Texans' trouble with staying committed 
January, 30, 2012
1/30/12
11:10
AM CT
By
Max Olson | ESPN.com
HornsNation is taking a look at the state of in-state recruiting in Texas. One of the big trends every year is prospects who commit early in the process and later decommit and find a new school.
Despite the high commitment numbers in February, March and April, it goes without saying many high-profile Texas high schoolers didn’t stick with their first choice. Though many others flirted with switching their commitment, these top prospects did decommit during their recruiting process.
Despite the high commitment numbers in February, March and April, it goes without saying many high-profile Texas high schoolers didn’t stick with their first choice. Though many others flirted with switching their commitment, these top prospects did decommit during their recruiting process.
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Texas finding itself faltering down the stretch
January, 30, 2012
1/30/12
11:00
AM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas can’t start and never finishes.
That’s not a desirable combination when it comes to basketball. Texas, with another close loss to Baylor, is now 3-5 in the Big 12. Those five losses have all been by two possessions or less.
More difficult to swallow is that in those losses, Texas has averaged just 32 points in the first 20 minutes and trailed by an average of 9.4 points at half of each game.
It only gets worse when looking at how Texas has played itself back into games in the second half only to lose.
Against Kansas, Texas led 64-60 with 3:21 left before being outscored 9-2 to end the game.
At Baylor, Texas rallied to tie the game at 66 with 2:53 left and was outscored 10-5 down the stretch.
Even in a win against Iowa State, Texas led by 18 with 13:38 to go before the Cyclones rallied to within three, 58-55 with 25 seconds left.
The reasons for the bad starts and flat finishes are easy enough to pinpoint -- freshman point guard Myck Kabongo can’t get the team running early, and down the stretch, junior J'Covan Brown is the only real threat to score so the defense keys on him and the Texas offense watches it happen.
Whether or not Texas coach Rick Barnes can change those trends is another question. Barnes does not have the personnel, at least personnel that is mature enough, to counteract the problems when they begin.
This is why so often early in games Barnes pulls Kabongo. He is trying to remind his point guard of what he needs to do on the floor because at this stage of his career Kabongo is not an intuitive enough player to figure it out on his own.
Until Kabongo can read a defense on his own as well as have the trust of his teammates, Barnes will have to continue to pull him out early and coach him. The result of that is Texas will continue to start slowly.
As for finishing better, against the teams with more talent -- Kansas, Missouri, Baylor, Kansas State -- it probably won’t happen. Those teams are more veteran squads with players who know how to impose their will on a game. They also have multiple options down the stretch, forcing a defense to stay honest. Texas doesn’t have either luxury.
That’s not a desirable combination when it comes to basketball. Texas, with another close loss to Baylor, is now 3-5 in the Big 12. Those five losses have all been by two possessions or less.
More difficult to swallow is that in those losses, Texas has averaged just 32 points in the first 20 minutes and trailed by an average of 9.4 points at half of each game.
It only gets worse when looking at how Texas has played itself back into games in the second half only to lose.
Against Kansas, Texas led 64-60 with 3:21 left before being outscored 9-2 to end the game.
At Baylor, Texas rallied to tie the game at 66 with 2:53 left and was outscored 10-5 down the stretch.
Even in a win against Iowa State, Texas led by 18 with 13:38 to go before the Cyclones rallied to within three, 58-55 with 25 seconds left.
The reasons for the bad starts and flat finishes are easy enough to pinpoint -- freshman point guard Myck Kabongo can’t get the team running early, and down the stretch, junior J'Covan Brown is the only real threat to score so the defense keys on him and the Texas offense watches it happen.
Whether or not Texas coach Rick Barnes can change those trends is another question. Barnes does not have the personnel, at least personnel that is mature enough, to counteract the problems when they begin.
This is why so often early in games Barnes pulls Kabongo. He is trying to remind his point guard of what he needs to do on the floor because at this stage of his career Kabongo is not an intuitive enough player to figure it out on his own.
Until Kabongo can read a defense on his own as well as have the trust of his teammates, Barnes will have to continue to pull him out early and coach him. The result of that is Texas will continue to start slowly.
As for finishing better, against the teams with more talent -- Kansas, Missouri, Baylor, Kansas State -- it probably won’t happen. Those teams are more veteran squads with players who know how to impose their will on a game. They also have multiple options down the stretch, forcing a defense to stay honest. Texas doesn’t have either luxury.
Class Rewind: Mack Brown's 2009 class
January, 30, 2012
1/30/12
8:00
AM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
Maybe the first clue that something was wrong was when Garrett Gilbert drew comparisons to Aaron Corp.
“He is similar to Aaron Corp (class of 2007) in terms of size and athleticism, but Gilbert has a bigger arm and is much further along at this stage,” was the second line of the scout’s take from ESPNU in 2009.
Don’t remember Corp? Not many do. He signed with USC and transferred to Richmond.
“He is similar to Aaron Corp (class of 2007) in terms of size and athleticism, but Gilbert has a bigger arm and is much further along at this stage,” was the second line of the scout’s take from ESPNU in 2009.
Don’t remember Corp? Not many do. He signed with USC and transferred to Richmond.
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Now that his recruiting process is all finally over, Dalton Santos (Van, Texas/Van) makes no bones about what’s coming next.
ESPNU’s No. 1 inside linebacker backed out of his plans to go to Tennessee and gave Texas his verbal pledge Sunday morning. Now he’s eyeing the Longhorns depth chart and focusing on his goal of becoming a first-year starter.
“When I get there and I start practicing helmet-to-helmet, it’s all game at that point,” Santos said. “I’m coming in there trying to set the tone for myself and trying to turn that thing around. I’m going to do it the right way.
ESPNU’s No. 1 inside linebacker backed out of his plans to go to Tennessee and gave Texas his verbal pledge Sunday morning. Now he’s eyeing the Longhorns depth chart and focusing on his goal of becoming a first-year starter.
“When I get there and I start practicing helmet-to-helmet, it’s all game at that point,” Santos said. “I’m coming in there trying to set the tone for myself and trying to turn that thing around. I’m going to do it the right way.
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Daje Johnson's wild week comes to an end
January, 29, 2012
1/29/12
9:40
PM CT
By
Max Olson | ESPN.com
ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Daje Johnson (Pflugerville, Texas/Hendrickson) didn’t look his sharpest Sunday in his first International Bowl practice, but he had a good excuse for dropping a few passes and punts.
His receiving gloves had gone missing. Johnson couldn’t get a pair delivered until halfway through the morning practice at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Round Rock.
Oh, and there was another reason: Johnson has had one heck of a week.
His receiving gloves had gone missing. Johnson couldn’t get a pair delivered until halfway through the morning practice at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Round Rock.
Oh, and there was another reason: Johnson has had one heck of a week.
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Johnson and Santos will require patience
January, 29, 2012
1/29/12
9:06
PM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas didn’t get who it wanted.
Not this time.
The nation’s top prospect, Mario Edwards, intends to go to Florida State.
Not this time.
The nation’s top prospect, Mario Edwards, intends to go to Florida State.
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Hassan Ridgeway plans on sticking
January, 29, 2012
1/29/12
5:53
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- Four-star defensive end Hassan Ridgeway (Mansfield, Texas/Mansfield) is "100 percent with Texas" despite taking an official visit to Texas A&M this weekend.
Ridgeway, a U.S. Army All-American, relayed that message to HornsNation on Sunday as he returned home from his visit to College Station.
What prompted the impromptu visit?
Ridgeway, a U.S. Army All-American, relayed that message to HornsNation on Sunday as he returned home from his visit to College Station.
What prompted the impromptu visit?
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Earlier this week, Florida State quarterback commit Jameis Winston told The Birmingham News' Jeff Sentell he'd probably be a Longhorn commit today if he'd ever received an offer from Texas.
That certainly got the attention of Longhorns fans. How in the world did Mack Brown miss out on a chance to sign the No. 1 quarterback in the nation?
I talked to Winston after this morning's International Bowl practice and asked him what happened with Texas.
That certainly got the attention of Longhorns fans. How in the world did Mack Brown miss out on a chance to sign the No. 1 quarterback in the nation?
I talked to Winston after this morning's International Bowl practice and asked him what happened with Texas.
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Daje Johnson (Plfugerville, Texas/Hendrickson), the newest Texas commit, arrived this morning for his first International Bowl practice. Johnson just joined Team USA today in Austin after wrapping up his official visit to UT last night and making his much-awaited switch.
HornsNation caught up with Johnson who had a few things to say about Dalton Santos and Bryce Cottrell. Both of those prospects were on the visit and have Texas offers.
As we reported yesterday, Santos will announce his decision on Monday. Nobody is really sure what’s going on with Cottrell, including Johnson. Here’s what Daje had to say about Texas’ weekend visitors:
HornsNation caught up with Johnson who had a few things to say about Dalton Santos and Bryce Cottrell. Both of those prospects were on the visit and have Texas offers.
As we reported yesterday, Santos will announce his decision on Monday. Nobody is really sure what’s going on with Cottrell, including Johnson. Here’s what Daje had to say about Texas’ weekend visitors:
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Scouts: Horns get versatile playmaker
January, 29, 2012
1/29/12
12:37
PM CT
By
Billy Tucker | ESPN.com
Daje Johnson (Pflugerville, Texas/Hendrickson, a once under the radar back, is now a Longhorn and with that Texas is getting a very explosive weapon who could contribute right away for Mack Brown.
While not the biggest back when it comes to being an every-down runner at the next level, Johnson certainly has the speed and multi-purpose skills to develop into a great future complement to current Longhorn Malcolm Brown or five-star recruit Johnathan Gray (Aledo, Texas).
While not the biggest back when it comes to being an every-down runner at the next level, Johnson certainly has the speed and multi-purpose skills to develop into a great future complement to current Longhorn Malcolm Brown or five-star recruit Johnathan Gray (Aledo, Texas).
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Texas targets hitting other junior days
January, 28, 2012
1/28/12
8:30
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
Texas’ first junior day isn’t scheduled until Feb. 12, when the Longhorns will bring in more than a dozen of the top 2013 players on their recruiting board.
But several schools will have a chance to get those players to campus before Texas with junior days that begin as early as this week. Numerous Texas targets will attend those junior days.
HornsNation takes a look at those recruits and where they will be headed:
But several schools will have a chance to get those players to campus before Texas with junior days that begin as early as this week. Numerous Texas targets will attend those junior days.
HornsNation takes a look at those recruits and where they will be headed:
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Malcolm Brown among breakout candidates
January, 27, 2012
1/27/12
1:30
PM CT
By HornsNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN's Football Scientist KC Joyner looks at running back candidates poised for big seasons in 2012.
Here's his breakdown of Malcolm Brown:
Here's his breakdown of Malcolm Brown:
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ABOUT HORNSNATION
Sean Adams
Sean Adams has covered the Texas Longhorns and college football for the last 12 years as a writer and radio host. Sean co-hosts "The Big Show" with Erin Hogan each afternoon on ESPN Austin 104.9 The Horn. He lives with his family in Round Rock, Texas. Email him at thisean@gmail.com.
Max Olson
Max Olson joined ESPN in 2012 after covering the University of Nebraska for the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald and high school and college sports for the World-Herald and Rivals.com. Olson is a University of Nebraska graduate and lives in Austin, Texas. Email him at maxolsonespn@gmail.com.
Carter Strickand
Carter Strickland joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the University of Oklahoma for The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman and Washington State University for The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review. Strickland lives with his wife and family in Austin. Email him at cstrickland70@gmail.com.
William Wilkerson
William Wilkerson joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering high school sports, college sports and the Texas Rangers over four years at the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram. William is a University of Texas graduate and lives in Austin. He can be reached at wilkerson.espn@gmail.com.