam Spencer type, that would be perfect for what Miller wants to do offensively. But that guy isn't easy to find either. 40+% from three, plays the right way, makes the correct reads off 2-3 bounces, play with or without the ball, is 6-3 and is a playmaker in transition without being an elite athlete. He's just an elite offensive player with enough size. If Sean said I found a 6-3.5 version of Pope, I would be okay with that too... if the roster has two guys around him that could make the plays off the bounce (had one last year). I'm very interested to see where the portal goes from an NIL stand point. I personally don't believe Texas will get the level of starting players at every position the majority of fans want, so there has to be a true mix and match while saving enough NIL to have 8-9 quality players. Can't spend 85-90% of NIL budget and five starters, and survive any key injury. Texas isn't going to get it all, but I'm betting on Miller to put it together to be effective. Shall be interesting.

A very simple search will explain how the game has changed ... it's not even as hard as studying the game on a daily basis (if someone doesn't want to do that). The game has changed. The pure PG's are few and far between because the game has changed and kids are training differently growing up "Point guards (PGs) in basketball have evolved from pass-first, floor-general playmakers into high-scoring, versatile, and often "positionless" threats who prioritize shooting and creating their own offense. This shift has been driven by the rise of analytics, increased three-point shooting, and a decrease in physical, hand-checking defense. [1, 2, 3] Here are the key ways point guards have changed: From Facilitators to Scorers: Traditionally, PGs were expected to set up teammates and manage the tempo, like John Stockton or Magic Johnson. Modern point guards, exemplified by Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are now primarily "score-first" players with high usage rates. The Rise of "Positionless" Basketball: Modern PGs are often taller and more versatile, blending with the shooting guard or small forward roles. Tall point guards like Luka Dončić (6'7") are becoming more common, utilizing their height to see over defenses, similar to Magic Johnson's era, but with the added ability to shoot from deep. Increased Three-Point Shooting: PGs have experienced a massive leap in three-point attempts, increasing from an average of 1.3 to over 4.0 attempts per game over the past three decades. Declining Assist Numbers: As PGs focus more on scoring, there has been a steady, slight decrease in assists per game over the last 30 years, moving away from the "pure" PG role."

Even your last three NBA Champions ... not true or pure PG led. OKC Thunder - Shai is called the OKC lead guard, and he is ... not a pure PG. He's the modern day best lead guard. Boston Celtics (2023-24) - ball didn't run through their PG (Holiday or backup much at all). Denver Nuggets - Jamal Murray is their lead guard. Everything outside of ball screen game runs through Jokic, however. He's the primary playmaker for the Nuggets. Murray and Jokic pretty much split duties. Jokic will even be the offense initiator brining the ball up at times. The John Stockton, Jason Kidd, etc... days of basketball are few and far between. I do think there will be a few special/close to special guys come along, but it's difficult with the way the game is being taught at a young age right now. I believe the game isn't as much fun to watch offensively because of the modern game, but I still love it. The size/athleticism/skill combo is off the charts, but it's not as much of a fun watch because it's all drive and kick for 25 footer, or drive baseline and kick opposite corner. It's all 25 foot spacing, three-point analytics, etc... and I get it because of the length and athleticism in the game now.

Well, it's proven there are NC's being won with system's that play multiple combo guards and team runner vs. pure PG's. Half your teams in the FF this season don't have true or pure PG's. It's literally happened the last three years in CBK with the National Champions. UConn is system based with CG's, and Florida had a team runner that isn't close to being a pure PG. I would say the reality is there are different ways to win big in basketball now. And as I've said (and college coaches and former really good pro PG's have said) ... young players aren't training from a young age to be true PG's anymore. The different training now is centered around scoring/shooting and playing within system's more than being the maestro, so young kids growing up aren't growing in the game with creativity first and truly running the team with ball in hand 95% of the time. If you can find one, great, but they are fewer and farther between more and more. And the two All-American PG's this season are home watching. So yes, it's not a guarantee with the best PG's in CBK either. I know the old school guys disagree, and that's fine, but the reality is right in front of everyone's face. The game has changed, and is continuing to change. You need a team runner, but it's being proven it doesn't have to be the pure PG. Just different ways to win now.

My belief if Texas will have to build 2026-27 roster as if he won’t be back…. Even if he ends up coming back

Look at Lane going to the Saints cap … of course

lol Heard a funny story about that one.

Think Texas fans will start seeing some players announcing intentions in the next few days.

BTW, nothing has changed with Matas. OTF feels good.

OTF update: Dailyn Swain A Thursday night update. OTF currently believes Dailyn Swain is leaning to entering the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, which would keep the door open for a potential return to Texas for a final season. The key is maintaining his eligibility. Should Swain finalize that decision, he can participate in the NBA Draft Combine work out for individual teams and gather important feedback on his draft prospects before deciding whether to stay in the NBA Draft or return to college for a final season. Key dates to know: NBA Draft Combine in Chicago is May 10-17 Last day for college players to withdraw and return to school is May 27 or 28 at 11:59pm ET OTF will continue to monitor Swain's decision.

For those wondering, Texas would take a flip here

They can do some of that online

Yes. Matas intends to return to Texas. All negotiations right now

Another 40+ and 15+ with 3 blocks for Wemby

lol He would have got injured on the way to the introductory press conference

Lizzy Spaight will be a better scorer/offensive threat than Rori ... and likely early on. Not saying better as an all-around player, but different. Lizzy has real scoring punch/ability ... defense has to be built with all these players over time. Crittendon more talented than Carlton.

Glad someone brought this back up after last night lol

Yes

85% end up going public for Texas. There's definitely been a rug pull or three in the NIL day and age

Not hoops

Okay.

That time again. Hi

One thing I will push back on ... is the NCAA Tournament games ... You went hard on him after the NC State game ... don't want to put words in your mouth, but something along the line of first round picks don't have games like that ... Here's a list of some recent first rounds picks having bad/poor games in the NCAA Tournament ... some very high picks and really good pro's on this list ... 2025 NBA Draft first round: *Carter Bryant (Arizona) R32 and R16 … 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1-4 FG’s 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2-10 FG’s *Will Riley (Illinois) vs Kentucky R32 … 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist (3 TO’s) , 1-7 FG’s *Jase Richardson (Michigan State) R32 … 6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1-10 FG’s *Liam McNeeley (UConn) vs. OU R64 … 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2-13 FG’s, 1-8 from 3 2024 NBA Draft first round: *Ryan Dunn (Virginia) - 5 points, 5 rebounds in first round game loss *Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois) - vs. UConn in E8 … 2-12, 8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists *Yves Missi (Baylor) vs Clemson in R32 … 2 points, 4 rebounds *Jared McCain (Duke) vs UH R32 … 7 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists in 40 mins *Rob DIllingham (Kentucky) vs Oakland R64 … 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2-9 FG’s *Reed Sheppard (Kentucky) vs. Oakland R64 … 3 points, 4 assists, 1-5 FG’s 2023 NBA Draft first round: *Brandon Miller (Alabama) SDSU S16 loss … 3-19, 1-10 3’s … 9 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists vs. 6 TO’s *Anthony Black (Arkansas) vs Kansas R32 … 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1-6 FG’s in 37 mins *Cason Wallace (Kentucky) vs Providence R64 … 7 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists … 2-11 FG’s in 39 mins *Grady Dick (Kansas) vs. Ark in R32 … 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3-9 FG’s in 36 mins *Keyonte George (Baylor) in R64 and R32 … 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist … 2-9, 1-7 from 3 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1-10 FG’s, 0-3 3’s *Noah Clowney (Alabama) in R32 and S16 … 5 points, 9 rebounds,, 1-5 FG’s 3 points, 8 rebounds, 1-6 FG’s *Nick Smith (Arkansas) vs. Ill R64 … 6 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 2-10 FG’a R32 vs Kansas … 0 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist, 0-4 Many others had average or slightly sub-par games in the tournament. They don't all perform at an elite level every game in the tournament. I'm betting if I went through 10 years of NBA Draft pick first rounders ... it would all look the same. Off nights, bad games with TO's, any young player almost bad nights defensively, etc... Think that's just the reality of basketball.