Tip: 7 P.M. Central | TV: None After six long months, the sweet sound of sneakers on hardwood has returned. And while we’ve had to bide our time all week with such thrilling match-ups as Michigan Tech/Michigan and UCLA/Prairie View A&M, tonight the Longhorn faithful can finally enjoy the return of their own basketball team. Sure, the mighty Stetson Hatters provide as much of a threat as crabgrass in the Sahara. But with Rick Barnes opting to forgo exhibitions this year in favor of closed scrimmages with Davidson and Gonzaga, tonight’s contest provides the first chance for Texas fans to get a look at the 2008-09 Longhorns. And in a year where Barnes is looking to fill the vacancy of yet another top-ten NBA draft pick, there are a ton of questions that Texas fans want answered.
Crazy hat. Giant nose. Lack of teeth. Intimidating. About the opponent The Hatters are coming off a mediocre season in which they finished 15-16 and lost to Gardner Webb in the first round of the Atlantic Sun tournament. The efficiency numbers from last year’s team were actually much worse than their near-.500 record would indicate. Stetson ranked 309th in Division I basketball in offensive efficiency, while their adjusted defensive numbers put them at 205th in the nation. One thing the Hatters do have going for them is experience, as last year’s team featured only one senior. The return of guards A.J. Smith and Garfield Blair — who averaged a combined 60 minutes per game last year — should provide some stability in the backcourt. The most reliable forward for Stetson last year was Sheldon Oliver, who checks in at only 6-foot, 5-inches. This lack of a true inside presence could cause major match-up problems against a Texas lineup that is very deep in the frontcourt.
What to look for There are a number of questions floating around at the start of every season, and with the loss of D.J. Augustin, the 2008-09 season is no exception. Here are just a few of the many things on our mind as the team takes the court tonight. Who handles the ball? – With Dogus Balbay serving the final game of his suspension for playing on a team which paid some players, the point guard duties are up in the air. Both A.J. Abrams and Justin Mason have experience at the one, but neither is a true floor general. Seeing who gets the bulk of the minutes running the offense will give fans an idea of what to expect if Balbay struggles in his first college season or runs into foul trouble somewhere down the line.
Abrams faces a new challenge Will the new three-point line affect Abrams? – The NCAA has moved the three-point line back this season from its previous distance of 19 feet, 9 inches to a more daunting 20 feet, 9 inches. For Texas, the player who could possibly suffer most from the change is senior guard Abrams. There’s no question the little shooting guard has the range to hit from further out. But after three seasons developing his game at the old distance, will there be an adjustment period for Abrams this year? How ready is Matt Hill? – The forward from Nebraska has been a huge question mark for Texas the last two seasons, with injuries crippling his freshman year and completely erasing the 2007-08 campaign. As a redshirt sophomore, Hill has the skills to make a quick impact, but questions about his durability still linger. Tonight, fans will not only get a chance to see how he fits into the crowded rotation in the frontcourt, but also to see if he seems at all hesitant after struggling with so many injuries. What shape will the lineup take? – This is a question that will certainly not be answered tonight, as Rick Barnes will likely experiment with different combinations all the way into conference play. But this Texas team is incredibly deep, and has the ability to go both big and small. The fact that both Damion James and Connor Atchley can play well both inside and out is also an incredible asset which lends itself to some exciting possibilities for which five Longhorns see the floor. |
