SEC Basketball: Alabama, Auburn leads way-too-early power rankings for 2024-25 season

10. Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns had a solid season last year, going 21-13 (9-9), nearly knocking off Tennessee in the Round of 32. Although Texas didn’t reach the heights many had hoped for given their preseason expectations, it was still a successful season, nonetheless. Now the Horns will turn the page to the SEC with a new-look roster.

In short, Rodney Terry and Co. faced a whirlwind of an offseason. Texas wasn’t immune to the transfer portal bug, losing starters Tyrese Hunter (Memphis) and Dillon Mitchell (Cincinnati) to the portal. Leading scorer Max Abmas, second-leading scorer Dylan Disu and the ultimate glue guy Brock Cunningham have also departed, running out of eligibility. 

That’s over 75% of their scoring.

However, Rodney Terry went to work in the portal, landing a pair of Indiana State transfers in PG Julian Larry -- who I recently dubbed as one of the most underrated SEC transfers thanks to his primary ball handling skills -- and G/F Jayson Kent, who shot nearly 64% from the field.

The Longhorns will also welcome high-scoring guard Jordan Pope (Oregon State) and Tramon Mark Arkansas), who notably went for 34 points against North Carolina in the Battle 4 Atlantis and 35 points against Texas A&M in mid-January. Tre Johnson, a five-star recruit out of Link Academy, will also enter the fold.

Despite the offensive upside the Longhorns have established in their first season in the SEC, especially in their backcourt, it's hard to imagine the Horns breaking through to the top of the conference because of just how grueling the SEC is set to be.

Texas is a clear-cut tournament team on paper -- and has even generated way-too-early preseason top-25 buzz -- but the high volume of losses with pressing concerns about their frontcourt depth leaves the Horns a minuscule step behind the top half of the conference…but not by much.