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5 Reasons Why Texas Will Return to NCAA Tournament Next Year

By James Caldwell

Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General view of the NCAA March Madness logo during the second half in a semifinal game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Indiana Hoosiers in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General view of the NCAA March Madness logo during the second half in a semifinal game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Indiana Hoosiers in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 8, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Longhorns players celebrate after a score in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the Big 12 Championship Tournament at Sprint Center. Texas won 61-52. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Longhorns players celebrate after a score in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the Big 12 Championship Tournament at Sprint Center. Texas won 61-52. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

(4) Texas Basketball Will Find An Identity

Texas spent so much of the season just trying to get organized on offense and figure out who was ready to play on a given night that the Longhorns never developed a team identity.

It even changed from half to half. The bigs would often play well in the first half, then disappear in the second half. Or, the guards would make shots in the first half, then clank the ball off the rim in the second half.

That will change next year when everyone knows their role and Coach Smart can finally coach a coherent unit. Depending on how the roster shakes out in the off-season, we believe the starting lineup will look something like this…

  • PG: Matt Coleman
  • SG: Andrew Jones or Kerwin Roach
  • 3 Guard: Eric Davis
  • PF: Dylan Osetkowski
  • C: Jarrett Allen or incoming freshmen Jericho Sims/Royce Hamm

Matt Coleman will run the point, Jones or Roach will be able to create off the dribble, Davis will become lethal on the outside if he regains his shooting touch, Dylan can stretch defenses all the way to the perimeter, and one of the big men will dominate the paint.

This is a rough draft of next year’s team. But, the key elements are in place for Texas to find their identity and get back to the NCAA Tournament.

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