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Texas Basketball: 3 most important players for 2018-19 season

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TX - JANUARY 14: Kerwin Roach Jr. #12 of the Texas Longhorns leaps to the basket against Nathan Adrian #11 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Frank Erwin Center on January 14, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - JANUARY 14: Kerwin Roach Jr. #12 of the Texas Longhorns leaps to the basket against Nathan Adrian #11 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Frank Erwin Center on January 14, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – JANUARY 14: Kerwin Roach Jr. #12 of the Texas Longhorns leaps to the basket against Nathan Adrian #11 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Frank Erwin Center on January 14, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – JANUARY 14: Kerwin Roach Jr. #12 of the Texas Longhorns leaps to the basket against Nathan Adrian #11 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Frank Erwin Center on January 14, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

A deep roster set for Texas basketball this season has a few key names to watch if this team is to reach the next level in the Big 12.

The tip of the 2018-19 regular season for Texas basketball is now just one week away in a key campaign for a coach that could soon find his seat heating up. Head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart is hoping for his best season yet entering his fourth on the Forty Acres. Stating that Smart is just hoping for a bigger season than the past three might not do the necessary mindset justice.

By usual Texas basketball standards, and just what we’ve come to expect from this athletic department altogether, this season needs to come close to reaching its ceiling. This might be the deepest rotation that Smart had yet. He also has the luxury of not putting too much reliance on one ultra-talented star with a lacking supporting cast.

This is the season that the Texas Longhorns have a group that is 10 or 12 deep in terms of quality rotation players. Between this highly touted 2018 Texas basketball recruiting class that recently made its way to Austin and some very reliable returning starters, this team could compete to finish easily in the top five in the Big 12.

Tip-off of the 2018-19 campaign comes against the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Nov. 6. A difficult non-conference stretch will give fans a litmus test as to how good this squad will be come crunch time in Big 12 play. Eastern Illinois could also be the first win of many during the regular season.

The ultimate goal for the season is a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Landing a seed higher than in 2018 is also a big step forward for Smart and the Horns.

Here’s a look at the three most important players for the Texas Longhorns in men’s basketball this season.

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