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Texas Longhorns are the sleeping giant of college basketball

By Gabe Esquivel

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 09: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns reacts on the bench during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Sprint Center on March 9, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 09: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns reacts on the bench during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Sprint Center on March 9, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Don’t look now but Shaka Smart and the Texas Longhorns are the sleeping giant of college basketball

The Texas Longhorns are coming off a very disappointing 2016-17 campaign that saw them finish bottom of the Big 12. After a lot of preseason hype, the season crashed hard due to lack of on-court leadership, true point guard play, and flat out inexperience.

Shaka Smart’s seat is warming up now, and Austin is getting anxious for results. Luckily for Smart, the team is beginning to take his mold in his third year in charge. The Longhorns are becoming bigger and more athletic — better suited for a “havoc” style that Shaka Smart loves. Texas can make a Final Four run this season, but it is imperative for Smart to put the talent together.

As far as losses go, the ‘Horns lost star freshman Jarrett Allen and elite scorer Tevin Mack, though Mack was suspended mid-season and has since transferred. They get a direct Jarrett Allen replacement and upgrade in consensus top 5 prospect Mohamed Bamba, who has recently been cleared after a minor scandal. Bamba is lanky 7-footer with a 7-foot-9 wingspan, who is set to be a top defender in the country. The freshman has a great post game with a nice mid-range stroke, and will be the defensive and rebounding anchor.

Bamba is just one part of the Longhorns’ top 10 recruiting class. Smart finally adds a true playmaking point guard in four-star Matt Coleman, who is sure to make an impact. Texas also brings in two four-star combo forwards who will serve well in rotational roles that show off their versatility. To round off the class, the Longhorns will add elite-scoring wing Jase Febres to the mix. This class is made up entirely of top 100 players, all of whom can be impactful in different ways. Shaka Smart also adds experienced big man Dylan Osetkowski, a transfer from Tulane. Osetkowski was one of the most sought-after transfers after the 2015-16 season, and is sure to play a good role in the team.

The talent returning is just as important as the elite youth injection. Star combo guard Andrew Jones returns, and is poised for a huge year. Jones was the third leading scorer in 2016-17, and is the most important offensive returner. Next is the uber-athletic, all-around wing Kerwin Roach Jr. Roach will bring intensity, athleticism, and experience to the team, just what this squad will need. All-around big James Banks returns for his sophomore season. Banks showed flashes of being a dominant paint presence, and is another big-time athlete with experience. Lastly, the Longhorns bring back experienced guards Eric Davis and Jacob Young, both of whom have shown scoring prowess and the ability to impact the game.

Smart brings in six very good newcomers to compliment five impactful returners. This unique mix of experience, talent, and depth is a great foundation for a deep tournament run. We saw Smart go 11-deep during his first season in Austin, which won 20 games. This team features more raw talent and potential than the 2015-16 squad, so fans will be hoping for similar success.

A trip down the road to San Antonio for the Final Four is possible for the Longhorns. While it may not be probable, the pieces are there to cause some real damage. Matt Coleman’s playmaking will be vital, and Shaka Smart must maximize the scoring production by Jones and Roach. Playmaking, efficiency, and defense will be the major keys to propel Texas. Now that Texas has a deep bench, Shaka Smart’s Havoc defense will be more effective, as he can rotate in more fresh legs.

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The Longhorns may go through some growing pains in the beginning as leadership emerges and the freshmen get acclimated, but if Shaka Smart plays his cards right, the Longhorns could go deep into March. We know that Smart can pull off magic in March, as he did with VCU. With this team being the deep, athletic, experienced squad that he likes, look for Texas as a deep tournament sleeper.