Rodney Terry shares how Texas has molded a team of transfers

Out of the nine players on the Texas basketball roster that have averaged double-digit minutes per game this season, only three have not transferred from another program. In the last two seasons the Longhorns have been putting in work in the transfer portal, which is currently paying off for them, as they’re ranked No. 9 in the country and second in the Big 12 conference standings with two games remaining in the regular season.

Interim head coach Rodney Terry was recently asked about the construction of their transfer-heavy roster, breaking down the intricacies and challenges that come with it.

“Obviously the portal and the transfer situation here’s shaped the landscape of college athletics and it’s not going anywhere, it’s gonna be here,” Terry said. “And I think when you come in initially and you bring a whole team full of transfer guys it’s going to take you over a semester to get those guys familiar with playing with one another.”

Many of the Longhorns’ transfer players are now entering their second season with the program, as they were a part of the loaded 2021 Texas transfer class which now includes three of their five starters and two of their top three leading scorers. Transfer players like leading scorer Marcus Carr played well in their first season in Austin, but have taken a leap this season and impacted winning at an even higher level for the Longhorns.

“You just don’t have enough time, you’re fighting time the entire season and as a result of that last year we didn’t play our best basketball until the very end of conference play and into the NCAA Tournament to where we’re finally in a groove to where guys really had a good feel for each other,” Terry said.

With two regular season games left in the season, the Longhorns have already one-uped their regular season and conference record from a season ago. They ended last regular season with two losses, a first-round exit in the Big 12 Tournament, and a second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. But this year they’ll be looking to improve in postseason play, as they now have more continuity between their transfer and younger players on their roster.

“So that recipe’s a little tough, I mean if you’re able to inherit a couple guys and then have a blend between transfer, even incoming freshman, I think you want a blend. I know everyone wants to stay older, but I also think it’s very good to have good young talent coming into your program as well,” Terry said.