Texas Basketball: 3 ultra-efficient players that are surprising this season
Which three Texas basketball players are not only putting on the best show to start the season, but are the most efficient out of the gates?
Through five games this season, head coach Shaka Smart and the Texas basketball program are a nice surprise. Texas upset a couple of teams, beating the Indiana Hoosiers and No. 14 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels to claim the Maui Invitational Championship last week. They also have wins over the Davidson Wildcats and UTRGV Vaqueros from the end of November.
Barring a close loss over the weekend at home at the Frank Erwin Center to head coach Jay Wright and the No. 12 ranked Villanova Wildcats, the Longhorns are looking pretty spotless in terms of record this season. And even the loss to Villanova came by a slim four-point margin where Texas had a chance to win the game late. That’s still not the worst result for the Longhorns.
Next up for Smart and the Longhorns is a home matchup with the Texas State Bobcats, set for Dec. 9. But that game could be reportedly getting called into question due to a positive novel coronavirus test from Incarnate Word’s star sophomore guard Keaston Willis. He recently faced Texas State, but apparently might not have been around them long enough for quarantine to be warranted.
If the game against Texas State is moved back at least one week, that would make the key showdown against the top three ranked Baylor Bears on the road in Waco to open up Big 12 play on Dec. 13 the Longhorns next game. That would certainly be a big way to try and bounce back from the loss to Villanova.
I’ve confirmed with #UIW guard Keaston Willis that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is exhibiting some symptoms. Scored 16 points in 37 minutes against #TXST on Saturday. Took test on Fri. but got the results on Sat. night. Bobcats scheduled at No.17 #HookEm on Wed.
— Keff Ciardello (@Keff_C) December 7, 2020
Texas men’s hoops is up to No. 13 in this week’s AP Poll, the highest ranking for this program since the 2014-15 season, under the direction of former head coach Rick Barnes. And that nice jump in the polls this week is largely due to the improved play of key players in the starting five, and role players off the bench in the frontcourt rotation.
Here’s a deeper look into three players for the Longhorns that are off to a surprising and ultra-efficient start to the 2020-21 regular season.