Finally, We Will Learn Something About Texas
What do we really know about the No. 2 team in the country in college hoops? We know they returned some big talent, like Dexter Pittman (emphasis on big) and Damion James, two players who could’ve easily bolted for the NBA. We know their incoming class of freshmen was highly touted -- J’Covan Brown, ineligible last season was the No. 54 player nationally in the class of 2008 according to Rivals; Avery Bradley was the No. 4 player in the 2009 class.↵↵But look down the schedule, and tell me you’ve gleaned anything from a team whose biggest wins have come against Iowa and a completely revamped Pitt team. While Iowa played Texas tough for a half, the closest finish to any game this season was the 16-point margin against Pitt in late November. Bevo has been on cruise control, at least until this weekend. Finally we get to see the Longhorns play a stretch of meaningful games. Not only do we get the treat of seeing Texas play North Carolina on Saturday, but they follow that up with another big one on Tuesday against Michigan State. (UPDATE: And I left out one of the biggest things: this will be Jai Lucas’ debut with the Horns.)↵
↵↵While much of the focus will be on Texas’ first meaningful game -- against the Heels -- I suspect we’ll learn a lot more about the Longhorns from the game on Tuesday. North Carolina, like Texas, is leaning heavily on youth. You could argue Texas’ vets are more important to their cause than Carolina’s, but both rely heavily on inexperienced players. (J’Covan Brown and Avery Bradley are Texas’ third- and fourth-leading scorers, respectively.)↵
↵↵And then there’s this question: Say Texas tops North Carolina on Saturday, do they vault Kansas for the top spot on the polls? ↵
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↵Well, based on merit, wouldn't the answer have to be yes? Now, obviously Kansas gets a shot at its own quality win against Michigan this weekend, but I would think most would look at Texas' win against North Carolina -- depeding on how impressive it is -- and view that as more impressive as collective wins against the Wolverines and Memphis, another team KU knocked off earlier this season. Dickie V. does not agree.↵
↵↵⇥Many fans want to know if Texas beats NC can they pass KU 4#1-not as long as Jayhawks win.↵↵↵And really, if we’re basing it on merit, don’t you have to give serious consideration to Kentucky (which has beaten North Carolina and UConn), Purdue (which has wins over Tennessee and Wake forest) or Syracuse (with wins over Cal and North Carolina)? And as an aside, if every big team beats North Carolina, do we start giving less merit to that win, or do we view it as just a really tough schedule for the young Heels? There will be some after-the-fact judging on that for sure.↵
↵↵Of course, these polls matter a ton because they go into that big computer and ... oh, wait, that’s right. College hoops isn’t cursed with a BCS-like monster. Consider that an early Christmas present.↵
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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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