Texas basketball roster looks deeper and younger this season
Freshmen are stepping up after a 109-59 win, while the team prepares for a tough SEC start against Florida in January.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
The Texas Longhorns basketball program is betting on depth and youth to replicate the surprise NCAA Tournament run from last season. The team is no longer reliant on the core of Dailyn Swain, Tramon Mark, and Jordan Pope, who carried a 21-15 team to three tournament wins. Instead, head coach Sean Miller is working with a roster that is arguably the deepest the program has fielded since the Rick Barnes era.
This shift in strategy was evident in Monday night's 109-59 victory over Chicago State at Moody Center. The blowout served as an early indicator that the No. 7 ranked team is building a different kind of identity. Miller stated that the group has had a great five months, noting that the players love the game and the institution. He emphasized that the team does not have issues with individualism, citing their focus on togetherness and teamwork.
The absence of star guard Mikey Lewis, who is recovering from a fractured foot, has opened the door for unproven talent. Lewis, a former St. Mary’s star, underwent surgery on October 1. He is expected to return to play sometime in the new year. His injury provides a window for newcomers to establish themselves in the rotation before the SEC season begins in January.
One such newcomer is freshman Marcus Spears Jr. The 6-foot-9, 206-pound swingman scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded four blocks in the win over the Chicago State Cougars. His performance drew attention, particularly from his father, a former Dallas Cowboys defensive end and ESPN analyst. Marcus Spears Sr. watched his son’s debut from home while preparing to work a Monday Night Football broadcast.
The younger Spears expressed confidence in his development, noting that he and his family have prepared him for this moment. He described the process as a result of many hard days and long days of work finally showing through. Teammate Matas Vokietaitis praised his confidence, saying that Spears is playing hard and that attitude is the most important factor for a freshman.
The team will test its depth against a more challenging opponent in San Antonio soon. The Longhorns face Incarnate Word in a game that offers a better gauge of their current form than the rout of Chicago State. Chicago State coach Landon Bussie acknowledged the gap in talent, joking that he hopes the appearance fee was worth it after the defeat. The appearance fee for the game was reported to be in the range of $100,000.
Other key players in the rotation include Isaiah Johnson, Austin Goosby, Joe Sterling, Bo Ogden, David Punch, and Amari Evans. Miller has time to figure out roles before the team faces its first major hurdle in the conference. The Longhorns open SEC play on January 2 against defending national champion Florida.
The nonconference schedule has not been without surprises. East Texas A&M, which was picked to finish last in the Southland Conference, beat Oklahoma 68-64 earlier this season. That result served as a reminder to the program that no opponent should be taken for granted. Miller cautioned the team to keep getting better and more experienced as the season progresses.
