Hornography
By Kahron Spearman, Fri., Jan. 29, 2016
The Boys Bounce Back
A vengeful Longhorn team got payback, toppling the reeling TCU Horned Frogs, 71-54, behind Prince Ibeh's monster night. Ibeh tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, and settled down to make five or six from the line – previously a point of struggle, as Ibeh is 14% on the season. (Yes, 14%.) Explosive freshman Kerwin Roach also went off, scoring a career-high 22 points, helping put the tested Horns at 13-7, 5-3 in the Big 12.
Even in Saturday's 76-67 road loss at No. 3 Kansas, the UT Men's basketball team has shown its wares. Texas controlled a large portion of the contest, but ultimately fell to the Jayhawks' overall depth, and the experienced guard play of Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr. The loss stopped a three-game win streak, which also included a big victory at No. 6 West Virginia, while featuring a maturing Isaiah Taylor, who managed to dominate without scoring a field goal (0-8 FG). Senior Javan Felix provided more clutch play with 17 points.
The Kansas loss, in particular, provided some insight into an eventual need for their human eraser Cameron Ridley, who's still out with a broken foot – but not for what you think. Texas actually misses Ridley more offensively – Ibeh's recent explosion notwithstanding. Ibeh and Shaquille Cleare have filled in capably on defense – Ibeh also had seven blocks in the Kansas loss. However, Ridley's the one interior player who demands double teams, and generally sinks defenses inward, toward the lane.
Texas stays home Saturday to play Vanderbilt, then rides up to Waco for a Monday match-up vs. brawny Baylor Bears.
Lady Horns Get Mojo Back
Rebounding from their lone loss – to No. 4 Baylor – Imani Boyette & co. are back to their winning ways, with big victories over TCU and No. 19 Oklahoma. Called "arguably the best center in the game right now," by Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale, Boyette continues to stack double-doubles, now up to 11 on the season. Their next match-up is in (the other) Manhattan – where they take on Kansas State. (At press time, they will have played Kansas.)
