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Texas Basketball vs. Radford: 5 takeaways from upset loss to Highlanders

By Andrew Miller

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 13: Devonnte Holland #15 and Travis Fields Jr #11 of the Radford Highlanders celebrate their teams victory over the Long Island Blackbirds in the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. The Radford Highlanders defeated the Long Island Blackbirds 71-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - MARCH 13: Devonnte Holland #15 and Travis Fields Jr #11 of the Radford Highlanders celebrate their teams victory over the Long Island Blackbirds in the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. The Radford Highlanders defeated the Long Island Blackbirds 71-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 23: Jericho Sims #20 of the Texas Longhorns passes the ball against Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans during the championship game of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 23: Jericho Sims #20 of the Texas Longhorns passes the ball against Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans during the championship game of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

5. Jericho Sims finally emerges

A player that Texas basketball fans waited to emerge since the very beginning of the regular season was sophomore big Jericho Sims. A void left in the front court had to be filled by Sims, senior forward Dylan Osetkowski, and freshman Jaxson Hayes. Osetkowski and Hayes had filled the void to the best of their ability, but Sims was mostly disappointing in the first six games.

Sims led the Horns in scoring in this game, which is something that seemed unfathomable before tip-off. He was able to take advantage of the smaller Radford forwards and find some room to go to work in the paint. Sims posted 16 points, eight rebounds, and one block. His eight rebounds were good for second on the team.

This was the first game this season that Sims scored in double figures. He also eclipsed his season average in rebounds. The emergence from a forward as talented as Sims is important for the front court when Big 12 play comes around. Sims is needed to add depth for this rotation and give some valuable size against bigger front courts.

The surprising parts here included the usage rate for Sims and his offensive rating. Sims posted one of his highest offensive ratings of the season thus far and had the highest usage rate on the team. Head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart was smart to give the ball to the player with the hot hand with the back court struggling to hit its attempts from the field.

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