The O'Connor Coaching Dynasty

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Things started well for O’Connor and the Bobcats, gathering a win in their first eight games of the season before falling at Northwestern State. O’Connor’s strategy also started to shine through. Where last season’s Bobcats played a deep group, this is a starter’s team. Bench stars Karcher and Acorn are good plug in players if the starters aren't keeping up, but the emergence of Paul Minton as a solid scoring option has been a revelation, going from just 3 minutes a game last season, to almost 28 a contest in this season. The Bobcats are a defensive juggernaut so far allowing the 7th fewest points in the nation, and giving up the 3rd fewest assists per game. They also commit the 5th fewest amount of turnovers of any team in Division I, which helps ease the pain that is caused by their approach to rebounding.

Texas State finished Non-Conference play an impressive 9-2, but the Sun Belt looks like it will be an absolute dogfight. Texas State is matched at 9-2 by Georgia Southern. Arkansas State is 8-3, and has the best RPI heading into conference games. Another team that can’t be counted out is Dave O’Connor’s Louisiana-Lafayette team, who at 8-5 are hitting their stride, having won the Las Vegas Winter Jam and beating two ranked opponents along the way, after starting with a brutal schedule in November (including an Elite Eight rematch against Florida). There’s always a surprise too in the Sun Belt, and that team could be Troy, who scheduled tough and came out with their heads slightly above water at 6-5.

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Before the start of conference play, O’Connor made a move to insert Karcher into the starting lineup, a move that paid dividends in the long run and Karcher became a big contributor, and the man he replaced, Jamie Norwood, flourished off the bench. Conference play started rough with this change, but after a sluggish 2-2 start, the team set off on a 12 game winning streak to wrap up conference play, including the big win against Lafayette (63-44, utter domination, you get the sense that the Bobcats felt the need to win this one for their coach). The team also earned some nation recognition with a top 25 ranking (as high as 21st), as well as the top seed in the Sun Belt Tournament.

The defense remained consistent, finishing with the 8th fewest points per game allowed and 2nd fewest assists in the nation. Also with the 2nd fewest turnovers, the Bobcats also allowed the 12th fewest steals in Division I. Karcher’s role overtook the emergence of Paul Minton, as Karcher took the weight of the offense on his back. David Webber remains the leading scoring threat and go-to guy for the Bobcats.

Teams to watch heading into the Sun Belt Tournament are Troy, who the Bobcats narrowly beat in the final game of conference play, Georgia Southern and, of course, Lafayette.

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The Sun Belt Tourney has arrived and the first game for the Bobcats is against Texas-Arlington, a good team, which gave the Bobcats trouble in January, but fell apart in February. This game was never in doubt, as Texas State led from the tip. The stifling defense held the Mavericks to just 29 shots, and the Bobcats win 63-48.

The game people wanted won’t be happening as Georgia State knock out Lafayette in stunning fashion to meet Texas State (now ranked 18th in the country). The Panthers managed to break through that Texas State defense in the first half, as the Bobcats gave up more than 30 for just the second time in a half all year. The defense returned in the second half, and Texas State even found a little offense to take down Georgia State 76-62 and advance to a second straight Sun Belt title game.

As mentioned earlier, the last time Troy and Texas State met, it was a close one the whole way through, this Sun Belt title game promises to be the same. Troy got off to a hot start, similar to Georgia State, and also managed to hang more than 30 on the Bobcats in the first half. Unlike that previous game for Texas State, Troy was ready for the adjustments, and a 3-point barrage sealed the deal for the Trojans. Texas State thwarted 70-58.

Did Texas State do enough to make the NCAA Tournament? A 25-5 record (14-2 in conference), an impressive defense, a national ranking, they just had a 14 game win streak that started in January. Sam O’Connor’s gut says yes, but what will the selection committee say?

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Of course they made it, their national profile was HUGE. The selection committee would have come under huge fire if the best mid-major was left out because they lost their conference title game, right? (don’t answer that, ahem, Murray State, ahem)

The Bobcats earn a 6th seed in the Midwest (same as where Lafayette made their big run last year). They’ll face an 11th seeded Miami Hurricanes team that squeaked in with an impressive ACC Tournament run. For those hoping for another O’Connor battle with Florida, it won’t happen here, and unless the Bobcats go to the Final Four, it won’t happen at all, as the Gators are the 3rd seed in the East. Interestingly enough, however, Sun Belt champs Troy are the 7th seed in the Midwest region, so a potential Sweet Sixteen All-Sun Belt rematch does exist.

Against Miami, everything was coming up Texas State. Things we a little close in the first half as the shots weren’t falling, but the almost-patented Texas State defense kept things rolling. Texas hit some big threes to open up the second half and it was all Bobcats after that, 73-56. On goes Texas State!

The only thing standing in the way of a Texas State Sweet Sixteen appearance is only one of the most heralded programs in college basketball history, North Carolina. As is their calling card, the Bobcats played them close and tough in the first half, going to the locker room feeling good with a two point edge, but the Tar Heels charged back in the second half going up 7 early. The threes weren’t falling for the Bobcats this time, so they had to try something new, taking control of the paint. It seemed like every time the ball got down the court, Texas State was getting a chance for a three point play. The Tar Heels got in foul trouble and the Bobcats pulled the upset to reach the Sweet Sixteen, 68-60.

From one dynasty to the next, the Bobcats next had to face Kentucky, who did away with Troy in the previous round. It was a battle that few expected it to be. Texas State’s defense held the mighty Wildcats to just 26 points in the first half, and took a lead to the locker room. What happened in the second half can only be described as fantastic. 15 lead changes, back and forth they went, UK would hit a 3, and Texas State would answer right back. It wasn’t until the closing minute when Texas State saw the game slip away, a shot missed here, and an intentional foul there, that’s how it goes sometimes for David when he fights Goliath. The games end 75-69, but it’s a game that is the talk of sports radio and all the commentators the next day, how tiny Texas State almost did away with Kentucky.

Gary O’Connor’s Florida Gators advanced to the Final Four, and Sam attended in a show of support to his family, and made several media appearances while there. The Gators went on to beat Iowa to win the National Title, Gary’s first. Gary remarked how proud he was to be able to share it with both of his sons.

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In his first year as head coach, Sam O’Connor won the Sun Belt Coach of the Year award, which his uncle Dave has won the year prior. David Webber was named Defensive Player of the Year. The Bobcats also recruited Brandon Martin, a shooting guard from South Dakota, Wahhab Masters a shooting guard from Perrin, TX, and Mike Miller, power forward from Welasco, TX.
For those keeping track of the other O’Connor family members, Dave O’Connor, Sam’s uncle, took the head coaching job at VCU. Bigger conference, more money, you can’t blame him. Harrison O’Connor is likely being set up at Florida to succeed his father in the next couple of years as Gary is now 64, and has just 3 years left on his deal.

Sam was once again flooded with calls, one intriguing one from Old Dominion. It would be interesting to follow Dave up to Virginia and see what things are like up there… but ultimately, Sam decided to stay at Texas State and see what he can do with this squad from this point on. It’s never really your team until year 2 or 3 anyways.

Recruitment has proved to be difficult in Texas. With so many schools for these kids to choose from, Texas State just never seems to be too high on their lists. Even when interested recruits from outside of Texas get involved in the process, it seems like they always choose to stay closer to home. Sam O’Connor hopes another great season can put the Bobcats on the map as a destination school.

The schedule for the upcoming season is a tough one. The Bobcats will play just 11 home games (only three in the non-conference schedule), including only once at home in December. Fortunately that overabundance of Texas schools provides ample places to travel to that aren’t far from San Marcos, and the majority of the road games will still be in Texas. Three big games over Thanksgiving Break will help determine how this season will go, as the Bobcats travel to Georgia to face the Bulldogs, then come back to host the Virginia Tech Hokies, and then travel to play the Houston Cougars. Hopefully playing some bigger conference teams can bring more exposure to the school.

Texas State is predicted to finish second in the Sun Belt. Obviously the attack is led by senior Jeff Karcher and junior David Webber. TCU transfer Charles Traore will anchor the middle, and freshman Julius Jones earns the nod at small forward. It’s a different crew for sure, but with just enough holdovers from last year’s team, the Bobcats can expect some success.