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October 22nd,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Texas Longhorns
Overall Rank:
#17
Conference Rank:
#3 Big 12
2005-06: 30-7,
13-3, 2nd
2005-06
postseason: NCAA
 There is one
player who has started one game in their career at
Texas on this year’s roster. Coach Rick Barnes will have
his hands full adapting a young squad to life in the Big XII,
but the talent of the incoming freshmen is amazing. The growing
pains will be tough and if the Longhorns are on the schedule,
you’ll want to see them early in the season, because by the time
January rolls around, Texas will be very good.
Who’s Out:
The
entire starting five of the Elite Eight squad is gone. That
would be LaMarcus Aldridge, P.J. Tucker and Daniel Gibson, who
left early for the NBA, and seniors Brad Buckman and Kenton
Paulino. Forwards Mike Williams and Dion Dowell have opted to
transfer.
Who’s In:
This list
looks like the McDonald’s All-American team. D.J. Augustin is a
quality passer and shooter and will battle for minutes at the
point. He’s not a terrific finisher at this stage in his
career, but with his unselfishness, Augustin will spend most of
his time looking for his teammates. However, with his
tremendous outside shooting ability, Augustin may be asked to
spend some time at the two. Shooting guards Harrison Smith and
Justin Mason will get a chance to earn quality minutes. Smith
can use his strength to finish around the basket and can put up
some big numbers in the scoring column. Mason can play either
guard spot and his tough defense should earn him some playing
time. Not that the incoming guards aren’t super talented, but
it gets really good with the forwards. Kevin Durant has been
categorized as a one and done player. There’s no need to worry
about that yet, but it is a compliment to the abilities of the
6-9 wing. Despite his size, Durant isn’t a post player, but has
added some strength and bulk during the summer. He can hit the
long ball and get to the basket with ease and will be starting
in November. Fellow forward Damion James wants to play the
three, but should be starting at the four, at least in name,
this year. At 6-7 and 227 pounds, James can handle the four on
the defensive end. On the offensive end, he may end up playing
like another wing. He is an athletic and exciting finisher and,
with a little consistency on the outside shot, will be a great
player. Ian Mooney, a walk-on transfer, will add some emergency
depth in the post, but Dexter Pittman and Matt Hill will see
plenty of time under the basket. Pittman arrived in Austin
tipping the scales at 366 pounds. Now listed at 315 pounds, the
big man appears to have quelled the poor work ethic label and is
ready to compete at a high level. Pittman has great hands and
can use his body to get to the glass or create space for his
hook shot. Hill is a good post scorer and has a nice touch on
his shot. The only knock on Hill is a lack of aggressiveness on
both ends of the floor.
Who to Watch:
A.J.
Abrams started one game last year and should be starting at the
point this year. The 5-10 sophomore hasn’t had a chance to show
his stuff yet, but now he will be the experienced leader on the
court. Junior J.D. Lewis and senior Craig Winder have the
experience to battle for starting gigs early in the year.
Final
Projection:
Connor Atchley
is the only returning frontcourt player. As a freshman last
year, the 6-9 center averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds.
Obviously the issue for the Longhorns is youth and
inexperience. The talent level is second only to Kansas in the
conference. Simply put, if the freshmen perform as well as
their hype would expect, Texas is an NCAA team with legitimate
aspirations of reaching the Sweet Sixteen. If not, the bubble
and the NIT await. In the end, there is just way too much
talent for Coach Rick Barnes to let his team slide out of the
NCAAs.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
A.J. Abrams,
Sophomore, Guard, 6.4 points per game
D.J. Augustin,
Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Kevin Durant,
Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Damion James,
Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Dexter
Pittman, Freshman, Center, DNP last season
Also:
Complete Big 12 Preview
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