A new head coach reloads the Texas Longhorns and prepares for their final season in the Big 12 before moving on to the SEC.
As is tradition, CBB Review again ranks the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. We will reveal the next team each day until we reach the team slotted at number one. Follow along with #CBBRank on all our social media channels.
Talk about balance. The Texas Longhorns lost six players from last year’s team. The equalizer came with two players going to the NBA, Timmy Allen and Sir’Jabari Rice. Marcus Carr and Christian Bishop graduated, and then Arterio Morris and Rowan Brumbaugh transferred from the team. After a year of controversy, this team had a nice run. The assistant coach, Rodney Terry, was promoted from interim to Head Coach of the Longhorns. With all the drama regarding Chris Beard midseason, Texas recovered, making the Elite 8 and winning the Big 12 tournament.
silky smooth 🤘#HookEm | @maxabmas pic.twitter.com/PNPzjW2UO0
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) June 29, 2023
With the work of creating his team and culture, he brought in some impressive players from the portal. The most notable was Max Abmas, one of the highest-rated transfers available in the portal. Coach Terry also brought remarkable offensive and defensive big in Kadin Shedrick from Virginia. Shedrick is about to be a terror on defense in the interior. Coach Terry has put together an impressive team. If he can mold these players into a machine, it is not one opponents will want to face. The Texas Longhorns are looking to put a stamp on the Big 12 before it leaves to join the SEC.
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Head coach: Rodney Terry (1st season)
2022-23 record: 29-9 (12-6)
2023 postseason finish: Lost to Miami, 88-81, in NCAA Elite Eight
Notable departures: Timmy Allen (NBA), Sir’Jabari Rice (NBA), Marcus Carr (Graduated), Christian Bishop (Graduated), Arterio Morris (Transferred to KU), Rowan Brumbaugh (Transferred to Georgetown)
Notable nonconference games: vs. Louisville (Nov. 19), @ Marquette (Dec. 6), vs. LSU (Dec. 16)
Projected Rotation
PG: Max Abmas (6-1, 165, Gr.-Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 21.9 PPG, 4.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 37.3 3P% (Oral Roberts)
SG: Tyrese Hunter (6-0, 178, Jr.)
2022-23 stats: 10.3 PPG, 2.5 APG, 3.0 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 33.7 3P%
SF: Ithiel Horton (6-3, 200, Gr.-Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 12.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 34.8 3P% (UCF)
PF: Dylan Disu (6-9, 220, Gr.-Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 8.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 61.3 FG%
C: Kadin Shedrick (6-11, 216, Rs.-Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 6.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 64.7 FG% (Virginia)
6: Chendall Weaver (6-3, 164, So.)
2022-23 stats: 9.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.9 SPG, 40.2 3P% (UT Arlington)
7: Brock Cunningham (6-5, 204, Gr.-Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 4.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG. 41.3 3P%
8: Ze’Rik Onyema (6-8, 185, So.)
2022-23 stats: 7.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 05 APG, 0.6 SPG, 55.4 FG% (UTEP)
9: Dillon Mitchell (6-8, 205, So.)
2022-23 stats: 4.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.3 BPG, 63.6 FG%
10: Chris Johnson (6-4, 180, Fr.)
247 Sports Composite No. 78 rated recruit
11: Alex Anamekwe (6-5, 200, So.)
2022-23 stats: 1.5 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 0.1 APG, 0.2 SPG
12: Gavin Perryman (6-1, 185, So.)
2022-23 stats: 0.3 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.3 SPG
Texas Longhorns MVP: Max Abmas
The Summit League and national star guard, Max Abmas, just joined a team that was top tier last year. He will be facing tougher competition, going from Oral Roberts to Texas, and hopes to boost his NBA profile. Last year, he was 2022-2023 All-Summit first team, Naismith Trophy Preseason and Midseason Watch list, Preseason Wooden Award nominee, Summit Player of the Year, All-Summit tournament team and 2023 Summit Tournament MVP.
Coach Paul Mills departed Oral Roberts, opening the door for Abmas’ exit. Max Abmas was fourth with 301 made 3-pointers and tenth in scoring with 1,819 points. Wrapping up last year, he ranked ninth in Division 1, scoring 21.9 points per game, and he was fifth in the nation in free throw percentage at 91.9%. While Oral Roberts did not face the same competition that Abmas will face this year, it shouldn’t be an issue. Last year was his worst game. It was also one he played the fewest minutes early in the season at Houston, where he scored three points in 27 minutes and struggled shooting. This game and the one against South Dakota State are the only games where Abmas scored less than ten points.
The nation's leading scorer put on a SHOW!
Take a bow, Max Abmas. 👏 @ORUMBB #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/oH8FRdiSVG
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2021
The numbers are scary against good competition. However, this team did play Duke in the NCAA tournament, and he scored 12 points, had five assists, three rebounds, and a block in that game. Abmas was also the team’s only real weapon, so it was a struggle when he was off or faced a good defense that wanted the rest of the team to beat him. Abmas is about to be on the best team he has ever played on, and weapons surround him. Don’t be surprised if he is the leader in scoring and assists at the end of the year.
Texas Longhorns make-or-break player: Dylan Disu
During the Big 12 Conference Tournament and the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, Dylan Disu showed up massively for the Longhorns. He found a nice rhythm with 11, 15, 18, 17, and 28 points. Disu played only two minutes against Xavier before coming up with a foot injury. He has not been cleared to resume all basketball-related activities. Disu could be the piece that makes this team an even more significant threat—his ability to play inside and out. Disu can stretch the floor defensively but offensively, as he is a capable 3-point shooter and isn’t afraid to let it fly. He was the Big-12 Conference Tournament MVP and Big-12 All-Conference Tournament team.
KD was loving Dylan Disu’s performance against Penn State 👏 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/6reqB9lmFj
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2023
With all the praise Disu receives on offense, he is a force in the paint. He was second in the Big-12 in Blocks (46) and Blocks per game (1.3). The worry is that he may be sidelined with a foot injury. The difference he could make on both ends of the floor could be a game-changer for this Longhorn team.
Key analytic: 3-Point percentage
The Texas Longhorns sat at 137th at a 3-point percentage in the middle of the road. This team has added some impressive shooters through the transfer portal. The most considerable boost will be the star that the team brought in, Abmas, knocking down 3-pointers at 37.3%. The Longhorns have some impressive shooters now and will be able to spread out the floor and quickly boost this number. As a team that dominated in many categories, it looks like the team will improve this number. Tyrese Hunter and Ithiel Horton are potential starters who shoot 33.7% and 34.8% from 3-point range. Chendall Weaver and Brock Cunning are shooting over 40% from 3-point range.
Texas Longhorns 2023-24 projections
Projected conference finish: 3rd in the Big 12
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament – Final Four Exit
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