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Texas Basketball vs. UNC: 5 bold predictions for Las Vegas Invitational

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 12: Kerwin Roach Jr. #12 of the Texas Longhorns plays defense against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Frank Erwin Center on December 12, 2015 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 12: Kerwin Roach Jr. #12 of the Texas Longhorns plays defense against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Frank Erwin Center on December 12, 2015 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 16: Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Longhorns holds the ball away from Zane Najdawi #35 of the Citadel Bulldogs at the Frank Erwin Center on November 16, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 16: Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Longhorns holds the ball away from Zane Najdawi #35 of the Citadel Bulldogs at the Frank Erwin Center on November 16, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

3. Jaxson Hayes grabs 10 rebounds

The surprise producer for Texas basketball thus far is true freshman big man Jaxson Hayes. The first-year center and former four-star recruit is one of the team leaders in player efficiency rating. His effectiveness is helping fill the void left by departed center Mohamed Bamba and the deficiency of sophomore forward/center Jericho Sims.

Hayes earned Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week honors last week for his efforts in wins over The Citadel and the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. He is the first Texas basketball player to take home a weekly award like that from the Big 12 in 2018-19. The awards will keep rolling in for Hayes if he keeps playing at this level.

There’s one thing that Hayes hasn’t done yet. He hasn’t posted rebounding numbers in double figures. His career high in rebounds came when he grabbed eight in the 73-71 win over Arkansas. He only managed to post two points in that game, though. The other three games for Hayes saw him score in the double figures.

Hayes averages 19.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per 40 minutes. The personal fouls and free throwing shooting percentage are issue. He’s hitting free throw attempts at a mark of 50 percent. Hayes also averages more than seven fouls per 40 minutes. One of those numbers needs to rise and the other needs to fall.

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