Texas Basketball: 4 things we learned from Longhorns win over Aggies

1. Rebounding becoming an issue for the Longhorns?

Texas basketball was outrebounded by a good margin in this win over Texas A&M. But this is an issue that emerged in a big way for the Longhorns throughout the start of the regular season. Texas ranks outside the top 300 Division 1 basketball programs in the nation in total rebounds, and at just No. 191 in offensive rebounds.

Texas lost the rebounding battle to Texas A&M in this game 30-24.

With the lack of offensive efficiency and firepower that Smart-coached teams show up with often during the regular season, getting those second chance rebounds can be key. Getting outrebounded by a young but talented team like Texas A&M, while shooting just 31.7 percent from three-point range on the season, will eventually cost Texas.

Big men like junior Jericho Sims and sophomore Gerald Liddell need to step up in the rebounding department. Smart likes to run with smaller guard-heavy lineups at times, and the battle on the glass can suffer because of it. But Sims posting less than seven rebounds per game on a team that doesn’t have any other stout bigs on the glass is going to be a nagging issue.

Maybe the Longhorns answer to even the playing field for the battle on the glass could be more playing time for true freshman power forward Kai Jones. Showing a lot of fight in his limited role so far this season, Jones is looking like he could be the breakout freshman that Texas usually gets out of even passing recruiting class under Smart’s direction.