Horns247 Board

I expect a defensive battle / low scoring affair. Both coaches have it in their DNA.

McClellan will need to score over 20 IMO. I haven't seen Felix play yet, but Kabango is our stud... play defense, and let our talent carry us to victory. Don't let Fresno get hot with uncontested shots. Drive to the hole with the young freshmen in this game. It could be another of our biggest advantages.

Fresno State doesn't have big man Kansas bounce-back Braeden Andersen either. He's a mid-year transfer and isn't eligible until the second semester. SG Kevin Olekaibe is dinged but should play. I think you guys take this one.

Agree on the potential for a low scoring game - no doubt about it.

We're really excited but it's the 2013 season we're really looking forward to, with Cezar Guerrero and Andersen being eligible, and Paul Watson and probably Soma Edo coming in (The early injuries have contributed to the looking ahead, to be honest). Terry is a fantastic recruiter and he's doing a great job of rebuilding this program.

Olekaibe has recovered faster than expected from his injury. He's been practicing fully this week IIRC. If he can't go it'll be true frosh Marvelle Harris at SG. Harris is talented but really raw. I think this is only his second or third year of competitive basketball.

As for Tanner Giddings, I think he's put on like 20 or 30 pounds since he got to Fresno State. Not on Upshaw's level but he'll be a good stopgap in the meantime as he learns and adapts. We originally signed him after Upshaw committed to Kansas State, and then....well....pretty sure you know the story.

But did it come at the expense of agility? What I saw of him in high school made it look like a guy who had a certain amount of offensive ability, but a lot of tenativeness on defense. Poor timing on contesting shots, a little slow in moving the feet for better position, not putting a body strong into an opponent to secure rebounding position, etc. All the things you normally associate with a guy who isn't terribly athletic but has always gotten away with a lot of poor habits simply because he was always taller than the opponents.

I'm not saying there isn't a player with talent there, just that he needs a lot of development to play at this level. Probably a lot more than Ridley at any rate.

Honestly, I can't say for sure....Terry's been pretty secretive (no open practices except for a very low-key scrimmage) and I wasn't able to make it to the exhibition. I will note that Fresno State finally hired an S&C staff last offseason, something we've always lacked. The added weight was from an interview Terry gave to the Fresno Bee (He also mentioned Upshaw has lost some weight).

Like I said, I think Texas takes this one. It might be different if we had all our players, but that's just how it is.

The ususal NCAA foot dragging. Defacto suspension until they act.

Terry wants this game so bad he can taste it... he knows the benefits it can bring to the program.

I don't think it will be easy by any stretch. Terry knows Rick's head, which is an advantage, and maybe a disadvantage.

Good luck!

I think you will see the flex offense again from Texas.

I'm interested to see err..."hear" if Texas changes defenses much, or goes aggressive man-to-man for 40 minutes.

Looking long-term @ your program, I would start looking @ the better HS players around the Toronto area for 2014 & 2015...just a guess

In that case, I hope for no overtimes this year...

It's a reference to previous recruiting practices by Terry.

Of course, I don't know if Kevin Thomas has picked a destination for 2013.