Guest GCMPats Posted February 22, 2010 Report Posted February 22, 2010 Texas' assists leader out for seasonBy Jeff CaplanESPNDallas.com Texas junior point guard Dogus Balbay will miss the rest of the season due to a torn ACL in his left knee.Balbay, the team's assist leader and top perimeter defender, left Saturday's game at Texas Tech early in the first half. Texas (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) feared the worst. MRI results on Sunday confirmed those fears.Balbay's absence will increase the pressure on freshman J'Covan Brown to pull his all-around game together. After garnering a start a week ago in a 40-point win against Nebraska, Brown reverted to bad habits during Wednesday's loss at Missouri and played just five minutes in Texas' 71-67 win at Tech.A native of Turkey, Balbay started 22 of Texas' 27 games. He averaged a team-high 3.9 assists, 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 21.5 minutes a game. He ranked third on the team in steals with 35.Texas (21-6, 7-5 Big 12) faces Oklahoma State (19-7, 7-5) at home at 8 p.m. Wednesday night (ESPN2).
BLUEDOVE3 Posted February 22, 2010 Report Posted February 22, 2010 [quote name="GCMPats" post="764061" timestamp="1266859986"]Texas' assists leader out for seasonBy Jeff CaplanESPNDallas.com Texas junior point guard Dogus Balbay will miss the rest of the season due to a torn ACL in his left knee.Balbay, the team's assist leader and top perimeter defender, left Saturday's game at Texas Tech early in the first half. Texas (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) feared the worst. MRI results on Sunday confirmed those fears.Balbay's absence will increase the pressure on freshman J'Covan Brown to pull his all-around game together. After garnering a start a week ago in a 40-point win against Nebraska, Brown reverted to bad habits during Wednesday's loss at Missouri and played just five minutes in Texas' 71-67 win at Tech.A native of Turkey, Balbay started 22 of Texas' 27 games. He averaged a team-high 3.9 assists, 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 21.5 minutes a game. He ranked third on the team in steals with 35.Texas (21-6, 7-5 Big 12) faces Oklahoma State (19-7, 7-5) at home at 8 p.m. Wednesday night (ESPN2).[/quote]This just opens the door for J. Brown to command that spot anyway.
bullets13 Posted February 22, 2010 Report Posted February 22, 2010 in the long run this will help the horns. Balbay was such a non-scoring threat that teams were able to sag off of him. The horns still have plenty of guards, the rest of whom can actually score. I look for Hamilton, J Brown, Bradley, and Lucas to all improve with more playing time and a smaller rotation. trying to get 6 guards adequate playing time every game ends up hurting everyone.
ForeverADog Posted February 23, 2010 Report Posted February 23, 2010 This opens doors but players must step up! This hurts us defensively since Brown is no where near Balbay level on defense.
Djones8301 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Posted February 23, 2010 Balbay is a better defender but in Texas losses, defense has not been the problem
bullets13 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Posted February 23, 2010 [quote name="palincoln4life" post="764339" timestamp="1266886663"]Balbay is a better defender but in Texas losses, defense has not been the problem[/quote]very true. and brown has proven himself to be a very solid defender this season. i'd prefer his huge advantage on the offensive end over balbay's notable, but much smaller advantage on the defensive end.
BLUEDOVE3 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Posted February 23, 2010 [quote name="ForeverADog" post="764295" timestamp="1266883686"]This opens doors but players must step up! This hurts us defensively since Brown is no where near Balbay level on defense. [/quote]H e will not be missed on defense.
BLUEDOVE3 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Posted February 23, 2010 [quote name="bullets13" post="764422" timestamp="1266892524"][quote author=palincoln4life link=topic=66383.msg764339#msg764339 date=1266886663]Balbay is a better defender but in Texas losses, defense has not been the problem[/quote]very true. and brown has proven himself to be a very solid defender this season. i'd prefer his huge advantage on the offensive end over balbay's notable, but much smaller advantage on the defensive end.[/quote]We're finally agreeing and on one accord.
BLUEDOVE3 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Posted February 23, 2010 [quote name="bullets13" post="764761" timestamp="1266948802"]i just passed out. ;D[/quote]I was wondering why it took you so long to respond :D
bullets13 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Posted February 23, 2010 [quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="764770" timestamp="1266949379"][quote author=bullets13 link=topic=66383.msg764761#msg764761 date=1266948802]i just passed out. ;D[/quote]I was wondering why it took you so long to respond :D[/quote]yup. they had to bring me some oxygen :D
CRUSHCOACH Posted February 23, 2010 Report Posted February 23, 2010 I don't agree. Balbay has played great defense all year and he takes care of the ball. Brown has turnover after turnover in big games and his defense is no where near Balbay's.
bullets13 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Posted February 24, 2010 [quote name="CRUSHCOACH" post="764974" timestamp="1266965059"]I don't agree. Balbay has played great defense all year and he takes care of the ball. Brown has turnover after turnover in big games and his defense is no where near Balbay's.[/quote]brown has cut down drastically on the turnovers, and his defense has steadily improved.
BLUEDOVE3 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Posted February 24, 2010 [quote name="CRUSHCOACH" post="764974" timestamp="1266965059"]I don't agree. Balbay has played great defense all year and he takes care of the ball. Brown has turnover after turnover in big games and his defense is no where near Balbay's.[/quote]UT has too many quality guards sitting while Balbay was taking away minutes from the better players.
CRUSHCOACH Posted February 24, 2010 Report Posted February 24, 2010 [quote name="bullets13" post="765010" timestamp="1266970043"][quote author=CRUSHCOACH link=topic=66383.msg764974#msg764974 date=1266965059]I don't agree. Balbay has played great defense all year and he takes care of the ball. Brown has turnover after turnover in big games and his defense is no where near Balbay's.[/quote]brown has cut down drastically on the turnovers, and his defense has steadily improved.[/quote] I hope Brown proves me wrong for sure. I would love to see the Horns in the Final Four this year. But they have to get more consistant all around and start making some dad gum FREE THROWS !
BLUEDOVE3 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Posted February 24, 2010 [quote name="CRUSHCOACH" post="765532" timestamp="1267031552"][quote author=bullets13 link=topic=66383.msg765010#msg765010 date=1266970043][quote author=CRUSHCOACH link=topic=66383.msg764974#msg764974 date=1266965059]I don't agree. Balbay has played great defense all year and he takes care of the ball. Brown has turnover after turnover in big games and his defense is no where near Balbay's.[/quote]brown has cut down drastically on the turnovers, and his defense has steadily improved.[/quote] I hope Brown proves me wrong for sure. I would love to see the Horns in the Final Four this year. But they have to get more consistant all around and start making some dad gum FREE THROWS ![/quote]How about Sweet 16!
bullets13 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Posted February 24, 2010 [quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="765547" timestamp="1267033067"][quote author=CRUSHCOACH link=topic=66383.msg765532#msg765532 date=1267031552][quote author=bullets13 link=topic=66383.msg765010#msg765010 date=1266970043][quote author=CRUSHCOACH link=topic=66383.msg764974#msg764974 date=1266965059]I don't agree. Balbay has played great defense all year and he takes care of the ball. Brown has turnover after turnover in big games and his defense is no where near Balbay's.[/quote]brown has cut down drastically on the turnovers, and his defense has steadily improved.[/quote] I hope Brown proves me wrong for sure. I would love to see the Horns in the Final Four this year. But they have to get more consistant all around and start making some dad gum FREE THROWS ![/quote]How about Sweet 16![/quote]they have the talent to make the final four, but not the cohesion. i'll be very pleased if they can make it to the sweet 16. of course, IF they make it that far, and gain some confidence and momentum, they're good enough to beat anyone!
BLUEDOVE3 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Posted February 24, 2010 [quote name="bullets13" post="765563" timestamp="1267035305"][quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=66383.msg765547#msg765547 date=1267033067][quote author=CRUSHCOACH link=topic=66383.msg765532#msg765532 date=1267031552][quote author=bullets13 link=topic=66383.msg765010#msg765010 date=1266970043][quote author=CRUSHCOACH link=topic=66383.msg764974#msg764974 date=1266965059]I don't agree. Balbay has played great defense all year and he takes care of the ball. Brown has turnover after turnover in big games and his defense is no where near Balbay's.[/quote]brown has cut down drastically on the turnovers, and his defense has steadily improved.[/quote] I hope Brown proves me wrong for sure. I would love to see the Horns in the Final Four this year. But they have to get more consistant all around and start making some dad gum FREE THROWS ![/quote]How about Sweet 16![/quote]they have the talent to make the final four, but not the cohesion. i'll be very pleased if they can make it to the sweet 16. of course, IF they make it that far, and gain some confidence and momentum, they're good enough to beat anyone![/quote]Big 12 will have Texas run down by then. We're back to disagreeing again. The honeymoon was short-lived! :D
ForeverADog Posted February 25, 2010 Report Posted February 25, 2010 If they get to the sweet 16 it is possible they can play in Houston at reliant. That would be a huge home court advantage.
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