No. 18 Texas tips off the season against Incarnate Word
The No. 18 Texas Longhorns will tip off the 2023-24 season Monday night against Incarnate Word.
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Rodney Terry and staff return three full time starters, and five players all told from last season’s Elite Eight team. The Longhorns will have returning starters Tyrese Hunter and Dillon Mitchell in the starting lineup tonight, while senior power forward Dylan Disu continues to rehab a foot injury after surgery.
The Longhorns also welcome seven new scholarship players to the program, led by scoring machine Max Abmas, sharp shooter Ithiel Horton and center Kadin Shedrick.
This year’s Texas team has plenty of big game and NCAA Tournament experience. Terry’s squad has five players that have been a part of an Elite Eight team, six players that have appeared in a Sweet 16 game, and seven players that have played in the NCAA Tournament.
How to Watch
When: Monday, November 6th
Time: 7 p.m. Central
TV: LHN
Listen: Texassports.com
The Rodney Terry File
Rodney Terry enters Tuesday with a career record of 185-164. He has been a head coach at the Division I level for eleven years.
Terry built the Fresno State program up in his time in California. The Bulldogs won 20 or more games in four of Terry’s last five seasons. That included three times in post season play.
Terry led Texas to a 22-8 record, second place Big 12 regular season, Big 12 Tournament Championship and Elite Eight in 2022-23. He sports a 3-2 record in the NCAA Tournament.
The Shane Heirman File
Shane Heirman is beginning his first season as a collegiate head coach. The former Tulsa Hurricane guard Heirman started his coaching career at La Lumiere School where he led the high school power to an 82-7 record. He then moved to the college with stints at DePaul and Central Michigan before being hired by Incarnate Word April 26, 2023.
Incarnate Word Roster of Note
The Cardinals have gone through a near complete roster overhaul since Heirman was hired. They have one key player returning from last season.
F Davante Dennis, 6-7, redshirt sophomore (8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds)
Transfers of note:
SG Alex Anderson, 6-6, junior (9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists at Alabama State)
C Shon Robinson, 6-9, senior (10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists at Alabama State)
Son of a true Texas legend:
T.J. Ford Jr. is a freshman point guard for Incarnate Word. The 5-foot-11, 155-pounder is expected to ply a key role for the Cardinals this season.
Texas Longhorns projected starters
PG Tyrese Hunter, 6-1, junior (10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists)
CG Max Abmas, 6-0, super senior (21.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals at Oral Roberts)
SG Ithiel Horton, 6-4, super senior (12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists at UCF)
F Dillon Mitchell, 6-8, sophomore (4.3 points, 3.9 rebounds)
PF Ze’rik Onyema, 6-8, senior (7.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.5 blocks at UTEP)
The reserves
SG Chendall Weaver, 6-3, sophomore (9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists at UT-Arlington)
PF/C Kadin Shedrick, 6-10, senior (6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks at Virginia)
CG Chris Johnson, 6-4, freshman
F Brock Cunningham, 6-6, senior (4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds)
PF Alex Anamekwe, 6-5.5, freshman (1.5 points, 0.7 rebounds)
SF Devon Pryor, 6-7, freshman
*PF Dylan Disu, 6-9, senior – injured
