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Author: Tucker Stephenson

Astros Springer Hot Streak cooled by injury.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in MLB.

Astros fans had plenty of reason to be nervous when George Springer left Sunday’s game against the Red Sox with back soreness.

After all, Springer is off to a blazing start for Houston in 2019, as he came into this week batting .313 with 17 homers, 42 RBIs, 41 runs scored and an OPS of 1.050. 

Luckily, Springer’s MRI revealed no structural problems in his lower back, which means the budding star outfielder will dodge a trip to the injured list. Instead, he’s listed as day-to-day and could return for the Astros’ current series against the White Sox, which wraps up Thursday.

However, manager A.J. Hinch could choose to play it safe and keep Springer on the shelf until this weekend’s three-game set with Boston at Minute Maid Park. No matter what the decision, Houston can’t wait to see the 29-year-old back in the lineup launching “Springer dingers” at The Juice Box.

As of Tuesday evening, the Astros were in first place in the American League West and held a comfortable 8 1/2-game lead over Oakland. That enough is reason to believe that Houston won’t rush Springer — or teammate Jose Altuve — back too soon.

Of course, stellar performances are nothing new for Springer, who won the 2017 World Series MVP award while helping Houston outlast the Los Angeles Dodgers in a seven-game showdown than neither fan base will ever forget.

But Springer has raised his game even more this season, which is reflected by the fact that he leads the American League in home runs, RBIs, runs scored and total bases while hitting in a deep Astros lineup. He’s on pace for a career year across the board if he can stay healthy, but a few days of rest likely won’t hurt him in the long run — even if he can’t wait to get back out on the field.

“I always want to play,” Springer told the Houston Chronicle’s David Barron when asked if he would be back in the lineup on Monday. “I’ll see how I feel and I’ll go from there.”

Springer’s production hasn’t just helped Houston win games — he’s also becoming a fantasy baseball hero nationwide. On Yahoo.com’s list of top performers, Springer ranked third overall on Tuesday night and was ahead of big names like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper.

Houston Astros’ George Springer (4) watches his two-run home run in front of Boston Red Sox’s Christian Vazquez during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Boston, Friday, May 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Not bad for a guy making $12 million per season compared to more than twice that price for the newly-signed Harper.

If Springer continues his current surge, his contract will surely balloon, but for now, the Astros just want him back in center field as soon as possible. Once he returns and Houston moves closer to being at full strength, there will only be two worlds of advice for every team they face from here on out.

Good luck.

A Tale of Two Coaches: Panther Baseball

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in High School Baseball.

LIBERTY HILL — Even before the 2019 season began to take shape, it was obvious that the Liberty Hill baseball program had the potential to make some serious noise.

With a loaded roster and senior leadership in several key spots, the Panthers appeared poised to make the leap into the upper echelon of Class 4A competitors and become a force to be reckoned with statewide. There was just one problem — Liberty Hill was essentially a fully-loaded sports car without a proper steering system in place.

Luckily, Bryan Alexander — the father of first baseman Cole Alexander and a member of the Round Round Express’ front office — knew just the man to provide such direction.

In the summer of 2018, Alexander, a former coach at Alvin Junior College, reached out to former player Steven Hutcherson, who had previously won a state championship at Grapevine in 2016 and guided the Mustangs all the way back to the title game in 2017.

After being unable to sway Hutcherson in previous conversations, this time the Panthers got their man.

“I didn’t see myself going anywhere,” Hutcherson said. “Then, not too long after that, my parents said, ‘Hey we’re going to build our retirement home in the Central Texas area.’ Me and my wife said if we could ever be around them, we would like to be around them and be at a place with a good school and a good baseball program — all of the above. As soon as all of that kind of panned out, [Bryan Alexander] was one of the first calls I got, saying basically, ‘I think [the job is] going to be open. Would you be interested?’ It just kind of all worked.”

Under Hutcherson’s tutelage, Liberty Hill and its fearsome foursome of seniors Cole Alexander, Wyatt Cheney, Kaden Dydalewicz and Kory Schmidt have transformed into a top-five team and recently wrapped up a perfect 10-0 run through District 27-4A.

“It’s been everything people told me it would be based on the talent level and how the kids are and their work ethic and all that,” Hutcherson said.

Cole Alexander, a Central Arkansas signee, said his dad warned him early on that there was a new sheriff in town.

“He basically told me that I better get it together if I’m being dumb or anything, because Hutch was going to bear down and make us better,” he said. “We were going down a not-very-good path with our former coach, and he turned it completely around.”

Cheney, a right-hander pitcher who has signed to play for Oklahoma State, agreed.

“There’s just a lot more energy at practice,” Cheney said. “Everybody wants to go out there and play hard and it’s changed a lot. More accountability has been brought to the table.”

However, Hutcherson wasn’t the only key addition in the offseason. Dydalewicz moved to Liberty Hill from Frisco prior to his senior year, and the right-handed TCU signee has since combined with Cheney to become one of the most formidable one-two pitching combinations in the Lone Star State.

Schmidt, the team’s catcher, said each hurler is remarkable in his own right.

“They’re both different, but they’re both really, really good,” Schmidt said. “Cheney’s got one of the best breaking balls I’ve ever seen, and Dydalewicz can throw it up there harder than I’ve really ever seen, so it’s a joy to catch both these guys.”

Much like Hutcherson, Dydalewicz said the move to Liberty Hill came at the perfect time.

“As soon as I came on my visit, there was something about Liberty Hill that just felt special coming in here and playing baseball,” he said. “It’s been pretty awesome. I was surrounded by good people and the whole team clicked together.”

Of course, the Panthers’ pitching may steal quite a few of the headlines, but the lineup isn’t anything to sneeze at, either. Liberty Hill possesses a mix of speed and power that helped the team average 8.1 runs per game during the regular season.

“We’ve got a stacked lineup,” Dydalewicz said. “I think we’ve got a lot of power hitters and contact hitters and we don’t strike out. We go up there and fight during every at-bat.”

The Panthers entered the postseason riding a 17-game winning streak and immediately set their sights on becoming the fourth team sport from Liberty Hill to advance to the state level during the 2018-19 school year alone. Cheney, who was also a starting safety on the state runner-up football team, said the Panthers’ standard of excellence has now extended to the diamond as well.

“It’s more of an expectation for us to make it,” Cheney said. “We hold the standards high here in Liberty Hill.”

Westlake and Lake Travis still alive in Playoffs

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in High School Baseball.

It was mostly smooth sailing for District 25-6A’s Lake Travis and Westlake during a pair of best-of-three area round playoff series this past weekend. 

The district champion Cavaliers (31-3), currently ranked fifth in Class 6A by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, swept San Antonio Brandeis by respective scores of 8-2 and 5-1, while the Chaparrals (29-6-1) defeated South San Antonio 11-0 and 8-7.

In Lake Travis’ opener on Friday, the Cavs plated seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to erase a 2-0 deficit. Lake Travis outhit the Broncos 11-5 and saw Kyle Boyer go 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, while Jack Lopez and Braden Olsen were each 2 for 4. Leadoff man Brett Baty finished 1 for 2 with a double and two RBIs.

Storm Hierholzer worked a complete game in the opener and held Brandeis to a pair of runs on five hits while striking out five.

The Cavaliers secured the sweep on Saturday after taking advantage of three Bronco errors and riding the 11-strikeout performance of Baty from the mound. The Longhorn signee allowed one run on three hits in the contest.

Jack Jalufka was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, and the duo of Aidan Babinski and Austin Plante also drove in a run.

Lake Travis will now face San Antonio Johnson in the regional quarterfinals.

It was a tale of two very different games for Westlake, which slammed South San 11-1 in five innings in Game 1 before using a walk-off in Game 2 to prevail in 12 innings.

Leo Lowin clinched a series sweep on Friday by smacking a double to left field to drive in teammate Austin Schmidt from second. The extra-base knock capped a huge rally from the Chaps, who plated seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to come all the way back from a 7-0 hole.

The big inning included two-RBI base hits by Ford Elliott and Taylor Anderson in addition to RBI singles from Grey Harrison and Elliot Schwarzbach and a South San error.

Dylan Savino picked up the win in relief after tossing six scoreless innings and holding South San to just one hit while striking out eight.

In Thursday’s opener, shortstop Peyton Sanderson went 3 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Lowin went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and three runs driven in. Harrison was the winning pitcher in Game 1 after surrendering one unearned run on three hits and striking out five batters.

The Chaps are now slated to face No. 2-ranked San Antonio Reagan in the third round of the 6A postseason.

High School Baseball Playoffs – Update

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in High School Baseball.

Saturday was another great afternoon to be an Eagle, as No. 1-ranked Georgetown blasted Pflugerville Weiss 13-0 at home in a winner-take-all Class 5A bi-district playoff contest.

The Eagles (32-2-1) invoked the 10-run mercy rule after notching 11 hits and doing all of their damage offensively in the first and third innings.

Georgetown took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the opening frame thanks to RBIs from Ty Tilson, Jackson Sioson, Wesley Dixon and Grant Wood in addition to a double steal that allowed Wyatt Childress to swipe home.

With starting pitcher Jack Brinley in cruise control mode, the Eagles struck for eight more runs in the third. Dixon posted an RBI triple before he was brought in by a single from Wood, and Jeffrey David soon added an RBI double. Georgetown also received an RBI single from Cole Posey and saw Sioson cap the game’s scoring with an RBI triple to right field.

Sioson finished 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Wood was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs as well.

Brinley got the win after tossing four scoreless innings and striking out six. Ryan Courtney worked the final inning and fanned two.

Head coach Adam Foster’s team is now slated to battle College Station in the area round.

Rouse sweeps Bastrop Cedar Creek

The Rouse Raiders made short work of Bastrop Cedar Creek after notching 8-3 and 2-1 wins this past weekend to move on to the second round of the 5A postseason.

Rouse (21-10) overcame a 2-0 deficit in its bi-district series opener on Thursday by scratching across six straight runs in the third and fourth frames. Connor Bennett was a huge part of the triumph, as he went the distance from the bump with 10 strikeouts and also finished 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI.

Dalton Porter launched a two-run home run to tie the game in the third, and the Raiders plated two more runs on an error to take a 4-2 lead. Rouse took advantage of seven Cedar Creek miscues in the opener.

Game 2 on Friday was much more closely contested, with the Raiders finally breaking through for two tallies in the bottom of the sixth. Down 1-0, Rouse saw Fischer Kingsbery deliver a two-run triple to right field to bring in both Robert Mount and Lance Little.

Kingsbery, who started the game, then slammed the door shut on Cedar Creek by retiring three of the four batters he faced in the top of the seventh. Kingsbery allowed just four hits and notched five strikeouts in the win while also going 3 for 3 from the plate.

The Raiders will now turn their attention to the Porter Spartans in a second-round matchup.

Dragons roast Bridgeland 13-2

District 13-6A champ Round Rock belted Bridgeland 13-2 this past Thursday in a one-game bi-district playoff.

The Dragons (25-10) jumped out to a 10-0 lead and brought the mercy rule into play by plating three more runs in the top of the sixth and then silencing Bridgeland in the bottom half of the frame.

Reagan Doss crushed a three-run home run to left in the first inning to help his team take a 4-0 lead, and he finished with four total RBIs. Colton Regan added a solo shot to increase Round Rock’s advantage to 7-0 in the third.

Jared McKenzie and Cameron Dayton also had big outings at the plate for the Dragons. McKenzie, the team’s leadoff hitter, went 2 for 3 with a triple, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Dayton was 2 for 4 with a double and one run driven in.

Dayton also collected the victory from the hill after throwing five innings and giving up two runs on four hits while striking out three. Sean Swain tossed a scoreless sixth and struck out two of the three batters he faced.

Up next for Round Rock is a matchup with Conroe Oak Ridge in the upcoming area round.

Derek White mining for hometown win at Nuggets.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NBA.

SAN ANTONIO — By now, Derrick White’s status as one of the NBA’s best kept secrets is already in danger.

The rest of the nation is beginning to understand what Spurs fans have realized for much of the 2018-19 season — that the second-year pro from the University of Colorado isn’t just a vital role player for San Antonio. In fact, he may be on the short list for most valuable performers on the entire roster.

However, just four years ago, White’s rise to prominence in the NBA playoffs would’ve seemed too far-fetched for anyone to imagine. 

Born in Parker, Colorado — a suburb of Denver — White signed with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) out of high school as a 6-foot combo guard. Everything changed when he shot up five inches by the time he reached the NCAA Division II school, and he set new program records for most points and assists in a career during his three seasons with UCCS.

White then transferred to the main campus in Boulder and enjoyed a stellar 2016-17 campaign with the Pac 12’s Buffaloes that included first team all-conference honors.

The Spurs, as they’ve done numerous times over the years, identified White’s potential and targeted him with the 29th overall selection of the 2017 NBA Draft. He immediately went to the G League, where he played for the Austin Spurs and quickly earned a reputation as a cool customer and a near-automatic scorer.

White saw some time with San Antonio during his rookie year, but was used sparingly as he made the transition to the NBA game. He was expected to be utilized in a reserve role in his sophomore season, but once again an unforeseen circumstance thrust him into the spotlight from relative obscurity.

This time, White’s big break came in the form of a season-ending injury to another fledging star — Dejounte Murray. When the point guard tore his ACL in the preseason, many Spurs fans wondered aloud who would be able to replace his defensive prowess in addition to running the offense smoothly from the point guard spot.

White was tabbed as the replacement, but his own foot injury sidelined him until early November against the Miami Heat. Once he entered the lineup, San Antonio’s perimeter defense was noticeably better, while its offense ran more efficiently than before.

White suffered an injury to his other foot in February, and some pundits openly wondered if it would derail the Spurs’ playoff hopes. Thankfully, he was back in plenty of time to round into form for San Antonio’s first-round matchup with his hometown Denver Nuggets.

And if Denver fans hadn’t heard of White prior to the series, you can bet they have now.

White scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting in San Antonio’s Game 1 win over the Nuggets, but that was nothing compared to his 36-point explosion in Game 3 Thursday at the AT&T Center. That’s right, White set a new career high in a pivotal playoff game, and did so while converting 15 of his 21 total field goals.

“He was obviously spectacular,” Popovich said after Game 3. “I don’t know what else to say.”

His dominance was startling to most, as he did the majority of his damage near the rim and with his mid-range game. White has proven he can shoot the 3 as well, but his versatility is what separates him from other young players at similar stages of development.

Denver has vowed to make it their mission to stop White in Game 4, which is likely the first time the youngster has been a focal point of an NBA opponent’s game plan. It will definitely be interesting to watch White react following his best game as a pro, especially in what amounts to a must-win scenario for the Nuggets.

Pro Soccer in Austin

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in SOCCER.

AUSTIN — Professional soccer arrived in the city of Austin with all the necessary pieces in place to make the sport a smashing success.

The United Soccer League’s newest expansion franchise — Austin Bold FC — began this season with a beautiful 5,000-plus seat stadium built at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and even had an instant rivalry ready to go with nearby San Antonio FC. 

Austin also opened its inaugural season with plenty of rabid fans, which witnessed the first win in club history in Bold FC’s sold-out home opener against San Antonio on March 30. The lone goal of the 1-0 triumph was scored by Kleber off an assist by defender Sean McFarlane.

Just like that, Austin Bold claimed the opening leg of the Central Texas Derby — a series between Austin and San Antonio that will continue throughout the season. In addition to that prize, the Copa Tejas will be up for grabs for the top USL team in the Lone Star State — a field that also includes both El Paso Locomotive and Rio Grande Valley FC.

Austin Bold head coach Marcelo Serrano has already said he enjoys having such emotionally-charged matches on the schedule.

“When you have a derby [rivalry] situation, one team doesn’t live without the other,” Serrano said. “It’s like a brotherhood because one team pushes the other to become the best.”

Serrano has assembled a diverse roster of international players that includes Brazilian forward Kleber, who tallied the first goal in franchise history in a 2-1 loss on the road to Reno 1868 FC. 

Also present is team captain and midfielder Dario Conca, an Argentinian who was named Footballer of the Year in the Brazilian first division in 2010 and Chinese Super League in 2013.

In all, Austin Bold’s initial roster features players of 14 different nationalities, many of which have worldwide pedigrees. Austin’s recent performance has drawn praise from around the USL, including from San Antonio FC head coach Darren Powell.

“They have an extremely talented group of players,” Powell said. “Several have played at a very high level.”

Bobby Epstein, who owns Austin Bold and COTA, was thrilled to see his team capture a victory over San Antonio in its very first home match, which was also the first professional soccer match played in Austin since the Aztex folded three years ago.

Serrano said it was a fitting start to an I-35 rivalry that will hopefully last for years to come.

“You can see that they made our victory very hard,” Serrano said. “They came for a derby game — they didn’t give us any options.” 

The USL is directly below Major League Soccer in the United States and is a 36-team league divided equally into two conferences. SAFC and Austin Bold are both in the Western Conference alongside the other two Texas teams.

All USL clubs play a 34-game regular season schedule, both home and away against the other 17 teams in their conference, stretching from March to October. Playoffs follow for the 10 teams from each conference that qualify, with the USL Championship match taking place sometime between Nov. 10-14.

Texas Spring Game

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS, UT FOOTBALL.

By Tucker Stephenson

AUSTIN — For Longhorn football fanatics, the 2019 season can’t get here soon enough.

The first taste of the new campaign is scheduled for Saturday, April 13 at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium during the annual Orange-White spring game. The contest is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised on Longhorn Network.

Ever since Texas wrapped up a stunning 28-21 victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, the countdown has been underway to see what the Longhorns can provide as an encore during head coach Tom Herman’s third year at the helm. Herman guided Texas to a 10-4 overall record in 2018 and is now 17-10 with the Longhorns, including a 2-0 mark in bowl games.

Some of the intrigue that has surrounded major position battles in years past won’t be there this year, such as the starting quarterback role. Sam Ehlinger locked that down without question following a stellar sophomore year that culminated with the Westlake alum winning MVP honors in New Orleans.

Instead, Texas fans will get a deeper look at backup QB Casey Thompson, as the redshirt freshman is expected to see some reps with the first-string offense. Since Shane Buechele and Cam Rising decided to take their talents elsewhere via transfer, the No. 2 signal caller job is wide open.

Overall, the spring game will be more about health than name recognition. Star safeties Caden Sterns and B.J. Foster were both recently sidelined, as Sterns underwent a knee procedure that will keep him out for the remainder of fall and Foster is in the concussion protocol.

Fans Enjoy the fun at DKR at the 2018 Spring Game. Photo: UT Athletics

It’s not yet known whether Texas will take a chance and let Foster return for the spring game, but it would seem to be an unnecessary gamble.

Senior safety Brandon Jones is also on the shelf after having ankle surgery in February.

Among the biggest storylines for the Longhorns this spring is who will step up and replace wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. D’Shawn Jamison and Brennan Eagles are said to be in the mix, but true freshman Jordan Whittington will have plenty of eyes on him — and with good reason. 

The Cuero grad is just over three months removed from a record-setting performance in the Class 4A Division II state title game. Whittington ran for 334 yards and five scores in the Gobblers’ 40-28 win over Texarkana Pleasant Grove and also surpassed iconic Lone Star running backs Eric Dickerson and Jonathan Gray during his senior season.

The Longhorns are also looking for newcomers in the middle of the defense following the loss of linebackers Gary Johnson and Anthony Wheeler, in addition to defensive tackle Chris Nelson. On the outside, replacements must also be found for departed cornerbacks Kris Boyd and Davante Davis.

2018 Spring Game last year. Photo: UT Athletics

Thankfully, Texas’ roster is stocked with young talent after pulling in several very strong recruiting classes. Perhaps the best news for Longhorns fans is that the list of serious overall needs has dwindled from this time a year ago.

That should be enough to make the 2019 spring game feel much more like an audition than any type of dress rehearsal for the opener against Louisiana Tech.

Spurs on Playoff Bubble

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NBA.

For the first time in 22 years, the San Antonio Spurs appear to be a fringe playoff contender in the loaded Western Conference.

The last time the Spurs failed to qualify for the postseason was the 1996-97 season, which saw San Antonio plunge to a 20-62 overall record as David Robinson and Sean Elliott missed most of the year due to injuries. The team’s leading scorer during that forgettable campaign was none other than Dominique Wilkins, but not even “The Human Highlight Film” could elevate those Spurs into something more than a doormat.

However, that season was the beginning of one of the most successful stretches in the history of professional sports.

Gregg Popovich, then the general manger, fired Bob Hill and supplanted him as coach. San Antonio then struck gold when it landed the No. 1 overall pick that led to Tim Duncan, who was regarded as a can’t-miss prospect out of Wake Forest and one of the most NBA-ready big men the league has ever welcomed.

Since then, the Spurs’ playoff spot has been all but guaranteed — until this year. San Antonio fell to seventh place in the West after losing to Toronto in its first game back from the All-Star break and must fend off LeBron James and the Lakers, and perhaps the hungry Sacramento Kings, if it hopes to extend its postseason streak to an NBA-best 22 consecutive seasons.

Of course, signs of the Spurs’ current struggles were easy to spot.

With Duncan long gone, Manu Ginobili retired, Tony Parker in Charlotte and the tandem of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard shipped to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl, San Antonio’s 2018-19 roster must feel unrecognizable to the casual fan. A questionable situation got even dicier when promising point guard Dejounte Murray suffered a torn ACL in the preseason and first-round draft pick Lonnie Walker IV was forced to miss a large chunk of games with a meniscus tear.

The Spurs had some trouble out of the gate, but eventually DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay began to find a rhythm with one another on the court. Meanwhile, Popovich moved away from veterans Quincy Pondexter and Dante Cunningham and gave more minutes to youngsters like Derrick White, Bryn Forbes and Davis Bertans.

White, a University of Colorado product, has been a revelation in an expanded role, as he’s shown the confidence to take and make big shots as well as the size to defend multiple positions. 

Forbes and Bertans are both sharpshooters from the outside, and Bertans even leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage at .481. With Patty Mills and Marco Belinelli also on the roster, perimeter shooting certainly isn’t a weakness.

More problems arose when White suffered through a heel injury in October, and he was again forced to miss several games on the Spurs’ annual rodeo road trip with problems in his other heel. He was able to play against the Raptors, but with a strict minutes limit attached.

Pau Gasol has also missed multiple weeks after sustaining a stress fracture in his foot.

As San Antonio heads down the stretch, there are still plenty of lingering question marks with regard to health and team chemistry. 

When White has missed time, the team’s defense has been absolutely shredded by opposing guards. There are also instances where Aldridge or DeRozan go missing in key situations offensively.

And which one will be the go-to scorer in crunch time?

Then again, the Spurs have been written off multiple times before — even when Duncan, Ginobili and Parker still had plenty of tread left on the tires. Under Popovich, a late-season surge certainly isn’t out of the question, although it seems improbable at this point.

The most likely scenario is a low playoff seed and a possible first-round exit against one of the top teams in the West. The other option is the team’s first trip to the lottery since Timmy D came to town.

Those two choices are enough to make the San Antonio faithful wonder what in the name of David Robinson is going on at the AT&T Center.

March Madness in Texas

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NCAA BASKETBALL.

By Tucker Stephenson

With the exception of Macho Man Randy Savage, nothing says “madness” quite like the month of March.

The best tournament in all of sports is once again approaching, and the state of Texas will no doubt be well represented. Beginning with the Big 12, here’s a look at the locks, bubble teams and schools that will need to win their respective conference tourneys in order to earn an invite to the big dance.

BIG 12

LOCKS: Texas Tech, Baylor

The Red Raiders have spent much of the season in or near the top 10 and will be competing in the NCAA Tournament this March. Texas Tech is fresh off of an eye-opening 91-62 win over Kansas at home and is led by sophomore guard Jarrett Culver (18.0 points per game), who is a hometown product from Lubbock Coronado High School.

The Bears are Texas’ second best bet from the Big 12 to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, as Baylor holds quality conference wins against Iowa State (twice), Texas Tech and Oklahoma (twice). The Bears can add to that résumé down the stretch against Texas, Kansas State and Kansas, but they already appear to be in the field of 68.

ON THE BUBBLE: Texas, TCU

The Longhorns have endured a roller-coaster ride this season. Head coach Shaka Smart’s team holds impressive victories against North Carolina, K-State, Oklahoma, Kansas and Baylor. Then again, Texas has also dropped games to Radford, Providence and Oklahoma State. A large portion of the Longhorns’ case could rest upon the status of suspended guard Kerwin Roach and whether or not he is reinstated by the school.

The Horned Frogs don’t have much in the way of non-conference wins, but they’ve been more than competitive in a deep Big 12. TCU managed to sweep Iowa State in a pair of meetings and has also knocked off Baylor and Texas. Jamie Dixon, now in his third year at the helm of the program, could be a dark horse candidate for conference coach of the year.

Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver (23) goes to the basket defended by Oklahoma forward Kristian Doolittle (21) and forward Brady Manek (35) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

LOCK: Houston

The Cougars aren’t just a mortal lock to make the tournament, they’ll also likely be the top seed from the entire state. Houston has dominated its conference opponents and owned a 26-1 overall record and a lofty No. 8 ranking in the nation as of Feb. 25. The Cougars are led by the tandem of Corey Davis Jr. (15.7 points per game) and Armori Brooks (14.1 points per game). Houston is coached by Kelvin Sampson, who is a former assistant with the NBA’s Houston Rockets and a former head coach at Oklahoma.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: SMU

SEC

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Texas A&M’s only shot is to win the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Otherwise, it’s on to baseball season in Aggieland.

BEST OF THE REST

SUN BELT CONFERENCE: There are a few conferences with just one available bid, and their league tournaments will determine who will advance. In the Sun Belt, Texas State is the current leader and will be the favorite to earn a spot in the big dance. However, a strong challenge from George State and/or Georgia Southern is likely, and UT-Arlington is hoping to play the role of spoiler from its fourth-place position.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None

CONFERENCE USA: UTSA has a shot to advance from Conference USA, as does North Texas, but Old Dominion is the odds-on favorite to run the table in the conference tournament. The Roadrunners are among a four-team pack fighting for second place behind Old Dominion, and the Mean Green are one of only two 20-win teams in Conference USA.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Rice, UTEP

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE: Sam Houston State has built a comfortable lead in the race for the Southland’s regular season crown and looks ready to make more noise in the league’s postseason tournament. Abilene Christian and Lamar aren’t out of the conversation by a long shot, though. Abilene Christian is already over the 20-win mark, while Lamar headed into the home stretch of its season schedule riding a five-game conference winning streak.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word

SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern appear to be the biggest roadblocks for one another in each program’s quest for the SWAC’s lone NCAA Tournament bid. Prairie View A&M looks as though it will win the regular season conference crown, while Texas Southern is hoping to turn the tables in conference tourney.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Lastly, UT Rio Grande Valley will need a miracle in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament to unseat heavy favorite New Mexico. UT Rio Grande Valley has had a respectable season and is in the middle of the pack in the league standings, but there isn’t any room for error.

Longhorns Youth on Mound Strength in 2019.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in College Baseball, TEXAS SPORTS.

AUSTIN — With a legacy of live arms that includes Burt Hooton, Greg Swindell and Roger Clemens, the Longhorns realize that the greatest equalizer of all is usually the man on the mound.

But after a return trip to the College World Series, Texas’ rotation seems to be under major construction in 2019.

Two of head coach David Pierce’s most reliable hurlers — Nolan Kingham and Chase Shurgart — are no longer with the program, leaving Blair Henley as the most experienced returnee. Henley, a junior right-hander from Fort Worth, posted a 3.32 ERA last season on his way to earning All-Big 12 second team recognition.

Most expect Pierce to rely on depth during the early season until a handful of reliable pitchers separate themselves from the pack. If that doesn’t happen, then it could be all hands on deck for the entire year.

Also figuring into the potential starting rotation will be sophomore right-hander Bryce Elder, freshman right-hander Coy Cobb, sophomore right-hander Matt Whelan and freshman right-hander Ty Madden. Elder, who played his high school ball in Decatur, is off to a solid start with a 0.64 ERA in his first 14 innings of work.

There are plenty of options in the bullpen, including sophomore right-hander Kamron Fields, who got some quality playing time in the CWS last season as a collegiate newcomer and is also set to play some outfield for Texas. 

Redshirt freshman Cole Quintanilla, a native of nearby Cedar Park, has done his best to prove he can be trusted in multiple situations. The 6-foot-5 righty has already collected a win and a save in his first four appearances — all without surrendering a run.

In addition to Fields and Quintanilla, Tristan Stevens, Brandon Ivey, Donny Diaz, Mason Bryant and Nico O’Donnell have each seen more than one appearance in the first two weeks of 2019. Bryant is a 6-foot-5, right-handed freshman from Austin McCallum, while Ivey, a senior southpaw from Houston, is the lone senior of the bunch.

One of the most intriguing prospects in senior Matteo Bocchi, who is from Parma, Italy. The 6-foot-4 right-hander tossed three scoreless innings during the Longhorns’ 8-6 loss to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and could be a wild card as the season progresses.

The good news is there’s still some time to figure out who will figure into the mix when Big 12 play rolls around. Texas is set to open conference play in Austin on March 15-17 with a three-game series against Texas Tech.