Texas Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Longhorns

Texas Basketball lost Mo Bamba from last year’s team, but return a lot of experience and look to battle for the top spot in a crowded Big 12 conference.

Shaka Smart had Texas dreaming of big things last year and after narrowing losing to Duke and Gonzaga (both in OT) there was no reason to expect anything less. Close losses to Michigan and Kansas followed, but they were not bad losses. They still looked like a favorite to compete in the BIg 12, but then they received the news that star guard Andrew Jones had Leukemia and would be out for the remainder of the year. That loss hit the Longhorns hard and they stumbled to an 8-10 conference record and a 10 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Nevada in overtime.

Smart hopes that battles from last year will help his team rise up this year. The Longhorns did lose star forward Mo Bamba, but return four of their top five scorers from last years team. This should set up Texas to possibly be a major player in the Big 12. If Andrew Jones can return to even close to his previous form it will be a bonus for the Longhorns.

The Big 12 is stacked but Texas has the talent and depth to play with any team in the conference. They have a rough non-conference schedule which will show a lot about the team trying to rebound from a mostly disappointing season last year. If they can navigate the early part of the season playing well look for them to be at or near the top of the conference come season end.

Here’s a full breakdown of the projected starters, key reserves and non-conference schedule, along with where they stand nationally and in the conference as we preview their season.