Texas Longhorns basketball 2021-22 season thread

The first look at the Texas Longhorns 2021-22 basketball team is one day away. 

The Longhorns will begin the season ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25, and No. 5 in the Coaches Poll. It’s the highest Texas has been ranked to begin a season since 2009-10.

The Longhorns tip-off in exhibition play November 1 against Texas Lutheran at 7:30pm. 

The regular season begins November 9 with Houston Baptist making the drive to Austin. Texas will be part of a Top 5 matchup November 13 when the longhorns travel to Spokane to take on No. 1 ranked Gonzaga. 

Texas returns four from last season

The Longhorns return four key pieces from last season. Combo guard Courtney Ramey has been called the most improved player in the program since Chris Beard and staff arrived in Austin. 

The Texas staff believes this will be Andrew Jones’ best season in Austin. Inside Texas concurs. Jones has gotten stronger and more confident. His ability to score the ball will only be enhanced with Marcus Carr helping create, as well as an offensive system that provides more opportunities. Jones defensive improvement will be easily seen.

Jase Febres will continue to bring perimeter shooting off the bench, and size at guard. He adds to three guard lineup versatility as well.

Brock Cunningham will have an important role. He brings toughness every day. And there will be games or matchups Texas needs him to play 15-20 minutes. And there will be times he may not play many minutes. He will be ready when called upon, that is always known. 

CG Courtney Ramey, 6-3 (12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists in 2020-21)

Junior

-94 games played, including 74 starts

-38.3% FG’s (103-269), 41.4% from three (48-116) and 83.1% FT’s (64-77) in 2020-21.

-Has made 145 three-pointers at 37.0% for his career. Scored 954 points in 94 games at Texas.

-Scored 20 or more points six times at Texas, and 15 points or more 20 times.

SG Andrew Jones, 6-4 (14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists in 2020-21)

Senior

-102 games played, including 68 starts

-40.4% FG’s (128-317), 33.8% from three (54-160) and 83.1% FT’s (69-83) in 2020-21

-Scored 20 points or more five times last season, as well as 15 points or more 11 times. Posted three or more assists 12 times. Knocked down three or more three-pointers in a game 10 times last season.

-Has 178 career makes from the three-point line at 35.7%. Scored 1,251 points in 102 games at Texas.

SG Jase Febres, 6-5 (5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds in 2020-21)

Senior

-104 games played, including 62 starts

-39.3% FG’s (22-56), 39.2% from three (20-51) and 4-4 FT’s in 2020-21.

-Has scored 716 points in 104 games at Texas. Has 192 made three-pointers at 36.2%.

-Scored in double figures 31 times at Texas. Recorded four games of 20 points or more, and 14 games of 15 points or more.

F Brock Cunningham, 6-5 (1.6 points, 3.1 rebounds in 2020-21)

Junior

-41 games played with one start

Chris Beard dominated in the portal 

The Longhorns season will come down to the level six transfers play at under Beard. The asks defensively will be much more for a group of talented, and versatile offensive minded players. 

Point guards Marcus Carr and Devin Askew is a terrific one-two punch at the position. Both have size, strength and experience. Both need to hit the three at a higher clip this season.

Timmy Allen is a playmaking wing/combo forward. He will fit into a role, and defend. His ability to be more consistent on the perimeter would take his game to another level. 

Tre Mitchell and Dylan Disu combine to be the most perimeter talented bigs Texas has suited up in over a decade. Christian Bishop will be the best defender of the trio, and is most athletic. This trio will have to play at a high level, and Disu must be healthy. More on Disu below. 

Devin Askew, CG, 6-foot-3

• Announced his transfer to Texas April 14. 
• Former four-star recruit.
• Started 20 games last season for Kentucky.
• Averaged 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 2020-21.

Timmy Allen, F, 6-foot-6

• Announced the decision to transfer to Texas April 14. 
• All-Pac 12 first-team selection last season at Utah
• Averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 2020-21.

Christian Bishop, PF, 6-foot-8

• Announced his transfer to Texas April 16. 
• Converted 68.1% from the field at Creighton last season.
• Averaged 11.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 2020-21.

Dylan Disu, PF, 6-foot-9

• The former Austin area standout announced his transfer to Texas April 26. 
• Led the SEC in rebounding at Vanderbilt last season.
• Averaged 15.0 points and 9.2 rebounds in 2020-21. 

Tre Mitchell, PF, 6-foot-8.5

• Announced the decision to transfer to Texas over Florida State June 15.
• Atlantic 10 first-team at Massachusetts last season.
• Averaged 18.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 blocks in 2020-21.

Marcus Carr, PG, 6-foot-2

• Carr announced he would play his final college season at Texas July 17
• All-Big 10 third team last season at Minnesota.
• Averaged 19.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 2020-21.

Dylan Disu coming along slowly

Much of the Longhorns chances to make a deep NCAA Tournament run depends on transfer Dylan Disu. That is because the SEC’s leading rebounder from a season ago is yet to be fully released following knee surgery last season. The 6-foot-9 power forward with an ideal wingspan is the best rebounder and rim protector on the roster. 

He also bring the needed rotation and versatility to the team. The ability of Beard to have Tre Mitchell and Disu on the court together gives Texas two bigs that shoot 36-37% from three. Mitchell and Disu are also 70%+ free-throw shooters. An area Creighton transfer Christian Bishop has struggled to date. 

Bottom line, the Longhorns can make a run in March with a three man rotation of Mitchell, Disu and Christian Bishop. Things get dicey if Texas only has two of the three. 

Disu is being slowly mixed into the full workouts. The plan by the Texas staff is to get him minutes November 9 if he continues to progress. 

Inside Texas outlook for the season 

Many members of Inside Texas have asked about the ceiling and the floor for Chris Beard’s first team in Austin. 

Let’s start with the floor. IT believes the Longhorns are a Round of 32 or Sweet 16 team in that regard. Texas has talent and depth at guard. The bigs are skilled. There is plenty of lineup and rotational versatility if fully healthy. This team should shoot 75-76% from the free throw line. And then there is Chris Beard. He’s never lost a Round of 64 game in the NCAA Tournament. 

Now onto the ceiling. This comes down two a few things. One is the interior trio being healthy, and physical enough to handle the Kansas’ and Gonzaga’s of the college basketball world if they meet in a Sweet 16 or Elite Eight game. Three-point shooting will be a huge for this team. If the Longhorns can convert 37-38% from three to go with being a 75-76% free-throw shooting team, the offense will be potent. Texas may lack a traditional rim protector, but they are a big team. The reason is the backcourt. Marcus Carr is the smallest guard, at 6-foot-2. Texas has a big backcourt. Timmy Allen and Jaylon Tyson provide big enough wings. Allen also provides Beard the ability to be a mobile and skilled small lineup. 

The bottom line is if Texas isn’t a top 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, then the season didn’t play out well. The Longhorns should be a 2-3 seed level team long term, with the ability to compete for a No. 1 seed.