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Texas Basketball: Texas Longhorns 2015-16 Season Preview

By Doug Winkey

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Texas Longhorns

2015-2015 Record: 20-14 (8-10, Big 12)

Postseason: NCAA Tournament – Second Round (48-56 loss to Butler)

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For the first time in years, the Texas Longhorns won’t have Rick Barnes tromping the sidelines.  After several seasons of underachieving, Barnes was let go.  His replacement, Shaka Smart of VCU fame, is tasked with challenging Kansas at the top of the Big 12 and making UT fans care about basketball as much as football.

Smart inherits a solid squad that, despite its shortcomings, were still competitive throughout the season.  The goal for this year will be to bring youth along (as five players are listed as seniors) and instill a more exciting brand of basketball in Austin to match the evolving styles in the Big 12.

Departures

F – Miles Turner

F – Jonathan Holmes

Key Returners

G – Isaiah Taylor

G – Kendal Yancy

G – Javan Felix

G – Demarcus Holland

F – Connor Lammert

C – Cameron Ridley

C – Prince Ibeh

Newcomers

G – Eric Davis, Jr. (#11 SG 247Sports)

G – Kerwin Roach, Jr. (#13 SG 247Sports)

F – Tevin Mack (#10 SF 247Sports)

F – Shaquille Cleare (Transfer from Maryland)

Projected Starters

G – Isaiah Taylor

G – Demarcus Holland

F – Connor Lammert

F – Cameron Ridley

C – Prince Ibeh

Key Reserves

G – Kendall Yancy

G – Javan Felix

F – Shaquille Cleare

F – Tevin Mack

Key Non-Conference Games

Nov. 25 vs. Texas A&M (Neutral Site)  – The battle between former Big 12 mates will certainly be one to watch.  Texas A&M is a team many think are on the upswing this season, while Texas is something of an enigma with a completely different coaching style in place.  The Aggies won’t hold back as the look to beat their home-state rivals and so this game will be a good indicator of where the Longhorns are as far as implementing Coach Smart’s principals.

Dec. 10 vs. North Carolina – This game will be one of the highlights of the entire national preseason.  UNC is well equipped to win their first national title since 2009 and looks to shake off questions surrounding the schools academics.  A lot will be on Texas to show that they are turning into a team worthy of national hype.  Playing at home in Austin for this one is critical as well with such a prominent opponent.

Key Players

Isaiah Taylor – The main man in UT’s back court, Taylor will be Smart’s floor general for at least one year.  He led the Longhorns in scoring and assists last year with 13.0 and 4.6, respectively.  He’ll also be asked to provide tons of leadership to the team’s future guards.  Expect bigger things from him this year over the Rick Barnes era.

Cameron Ridley – Ridley is Texas’ most productive returning post player.  He averaged 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest last season, but will almost definitely have a larger role with fewer big men to steal minutes.

Season Outlook 

I honestly have no idea what to expect here.  Shaka Smart is a great coach with talented players, but the squad he inherits is ill-equipped to engage in his patented HAVOC system.  Texas’ ceiling is no higher than 5th in the Big 12 with a second round NCAA exit.

Next: Iowa State Cyclones 2015-16 Season Preview

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