Game Preview: Chendall Weaver provides a strong example for a Texas team looking to jell

Texas guard Chendall Weaver has been in the starting lineup for all six of the Texas Longhorns’ games this season, and his impact has been apparent in every one. Weaver is averaging 7.0 points and 7.0 rebounds across 25 minutes per contest this season. His aggression has been essential to a 5-1 start for the Longhorns, including a win in the Legends Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y.

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“I’m always thinking to crash and be aggressive and try to get an extra possession for my team,” Weaver said this week. “Every possession matters in games like that and in every game. I’m just trying to be me, go out there, and do my best.”

Weaver’s presence in the starting lineup at the beginning of the year could arguably attributed to the lack of a healthy Tramon Mark, but even so Weaver has made the most of being a starter and contributing to Texas’ wins.

His stat lines indicate a player who doesn’t mind doing anything on the court for his teammates. The best example is his game against Syracuse. In a 70-66 Longhorns win, Weaver was 4-for-6 from the field, 1-for-1 from three, 1-for-2 from the line, pulled down nine boards, had one assist, one block, two steals, and no turnovers while committing just two fouls.

His 10 points helped record his second double-digit scoring effort of the young season along with the Ohio State game. It took 19 games for him to get that many last season.

Figuring out roles is a process, especially with so many newcomers. But Weaver understands his: to provide maniacal effort on both ends of the floor, including on the boards. He serves as a great example, especially as a returner from last year’s team, of establishing what Rodney Terry wants from his program..

“If everybody buys into their role, we’ll be fine,” Weaver said.

Weaver has a sense of what it’s like playing for the Longhorns and building chemistry after helping Texas reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season on a transfer-heavy team. And as the Longhorns welcome a moribund Delaware State team before hitting the road to play NC State then welcoming defending national champion UConn, figuring out those roles with newcomers like Mark, Tre Johnson, and Arthur Kaluma is key.

Weaver said it took until about conference play last season for his team to jell. If his teammates follow his example of excellent effort on both ends, Texas could find the desired chemistry much sooner ahead of an important three-game stretch.

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The Longhorns and Hornets will battle at 8:00 p.m. in the Moody Center. SEC Network will televise the contest.

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— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) November 29, 2024

2024-25 Texas Longhorns

Tre Johnson, 6-foot-6, 190 lbs, Fr., Link Academy (Mo.), 21.2 pts, 2.5 reb, 2.- ast

Arthur Kaluma, 6-foot-7, 225 lbs, Sr., Kansas State, 14.7 pts, 7.3 reb, 2.8 ast

Kadin Shedrick, 6-foot-11, 231 lbs, Gr.: 10.3 pts, 4.8 reb, 0.5 ast

Chendall Weaver, 6-foot-3, 180 lbs, Jr.: 7.0 pts, 7.0 reb, 1.8 ast

Julian Larry, 6-foot-3, 185 lbs, Gr., Indiana State: 8.2 pts, 2.2 reb, 3.3 ast

Jordan Pope, 6-foot-2, 175 lbs, Jr., Oregon State: 7.1 pts, 1.8 reb, 2.5 ast

Jayson Kent, 6-foot-8, 215 lbs, Gr., Indiana State: 6.5 pts, 2.8 reb, 1.0 ast

Ze’Rik Onyema, 6-foot-9, 235 lbs, Sr.: 4.0 pts, 2.2 reb, 0.2 ast

Tramon Mark, 6-foot-5, 200 lbs, Gr., Arkansas: 5.5 pts, 4.5 reb, 0.5 ast

Jamie Vinson, 6-foot-11, 225 lbs, Fr., Oak Hill Academy (Va.): 3.0 pts, 1.8 rebs, 0.3 ast

Devon Pryor, 6-foot-7, 185 lbs, So.: 2.5 pts, 2.0 reb, 0.5 ast

Cole Bott, 6-foot-6, 195 lbs, Gr. (walk-on): 0.0 pts, 0.3 rebs, 0.7 ast

Preston Clark, 6-foot-6, 220 lbs, R-So. (walk-on): 0.3 pts, 1.0 rebs, 0.3 ast

Nic Codie, 6-foot-8, 200 lbs, Fr., Dallas (Texas) Newman Smith: 0.0 pts, 0.5 reb, 0.0 ast

Malik Presley, 6-foot-6, 200 lbs, So., Vanderbilt

Anthon McDermott, 6-foot-5, 185 lbs, Fr., Hallsville (Texas) (walk-on)

Previous game’s starters for Delaware State

G Robert Smith: 12.3 pts, 2.7 reb, 3.4 ast

G Kaseem Watson: 13.9 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.9 ast

G Martaz Robinson: 16.6 pts, 6.4 reb, 2.1 ast

F Alston Andrews: 3.1 pts, 5.1 reb, 0.4 ast

F Muneer Newton: 6.0 pts, 5.0 reb, 0.4 ast