Dud: Jayson Kent, F
Texas's bench scoring ranks dead last in SEC conference play. The Longhorns are the only team in the SEC in conference play that is averaging bench scoring in the single digits per game (9.3 bench points per game), per CBB Analytics.
A big looming issue for the Longhorns this season has been bench scoring or the lack thereof. It's not just SEC play where the Longhorns have lacked the key bench scorers in the backcourt that Texas needs to have more valuable depth in the second half but also to rely on in the SEC and NCAA Tournament time in March and April.
One of the big reasons why the Longhorns' bench scoring and overall reserves production from that part of the rotation has dipped lately is the injury to junior guard Chendall Weaver, who missed the second straight game since he was banged up in the loss to the No. 2 Auburn Tigers on Jan. 7 at the Moody Center. Weaver was a major source of second-chance scoring and rebounding on both ends, averaging seven points per game and five rebounds.
Texas needs leaders among the upperclassmen, like senior forward Jayson Kent, senior guard Julian Larry, and senior power forward Ze'Rik Onyema to step up with Weaver out of the line due to the injury.
Kent has struggled to produce on the offensive end of the floor in SEC play. He gave the Longhorns five key rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench tonight, which was big to help Texas remain competitive in the battle on the boards on the road.
But Texas needs more from Kent in his looks from the field and the free-throw line offensively. Kent missed on one attempt from the field tonight and he missed on two key free-throw attempts late in the game in the second half when the Longhorns needed to put the Sooners away in the game's final minutes.
The fact of the matter is that Kent is too tested and proven of a player to be going scoreless for three big SEC games in a row, including against two of the top-ranked teams in the country at home to start the conference play slate.