dustin mccomas, from rivals' ut site
1) Offensively are the Horns doing well with this five out, spread look?
They have run a five-out look at times on offense with Will Baker on the floor, but their most common look features the five man often facilitating offense at the top of the key or setting a ball-screen with a roll. While the Longhorns haven't featured low post offense often and haven't hit the roll man much, they have talked about incorporating those things more. Overall, the offense looks better from a ball and player movement perspective.
2) Does Coleman make it happen for UT?
Texas makes it no secret it will go as Matt Coleman and Courtney Ramey go. So far, Coleman has been the more consistent presence, which could be because Ramey missed a few weeks prior to the season with a wrist injury and has been hot-and-cold offensively. Coleman's voice and leadership are making a very positive impact, and both players are often very strong on the ball defensively.
3) Who is surprising you offensively?
Gerald Liddell has been the most improved player and has gone from not even playing almost all of last season to a starter as a sophomore. At 6-8 with good length, Liddell has a high skill level, but is at his best in the mid-range or driving to the rim. His emergence has allowed Smart to use more four-guard lineups.
4) Defensively what does UT do best?
Under new assistant Luke Yaklich, Texas has been very good in one-on-one defending, running teams off the three-point line, and limiting assists. It's become obvious, thus far, Texas has a better awareness of personnel and scouting report on the floor.
5) Will Smart ever press like he did at VCU?
Doubtful. Smart describes what he did at VCU, "havoc," as a mindset rather than a style. He's not recruiting the same type of under-the-radar prospects that he did at VCU.
6) How do you assess Smarts tenure? The fans?
A vast majority of the fans would describe the tenure as a failure thus far, and it's fair to say Smart hasn't yet delivered on what he was brought to Texas for. The Longhorns have missed the NCAA Tournament twice and have yet to win a NCAA Tournament game under Smart, which is clearly falling short of standards and expectations.
1) Offensively are the Horns doing well with this five out, spread look?
They have run a five-out look at times on offense with Will Baker on the floor, but their most common look features the five man often facilitating offense at the top of the key or setting a ball-screen with a roll. While the Longhorns haven't featured low post offense often and haven't hit the roll man much, they have talked about incorporating those things more. Overall, the offense looks better from a ball and player movement perspective.
2) Does Coleman make it happen for UT?
Texas makes it no secret it will go as Matt Coleman and Courtney Ramey go. So far, Coleman has been the more consistent presence, which could be because Ramey missed a few weeks prior to the season with a wrist injury and has been hot-and-cold offensively. Coleman's voice and leadership are making a very positive impact, and both players are often very strong on the ball defensively.
3) Who is surprising you offensively?
Gerald Liddell has been the most improved player and has gone from not even playing almost all of last season to a starter as a sophomore. At 6-8 with good length, Liddell has a high skill level, but is at his best in the mid-range or driving to the rim. His emergence has allowed Smart to use more four-guard lineups.
4) Defensively what does UT do best?
Under new assistant Luke Yaklich, Texas has been very good in one-on-one defending, running teams off the three-point line, and limiting assists. It's become obvious, thus far, Texas has a better awareness of personnel and scouting report on the floor.
5) Will Smart ever press like he did at VCU?
Doubtful. Smart describes what he did at VCU, "havoc," as a mindset rather than a style. He's not recruiting the same type of under-the-radar prospects that he did at VCU.
6) How do you assess Smarts tenure? The fans?
A vast majority of the fans would describe the tenure as a failure thus far, and it's fair to say Smart hasn't yet delivered on what he was brought to Texas for. The Longhorns have missed the NCAA Tournament twice and have yet to win a NCAA Tournament game under Smart, which is clearly falling short of standards and expectations.