Texas Basketball: Longhorns season review

Shaka Smart’s first season with Texas basketball was a booming success.

Despite moving from Rick Barnes to Shaka Smart, the Texas Longhorns adjusted to a new scheme successfully and had a strong first season in what is a new era in the Lone Star state.

Related Story: Texas Tech season review

Texas went 20-13 overall and 11-7 in Big 12 play, good for fourth in the conference. They made the NCAA tournament for a third straight year before losing in the first round for the second straight season.

The team’s best wins consisted of a victory at home against North Carolina, at West Virginia, against Oklahoma, and a home victory against Vanderbilt during the Big 12-SEC challenge.

For postseason awards, guard Isaiah Taylor was first-team All-Big 12, Javan Felix was honorable mention, and Prince Ibeh won Defensive Player of the Year.

Overall it was an above average year that ended in supreme heartbreak. They overcame a major injury before the New Year and still managed to make the Big Dance.

All things considered, Smart’s first campaign couldn’t have gone much better.

Final Season Grade: B+

So, what’s next in Austin?

Players Gone:

G – Javan Felix (10.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.2 apg)

G – Demarcus Holland (3.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

F – Connor Lammert (7.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg)

F – Jordan Barnett (3.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

C – Prince Ibeh (4.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg)

C – Cameron Ridley (11.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.8 bpg)

The senior leadership lost between these five is huge. All of them played roles of varying importance over the past seasons and it won’t be easy to replace their experience in practice or in close games.

The losses of Lammert, Ibeh, and Ridley are particularly hurtful, as they leave a ton of open minutes in the front court. Barnett was a midseason transfer at the wing position. He left for Missouri when he was unable to crack the rotation.

The loss of three key bigs will mean an easier shift to coach Smart’s guard-oriented “Havoc” style of play.

Players Returning:

G – Isaiah Taylor (15.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.0 apg)

G – Kerwin Roach Jr. (7.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.2 apg)

G – Eric Davis Jr. (7.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg)

G – Tevin Mack (5.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

G – Kendal Yancy (3.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

F – Shaquille Cleare (3.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

As you can see, the vast majority of the returning talent is on the perimeter between Taylor, Roach, Davis, and Mack.

If Taylor decides to stay in school over the NBA, he will be among those vying for Big 12 Player of the Year in 2016-17. Even if he does go pro, the three guards behind him are a great core for employing the style of play coach Smart wants to use.

Yancy is a fine sub off the end of the bench, and Cleare is an imposing physical specimen who might start as the team’s center next season.

Who’s new:

G – Andrew Jones (6’4″, 195 lbs)

G – Jacob Young (6’0″, 165 lbs)

C – James Banks (6’11”, 220 lbs)

Headlining the Longhorns top 40 recruiting class are ESPN 100 players Jones and Banks. Young might have to sit a year to get bigger and stronger, but Jones and Banks are probably in line for big minutes right away.

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Jones will back up Roach and Davis on the wing and Banks is quite possibly the starting center next season. If that happens, it would push Cleare to the bench, a place where he might be more comfortable.

Either way, at least two, if not all three of these freshman will see decent minutes from game one.

The Longhorns are still in line for the 19th best player in America in Jarrett Allen. Allen is from right in their backyard in Austin and his presence (at 6’10”) would immediately make Texas the most likely candidate to knock off Kansas in the Big 12. UT already rates well in our Too Soon Top 25 and three top 100 players would likely propel them into the top 15 to start next year.

Finally, coach Smart snagged a commitment from transfer Dylan Osetkowski from Tulane. The forward will be a valuable addition with two years of eligibility remaining. He will have to sit out next season per NCAA transfer rules.

Final Numbers to know:

5 – As mentioned above, this is the number of scholarships graduating. These five accounted for some terrific moments over the past few seasons and that experience was invaluable in coach Smart’s first year. Even with a lot of returning talent, there will be some growing pains based purely on the minutes shared between the graduates.

12 – The number of minutes per game from possible starting center Cleare. Banks will be a tremendous asset from the freshmen class, but the former Maryland Terrapin might need to play increased minutes if youth isn’t ready right away. It’s anyone’s guess what UT will see from the frontcourt next season with so little production back.

Next: Best National Championship Finishes

20 – The combined number of points per game between Roach, Davis, and Mack. Big things are expected out of this soon-to-be-sophomore trio. They will all likely start alongside whomever is at point and center and will be counted upon to have big increases in production. If these guys can combine for 30-35 points a night next year, the Longhorns will be in a good spot with the talent coming in.

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