Is Texas Basketball back? New coach Sean Miller hopes to affirm that in year one.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Texas basketball.
At one point, it seemed like Texas had its coach for the next 30 years after Chris Beard’s great start with the program. Unfortunately, some of the off-court issues led to his immediate termination, and assistant coach Rodney Terry took over. Terry would end up going 22-8 that season, winning the Big 12 Tournament and making the Elite 8, putting the program in a difficult decision.
They decided to keep Terry, and after a 15-21 conference record and one tournament win, they moved on and hired the more experienced Sean Miller, who is known for his success at Xavier and Arizona. Miller actually ended Texas’ season last year with a first four victory, so it’s definitely ironic that he’s now the one they turn to for help.
Miller brings with him Dailyn Swain, the 6-8 wing who knows Miller’s system and will be essential from day one. He also did a good job with retention. More often than not, when a coach leaves, the players leave in max exodus, but Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark, and Chendall Weaver all return.
We’ll know on day one what to expect from this Texas basketball team. They face Duke in Charlotte to start the season, a great test for this new roster.
Sean Miller has coached 20 seasons, and only once did a team coached by him finish under .500 on the season. He should immediately raise the floor of this team and set them up for success both this season and in the future.
Head coach: Sean Miller (1st season at Texas, 21st season overall)
2024-25 record: 19-16 (6-12)
2025 postseason finish: Lost to Xavier in first round of NCAA Tournament
Notable departures:
- Tre Johnson (19.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.7 APG)
- Arthur Kaluma (12.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.8 APG)
- Kadin Shedrick (8.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 0.6 APG)
- Jayson Kent (5.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.4 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- at Duke (Nov. 4) – Charlotte, N.C.
- vs. Arizona State (Nov. 24) – Maui Invitational
- Washington State OR Chamindade (Nov. 25) – Maui Invitational
- Maui Invitational (Nov. 26)
- vs. Virginia (Dec. 3)
- at UConn (Dec. 12)
Projected Rotation
PG: Jordan Pope (6-1, 180, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 11.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 43.5 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 87.5 FT%
SG: Tramon Mark (6-5, 210, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 10.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 40.6 FG%, 34.6 3P%, 74.7 FT%
SF: Simeon Wilcher (6-4, 200, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 8.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 40.7 FG%, 29.7 3P%, 73.7 FT% (Saint John’s)
PF: Dailyn Swain (6-8, 225, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 11.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 53.2 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 81.7 FT% (Xavier)
C: Matas Vokietaitis (7-0, 255, So.)
2024-25 stats: 10.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.8 BPG, 67.7 FG%, 63.6 FT% (FAU)
6: Chendall Weaver (6-3, 180, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 6.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 50.5 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 60.0 FT%
7: Lassina Traore (6-9, 245, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 11.9 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 52.4 FG%, 69.7 FT% (Long Beach State)
8: Camden Heide (6-7, 215, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 4.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 49.1 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 80.6 FT% (Purdue)
9: Declan Duru Jr. (6-8, 235, Fr.)
Spent the last five years with Real Madrid
10: John Clark (6-9, 240, Fr.)
2025 247Sports Composite #63-ranked recruit
Texas Basketball team MVP: Dailyn Swain
Between Mark, Swain, and Pope, all three of these guys could be your team MVP, and no one would bat an eye. What gives Swain the nod is his ability on both ends of the floor. On offense, he took a big leap in his sophomore season, going from 4.6 PPG to 11.0 PPG. His numbers all went up, including his shooting splits, which is important with the extended minutes.
Defensively, he might be better. EvanMiya ranks Swain as the 10th-best defender in the SEC this year. At 6-8, he has great length to disrupt the passing lanes and slow down his primary matchup. He played 28 minutes last year, but they might need 30-32 to ensure that the best player is on the court as much as possible. If he can take another jump like we saw last year, he is without a doubt an All-SEC player.
Texas Basketball make-or-break player: Simeon Wilcher
Wilcher is a former top 50 recruit that Saint John’s fans were super high on. After a freshman season where he averaged just nine minutes a game, last year was his opportunity. He got the minutes, but never really took that step up that many were hoping for. RJ Luis actually did it for him, and we know how that turned out.
Entering his junior year, it’s now or never for Wilcher. What he was known for was his shooting, which was showcased in their Round of 64 victory, where he shot 3-6 from deep in the win. If he can get comfortable and Miller can get the most out of him, he adds another layer to this team that they’re looking for.
Key analytic: Turnovers at home
When Texas played at home, they weren’t giving up the ball easily. They averaged just 9.1 a game, 22nd best in the country. On the road, they averaged 10.8 a game, 74th in the country. As long as you’re winning at home, you’ll put your team in a good position long term. If they can be more consistent away from home, though, that can be the difference between a few games.
Pope and Mark both averaged under a turnover a game. Swain and Wilcher combined for 3 a game, though. As long as they can stay in that upper half, they’ll win games next year and do it often.
Texas Basketball 2025-26 projections
Projected conference finish: 8th in the SEC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Exit