Texas Longhorns basketball checks in at No. 5 in the AP Preseason Poll
The Texas Longhorns will begin Chris Beard’s first season in Austin ranked in the top 10.
The AP Preseason Poll was released Monday with the Longhorns checking in at No. 5.
Beard’s first team in Austin is one built from the portal with seven transfers that have started 342 games in college.
The 2021-22 team includes seven players that averaged double figures in scoring in 2020-21 led by Marcus Carr. Carr averaged 19.4 last season at Minnesota.
The Longhorns have not traditionally been a strong free throw shooting team. This season should be the best in over a decade. The 11 players that played last season combined to shoot 75.4% from the foul line.
Texas’ ability to defend at the required level, and knock down the three will be huge this season. Beard will undoubtedly maximize the defensive ability, and that means it could come down to shooting from the perimeter. The Longhorns 11 players that played college basketball last season made 263 three-pointers at 34.6%. The team percentage is expected to improve with this group coming together, and having better shot selection.
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Five players on the Texas Longhorns’ roster were named all-conference a season ago. Timmy Allen and Tre Mitchell were first-team in the Pac-12 and Atlantic 10. Andrew Jones was second team in the Big 12. Marcus Carr and Courtney Ramey were third team in the Big 10 and Big 12.
The Texas Longhorns roster will also be one of the most experienced in college basketball. The 13 man roster has a combined 797 college games played, including 547 starts.
Double-digit scorers from a year ago
Marcus Carr, PG (19.4 ppg at Minnesota)
Tre Mitchell, PF (18.8 ppg at Massachusetts)
Timmy Allen, SF (17.2 ppg at Utah)
Dylan Disu, PF, (15.0 ppg at Vanderbilt)
Andrew Jones, SG (14.6 ppg at Texas)
Courtney Ramey, CG (12.2 ppg at Texas)
Christian Bishop, PF (11.0 ppg at Creighton)
Texas and the transfer portal
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-9
- 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.
