Nic Codie, PF
Freshman power forward Nic Codie arrived on campus last summer with a lot of hype surrounding the potential of his game. Codie, the No. 1 ranked recruit from Texas in the 2024 class in the 247Sports Composite, has a very bright future as an athletic and versatile big man with good size and improving shooting range on the offensive end.
After finally earning his way into the rotation for double-digit frontcourt minutes in non-conference play in December, Codie had multi-field goal and multi-rebound games in three straight contests.
Codie's story was tremendous to see him score a game-high 20 points after coming back in the dominant win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff from the knee injury he suffered as a senior in high school at Newman Smith in Carrollton. Codie expressed heightened confidence during his true freshman campaign after that breakout game against the Golden Lions last month.
"A game like this really just helps build my confidence on the floor because my teammates already have confidence in me during practice. So, it gives me a lot of confidence to move into the next game and keep going whenever my number is called."Nic Codie
Since the start of SEC play, Codie has played sparingly for the Longhorns. Despite breaking out for 20 points, two rebounds, and one assist in the win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 15, Codie has only played a few garbage-time minutes against Oklahoma and the No. 5 Florida Gators in SEC play in the past couple of weeks.
Texas's rebounding and bench-scoring issues in SEC play have been outsized in the four losses in conference play. Between Texas's four losses to ranked foes in SEC play in early-to-mid January, the Longhorns have been outrebounded by a margin of -35 in total rebounds. The bench scoring for the Longhorns has also been outscored by over two dozen points in the four losses in conference play.
The underperformance from the frontcourt unit in SEC play could require a shake-up in the rotation for the reserves to boost the production against the more athletic and lengthier bigs in the conference in the coming weeks.