Free throws stopped the comeback, but its not why Texas lost yesterday

Texas lost at Oklahoma yesterday, and if you watched any of the talking heads break down the game, the one thing you heard consistently was that free throws cost Texas the game.

Its not necessarily wrong. The Longhorns did shoot 10-27 from the foul line for the game, and just 4-11 in the second half while they were trying to make a comeback from a 19 point deficit.

But that's not why they lost.

They lost because they managed to get themselves down 19 points to an Oklahoma team that was basically playing without Willie Warren.

Tommy Mason-Griffin went for 24 points and 4 assists last night.
(photo credit: The Globe and Mail)

Texas looked horrendous for the first 22 minutes of the game. They couldn't get any stops against Oklahoma. Tommy Mason-Griffin absolutely torched the Horns in the first half. Dogus Balbay and Justin Mason, two very good defenders, both had their ankles broken a few times as TMG went for 16 first half points. He was able to use the dribble to get himself open on the perimeter, and didn't miss many jump shots. When he couldn't get loose, TMG was able to get by his man and into the paint, finding Cade Davis, who went for 20 and 10 while knocking down four threes.

Offensively, the Horns were just as bad. It seems like Texas, as a team, doesn't know what they want to do offensively. They have trouble getting the ball inside to Damion James and Dexter Pittman, they have guards that penetrate and take wild shots way too often, and they really lack a go-to scorer. The latter is probably the biggest issue for Rick Barnes, seeing as the last few years his offense as basically been clear out and give the ball to Kevin Durant/DJ Augustin/AJ Abrams.

And then there is Jordan Hamilton.

Hamilton went nuts against Oklahoma State, scoring 27 points and carrying the Horns in the second half. It was a disaster in disguise.

You see, Hamilton is a chucker. When he gets the ball in his hands, in all likelihood a shot is going up. Not necessarily a good shot, either. Too many possessions get wasted when Hamilton forces up a tough runner or a contested jumper. It wouldn't be a problem, however, if Hamilton played every close at least close to how well he played in Stillwater.

But he doesn't.

In fact, over the last six games (not including the 27 point outburst), Hamilton scored just 29 points on 11-43 shooting. He's not the guy you want taking 10-15 shots a game thinking he can score 25 a night.

The bottom line for Texas, and the main reason they are struggling right now, is that their best offensive players cannot defend, and their best defensive players are inept on the offensive end. Justin Mason and Dogus Balbay, despite leaving their ankles on the court trying to guard TMG, are bot very, very good defenders. Offensively, there really isn't much there for either of them. Hell, defenses even play 10 feet off of Balbay on the perimeter begging him to shoot.

J'Covan Brown and Hamilton are quite the opposite. Both are capable of creating their own shot and scoring points, but Brown couldn't guard a fence post if he tried, and Hamilton simply doesn't try.

This creates quite a dilemma for Rick Barnes. Do you leave your defensive unit out there and hope Avery Bradley and James can get you enough points, or do you put your offensive players on the court, and hope that you simply outscore your opponent?

Yesterday, it got to the point that Barnes was forced to go offense-defense, rotating through Hamilton/Brown and Mason/Balbay, for a good chuck of the second half.

And Texas responded.

They made a run to cut a 19 point lead down to five. Maybe if they had hit their free throws, they would have completed the comeback.

But if they hadn't dug themselves a 19 point with poor shot selection and questionable defensive effort, they wouldn't have needed the comeback.