40 Acres Sports

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.

(more …)

The whole Texas offense runs through D.J. Augustin and he’s the team’s most important player.

Kevin Durant is better than Carmelo and Magic and is the top freshman of all time.

Great article on Kevin Durant from the Denver Post. I think every paper has had an article on KD this week.

Is it just me, or does it feel really good to see Duke lose? Now, I don’t want to brag or anything, but I did call this upset in my bracket.

The bottom-line was that VCU was just too physical for Duke (as you can see by the picture). The VCU press has to be one of the best in the country, and it absolutely ate Duke alive. I don’t really see VCU putting up much of a fight against Pitt, but it is always good to see the underdog come through in the tourney.

Interestingly enough, the last time that Duke lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament was 1996, which also happens to be the last time they were a #6 seed.

Longhorns beat Winthrop 7-1 in the final game before Big 12 play begins Friday. Nice to have Kyle Walker back.

Deadspin previews Texas’ first round match-up against New Mexico State.

CNNSI breaks down the East Region. Seems they like Texas over UNC and Georgetown to make Final 4.

Texas A&M‘s basketball program has reached unseen heights this season and as a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament is showing up in a lot of expert’s Final Four picks. But right before the tournament games begin former Aggie Antoine Wright reveals some shady academic practices going on at the university.

On a special episode of HBO’s Costas Now last night focusing on college athletes and academics, Wright revealed that athletes at Texas A&M athletes are steered into agricultural majors and states that he got more of an education in high school. In some ag classes there would be a “quarterback, [Wright], a running back and a farmer.” Even more damning, he states that athletes were provided with cheat sheets including copies of old exams.

Video of Wright on Costas Now is below:

When the Big 12 announced their Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Team a couple of week’s ago two Aggie starters, Dominique Kirk and Acie Law, made the second team. Their major? Ag leadership & development. Big man Antanas Kavaliauskas should be able to go home to Lithuania and raise some awesome goats as an agricultural development major.

The football team is probably worse. Reggie McNeal? Agricultural development major. Red Bryant, Kerry Franks, and Courtney Lewis? Ag leadership & development. Our good friend Kellen Heard? He’s an agricultural and life sciences major.

For the sake of the 98% of these kids who won’t make it to the pros, I sure hope they can raise a mean chicken.

Update: Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne’s response to Wright’s allegations? Don’t worry, we’re adding more easy majors that athletes will be able to choose from.