Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big 12 Basketball: 10 biggest questions entering 2023-24 season

By Cole Amundson

Mar 11, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Texas Longhorns and Kansas Jayhawks line up for the National Anthem before the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Texas Longhorns and Kansas Jayhawks line up for the National Anthem before the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 10
Next
Texas Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Will Rodney Terry continue momentum in Austin?

After ex-Texas head coach Chris Beard was fired in early January in wake of domestic violence charges, Rodney Terry pulled the team together by leading the Texas Longhorns to a Big 12 Tournament Championship and an Elite Eight appearance — their deepest NCAA Tournament run since 2008 where the Longhorns made the Elite Eight under current Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes.

Despite losing notable players in Marcus Carr, Timmy Allen and Sir’Jabari Rice, Terry retained key pieces in Dylan Disu, Brock Cunninham, Dillion Mitchell and Tyrese Hunter.

Both Dillion Mitchell, Dylan Disu and Tyrse Hunter returned to Texas after withdrawing their name from the NBA Draft. Mitchell, who brings the most NBA-like upside out of this group, would have most likely seen himself drafted in the early/mid second round in the 2023 NBA Draft — but now returns to Austin to develop his craft with increased offensive production and usage this upcoming season.

Additionally, Terry landed a talented portal class with scoring sensation Max Abmas (Oral Roberts), Kadin Shedrick (Virgina), Ithiel Horton (UCF), Chendall Weaver (UT-Arlington) and Ze’Rik Onyema (UTEP).

Abmas — one of college basketball’s most prolific scorers — enters Austin with over 2,561 career points scored, according to Sports Reference. Pairing him as the shooting guard alongside Tyrese Hunter gives Terry an elite backcourt to work with.

It’s doubtful that the Longhorns will be as talented as they were last season due to key losses. Simply put, it’s extremely difficult to replace your top-three scorers.

Nonetheless, Rodney Terry has the pieces in place to keep the Longhorns a top-25 team nationally and a second-weekend threat come March. Expect the Horns to continue their momentum this upcoming season.

Home/Big 12