Another big move was made by Texas last season when they brought Sean Miller into Austin as the program’s next head coach. There’s been a certain unsteadiness with the Longhorns in recent years, but the Texas brass saw Miller as the answer to fix things and create and SEC contender. After all, Miller recruited and coached some impressive teams during his long run at Arizona let alone his work with Xavier.
His first season at the helm gave a mixed reply to whether Texas made the right coaching move. The Longhorns struggled at times during the season despite a few nice moments and finished just 10th in the SEC standings. However, the Longhorns put everything together when it mattered most; advancing to the Sweet Sixteen with Tourney wins over NC State, BYU, and Gonzaga.
Strong finish has high hopes
The Longhorns finished the season just 21-15 even with that late spurt and Miller knows that these kinds of season can’t be the norm for a successful tenure. With Dailyn Swain off to the NBA and a slew of other departures, we’ll see a very different group of talent suiting up in his second season in Austin. In addition to Swain, the Longhorns saw Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope run out of eligibility while players like Camden Heide and Simeon Wilcher found new homes in the transfer portal.
However, Miller certainly hasn’t lost his touch as a recruiter and roster architect. The staff has brought together a really nice recruiting class and also added more than a couple notable pieces from the transfer portal. The names are going to be very different and the talent level should be higher, but what exactly does that mean for the Longhorns in a tough SEC race?
Projected Starters
Guard – Isaiah Johnson (Sophomore)
One of the most significant transfer additions, Johnson is a 6-1 guard out of Los Angeles who comes to the Longhorns after a brilliant freshman campaign at Colorado. His numbers with the Buffaloes were outstanding, putting up 16.9 points and 3.0 assists while knocking down 38% of his 3-pointers and he’ll now get a chance for a starring role in this new Texas backcourt with even more talent around him.
Guard – Austin Goosby (Freshman)
Considered by some a 5-star combo guard, Goosby is a notable freshman addition that should play significant minutes for the Longhorns this year. A native of Melissa, Texas, he’s not exactly known yet for his outside shot but he has great size for his position and can handle the ball and run the offense. He’s a smart and resourceful player who should continue growing into a complete backcourt weapon.
Guard/Forward – Elyjah Freeman (Junior)
It’s year three and school three for Freeman, who’s looking to make another big jump as an upperclassman. A 6-8 wing out of Florida, he did great work at Lincoln Memorial at the D2 level before averaging 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in a major role at Auburn last year. Freeman has SEC experience and has playmaking ability all over the court; don’t be surprised if he takes a big step forward in production.
Forward – David Punch (Junior)
Another major transfer entering the fold for the Longhorns, Punch comes to town after two impressive seasons over at former league rival TCU. A starter for much of his time, he averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds as a sophomore with the Horned Frogs. Not only is Punch a great scorer, he’s also an above average defender who can do work all over the floor alongside great rebounding and strength.
Center – Matas Vokietaitis (Junior)
After starring at Florida Atlantic as a freshman, Vokietaitis joined Texas last offseason and really shined in a major role in this frontcourt. The starting lineup’s lone returner put up 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while leading the SEC with his 61.9% field goal percentage. The 7-footer from Lithuania is an impressive interior presence and game changer for the Longhorns who should be even better in year two in this system.
Key Reserves
Guard – Mikey Lewis (Junior)
It’s a new start for Lewis after two seasons at Saint Mary’s, though the former WCC Sixth Man of the Year is ready for this challenge. The Oakland native put together a fantastic sophomore year, contributing 13.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game on a talented Gaels squad. The best work from Lewis off the bench will come in his pure shooting ability, but don’t discount what he brings on defense either.
Guard – Amari Evans (Sophomore)
What Texas is getting in Evans is another former SEC talent who’s ready to take that big step forward. A 6-5 guard from Pittsburgh, he was a Top 75 recruit who opted for Tennessee, averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in a bench role for the Volunteers last year. It’s hard to imagine a enormous leap forward with the depth on this team, but he has the strength and shot-making ability to contribute at a high level.
Guard – Joe Sterling (Freshman)
A 3-star shooting guard out of California, Sterling isn’t exactly the most prominent name on the backcourt depth chart this year but he’s a prospect worth keeping an eye on. He’s a smart and confident weapon who has faced his fair share of struggles but is a resilient athlete and continues improving both as a shooter and on defense.
Forward – Coleman Elkins (Freshman)
A 6-11 big originally out of Austin, Elkins brings more frontcourt depth and size to the Longhorns roster. He’s a new face but certainly is seen as more a project in development, but with his size and length he has the potential to really stand out in this frontcourt. We could certainly see him playing more minutes if the other new pieces struggle with consistency.
Guard – Bo Ogden (Freshman)
Considered a more notable prospect, Ogden is a 4-star wing from Austin who’ll likely have a role in Miller’s rotations right away. Not only is he a Top 50 prospect, he was Texas Mr. Basketball and one of the state’s best pure shooters. If he can become a versatile scoring threat and quickly adjust to the college game then Ogden can be an important weapon.
Forward – John Clark (Sophomore)
We didn’t get to see Clark on the court last season thanks to a hand injury, but the former Top 50 prospect should become an interesting depth piece in this frontcourt this year. He’s a strongly built post player who can cause havoc around the rim and we’ll quickly see how comfortable this staff is putting him in high pressure situations to begin his college career.
Center – Lewis Obiorah (Sophomore)
A 7-1 center from London, Obiorah is another prospect that we didn’t get to see last season, redshirting his freshman season as he continued to build his strength and physicality. You cannot coach size, and Texas is excited about what he can bring in and around the paint while also staying healthy and out of foul trouble.
Guard – Mantas Laurencikas (Freshman)
A 6-5 guard from Lithuania, Laurencikas is another international player who adds a certain flair in this backcourt. He’s a solidly sized lead guard who has great floor spacing, intelligence, and can really put the ball in the basket from all over the floor. We’ll see how his transition goes into the college game, especially with other options at the point.
Forward – Marcus Spears Jr. (Freshman)
We’ve quite possibly saved the best for last, as Spears reclassified to the Class of 2026 and becomes the most notable freshman addition for Texas. Considered a Top 10 recruit, he’s a 6-9 power forward from Plano, Texas teeming with potential on both sides of the ball. He’s a craft lefty with shot making ability both inside and outside the arc that can also defend at a high level. Don’t be surprised if he’s in the starting lineup at some point this season.
Schedule Outlook
The Longhorns ease into the regular season with three home games before battling a former league rival. They’ll head to San Antonio on November 15th for a showdown with Baylor before coming back home for two more easy home dates. Texas then spends the holiday at the Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego, facing Georgetown on Thanksgiving before getting either Saint Mary’s or UCLA the following day.
A harsh challenge opens the next month as they’ll head to Louisville on December 1st, facing the Cardinals as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Less than two weeks later, the Longhorns play Miami as part of the Houston Hoopfest and then host an always feisty Memphis team on December 16. The remainder of their nonconference slate is at home, leading into the SEC opener against Florida on January 2nd.
Texas gets two looks apiece at those Gators as well as Texas A&M and rival Oklahoma in an SEC slate full of challenges. There’s actually a pretty winnable stretch early, while the Longhorns luck out by getting Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee solely as home dates. A tough early February stretch sees trips to Gainesville and Vanderbilt around that Alabama game, while the regular season ends nearly a month later against rival Texas A&M.
Season Outlook
We’re still a few weeks out from the season’s start at time of writing and it’s pretty clear that the rotations won’t actually go 14 players deep. However, we highlighted all of these pieces to showcase the sheer talent in Austin this season. Expectations are through the roof with the talent assembled by Miller and his staff but it’s all about being the right fit and living up to their potential.
There’s a lot to like about these new pieces in the backcourt. Johnson has already looked like a star with Colorado and has a chance to be even more pivotal running this offense while continuing to develop as a scorer. The potential is sky high for Goosby while other additions like Evans, Freeman, and Lewis are all vying for significant minutes.
We could go on and on about the frontcourt and it’s hard to even know where to start. Punch is a fantastic addition who was already becoming a star with the Horned Frogs, while getting Spears to reclassify might be a nightmare scenario for opposing defenses. We also can’t forget Vokietaitis, the returning piece from last season with immense size and experience. If the Longhorns get anything out of Clark or Elkins then this team will be even deeper than expected.
After a few tough moments last season, Miller and this staff ensured that Texas had the talent to not limp into the Tournament field. The Longhorns have the players to be a competitor at or near the top of the SEC standings. Whether that comes to pass will remain to be seen, especially with young pieces like Johnson and Spears and how they develop. Regardless, there’s a lot to love about this lineup and it’s hard to overlook what the Longhorns can be this year.
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