40 Acres Sports

Kevin Durant was a unanimous selection to the AP All-American team. Joined by Law, Oden, Tucker, and Afflalo on the 1st team.

Billy Gillispie to Arkansas? A lot of smoke here, at least one source says it’s done deal.

PJ Tucker was released by the Toronto Raptors. Sure could’ve used him this season.

Great article from Washington Post on Kevin Durant’s big decision. Odds he comes back getting worse every day.

Daniel Gibson played last night for first time since March 3rd. Since when did he have nickname of “Boobie”?

Texas’ NCAA Tourney run may have ended Sunday with a loss to USC, but the Horns are running away with their first round game in SI.com’s What If Tourney. It’s the third year they’re running the tournament that tries to decide who would win the national championship if high school players had never been allowed to enter the NBA early and everyone had to spend four years in college.

The Longhorns add [tag]LaMarcus Aldridge[/tag], P.J. Tucker, [tag]Daniel Gibson[/tag], and C.J. Miles back to the team. Those four guys along with [tag]Kevin Durant[/tag] and D.J. Augustin would make for an incredibly good and incredibly athletic team:

Kevin Durant is nearly impossible to stop. Add Aldridge, Tucker, and Gibson and you can subtract the word nearly from that last statement. Aldridge, who averaged 15 points and nine rebounds last season has shown great strides in his rookie year, including a 30-point performance against the Bobcats this month. Who knows how good he’d be as a junior in college?

Keep D.J. Augustin at point guard, and move Gibson, who goes from playing with LeBron to Durant, to his natural two-guard spot. Along with A.J. Abrams and Jazz guard C.J. Miles off the bench, Texas’ athleticism and depth are mind-blowing. If anything, the additions add some experience to a team whose top eight scorers are freshmen or sophomores.

Having Aldridge back in the middle of the Texas defense would have made a huge difference for this team. He’s easily the guy I’d most want back. He can run the floor well with all these young guys, play tough defense, and give the Horns a scoring threat down low. Of course having Gibson playing the two would be pretty nice as well. He’d have gotten a ton of open looks with Aldridge and Durant, and size at the guards was a real problem for Texas at both ends of the court this season.

A starting five of Augustin, Gibson, Durant, Tucker, and Aldridge sure would’ve been fun to watch. The three guys who left early probably aren’t regretting it one bit (especially when they look at their bank accounts), but it’s hard to believe at least one of them didn’t decide to stick around for a chance to play with Durant. Any one of those guys could have made a real impact on this year’s young group of stars.

Loss may not end Durant’s days at UT. Despite all the articles, I say it’s 80% shot he’s gone.

Kim Mulkey is high on Texas’ list to replace Jody Conradt, but rumors are she’s about to extend her contract with Baylor.

Forget style points, UT got job done against NMSU. Sure would’ve loved a blow out though.

Game just under way in Spokane, Washington and I think there’s more people in my living room watching the game than there in the stadium. Tough trip for fans from New Mexico or Texas but I’m surprised more locals wouldn’t come out to see Kevin Durant and some great basketball in person. [tag]New Mexico State[/tag] could be a tough opponent for the Horns despite being only a #13 seed, Texas will have to play well to win tonight.

I’ll post some random thoughts on the game throughout, hopefully Texas plays up to their ability and can advance to the second round.

First Half

• HDTV has a sponsor but no actual HD here in Dallas. Is anyone else getting the game in high def?
• Three minutes or so before [tag]Kevin Durant[/tag] gets his first real touch on offense. New Mexico State is pressing to get us out of our base offense and make it harder to get KD involved. We’ll see if Texas adjusts.
• Good to see D.J. Augustin off to a good start. Because of the NMSU press he’s been able to find seams in the defense and go hard to the hoop.
• Reggie Theus kind of looks like a guy from Hustle & Flow.
• About seven chance at a bucket there and no points for Texas. Good job on the offensive glass but somebody’s got to put the ball in the basket.

New Mexico St. 17, Texas 15

• DJ better be well rested. NMSU’s defense is really working him out there and he’s having to expend a lot of energy.
• CBS really has a knack for making sure you don’t get to watch the game you want to. We’re watching other random games instead of going back to our game that’s back under way.

New Mexico St. 24, Texas 19

• Bullcrap foul called on Augustin.
• A lot of low scoring games in the first round, including this one.
• Another terrible call on the charge on Kevin Durant. The NMSU guy was clearly moving. NCAA officials have fallen in love with calling the charge this season and have missed a ton of calls because of it.
• Augustin and Durant only Horns who have shown up so far tonight. Damion James has been active but needs to finish.

New Mexico St. 27, Texas 24

• Apparently the refs looked up and noticed they hadn’t called any fouls on Texas because they’ve called four completely awful fouls in the last few minutes now. Cheap.
• And now a cheap BS call against the Aggies.
• And after back to back crap calls against James the refs have called back to back bad fouls on NMSU big man.
• Durant starting to feel it a little.
• Texas on 12 to 3 run since I put on the lucky game day shirt. I take the blame for the slow start.

New Mexico St. 30, Texas 33

• Aggies get a couple of looks at the basket but good defense by the Horns to end the half. After trailing for most of the half Texas goes into halftime with the lead.

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