Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball: Kansas to earn 13th straight conference title?

By Doug Winkey

Mar 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte' Graham (4) celebrates with teammates after a play against the Villanova Wildcats during the second half of the south regional final of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte' Graham (4) celebrates with teammates after a play against the Villanova Wildcats during the second half of the south regional final of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 29, 2015; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Tevin Mack (left) and guards Kerwin Roach (12) and Demarcus Holland (2) react against the Connecticut Huskies during the first half at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2015; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Tevin Mack (left) and guards Kerwin Roach (12) and Demarcus Holland (2) react against the Connecticut Huskies during the first half at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Texas Longhorns

2015-2016 record: 20-13 Big 12 (11-7 Big 12), NCAA Tournament 1st round

Key players gone: PG Isaiah Taylor, C Cameron Ridley, PG Javan Felix, PF Connor Lammert, C Prince Ibeh, SG Demarcus Holland

Key returnees: SG Kerwin Roach Jr., SG Eric Davis Jr., G/F Tevin Mack, PF/C Shaquille Cleare, PG Kendal Yancy

Newcomers: SG Jacob Young (6’1″, 175), G Andrew Jones (6’4″, 195, 29th ESPN 100), SF Mareik Isom (6’9″, 215, transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock), C Jarrett Allen (6’10”, 225, 15th ESPN 100), C James Banks (6’11”, 235, 57th ESPN 100)

This could be a wild underestimation of what Texas will achieve this season. The rotation has tons of talent, but keep just two contributors from 2015-16 that aren’t second year players. Coach Shaka Smart’s second year will certainly be an interesting campaign. Anything can happen with four freshman and one graduate transfer trying to replace six valuable contributors.

This year sees five new faces arrive in Austin to support a terrific sophomore trio in Kerwin Roach Jr., Eric Davis Jr., and Tevin Mack.

Those three will be the stars, but have help in the form of two top 10 centers Jarrett Allen and James Banks. Both young bigs are sorely needed after Cameron Ridley, Conner Lammert, and Prince Ibeh’s graduations.

Mareik Isom will help support the wing, while Andrew Jones and Jacob Young are promising guys to try and help at point guard.

Overall, Texas has plenty of young building blocks to remain in the regular season title hunt in the Big 12.

Point guard is a mild concern without a clear successor for Isaiah Taylor. It also isn’t a given that the two star center recruits will adjust to Big 12 play quickly. They have more raw talent than the teams that are projected to finish higher than them, but less total experience. Wherever they finish, expect an NCAA Tourney birth.

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