Longhorns Basketball Preview: The Returning Contributors

As the Texas Longhorns prepare to tip-off in their very first game of the 2014-2015 season this evening against North Dakota State, HookemHeadlines.com is previewing this year’s team. After last year’s surprisingly successful season, the expectations for the Horns this year are higher than they’ve been in several seasons. With the entire starting line-up returning, along with the return of last year’s key contributors and the addition of two talented freshmen, the Longhorns could make quite a bit of noise in the NCAA Tournament come March.

Earlier this week, we previewed Myles Turner, the nation’s overall No. 2 player, and Jordan Barnett, the No. 1 player from the State of Missouri. Today, we look at the nucleus of last year’s team, the returning contributors.

For the first time in several years, Texas basketball was actually fun to watch last season. The expectations were low, but with hard work and team chemistry, the Longhorns came out of the gate with a vengeance and it didn’t take long for people to take notice.

This year the Longhorns won’t be able to slide under the radar as they did last season, but with another year under their belts, this team could easily be one of Coach Rick Barnes’ best teams at Texas, if not the best.

After a few years of turmoil and rumors that there were certain players that did not buy in to Barnes’ methods, last year’s team simply clicked. They played hard and they played together, and for the first time in several seasons, the patience that Barnes and the players have showed it finally paying off.

With the entire roster returning, along with the addition of two talented freshmen, the Longhorns could make quite a bit of noise in the NCAA Tournament come March.

Here’s a look at some of last year’s key contributors who are expected to improve even more so this season:

Isaiah Taylor, Sophomore Point Guard

Most fans expected Taylor to be good, but they probably didn’t expect him to be as good as he was last year. Despite his youth, Taylor played more minutes than any other last season. What’s so amazing about Taylor is his speed and ball control. When Taylor broke to the basket, fans last year were often reminded of T.J. Ford. The team leader in assists, he averaged four per game. He was second on the team in scoring with 12.1 points per game and second in steals, with 37 on the season. He was named to the Big 12’s All-Newcomers Team and awarded All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Taylor showed flashes of his leadership ability last season, and that’s exactly what the team needs from him this year.

Jonathan Holmes, Senior Forward

The most experienced and all-around best player on last year’s team, Holmes led the Horns in scoring, averaging nearly 13 points per game and was second in rebounding with seven per game. After a frustrating and inconsistent sophomore campaign, Holmes broke out last season, and as the only upperclassman, became the team leader that the team had been so desperately lacking. His big size (6’8″) created a few match-up problems for him defensively when he played the 3, but he lost twenty pounds this off-season, and with Myles Turner joining the team moving Holmes back over, that weight loss should really factor into his game this year.

Cameron Ridley, Junior Center

The difference between Cam Ridley’s freshman and sophomore seasons was night and day. After slimming down and getting into great shape, Ridley was led the team in both rebounding and blocking last season and was statistically one of the most efficient scorers in the conference. Due to his size, Ridley is a nightmare to defend down-low, so look for others to feed him the ball quite often. Also, because of his massive wing span, he makes it difficult for opponents to shoot effectively inside the lane. If he can improve at the same level he did last season, everyone else better watch out.

Demarcus Holland, Junior Guard 

Holland, who started all 35 games last season, is one of the best defenders to play under Barnes. He led the team in steals with 42 on the season and was named to the Big 12 All-Defense team last year. While Holland made some improvements in his shooting between his freshmen and sophomore seasons, there is still tons of room for improvement; nevertheless, his defensive skills are enough to justify his minutes, which were second on the team last season.

Javan Felix, Junior Guard

Javan Felix has had a lot thrown his way his first two seasons in Austin. As a freshman, he was thrown into the fire because of the suspension handed down to Myck Kabongo, and all things considering, he didn’t do too badly. Last year, with Taylor stepping into the role of point guard, Felix was moved to shooting guard where he seemed to be a bit more comfortable. Whereas Holland excels on the defensive side of the ball yet struggles on offense, Felix is the opposite; he is able to create his own shot off the dribble and drive the lane, but on the defensive end, he has his limitations. Regardless, he will definitely be one of the key players again this season.

Prince Ibeh, Junior Center

Much like his fellow center, Prince’s sophomore season was marked with vast improvements. Defensively, he and Ridley were able to make life difficult for opponents inside the paint. Ibeh was second on the team in blocks, just behind Ridley. Additionally, and perhaps more surprisingly, Ibeh improved tremendously offensively as well. If he can continue to get better the way he did last season, he could really be a force on the court.

Connor Lammert, Junior Forward

One thing about Lammert: he goes all-out 100% of the time. A huge threat both inside and outside of the paint, last season, Lammert shot a solid 56% from the field and 34% from behind the arc, pretty impressive for a kid who stands at 6’9″ and weighs 240 pounds. Despite the addition of Myles Turner at the position, look for Lammert to continue to provide a spark off the bench this season.

It’s been a tough few year’s for Longhorn basketball fans, but if last year is any indication, that could all change this season. If this team plays the way they are capable, the sky is the limit.