On the eve of UT's opener in the College World Series and 2 1/2 months before the UT football team starts the season with MNC expectations, we learn that Damion James is returning for his senior year. 2009-2010 shouldn't be a bad year to be a Longhorn fan, eh?Frankly, it just feels good to finally get that break for the basketball program. We have been so close to putting together the roster of dreams. We had a great year in 2002-2003 and would have had a legit chance at a championship if TJ had returned the following year. Alas, he turned pro and we were left with a solid (but not championship-worthy) team. We had another excellent year in 2005-2006 and would have had a ridiculously-talented team the next year if we had any experience coming back at all. Alas, Gibson, Tucker, and Aldridge all left for the league and we were left with an exciting (but inexperienced and defensively deficient) team. We had another fantastic year in 2007-2008 and would have had a legit chance at a championship if DJ had returned for his junior year. Alas, DJ left for the league and we were left with a...ugh...we sucked ass last year.
But now, finally, everyone is there. Damion is back. Dex is back. It appears that both Jordan and Avery have made it in with no problems. We are absolutely loaded.
Starters:
Balbay
Bradley
Hamilton
James
Pittman
No team in the country will be able to rebound better in the frontcourt than Damo and Dexter. No team will have the scoring ability on the wings that we'll have with Avery, Jordan, and Damo. No team will have the backcourt defense that we'll have with Balbay and Bradley.
Need a shooter at PG? Put in Lucas (once he's eligible). Need an effort guy in the frontcourt off the bench? Put in Gary. Need some experience in the backcourt? Put in Mason. Need another guard to match up defensively? Put in Ward. Want to go small and run like crazy? Sub Lexi in for Dex.
We should be excellent and able to run many different styles depending on who's on the floor. To me, getting it all to work together is really on Barnes. I don't want to see us without an identity when conference play rolls around in January. I don't want to see any of our key guys struggling with confidence and not getting minutes because Barnes wants to send a message. Get these guys to relax and play together from the get go. Barnes has never had a team this deep and talented, that's for sure. I don't really like to put expectations on a team like this, but anything less than an Elite 8 run would be a massive, massive disappointment.
We'll certainly have our chances to build a #1 seed resume next year. UNC, Michigan State, UConn (I think), Pitt (likely in one of those preseason tournaments), and USC (whatever is left of them) all in the non-conference. And then of course, the epic matchup with KU in Austin during conference play. And something tells me we'll see KU again in Kansas City during the Big 12 tournament.
The good thing? If we can get a #1 seed, our road in the tournament will probably start in either New Orleans or Oklahoma City. Then the second weekend returns to Reliant Stadium in Houston. Yes, please.
