Texas Basketball Preview 2021

PreviewsNCAAMBig 12 BasketballTexas LonghornsAP Preseason NCAAM Top 25

Nov 2

Our Texas basketball preview 2021 - 22 finds that since 2020, the Longhorns have gone to the NCAA Tournament 18 times. Of those 18 appearances, once they’ve been to the Final four, twice to the Elite Eight, and twice to the Sweet Sixteen. Otherwise, Texas has been eliminated in the first or second rounds. In their last four NCAA bids, the Longhorns have been one-and-done. Last year, the Texas Longhorns (19-8 Overall, 11-6 Big 12) finished third in the conference. This season, head coach Chris Beard (0-0 Texas/0 years, 252-103 Overall/11 years), who comes to Texas from Texas Tech, wants to ensure his new team finishes at the top of the Big 12 and goes deep into the tourney. In other words, he’s not interested in taking a year or two to take this team to a new level. Beard is committed to going deep in his initial year coaching the Longhorns.

Longhorns Frontcourt

The Longhorns lose one of the best frontcourts in the nation to the NBA. Sophomore Kai Jones, freshman Greg Brown III, and senior Jericho Jones are gone. However, our Texas basketball preview 2021 - 22 observes that Beard has used the transfer portal effectively. Coming in are Timmy Allen (Utah), Tre Mitchell (UMass), Dylan Disu (Vanderbilt), and Christian Bishop (Creighton). Allen, a 6’6” junior forward, averaged 17.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 3.9 APG. He’s a tireless competitor. Last season, Disu, who was the SEC’s top rebounder, was good for 15.0 PPG and 9.2 RPG. Power forward/center Mitchell proved to be a solid two-way player, hitting for 18.8 PPG, grabbing 7.2 RPG, and making 1.5 BPG. Bishop was also sound last year, as he averaged 11.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 1.0 BPG. This quartet should be able to control the paint, score, and defended.

Texas Basketball Preview – Backcourt

Senior guard Marcus Carr could have played pro ball in Australia, but instead, he transferred from Minnesota to play at Texas. Carr adds to a backcourt that is already exceptionally experienced. Returning are Andrew Jones (14.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.3 APG) and Courtney Ramey (12.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.9 APG). In 2020-21, Jones averaged 31.4 MPG and Ramey 33.5 MPG. Sophomore Devin Askew transfers from Kentucky after starting 20 games at the point, averaging 6.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 2.9 APG.