NCAA Basketball: North Carolina, Gonzaga still sit atop updated top 25 ranking
By Joey Loose
12. Texas (2-0)
There’s plenty of optimism in Austin for these Longhorns, with head coach Chris Beard now in his second season at the helm. There’s talent on this roster, with some experienced veterans and intriguing transfers combining for the Longhorns. There’s also that impressive defensive intensity that Beard coaches and it looks like it’ll continue this season.
Texas picked up a win on opening night, knocking off UTEP 72-57 without too much trouble. Former Iowa State guard Tyrese Hunter led the team with 18 points in his debut, while Sir’Jabari Rice had 12 points off the bench. Thursday’s action was far less exciting, with Texas getting an 82-31 victory against Houston Christian in a dominant defensive effort. Twelve players saw time on the court, with a mixed-scoring attack led by both Marcus Carr and Rice’s 11-point efforts.
They took care of business against a decent UTEP squad and made quick work of Houston Christian, but there might still be reason for concern early in the year. The Longhorns defense was elite, especially in their second game, but the 3-point shooting hasn’t been there early in the year, with Texas shooting just 3 of 22 against Houston Christian from long range. There’s still time for those shooters to find their stroke, but there’s a significant challenge ahead as the Longhorns will host Gonzaga this upcoming Wednesday.