While yesterday’s first-half performance certainly hinted at defensive improvements, there is no doubt that it is still an Achilles heel for the Texas Longhorns this season. Looking at Ken Pomeroy’s stats, you can see that when the Longhorns allow a high effective field goal percentage for their opponents, they are more likely to lose.

No brainer, you might think. But effective field goal percentage gives weight to three-point shots, which is something that even the casual observer can tell Texas has a problem defending. And when eFG% is compared to turnover percentage, we can see how much more significant it is to the Longhorns’ defensive success. In six of seven losses for Barnes and Co., they are allowing opponents an eFG% of at least 50 percent. Only the Villanova loss was lower (43%) and was a generally sloppy game for both offenses.

In most of those losses, Texas allowed a player on the other team to get hot from long distance, if not more than one. Michigan State hit 53% of their threes, while Derek Raivio of Gonzaga was 7-of-14. Chris Lofton of Tennessee knocked down seven three-pointers in his 35-point performance. Just last weekend, Kansas State sunk 52% of their three-pointers, and then the Aggies made 48% of theirs two days later.

Without a doubt, guarding the perimeter is a key for the Longhorns. So with that in mind, I fired up the Tivo and watched every defensive possession of our worst game in that department, the one-point loss to Kansas State. I hoped to see how exactly we could leave so many people with wide-open looks from behind the arc, and I ended up with some interesting observations.

While we were wringing our hands over the zone defense used against the Wildcats (along with announcer Steve “The Roach” Lavin), we had our share of problems in the man-to-man as well. Kevin Durant often would lose his man in that scheme, either from helping on the backside or failing to communicate on screens.

The winning basket was a prime example of this, as Durant and Damion James were just inches away from each other on a screen. But both followed the ballhandler, leaving the screener open for the game-winning three. Talking is a huge part of defense, and it’s really frustrating that two guys could be close enough to smell the bubble gum being chewed and not call out a switch.

Connor Atchley also struggled in the man defense. He’s done great in the zone schemes, dating all the way back to his great performance against LSU down the stretch. But when the Horns come out in a man, he sags enough off of his man that a simple cut across the lane by another player screens him twice — he’s so far back, the cutter and his defender both slice between Atchley and his man. This led to a ton of open looks from the free throw line for Kansas State last Saturday.

As for the zone, it can be highly effective for Texas and helps to protect Durant and D.J. Augustin from the occassional foul trouble. But the K-State Wildcats put on a clinic as to how to beat the Texas 2-3 zone, and the Horns were doing nothing but helping. For much of the first half, KSU would flash a man to the free throw line and feed him the ball before looking to the low blocks or wing for another pass. Against that attack, Texas limited the Wildcats and headed to the locker room with a lead.

But in the second half, simple dribble penetration and skip passing was the undoing of the Horns. If the point would attack the top of the key, both Abrams and Augustin would collapse on him. This left the wings wide open time and again for three balls. If K-State made a pass to the wings or dribbled around the perimeter, both a guard and the back end of the zone would converge, leaving a man open at the top of the key. In essence, a failure to stay home in the zone constantly left men all alone in the vacated areas.

It seems counterintuitive to say that a small Longhorn team without a true post presence can afford to give up points inside. But with the high correlation of eFG% — which favors three-point shooting teams — to Texas’ success on D, the Longhorns need to focus on limiting the looks outside. Our team is young and that is a huge reason why there are these defensive breakdowns. But the Horns need to communicate and be aware of their location on the court so opponents aren’t given as much space as ebola carriers.

The increased pressure beyond the arc in yesterday’s win over Iowa State looks like a step in the right direction. But we won’t truly see how well Texas has progressed until they take on Baylor next Saturday, a squad that takes 40% of their shots from behind the arc.